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Contact: Shawn M. Platt, (312) 904-7240; shawn.platt@...

Final Two Elite Athletes Solidify LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Women's Field
Olympic Medalists Tulu, Chepchumba Bring Impressive Road Records for October 10 Race

CHICAGO - (October 5, 2004) - The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon women's elite field is complete with the final additions of Derartu Tulu and Joyce Chepchumba. Tulu, in her debut appearance in Chicago, and Chepchumba, two-time LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon winner, will certainly challenge the lead pack with their impressive road records in long distance running.

"I am very excited to have Joyce returning to our race and Derartu making her first appearance in Chicago. They are, without a doubt, two extraordinary additions to our elite women's field," stated Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "I had the chance to see Derartu while I was in Athens this summer and she looks to be in great shape. They both will solidify and add tremendous depth to our already competitive women's field."

Derartu Tulu, 32, a four-time Olympian for Ethiopia, became the first African woman gold medalist, winning the 10,000m at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, with a time of 32:08.74. At the 1996 Olympic Games, Tulu placed a disappointing fourth, falling just short of a medal in the 10,000m.

But in 2000 at the Sydney Olympic Games, Tulu bounced back. Taking the lead on the final lap of the 10,000m, she sprinted for a sound victory over teammate Gete Wami. With that victory, Tulu became the first woman ever to win two gold medals in distance racing. Since 2001, Tulu remained successful placing in several races. Most recently, while participating in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, she won the 10,000 meter bronze medal. Tulu hasn't run in the U.S. since her debut in the 1997 Boston Marathon, where she placed fifth.

"As a full-fledged marathoner, it will give me a thrill to run another marathon in the U.S." commented Derartu Tulu, "I consider Chicago one of the greatest and fastest marathons in the world, and look forward to Race Day and believe I will give my best."

Joyce Chepchumba, 34, the 1998-99 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Champion, remains one of the most successful women's runners in the Marathon's history. Also an Olympic medalist, Chepchumba won bronze in the marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

This year, she set a personal best winning the Lisbon Half-Marathon in a time of 1:08:11. Only a week later, the Kenyan went on to win the Berlin Half-Marathon with a time of 1:09:49. Also this year, Chepchumba, a mark of consistency, continued her seven year streak at the London Marathon, running 2:28:01 or quicker in each marathon she has participated in since 1997.

Other confirmed elite athletes with bib# at Chicago include:

MEN
11 Trent Briney (USA/MI)
2 Khalid Khannouchi (USA/NY), four-time race champion
16 Stephen Kiogora (KEN)
3 Paul Koech (KEN), 2nd last year
6 James Koskei (KEN)
4 Daniel Njenga (KEN), 3rd last year
1 Evans Rutto (KEN), defending champion
12 Brian Sell (USA/MI)
5 Toshinari Takaoka (JPN)
13 Clint Verran (USA/MI)

WOMEN
104 Yasuko Hashimoto (JPN)
103 Albina Ivanova (RUS)
110 Olga Romanova (RUS)
106 Marla Runyan (USA/OR)
107 Blake Russell (USA/CA)
108 Jenny Spangler (USA/IL)
102 Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM), 2nd last year
101 Svetlana Zakharova (RUS), defending champion

The 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10 starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The race will be broadcast live on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000 beginning at 8am. Elite athletes will compete for a portion of the $650,000 prize purse, the highest in the sport. Registration for this year's race is closed as the cap of 40,000 was reached. Visit chicagomarathon.com for race information including athlete bios and more.

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Media Contact: Kristen Teubner, (703) 432-1164, teubnerkc@...

Actor/Marine R. Lee Ermey to be an Honorary Starter at the 29th Marine Corps Marathon

QUANTICO, Va. - (October 4, 2004) - Known around the world for his signature portrayal of loud, aggressive, screaming military figures, retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant and successful actor R. Lee Ermey will be an honorary starter of the 29th Marine Corps Marathon, joining fellow Marine and 1964 Olympic Gold Medal winner Billy Mills on the starting platform. The MCM will be held on Sunday, October 31 in Arlington, Va. and Washington, D.C.

