Nike Women's Marathon Again Hits the Streets of San Francisco
15,000 women will share bond and raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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Posted Thursday, 19 October, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO - (October 17, 2006) - The Nike Women's Marathon, the premier women's race in the country, is sold out for the third straight year with 15,000 participants across the globe registered for the event in San Francisco on Sunday, October 22. The event has raised $24 million over two years for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's lifesaving cancer research program and is expected to raise $40 million after only its third year. Of the 15,000 registered runners, 95% are female - which makes this one of the largest women's races in the United States and the world.

The Nike Women's Marathon, in conjunction with The Leukemia &Lymphoma Society (LLS), will allow runners around the world to virtually join the 15,000 marathoners by syncing up through Nike+ technology at Nikeplus.com. Nike will donate $1 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS.org) for every mile that runners around the world log between now and October 22. With a goal of raising $50,000 by race day, every mile will make a difference in the fight against cancer.

This distinctive event was inspired by the 20th anniversary of Joan Benoit Samuelson's historic gold medal in the first women's marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Joan ran the Nike Half-Marathon in both 2004 and 2005. This year's marathon boasts a unique inspiration during the last leg - the first ever Little Sister Lane will merge with the race course for a 4-mile stretch near Lake Merced. Kids from nine local youth organizations will run together to motivate and inspire marathoners to cross the finish line. Mt. Gleason Middle School in Sunland, Calif., one of the participating organizations, scheduled training runs in early October to prepare young runners, age 12-15, for the Little Sister Lane as well as providing transportation for 30 runners and a student cheering section on race day.

"The Nike Women's Marathon is truly a unique event that brings women of all ages together to participate in a race designed just for them," said Brian O'Connor, Nike Brand Manager for Running. "The fact that the race sold out in record time with 95% of the participants being women underscores that women are looking for a race designed for them. Tiffany necklaces, the chocolate mile and a runners' coat-check are just a few of the special elements that contribute to the popularity of this race. We are excited to see the streets of San Francisco filled with women accomplishing not only the 26.2 miles of the marathon, but raising millions of dollars for LLS, which is an incredible feat."

Both full (26.2 miles) and half (13.1) marathon courses will remain the same for 2006 from 2005, incorporating famous San Francisco landmarks and scenery. The race will start in Union Square and run along the San Francisco Bay with scenic views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, ushering runners down the Great Highway as they cross the finish line. Along the course, runners will be offered support to keep them motivated, including a coat check to stash unwanted clothes, the Chocolate Mile - a mile of chocolate goodies from Ghirardelli - and a pedicure station. All race finishers will receive an official 2006 Finisher Necklace designed by Tiffany & Co.® and a Nike Dri-FIT performance top.

"It is great to see so many women running and celebrating the uniqueness of the Nike Women's Marathon," said Benoit Samuelson. "The strength, determination and commitment these women demonstrate is motivational and inspirational to anyone who wants to accomplish a goal of completing a marathon."

The Nike Women's Marathon will be an all-weekend celebration. Activities will include a race "Expotique" at Union Square featuring health and fitness consultations and demonstrations, as well as complimentary spa services. After the race, finishers will be able to enjoy a post-race concert.

To learn more about the Nike Women's Marathon, visit: NikeMarathon.com

Contact: Morgan Shaw, Nike Media Relations, (212) 328-3470; Morgan.Shaw@Nike.com

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