byLarry Eder
Liliya Shobukhova, 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Those of us who grew up running in the Midwest have iconic images of races stuck in our heads. From small town races to the big city races, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon not only opened the marathon up to the masses in the midwest, it opened midwest running to the world.
Who can forget Steve Jones running oh so close to the world record, and then breaking it? Khalid Khannouchi owned the city of Chicago for several years, due to his fearless running, and now, Liliya Shobukhova, who has won the women’s race three times! And, how we miss the late Sammy Wanjiru, who ran with reckless abandon across the streets of the Windy City, showing his promise and his heart! Those are just a few of the stories of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Chicago is a magnificent city, and its art treasures, architectural features, great shopping and wonderful restaurants rivals anywhere in the world. The continued growth of international runners each year at the Bank of America Chicago marathon shows how the city and marathon work well together. From Mayor Daley to Mayor Emmanuel, Chicago’s mayors make it a point to note the contribution from the 40,000 plus runners and their families who visit the Windy City for one wonderful weekend in October.
The attention to detail, the late nights resulting, and the closeness of the teams who put on these events are no different in Chicago than in the Big Apple. From Carey Pinkowski, Mike Nishi, Jeremy Borling, Robyn Monsky and the many others who make the event a reality, the B of A Chicago Marathon is a stunner. From Bank of America and Nike, two of the major sponsors, the event brings together volunteers, and many of Chicago’s finest (police and fire professionals) to insure a great event for those who have taken much of the last year, training for the chance run across the Windy City.
Well, February 1, 2012 is the day when registration opens on this great event. Don’t miss it! Carey Pinkowski and his team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will make it worth your while!
And the Windy City will welcome you, for days afterwards, as you walk a bit slower, but enjoy the sites better, after your 26.2 mile sojourn through all that is Chicago.
January 31, 2012
Reporters May Contact:
Robin Monsky, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 1.312.992.6630
robin.monsky@cemevent.com
Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 1.312.992.2370
diane.wagner@bankofamerica.com
2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Registration to Open Wednesday, February 1
Iconic Race Celebrates 35th Anniversary on Sunday, October 7
CHICAGO – Registration for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
will open to the public beginning at noon (CST) on Wednesday, February
1, at www.chicagomarathon.com.
The 35th anniversary of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be
held on Columbus Day weekend, Sunday, October 7, starting and finishing
in Chicago’s Grant Park. Registration will be open to the first 45,000
entrants.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the most prestigious
marathons in the world, and is one of the five World Marathon Majors.
Each year, the event delivers a fast course and a first-class race
experience, as well as builds upon a long-standing tradition of
supporting the Chicagoland economy and more than 160 nonprofit
organizations which raise funds to advance local, national and global
causes.
The cost of entry into the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is $150
for U.S. participants and $175 for participants outside of the U.S.
Registration will close when the participant capacity of 45,000 is
reached. More information on the race, registration and how to get
involved is available at www.chicagomarathon.com.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants,
including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an
estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and
international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in raising
millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating
$170 million in economic impact to its host city according to a report
by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics
Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2012 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon will start and finish in Chicago’s Grant Park beginning at 7:30
a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In advance of the race, a two-day Health
& Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on
Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6.
For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.
