New Balance Prepares for Chicago Marathon

As the 'Official footwear and apparel sponsor' of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon New Balance will offer multiple elements for both runners and spectators during the event on Sunday October 10.

• New for 2005 – New Balance will unveil a special “marathon of names”
  wall on Tuesday October 4th on 100 feet of windows on Michigan Avenue's
  Chicago Hilton to offer tribute to the 40,000 marathon runners in the
  2005 event. The display area will also feature a Countdown Clock that
  will track the time leading up to the marathon and the official marathon
  time as well.

• This year's official marathon apparel line offers a wide range of
  performance pieces featuring advanced technologies to keep runners dry
  from the elements, provide wind resistance, and offer mobility and
  moisture transfer. Garments include the official race jacket, shorts,
  long and short-sleeved tees as well as fleece tops for both men and
  women. The 2005 official marathon apparel colors are cherry/pucker up
  pink/black for women and copen blue/black for men. There are also
  several “Curb Crew” pieces for spectators.

• On the footwear side, New Balance will also feature the 1060
  (cushioning), 719 (stability) and 901 (lightweight) technical running
  shoes during the 2005 event to highlight how no one shoe meets the needs
  of all runners.

• On Friday and Saturday of race weekend, New Balance will have 18
  “live statues” in Michigan Avenue area locations and at the Health &
  Fitness Expo that feature local runners in official marathon gear to
  highlight the spirit, determination and personal stories of Chicago-area
  runners.

• Several Team New Balance elite athletes will run Chicago this year,
  either as racers or pacers. These include Evans Rutto, the 2003 and 2004
  Chicago Champion, Timothy Cherigat, the 2004 Boston Champion, and Paul
  Koech, who placed 2nd at Chicago in 2003. Khalid Khannouchi, the 4-time
  Chicago Champion, will also participate in race weekend events.

• New Balance will offer donation bins at the Health & Fitness Expo for
  new and gently-used footwear/apparel items that will then be donated to
  Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.

• New Balance extended their current “For Love or Money” campaign with
  creative that is specific to the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and its
  runners. The creative is appearing on Chicago-area bus shelters and will
  be part of the company's Health & Fitness Expo booths.