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Welcome to the Chicago Athlete Express. Enjoy the read.


THE SCOOP
The elite fields for The 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon now include 37 men and 24 women. Fastest PRs in the fields are Daniel Njenga of Kenya on the men's side with the 2:06:16 he ran here last year and Svetlana Zakharova of Russia, who ran 2:21:31, also at Chicago in 2002. The 26.2-miler is at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12.

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THE WILD SIDE
The fourth annual Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race, contested over the week- end in Chicago, was won by Team AROC from Australia. This year's event was "expedition style," meaning all the teams had to be self-sufficient. Good weather made for good conditions as teams in-line skated, scootered, ran, cycled, climbed (Sears Tower) and rappelled (Navy Pier). Team AROC finished in just over 20.5 hours. The championship team consisted of Alina McMaster, Matt Dalziel, Nigel Aylott and Tom Landon-Smith. "We had so much fun!" McMaster said, comparing the experience to the rough day the team had in taking second place at the Primal Quest in Lake Tahoe, NV on Sept. 9. Second place at the Wild Onion went to Team Timex 1 from Connecticut. Rounding out the top five were Jim Class of Chicago, Rand McNally of California and Team Moosejaw. For more details, visit the event's Web site at:
www.urbanadventureracing.com
For a photo gallery:
www.chicagoaa.com/features/wildonionscallion03photos.html

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THE NEWS
Stakes are in place along the Illinois Prairie Path in Lombard for the installation of lights. When they have been installed, the path will be lighted from I-294 at the Elmhurst-Berkeley line to Finley Road in Lombard, approximately 5.8 miles. Villa Park, and then Elmhurst previously put lights on their portions of the trail.

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THE WEEKEND AHEAD
The new Blood, Sweat & Tears Bike Rides, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymph- oma Society, on Saturday morning out of St. Charles headline the weekend. Distances are 30 & 55 miles with a picnic afterward. Saturday events also include the Park Ridge Charity Classic 5K, Universal Sole Cross Country 5K, Fall Fest 5K in Beecher and the Life Without Lupus 5K downtown. On Sunday, the big events include the Frank Lloyd Wright Runs in Oak Park, the Plainfield Harvest 5K the Brookfield Zoo Zoo Run Run, the Winnetka Distance Runs and the Brooks Muddy Buddy run-bike event at Indian Hills Farm near Gilberts. For information on these and other events, visit our searchable calendar at:
www.chicagoaa.com/calendar/smu.html

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THE RESULTS
You were competing and we've got the results. Were you in one of these races? Lake Michigan Triathlon, Fall Festival 5K, Harvest Fest 5K, AIDS Run & Walk, Anne Clarke 5K, Wheeling Fall Fest 5K, Condell Distance Classic, Hinsdale Hosp- ital 5K, rotary Runs, Race to Stop Global Warming, CVMA Dog Jog, Bucktown 5K and National Heritage Corridor 25K. If so, we've got your results posted for all to see. Check them out at:
www.chicagoaa.com/results/searchable.html

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THE QUESTION -- COUNTDOWN TO THE LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON!
For the question, click on:
ww.chicagoaa.com/news/chicagomarathon03goodybag.html

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THE RADCLIFFE WATCH
Another week, another world best. Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe continued her incredible comeback from injury with a 65:40 at the Great North Run Half-Marathon on Sunday in Newcastle, UK. The time is four seconds better than the world record of 65:44, set in 2001 at Lisbon, Portugal by Susan Chepkemei of Kenya, but won't be recognized as a world record because the Great North course is slightly downhill. Next up for Radcliffe is the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships on Oct. 4 in Portugal. Go, Paula, go!

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THE OCTOBER ISSUE
Chicago Athlete's October issue, which includes the Official Program of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, is out. Here's where you can find it: www.chicagoaa.com/magazine/findus.html

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THE REMINDERS
Don't miss Chicago Athlete writer Mark Buciak's annual "Marathon Do's and Don'ts" at 5:30 p.m. this Sunday at Fleet Feet Sports, 210 W. North Avenue. And on Monday night, also at Fleet Feet Piper's Alley, the annual "Feed Your Feet Fun Run" is set for 6:30 p.m., followed by food from restaurants along the route of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Run distances are 3, 4, 5 or 6 miles. At the Monday night event, you can have your name put on your marathon shirt, courtesy of Marathon Sportswear, which will be providing personalized custom heat transfers for $13 per person. This will be available from 2 to 8 p.m.

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THE TV PLANNER
Ironman Wisconsin will be shown on Outdoor Life Network (OLN) twice this fall.
Dates and times (Central time) are:
Thursday, Oct. 23 -- 11 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27 -- 11 a.m. (Thanksgiving)


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THE CLOSER
For some of you, the marathon season is on! Best of luck to locals who are running in the Quad Cities (IL) and Fox Cities (WI) Marathons this weekend.