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

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QUOTE

"It was a fantastic experience getting to run with the elite group. The biggest surprise was how much I was on my own. I ran with a pack up to eight miles, then I pulled away and was alone until around mile 20 . . . I loved the hills, it was a great change of pace and kept me awake."

---Rachel Evjen from Villa Park, IL, who finished her first Boston Marathon in 2:57:44.

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THE SCOOP - LANCE'S LAST DANCE

Confirming weeks of speculation, six-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong has announced his impending retirement from professional cycling on July 24, 2005, the final day of this year's Tour de France. Armstrong made this announcement at a Tour de Georgia press conference:

"I have decided the Tour De France will be my last race as a professional cyclist," said Armstrong. "I have thought a lot about it, I have gone back and forth. My time has come but I will definitely have the itch every now and again. My children are my biggest supporters but at the same time they are the ones who told me it's time to come home."

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GOVERNOR RUNS RIVER TO RIVER RELAY

This past weekend, Governor Rod Blagojevich became the first governor to ever run in the River to River Relay, an 80-mile relay race that stretches across Southern Illinois, from the Mississippi to the Ohio River. Governor Blagojevich ran the anchor leg for his team"The Blue Suede Running Shoes," which finished in Golconda near the Pope County courthouse. The team finished 92 of 219 teams and 8th in the Masters category with a time of 10:25:39.

Top finishers for the 2005 River to River Relay Team were:
Open - St. Sebastian's Disciples - 7:34:14
Masters - Team Reliv - 7:59:51
Mixed - Murphy's Moonlight Milers - 8:12:29
Corporate - CNA A - 8:50:25
Women - The Sole Sisters - 8:54:58
Women Masters - Run Chicago Gazelles - 9:09:05

For more details: www.chicagoaa.com/ news/rivertoriver05governor.html

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BOSTON NOTES

At the 109th Boston Marathon, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya became the only woman to win four Boston titles with her controlled 2:25:13, while Hailu Negussie became only the second Ethiopian male victor since Abebe Mekonnen first turned the trick in 1989. Alan Culpepper and Peter Gilmore placed fourth and 10th, followed by Ryan Shay in 11th, making it the best showing by American men in Boston since 1993 when Mark Plaatjes and Keith Brantly placed sixth and ninth respectively

For complete coverage check out:
www.runningnetwork.com/news/boston05final.html

Photo gallery:
www.runningnetwork.com/features/ boston05photos.html

Running Network Faces at the Races:
www.runningnetwork.com/features/ boston05faces.html

To all the Chicagoland runners who ran in the 109th Boston Marathon--- we want to wish you congratulations!

The top local finishers are affiliated with specialty retail stores.
Cameron Stuber, 29, Chicago, IL - 2:36:45 (Manager, Universal Sole/ Chicago)
Rachel Evjen, 24, Villa Park, IL - 2:57:44 (Owner, Runner's Way/ Hinsdale)

Thirty-seven participants have completed 25 or more consecutive Boston Marathons. The lone Illinois representative to this group is Chicagoan Mark Buciak who finished his 26th consecutive Boston in 4:07:13.

Of 20,405 entrants, 18,319 actually started and 17,549 (95.8 percent) finished. There were runners from 81 different nations. The official race Web site had more than nine million hits during the race, with as many as 70,000 computers logged on at one time tracking the progress of friends or family. Fifteen official charities expect to raise more than $7 million from folks who ran for a good cause.

To view race results from this and other events, check out:
www.chicagoaa.com/results/searchable.html

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TRIVIA WINNERS

Last week's eNewsletter featured our popular trivia question. Five complimentary entries to Lake Geneva Extreme Adventure Series race on May 7 at Lake Geneva, WI were awarded to the following readers:

Mike Ebner, Daniel F. Grabowski, Gil Hannon, Shelley Hazel, and Dave Mortensen.

The question: What is the distance of the "foot race" and how many miles will you need to kayak? The answer was 8 miles and 14 miles, respectively.

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LUNA BAR EXPANDS TEAM LUNA CHIX PROGRAM TO INCLUDE RUNNING / WALKING, TRIATHLON AND ROAD CYCLING

If you're interested in applying for the Team LUNA Chix program, but haven't done so yet, please click on the link for the downloadable application form. The deadline has been extended to April 30.
www.lunabar.com/community/lunachix.cfm

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DAVIS WINS U.S. SPEEDSKATING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Chicago's Shani Davis was named U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year. Davis, who competed in both long and short track, not only won medals at World Championships and World Cups, but set a new world record of 1:43.33 in the 1500 -meters (long track) and was crowned the World Allround Champion at the U.S. Long Track Speedskating Championships. Davis was Chicago Athlete's Clif Bar Athlete of the Month for March.

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TYLER HAMILTON GETS TWO YEAR BAN

Olympic gold medalist and top Tour de France rider Tyler Hamilton was handed a two-year doping suspension. Click below for more:
www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php

Hamilton to appeal the suspension:
www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling

For Hamilton's comments, check out his Web site:
www.tylerhamilton.com

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TRACK & FIELD AND RUNNING AMONG PREMIERE "WOMEN'S SPORTS"

USA Track & Field recently released a study revealing the status of track & field and running as one of the premier "women's" sports, as well as factors that may keep it from being recognized as such. The study conducted by Yi Analytics details the economic, media, and participatory successes that women have had in the sport. Not only are female athletes high profile, they make more money in professional track & field and running than almost any other sport. Read more courtesy of the Running Network: www.runningnetwork.com/news/usatfwomenstudyApr05.html

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FUN RUN TO REMEMBER ON THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Many of Chicago's top running stores have teamed up to support the 2005 Run to Remember, a 5K on April 30. To help promote the run, which will raise money for a permanent memorial to honor fallen officers, your area running stores will jointly host a fun run on Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Runners can start at any one of five different stores-MOMENTUM (773-525-7866), Universal Sole (773- 868-0893), Fleet Feet (312-587-3338), Running Away (773-395-2929), and New Balance Chicago (773-348-1787). All five groups will then converge at Goose Island Wrigleyville for a post-run party with the first round of beer on the house. For more information, contact your local store.

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NEW START TIMES FOR UNIVERSAL SOLE LAKEFRONT 10-MILE & 5K

Due to unfinished construction on the lakefront paths, the Lakefront 10 will now start at 8:15 a.m. and the Lakefront 5K will remain an 8 a.m. start time. Fore more details, go to www.universalsole.com.

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THE WEEKEND AHEAD

Chicago Athlete will be at the Ravenswood 5K and Lakefront 10 Mile/ 5K. Be sure to stop by, pick up a copy of the latest issue and say hello. For more details on these and other events, be sure to visit our searchable calendar:
www.chicagoaa.com/calendar/smu.html

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Wishing you the best in your training and racing!