Ermey spent eleven years in the Marine Corps, two of which he served as a Drill Instructor, before studying film at the University of Manila in the Philippines. Landing a role in the film "Apocalypse Now" launched an acting career that includes appearances in roughly forty films such as Full Metal Jacket, Dead Man Walking and Switchback. His recognizable southern-accented verbal tirades have appeared on The Simpsons and in both Toy Story movies.

Most recently Ermey has become known as the host of Mail Call, the weekly History Channel series that answers viewer's questions about technology used throughout history by the Armed Forces.

"R. Lee Ermey uses his tremendous character and wonderful acting abilities to give so many a glimpse into the Marine Corps," said Rick Nealis, Marine Corps Marathon Race Director. "His presence at this year's Marine Corps Marathon will energize the participants and add to the intensity of the day's events."

The Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Since its inception, over 293,000 civilian and military runners from all walks of life have participated, deservingly earning the event its nickname "The People's Marathon."

The Marine Corps Marathon also hosts The Washington Post presents: The Healthy Kids Fun Run on Saturday, October 30 and the Marine Corps Marathon 8K on Sunday, October 31, immediately following the start of the Marathon.

For more information, visit the race website at: www.marinemarathon.com

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Contact: Patrice Malloy, Malloy Marketing Group, (760) 635-2833
Lynn Flanagan, In Motion, Inc., (760) 692-2900

CARLSBAD MARATHON WOOS WEATHER-WEARY RUNNERS

CARLSBAD, Calif. - (October 4, 2004) - In a move to showcase its classic Southern California climate and to reward runners who brave snowy or rain-soaked fall marathons, the Carlsbad Marathon has announced the "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad" promotion.

During the fall marathon season, runners and walkers who finish any marathon amidst snow or rain will be eligible for either free or discounted entry into the 2005 Carlsbad Marathon - San Diego County's only seaside marathon. The race is set for January 16, 2005.

Carlsbad, located approximately 30 miles north of San Diego on the Pacific coast, has an average low temperature of 47 degrees and average high of 65 degrees in January. Normal rainfall in the San Diego area in January is 1.8 inches. By contrast, Seattle's average rainfall in January is 5.94 inches and Chicago's average snowfall in January is 10.7 inches.

"Southern California is not immune to rain," said Lynn Flanagan, president of In Motion, Inc., organizer of the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon. "But we certainly have much better weather here than in other parts of the country, especially in January"

Free entry into the Carlsbad Marathon (formally the San Diego Marathon) will be offered to finishers of fall marathons where snow covers at least a portion of the course. Marathoners who trekked through their race in the rain will be treated to half-price entry fees.

"With major fall marathons taking place in cities such as Chicago, New York and Seattle, we may get a flood of responses," said Flanagan.

The free entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check application because of snowy fall marathon conditions. The half-price entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check because they ran their fall marathon in the rain.

Rain Check applications are available online at www.carlsbadmarathon.com or by calling (760) 692-2900. Rain Checks must be mailed to: "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad," c/o In Motion, Inc., 6355 Corte del Abeto, Suite C-103, Carlsbad, CA 92009. Other conditions apply. Please log on to www.carlsbadmarathon.com for complete promotion rules and regulations.

The 14th annual Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, January 16, 2005, are San Diego County's only winter seaside marathon and half-marathon. The fast out-and-back half-marathon course and the rolling marathon course feature live bands and offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Carlsbad beaches. The event weekend also includes the Keebler Kids Marathon Mile on Saturday, January 15, 2005 and a three-day Road Runner Sports Fitness expo. Major sponsors include: Road Runner Sports, NBC 7/39, Citibank, Overland Storage, La Costa Resort and Spa and Kaiser Permanente.

For more information regarding the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, visit www.carlsbadmarathon.com or call (760) 692-2900. For more information on Carlsbad tourism visit www.visitcarlsbad.com or call (800) 227-5722.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@...

www.runningusa.org