September 9 race expected to fill 12,500 field in record time
The Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon presented by the Illinois Agents of Farmers Insurance is experiencing record registration numbers, prompting race organizers to strongly encourage participants to sign up to reserve their place in the 11th anniversary race running on September 9.

The race, which has been touted by Runner's World magazine as one of the Top 10 half marathons in the United States for two years in a row, sold out last year five weeks in advance of race day. The event is now the seventh largest half marathon in the United States. It is expected to sell out despite increasing its race cap to 12,500 runners to meet demand.

The 13.1-mile race through Chicago's historic Hyde Park neighborhood also offers a kids' festival and post-race festival. The event has renewed its partnership with Special Olympics Chicago as its preferred charity, and this year is aiming to top the mark of $30,000 in donations raised in 2006.

To register, visit www.chicagohalfmarathon.com

Photo: 2006 Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon winner Greg Costello (left) and second-place finisher Chris Wehrman (right).