Press Release - Chicago Marathon - 12/27/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  New Year Begins With Open Registration For LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
  
                2007 Participant Capacity Increased to 45,000

CHICAGO  (December  27, 2006) - Open registration for The 2007 LaSalle Bank 
Chicago Marathon will officially begin on Jan. 1, 2007 as the Race prepares 
to  host its 30th anniversary running on Oct. 7, 2007. Following the highly 
successful  2006  Race  where  registration  reached its 40,000 participant 
capacity  nearly  five  months  in  advance  of  the  Race, organizers have 
increased the capacity of the 2007 Race to 45,000.

Registration  will  open  online  at chicagomarathon.com on Jan. 1 and will 
close  when  it  reaches 45,000 participants. The price to register for the 
26.2-mile  Race  is  $110  for U.S. participants and $130 for international 
participants.

The  LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will also continue working with a number 
of  charities  in  conjunction  with the 2007 Race. Last year, nearly 5,000 
runners  elected to make their race more meaningful by committing to run on 
behalf  of  one of 60 affiliated non-profit organizations. The 2006 charity 
program  collectively  raised  more  than  $9.2  million for its affiliated 
charities.  Participants  interested  in  registering  as  a charity runner 
should visit chicagomarathon.com for more information.

The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle Registration  for  The 28th LaSalle Bank 
Shamrock Shuffle will also open on Jan.  1,  2007 and can be completed at 
shamrockshuffle.com. The annual rite of  spring to be held on Sunday, Mar. 
25 will feature an 8K run through the city  and  a  5K  fitness  walk  
along the lakeshore. The 8K will start and finish in Chicago's Grant Park 
in similar fashion to the Marathon.

Registration  for  either  event  is $35 per person and will close when the 
30,000  person  capacity  has been reached. The capacity has been increased 
from its 25,000 person total in 2006.

For  more  information  on  all  of  LaSalle  Bank's sporting events, visit 
LaSalleBankSports.com.

                          chicagomarathon.com 

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