The challenge of capturing the spirit and energy of New York City's famed marathon goes this year to Chicago artist Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite.

Chosen from hundreds of contenders, Fimreite was commissioned to create the officially sanctioned lithograph of the 2004 ING New York City Marathon.

"This was an exciting challenge," Fimreite said. "My passion has always been to capture the excitement and energy of the urban environment, and New York City's legendary marathon presents a grand palette, from the thousands of runners, volunteers and millions of spectators from around the world to the diverse neighborhoods through which the course runs."

The colorful artwork, printed in limited edition lithographs and art posters, is published by Glencoe, IL based Art of Running, which has been producing official lithographs for some of the world's premier marathon races since 1981, including the Chicago and Boston marathons.

According to Art of Running co-founder Donna MacLeod, Fimreite was selected "for her sense of color and vivid depictions of urban landscapes - environments that celebrate the interaction of people and the public places they inhabit. She is especially adept at combining images in a way that's visually appealing, which is particularly important for a work that must depict the different faces of New York's five boroughs."

Fimreite came to the attention of The Art of Running via the non- profit Chicago Artists' Coalition, the largest non-profit organization devoted to improving the environment in which artists live and work in Chicago. The organization's website, www.CAConline.org, which is administered by MarketingMarks Corporation, features Fimreite's artwork along with that of hundreds of other Chicago area artists.

The 16 x 27 inch lithographs are printed on museum-quality paper with special archival inks for enduring beauty. They make an excellent souvenir of the race and can even be personalized with a runner's name and race time. Prices range from $36 for art posters, to $80 for limited edition prints, and up to $155-$295 for various levels of personalization. They can be ordered online at www.artofrunning.com or by calling 800-521-7959.

Official Lithograph for ING New York City Marathon

ART POSTER: $36 unframed, $90 framed.

LIMITED EDITION PRINT: Limited to 500 pieces. Each print is hand signed and numbered by the artist. $80 unframed, $195 framed.

GOLD EDITION: A Limited Edition personalized by the artist with a message of your choice written with gold ink. $155 framed, $275 framed.

SPECIAL REMARQUE: A Limited Edition (numbered from 1 to 50) with a detail from the race hand-painted by the artist in the lower corner of the print and with a personalized message if you choose. $295 unframed, $425 framed.