CHICAGO (JUNE 13, 2005) -- John Bingham Racing, LLC and FILA USA announce that the 29th Annual Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon held on August 7, 2005, in Grant Park, will host the first annual "FILA Chicago Challenge Cup" to be awarded to the fastest running specialty store. Every running specialty store is invited to attend.

The large trophy "FILA Chicago Challenge Cup" and bragging rights will go to the store that has the fastest aggregate time for a three (3) person mixed gender team. Teams are required to be registered before the event and each member of the team must be wearing a singlet identifying their running store team. Stores can be as creative as they like and recruit runners from anywhere.

"The Chicago Distance Classic is the oldest road race in the city of Chicago and it has endured all these years as a result of the great running community of Chicago" said John "The Penguin" Bingham, Founder of John Bingham Racing and Runner's World columnist. "Partnering with FILA USA on the FILA Challenge Cup is a wonderful way to include all of the retail specialty stores that make the Chicagoland running community unique".

The winning team wins:
* The FILA Chicago Challenge Cup awarded on Race Day.
* Round trip tickets to the Arizona Distance Classic in Tucson, Arizona (www.ArizonaDistanceClassic.com) on March 12, 2006 courtesy of Orbitz.
* Complementary entries and VIP Credentials into the Arizona Distance Classic to compete against teams from Arizona.

The Running Specialty Store entering a team will win or receive:
* Logo recognition throughout the promotion on the FILA Chicago Challenge Cup page of the website.
* "Expo" space at the one day Packet Pickup Picnic at Grant Park on August 6th and at the event on August 7th.
* Complementary entries and preferred corral starting for its team.
* VIP credentials for Race Day.
* The FILA Chicago Challenge Cup will be awarded and displayed at the victorious store all year until it is time to defend the title at the next year's Chicago Distance Classic.

For more information about the Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon or Whole Foods Market 5K Run and Walk, log onto www.chicagodistanceclassic.com.

For more information about FILA USA, check out www.fila.com