After more than a two decade hiatus, a local runners group, the Rockford Area Convention & Tourism Bureau as well as representatives from local public and civic organizations have announced plans for a resurrected Rockford Marathon to be held Sunday, May 18, 2008, in Illinois' third largest city.

Bureau officials as well as members of the Rockford Road Runners and others were on hand to announce plans for the revived marathon, which will wind its way through city streets, at a community press conference held in early August. Producing the marathon will be Special Events Management, the largest producer of special events in the Midwest including runs/walks and street festivals.

An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 runners are expected to participate in the Rockford Marathon which will kick off at 7 a.m. Runners will be able to participate in either a full (26.2 mile) or half (13.1 mile) marathon.

Rockford held five marathons on the Fourth of July from 1978 through 1982. From 1983-86 it was moved to November and renamed the Rock River Marathon.

For more information or to sign up for the 2008 Rockford Marathon, visit www.rockfordmarathon.com or call (773) 868-3010.