Welcome to the Chicago Athlete Express.
Great Information. Quick Read.

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SCOOP

Try out for "Survivor" this weekend!
cbs2chicago.com/contests/ local_story_355164904.html

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SHE'S GOT A BRAND NEW BIKE

Congratulations to Chicago Athlete Express eNewsletter subscriber, Amy Weik of Chicago. Her name was drawn from our subscriber list and she won a Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bike courtesy of Specialized and Village Cycle Center---from our fall eNewsletter contest.

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FROM 2004 to 2005

We hope everyone ushered 2004 out in style and may you all have grand athletic plans for 2005! If you made a resolution, feel free to write it down on our Message Board. Experts say that writing down your goals and sharing them with others is a good incentive toward keeping your resolution.
Here's the link to the Chicago Athlete Message Board:
www.chicagoaa.com/cgi-bin/messageboard/view.pl

If you want to read my athletic resolutions (and give me grief if I don't keep them!) you'll have to check out the Editor's Note in the January issue of Chicago Athlete - available at your favorite specialty retail store and many local health clubs.
www.chicagoaa.com/magazine/findus.html

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SPEAKING OF RESOLUTIONS . . .

Over 550 runners bid adieu to 2004 at the Universal Sole Resolution Run 5K on New Year's Eve. Here are some photos from the race:
www.chicagoaa.com/features/resolution04photos.html

What better way to welcome 2005 than to run a race and/or jump into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan!
Here's the New Year's Day 5K and Polar Swim photo gallery:
www.chicagoaa.com/features/newyear05photos.html

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DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR CLIF BAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Deadline is January 14:
www.chicagoaa.com/features/athleteyear2004.html

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SNOW'S ON ITS WAY - TO EVERY BIRKIE COMPETITOR'S DELIGHT

Here's your Birkie update courtesy of the Birkie eNewsletter:

As of Tuesday, the trail is being groomed using the Tidd Tech to soften up the top of the snow from "OO" south to Hwy 77. The lighted loop was groomed using the Pisten Bully, softening up the top inch of packed snow. Tomorrow the trail will be groomed going north. Conditions are good in the above mentioned areas; however, precautions should be taken on the trail as the skiing is fast. And . . . The new loop on the west side of the trail at "OO" is now lighted in its entirety. The lighted area now totals approximately 4K. You can ski a circle from the warming building back to the warming building. There is also a short cutacross (lighted) about 2/3rd of the way down the Birkie trail which crosses over to the new loop. Lights will go on at dusk and will stay on until 10 p.m. each night. For complete Birkie information, check out:
www.birkie.com

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A WORKOUT FOR YOUR BODY AND MIND

Momentum's Chicago Trivia Fun Run is set for Thursday, January 13. This free event starts at 7 p.m. with a 3.5 to 4 mile. Participants running in teams of two make stops at various locations to answer questions in categories such as sports, history, and art and architecture. The team with the most correct answers wins the grand prize. For more information and to reserve a spot, call Momentum at 773-525- 7866.

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THE WEEKEND AHEAD . . .

The Adventures in Travel Expo (ATE), the worlds largest adventure travel show, is coming to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, January 8 - 9, 2005. For more details check out:
www.chicagoaa.com/news/outdooradventureshowDec04.html

Meanwhile, down in Florida there's a race going on . . . The 2005 Walt Disney Marathon & Half Marathon. Good luck to everyone heading down for this fun event! Most of the Chicago Athlete staff will be in attendance, so please look for us at the finish line.
For special coverage from the Running Network check out:
www.runningnetwork.com/features/disney05list.html

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TRIVIA CONTEST

We've got a few complimentary passes to this weekend's Adventures in Travel Expo.

QUESTION: Name two door prizes you could win and the sponsors of each one. Email your answers to editorial@chicagoaa.com by Wednesday at 5 p.m. and we'll draw some names. Please include your snail mail address so we can send you your complimentary ticket.

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NOTICE TO EVENT DIRECTORS:

If you haven't sent in your event listings for 2005, please do so ASAP.
www.chicagoaa.com/news/eventlistingform2005.html
(Note: we expect to have all listings input by mid-January and will contact event directors via email to verify information. Questions, contact Brenda Barrera at brenda@chicagoaa.com).

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CLOSER

The Chicago Area Runner's Association will host their Annual Awards Party & Fundraiser on Saturday, January 22 at 6 p.m. at the White Eagle Restaurant (6839 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in Niles. Chris Wehrman and Elizabeth Engel will pick up their Runners of the Year awards along with many other age groupers. For more information:
www.cararuns.org/cara_info/awardsparty05.html

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Wishing you the best in your training and racing!