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Press Release - San Francisco Marathon - 4/1/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                Contact: Mark Winitz
                                         Media Coordinator
                                         Win-It!z Sports Public Relations
                                         (650) 948-0618
                                         
                                         Peter Nantell
                                         Event Producer
                                         West End Management
                                         (415) 284-9653
                                         

     
     San Francisco Marathon Supports Iraq War Victim's Family Cause


SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (June 1, 2005) - The San Francisco Marathon 
presented by Runner's World recently added the Robert P. Warns II 
Memorial Trust to the charity beneficiaries which benefit from the race's 
Cause to Run program. Robert "Bobby" Warns II of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a 
corporal in the U.S. Marines, was killed last November 8 when his vehicle 
struck a landmine in Iraq. Two other Marines in the vehicle also died, 
and two more were wounded. All charitable gifts to the Robert P. Warns II 
Memorial Trust go towards the support of Warns' infant daughter who was 
born after the 23-year-old soldier's death.

The San Francisco Marathon's unique Cause to Run program allows race 
participants to conveniently contribute to over twenty charities 
including the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust. Since Cause to Run was 
started by the marathon two years ago, the program has raised $250,000 
for about 50 charity organizations.

Complete information about the San Francisco Marathon presented by 
Runner's World, including Cause to Run, plus online registration, is 
available at www.runsfm.com. The marathon will take place on Sunday, July 
31, 2005.

Contributions to the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust can also be made 
directly through the trust's web site at www.bobbywarns.com, or by 
purchasing running gear at www.runningwell.org. RunningWell donates 50 
percent of all proceeds to the trust or another designated charity of the 
purchaser's choice.

Bobby Warns' unit had arrived in Iraq less than two months before he died 
on a patrol mission. On the same day as his death, Erin Nielsen, his 
longtime girlfriend, received a letter. It was from Warns. He wrote 
telling Nielsen that he liked the name, Payton, that she had chosen for 
their expected child if the baby was a girl. The couple planned to marry 
after the Marine reservist's military service was finished. Warns' and 
Nielsen's child, a girl, was born on May 5, 2005. Her full name is Payton 
Elizabeth Robert Warns, and she is the Warns family's first grandchild.

Warns met Nielsen, 24, while both were attending the University of 
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The single mother is now pursuing a teaching 
certificate in architecture. The newborn has relieved some of the grief 
that Erin Nielsen, Warns' family, and friends experienced after their 
loss. Bobby's parents, Robert and Bridget Warns, established the memorial 
trust to raise funds for Payton's future.

Both of Bobby's parents, his sister Katie, and three other family members 
will join an expected 14,000 to 15,000 participants at this year's San 
Francisco Marathon, half marathon, and 5K Run/Walk. They will run and 
walk as "Team Bobby Warns" in the half marathon event in honor of Bobby, 
who ran track, wrestled, and played tennis in high school. All but one of 
the Warns team are veterans of at least two marathons. Bobby's dad has 
run seven full marathons over a 25-year span, with a 3:08 personal best.

"As soon as I heard that the race is running over the Golden Gate Bridge, 
I was in. I used it to convince the others," said the senior Robert 
Warns, 52, whose first San Francisco race experience will, no doubt, be 
his most poignant and memorable. "I wouldn't do it alone."

Warns and family will probably have more company over the 13.1-mile half 
marathon distance than they anticipate.

Said Peter Nantell, the marathon's producer: "Our hearts will certainly 
be with the Warns family and Erin on marathon weekend. We hope all our 
participants will take a moment to honor Bobby Warns and all the 
dedicated U.S. soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq."

According to a study completed by USA Track & Field last year, road 
runners and walkers raised $560 million for charity causes in 2003 alone.

"For years, charity running has been a major economic force in this 
country," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "Even more encouraging is charity 
running continues to grow, as Americans continue to promote fitness, 
wellness, and giving to have a positive effect on American society."

The San Francisco Marathon's Cause to Run program is particularly popular 
among runners. When entrants in the marathon, half marathon, or 5K 
Run/Walk register, they can choose one of the marathon's 2005 non-profit 
beneficiaries to which a portion of their entry fee is automatically 
donated. Entrants also have an option to raise even more funds for their 
cause by collecting pledges from their friends, family, and 
acquaintances. Additionally, runners can specify a charity of their 
choice as a beneficiary.

The marathon's designated 2005 Cause to Run beneficiaries are: Children's 
Cardiomyopathy Foundation, Save the Bay, STOP AIDS Project, American 
Liver Foundation, Team Parkinson, Greenbelt Alliance, Options Recovery 
Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Homeless Prenatal Program, National 
Brain Tumor Foundation, San Francisco SPCA, Organs 'R Us, A Home Away 
from Homeless, Family Builders by Adoption, Spinal Cord Injury 
Association of Illinois, War Child, Project Open Hand, ALS Association 
(Greater Bay Area Chapter), California Community Partners for Youth, 826 
Valencia, The ABS-CBN Foundation, Bay Kids, St. John's Educational 
Threshold Center, and the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust.

REGISTRATION DETAILS: The San Francisco Marathon presented by Runners 
World and its companion events (half marathon, 5K Run/Walk) will take 
place on Sunday, July 31, 2005. On-line registration is available via the 
marathon's web site at www.runsfm.com. An entry form for mail-in 
registration is also available on the web site. The entry deadline for 
on-line registration is July 29; for mail-in registration the deadline is 
July 16. For additional information, call the race hotline at (415) 
284-9653, Email: .

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