From CARA press release. (Revised 3/10/03)

Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) will host five free previews of its popular "CARA's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Training Program" on:

Monday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. * At the "The Barn" in Paulus Park, 400 Whitney or off Rt 12 right across from the (now closed) K Mart. (*please note, per CARA staff, this is a corrected address)

Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. at Children's Memorial Hospital, Bigler Auditorium, 707 W. Fullerton Ave., on Chicago's north side.

Wednesday, March 19, 7:00 p.m. at Oak Forest High School, 15201 S. Central Ave., in southwest suburban Oak Forest.

Thursday, March 20, 7:00 p.m . at College of DuPage, 425 22nd St, K-West Commons, in west suburban Glen Ellyn.

Friday, March 21, 12 Noon, at James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Lower Level Assembly Hall, in Downtown Chicago.

"There is status in having completed a marathon," proclaimed CARA CEO David Patt. "We want to make sure that people do it properly and avoid injury."

The CARA program, with over 2300 participants at city and suburban locations, is the largest in the Chicago area, and has doubled in size in the last four years.

"The popularity of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has made this the 'in' thing to do," Patt noted. "Ordinary people who have never thought of running this far are now clamoring to train for the 26.2 mile race."

The free preview will outline the structure of the program - expert clinics, group long runs, training texts and schedules, and a special race day tent, with toilets, water, and post-race refreshment - and will explain the minimum requirements to begin proper training.

CARA's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Training Program kicks off June 9-13 with clinics in Chicago, Lake Zurich, Glen Ellyn, and Oak Forest. Weekend long runs begin June 14-15 in Chicago, Niles, Libertyville, Lake Zurich, Western Springs, Glen Ellyn, Warrenville, St. Charles, and Oak Forest.

CARA's Half-Marathon Training Program, an excellent "stepping stone" for first- time marathon aspirants, starts March 24-28 in Chicago, Lake Zurich, Glen Ellyn, and Oak Forest.

Register on-line for either program at www.CARAruns.org or call (312) 666-9836 for a printed registration form.

The programs are sponsored by LaSalle Bank, New Balance, AthletiCo, Tanita Clif Bar, Goose Island Brewery, Dominick's, Gatorade, Fleet Feet Sports, and Chicago Athlete magazine.

Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) founded in 1978, is a 9,200-member, not-for-profit association promoting health and fitness through running.