Chicago, April 26, 2005 - John Bingham Racing, LLC announces that the 29th Annual Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon held at Grant Park on August 7, 2005, will host the first annual "Chicago Challenge Cup" to be awarded to the fastest running specialty store in Chicago.

The large trophy "cup" and bragging rights will go to the store that has the fastest aggregate time for a three (3) person mixed gender team. The only requirements are: (i) that the team be registered before the event and; (ii) that each member of the team be wearing the singlet identifying their running store team.

The large "cup" trophy 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.

"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 of which all running specialty stores play a huge roll," said John "The Penguin" Bingham, a long time Runner's World columnist and chairman of John Bingham Racing.

The winning team will win:

*Three round trip tickets to the Arizona Distance Classic in Tucson, Arizona (www.arizonadistanceclassic.com) on March 12, 2006 courtesy of Orbitz.

*Complementary entries into the Arizona Distance Classic to compete against teams from Arizona.

*Recognition at the event as the Chicago Challenge Cup Champions and VIP credentials.

The retail store sponsoring the team will win or receive:

*The Chicago Challenge Cup awarded on Race Day.

*Logo recognition throughout the promotion on the Challenge Cup page of the website.

*Expo space at the one day Packet Pickup Picnic at Grant Park on August 6 and at the event on August 7.

*Complementary entries and preferred corral starting for its team and VIP credentials for race day.

The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon will return to Grant Park and will include a one-day packet pickup picnic. For more information www.chicagodistanceclassic.com.