Marathon Scheduled to hit 40,000 Participant Cap by Early-August

CHICAGO (July 7, 2004) - Registration for the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is well on its way to its 40,000 participant limit. The number of registered marathon participants has already topped 25,000. These numbers are soaring more rapidly than ever before. This year's closing date is anticipated to occur in late-July or early-August. Last year's registration for the Marathon closed at the end of August due to the cap, and this year's registration has moved even faster to this point.

"Registration for the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is filling up in record time," says Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Based on the participants we have registered thus far, we anticipate registration closing as early as the end of July."

Just ten years ago, the marathon's registration reached a high of only 10,000 participants. "Now the Marathon reaches its cap of 40,000 two months before the horn goes off," added Pinkowski. The increase in registration is due greatly in part to the growing national trend of running, as well as the beautiful, diverse 26.2-mile course the city of Chicago has to offer.

Registration for this year's race is available at the Chicago Marathon's official Web site, www.chicagomarathon.com. Registration is open to all runners who can complete the course in six hours or less. Registration is $80 ($90 for International participants) and can be completed either online or by standard mail. Registration is also available through various charity organizations associated with the marathon. In addition to registration, many of the Marathon's charities offer training programs and/or incentives to help you raise money for local, national and international charities. Charity information can also be found on the event's Web site or calling 1-888-243-3344 (U.S. or Canada) or 312-904-9800.

The 2004 marathon will host former world record holder and four-time LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon winner, Khalid Khannouchi, as well as last year's Marathon winner, Evans Rutto. This year's elite athletes will be competing for the highest marathon prize purse ever, $550,000. The top male and female athletes will receive $125,000, the largest first place prize in the sport.

The 2004 race will again include competitive and preferred start positions for those runners who have completed previous marathons or half-marathons within a certain time limit. The marathon accepts a total of 2,500 competitive start positions and 6,500 preferred start positions. This year's competitive start qualifying times are 3:15:00 or faster in a full

marathon and 1:30:00 or faster in a half-marathon. The preferred start qualifying times are 3:45:00 or faster in a full marathon and 1:45:00 or faster in a half marathon. The qualifying times must be based on a marathon or half-marathon since January 1, 2002.

2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10 at 8 a.m. The race both starts and finishes in Chicago's Grant Park. CBS 2 CHICAGO, official broadcast partner of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and ESPN 1000, official radio partner, will broadcast live coverage of the 40,000 participants and 1 million spectators anticipated to crowd the streets on raceday.