The Road Runners Club of America Annual Convention is being held in Chicago from Wednesday, March 21 to Sunday, March 25. The 50th annual convention, presented by the Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich, Ill., and Illinois Runs training group, includes seminars, fun runs and clinics. The convention is open to race managers, club leaders and general members of the running community.

"Convention attendees will not only be able to see our beautiful city, but they will have the opportunity to learn from expert speakers we will have lined up for our sessions," said Beth Onines, RRCA Central Regional Director and Alpine Runners President.

The Road Runners Club of America is a nonprofit coalition of 700 running clubs and approximately 175,000 members.

Educational seminars will be held on Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24. New this year is a series of Club College seminars geared to improve participants' running club management. Club College will cover topics like managing your nonprofit club/event, managing your finances and managing risk. Other seminar topics include small race production, running safety, ethics for the running community, injury prevention & medical issues on course, and more. The convention is hosted by the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Chicago.

In addition to seminars, runners and directors from all over the country will have the opportunity to participate in morning group runs, a convention expo and silent auction, and a running tour of historic Chicago. This is the first time the RRCA convention has been held in Chicago.

The convention concludes with the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K on Sunday, March 25. The Shuffle is the largest 8K in the country and regularly draws top national and international talent.

For more information, visit www.RRCAConvention2007.org