Posted by Stevie V on April 23, 2008, 5:37 pm

It might be Sinatra's kind of town, but he wasn't looking to run a marathon in the fall of 2008. People thought Boston was "unfair" when it closed out about 4 weeks out; the second city event is almost 6 months out and race management has had to say, "th-th-th-that's all, folks." ************* 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Registration Closes as Race Reaches 45,000 Participant Capacity Limited Number of Entries Available Through Charities and Tour Groups CHICAGO (April 23, 2008) ­ Bank of America announced today that registration for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has closed as 45,000 runners have signed on to complete the 26.2-mile race, marking the event’s established capacity. A limited number of entries are still available through affiliated charities and tour groups. “It is encouraging and rewarding to see the intense commitment from running enthusiasts across the globe registering for this race more than six months in advance,” said Bank of America Illinois Market President David Rudis. “We are proud to match their enthusiasm by continuing the tradition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, clearly one of the greatest running events in the world.” Runners who missed the deadline and are still interested in registering for the 31st running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon may do so through one of the event’s 65 charity partners or affiliated international tour groups. More information on entries available through these organizations is available on the event web site, chicagomarathon.com. Since its inception in 1977 with 4,200 registered participants, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has grown to a field of 45,000 runners attracting 1.5 million spectators and generating more than $10.5 million for charity in 2007. The 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago’s Grant Park beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 12. Registration opened to the public on February 1 and closed today when the participant capacity of 45,000 was reached. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place on Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11. More information on the race and how to get involved is available at chicagomarathon.com.

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Posted by M on April 25, 2008, 10:17 am, in reply to "It's not going to be your kind of town this year if you want to run a marathon there."

Running USA released their 2007 annual marathon participation reports (view 2008, it should say 2007, because it's last year's numbers, and this year's number have yet to be created...) ANYhow, it's crazy with how rotten the economy is, that people are still willing to put down the money to run marathons, which usually includes much more than just a simple entry fee. MDI doesn't even compare in size and popularity to the big city races, but even our entries are way ahead of anywhere they have been in previous years, which is great, considering we haven't done any advertising outside of the website as of yet, and there haven't been any recent media attention (that we are aware of). Here's to another year of growth in the sport! CAW CAW! CAW!

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Posted by Stevie V on April 28, 2008, 12:23 pm, in reply to "Re: It's not going to be your kind of town this year if you want to run a marathon there."

When it comes to fees, NYC takes the prize. - Non refundable Application Processing Fee US $11. This fee is required for all applicants. "This payment is non-refundable and will be processed when we receive your application.? Entry Fee - charged immediately upon acceptance. U.S. Residents (those who live in the 50 United States or District of Columbia) NYRR Members*: US $125 Non-Members: US $155 Non-U.S. Residents (including Puerto Rico) US $210 ChampionChip® Authorization/Purchase - US $35 If a runner doesn't have a ChampionChip, NYC charges the "lost chip fee" up front, and then give you the option to keep or return. Another way to increase revenues. From their site: "A ChampionChip is a mandatory scoring device for all entrants. If you are a runner who owns a chip and you want to use it for this race, enter your chip number on the race application. Otherwise, you must include a credit card number or a separate check for $35 (the cost of the chip); you will receive your chip when you pick up your race number at the expo. I've thought that the bubble was going to burst by now, but all race fees keep going up. Despite complaints, people keep paying large fees for 5 and 10K's. Yet, if a race offers a basic certified course, a good competition, accurate results and low entry fee like $5, but no t-shirt and minimal food, it will fold in a year. Stevie V --Previous Message-- : Running USA released their 2007 annual : marathon participation reports (view 2008, : it should say 2007, because it's last year's : numbers, and this year's number have yet to : be created...) ANYhow, it's crazy with how : rotten the economy is, that people are still : willing to put down the money to run : marathons, which usually includes much more : than just a simple entry fee. MDI doesn't : even compare in size and popularity to the : big city races, but even our entries are way : ahead of anywhere they have been in previous : years, which is great, considering we : haven't done any advertising outside of the : website as of yet, and there haven't been : any recent media attention (that we are : aware of). : : Here's to another year of growth in the : sport! CAW CAW! CAW! :

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Posted by B on April 28, 2008, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: It's not going to be your kind of town this year if you want to run a marathon there."

