Press Release - Fox Valley Marathon - 5/15/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Fox Valley Marathon Announces Name Sponsor
  
The Fox Valley Marathon has announced Dick Pond Athletics as its official
name sponsor for the inaugural race in September.

According to Glen Kamps, manager of the St. Charles Dick Pond store, the
sponsorship is the most extensive in the 40-year history of Dick Pond 
Athletics.

"It's a great opportunity," Kamps said. "We've been around a long time. 
It's the first marathon we can think of in the suburban area since 1980. 
And to hear there was a full marathon in the western suburbs—half marathons 
come and go—is a very big deal and we wanted to be a part of it."

Craig Bixler, one of the race directors and founders of the Fox Valley 
Marathon, has a longstanding running relationship with Kamps. The two have 
been acquaintances for years.

"I have been in the area for 25 years since I moved here from Indiana and 
I've been going to Dick Ponds the whole time," Bixler said. "They've always 
taken good care that we want to provide, so it seemed like a natural fit 
for us. It's good for the runners, good for the race and good for Dick 
Ponds."

The Fox Valley Marathon is in its first year of existence and co-founders 
Bixler and Dave Sheble are excited about the buzz the race has stirred in 
the months precluding the Sept. 19 event. There will be a Half Marathon and 
Fall Final 20 to go along with the now Dick Pond Athletics Fox Valley 
Marathon.

"To me, to the race, it certainly validates that we've got a winner between 
the registrations coming in and a sponsor the quality of Dick Ponds coming 
on board," Bixler said. "We know we have a winner and we know our runners 
will be taken care of and that's important to our race committee. When we 
have a race like this, we want to make sure the town is represented well 
and all of the participants' running needs are taken care of and we know 
Dick Pond's will meet those needs."

"We're just excited about the association," Kamps added. "People are coming 
in. There's a big buzz around the running community. There's definite 
excitement. Registration is very strong and it just shows you that it's a 
good idea that Mr. Bixler and his friends have started here and we're just 
happy to be a part of it."

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