Welcome to the Chicago Athlete Express. Here's the info. Enjoy the read.

THE SCOOP

Registration will open for the 2004 Accenture Chicago Triathlon at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec.15. Race date is Sunday, Aug. 29. This one fills fast. For the details, visit:
www.chicagotriathlon.com

***************************************************************************
THE NEWS

Universal Sole's men's and women's teams fared well against very tough opposition on Sunday at the USA Club Cross Country Championships at Greensboro, NC. The men's team finished eighth out of 23 teams while the women came in seventh of 15. No other teams from Chicago were entered. Top U-Sole finishers were Jeremy Borling (32:17 for 10K) and Gloria Iverson (22:20 for 6K). Hansons-Brooks won the men's race, Farm Team the women's. For the story on the race, click on:
www.runningnetwork.com/news/uscrosscountry03champsfinal.html For detailed restuls and team scores, go to:
www.usatf.org/events/2003/USATFClubXCChampionships/schedule.shtml

The 51st annual Ted Haydon Classic ushers in the local indoor track season this Saturday, Dec. 13, at the University of Chicago's Henry Crown Field House, 56th St. and University Ave, Chicago. Field events start at 8 a.m. and track events at 11 a.m. Call Patrick Palmer at 773-702-8212 or go to:
www.uctc.org/entry_all.html

While we're on track and field, North Central College is hosting two clinics for coaches and athletes. The first is this Sunday, Dec. 14, and focuses on field events. The second is Dec. 26-28. For other details, contact coach Mahesh Narayanan at North Central (Naperville) at 630-637-5525 or mahesh@noctrl.edu

Bicyclists, here's the heads-up. Registration is being accepted for the second annual Grand Illinois Trail And Parks Ride (GITAP) in June. Openings won't last long. For more info:
www.bikelib.org/gitap/index.htm

Are you a Chicago park or trail user? The Chicago Park District will conduct a hearing on Thursday night for public input on its budget proposal for 2004. For more details, click on:
www.chicagoaa.com/news/parkdistricthearingDec03.html

***************************************************************************
THE WEEKEND AHEAD

The Chase Rudolph Ramble 8K on Sunday in Lincoln Park headlines this weekend's race schedule. What's this about snow in the forecast this weekend? Dress for chilly temps and stop by Chicago Athlete's tent to say hello. Also on Sunday, the Reindeer Run in Warrenville should attract a large turnout. Here is the calendar:
www.chicagoaa.com/calendar/smu.html And if you aren't near a computer on Friday mornings, find our weekend calendar in the sports pages of the Chicago Sun-Times.

***************************************************************************
THE RESULTS

The Cross-Country Challenge drew another big crowd of "mudders" to Indian Hills Training Center near far west-suburban Gilberts on Sunday. More than a thousand finished the race as Neville Vevens of Evanston won the wet, wild 8K in 31:22. Jennifer Goebel of Lombard took the women's title with a 38:38. For results of this race and others from the weekend, click on:
www.chicagoaa.com/results/searchable.html

***************************************************************************
READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

We know you've got opinions and we value them. Take a minute and print out a ballot for our annual Readers' Choice Awards. Fill it in and get it back to us by Dec. 31. Here's the link:
www.chicagoaa.com/media/features/CAchoiceawards03.pdf

***************************************************************************
THE GIFT IDEAS

National Bike Month license plates are available for 2004 from the League of Illinois Bicyclists. The plates, which cost $25 per set, can be displayed on your car during April and May. Download an order form at:
www.bikelib.org/seasonal/2004bikeMonth.pdf

For that special athlete, find your other gifts at one of the many specialty stores in the Chicago area. Find a store by viewing our Resources page at:
www.chicagoaa.com/other/resourceindex.html

***************************************************************************
THE CLOSER

Now that Khalid Khannouchi has pulled out of the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials, Carey Pinkowski, executive director of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Mara- thon, told Chicago Athlete he thinks Alan Culpepper is the one to watch. We'll find out on Saturday, Feb. 7 in Birmingham, AL.