Stevie V.....In '62, Edward Shepard was AAU leader in Maine; i believe it was a $1 fee (still have the card...it may bring more on e-bay!!) & the AAU sanctioned races got a .25 entry fee.....Stevie, things change, don't they?...the popsicle sticks, i gather, are no longer being used.........B --Previous Message-- : When it comes to fees, NYC takes the prize. : : - Non refundable Application Processing Fee : US $11. This fee is required for all : applicants. "This payment is : non-refundable and will be processed when we : receive your application.? : : Entry Fee - charged immediately upon : acceptance. : U.S. Residents (those who live in the 50 : United States or District of Columbia) : NYRR Members*: US $125 : Non-Members: US $155 : Non-U.S. Residents (including Puerto Rico) : US $210 : : ChampionChip® Authorization/Purchase - US : $35 : : If a runner doesn't have a ChampionChip, NYC : charges the "lost chip fee" up : front, and then give you the option to keep : or return. Another way to increase revenues. : From their site: "A ChampionChip is a : mandatory scoring device for all entrants. : If you are a runner who owns a chip and you : want to use it for this race, enter your : chip number on the race application. : Otherwise, you must include a credit card : number or a separate check for $35 (the cost : of the chip); you will receive your chip : when you pick up your race number at the : expo. : : I've thought that the bubble was going to : burst by now, but all race fees keep going : up. Despite complaints, people keep paying : large fees for 5 and 10K's. Yet, if a race : offers a basic certified course, a good : competition, accurate results and low entry : fee like $5, but no t-shirt and minimal : food, it will fold in a year. : : Stevie V : : --Previous Message-- : Running USA released their 2007 annual : marathon participation reports (view 2008, : it should say 2007, because it's last year's : numbers, and this year's number have yet to : be created...) ANYhow, it's crazy with how : rotten the economy is, that people are still : willing to put down the money to run : marathons, which usually includes much more : than just a simple entry fee. MDI doesn't : even compare in size and popularity to the : big city races, but even our entries are way : ahead of anywhere they have been in previous : years, which is great, considering we : haven't done any advertising outside of the : website as of yet, and there haven't been : any recent media attention (that we are : aware of). : : Here's to another year of growth in the : sport! CAW CAW! CAW! : : :

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Posted by gary on April 28, 2008, 3:39 pm, in reply to "Re: It's not going to be your kind of town this year if you want to run a marathon there."

Just between you all and the fence post...I'd love to find a sponsor who would cover all the expenses for putting on our MDI Marathon so we'd not have to charge any or maybe only a $1 entry fee. Imagine the publiciy for a company who'd dare do this? --Previous Message-- : Stevie V.....In '62, Edward Shepard was AAU : leader in Maine; i believe it was a $1 fee : (still have the card...it may bring more on : e-bay!!) & the AAU sanctioned races got : a .25 entry fee.....Stevie, things change, : don't they?...the popsicle sticks, i gather, : are no longer being used.........B : : --Previous Message-- : When it comes to fees, NYC takes the prize. : : - Non refundable Application Processing Fee : US $11. This fee is required for all : applicants. "This payment is : non-refundable and will be processed when we : receive your application.? : : Entry Fee - charged immediately upon : acceptance. : U.S. Residents (those who live in the 50 : United States or District of Columbia) : NYRR Members*: US $125 : Non-Members: US $155 : Non-U.S. Residents (including Puerto Rico) : US $210 : : ChampionChip® Authorization/Purchase - US : $35 : : If a runner doesn't have a ChampionChip, NYC : charges the "lost chip fee" up : front, and then give you the option to keep : or return. Another way to increase revenues. : From their site: "A ChampionChip is a : mandatory scoring device for all entrants. : If you are a runner who owns a chip and you : want to use it for this race, enter your : chip number on the race application. : Otherwise, you must include a credit card : number or a separate check for $35 (the cost : of the chip); you will receive your chip : when you pick up your race number at the : expo. : : I've thought that the bubble was going to : burst by now, but all race fees keep going : up. Despite complaints, people keep paying : large fees for 5 and 10K's. Yet, if a race : offers a basic certified course, a good : competition, accurate results and low entry : fee like $5, but no t-shirt and minimal : food, it will fold in a year. : : Stevie V : : --Previous Message-- : Running USA released their 2007 annual : marathon participation reports (view 2008, : it should say 2007, because it's last year's : numbers, and this year's number have yet to : be created...) ANYhow, it's crazy with how : rotten the economy is, that people are still : willing to put down the money to run : marathons, which usually includes much more : than just a simple entry fee. MDI doesn't : even compare in size and popularity to the : big city races, but even our entries are way : ahead of anywhere they have been in previous : years, which is great, considering we : haven't done any advertising outside of the : website as of yet, and there haven't been : any recent media attention (that we are : aware of). : : Here's to another year of growth in the : sport! CAW CAW! CAW! : : : : :

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