FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steven Karpas
Director of Marketing and Race Development
713-957-3453
Cap Increases for 2008 Chevron Houston Marathon,
Aramco Houston Half Marathon
Registration Opens June 1
HOUSTON, April 24, 2007 - Organizers of the Chevron Houston Marathon and
Aramco Houston Half Marathon are raising the race limit to 17,000 runners
for the two races in 2008, an increase of 2,000 participants over the 2007
event.
The limit of 17,000 participants is a combined cap for the marathon and
half marathon fields. The races reached the combined limit of 15,000 for
the second consecutive year in 2007, capping six weeks prior to race day.
"We had a huge number of disappointed runners after the race cap was
reached so early last year," Race Director Brant Kotch said. "We hope to
alleviate that problem by accepting an additional 2,000 entries."
"Minor course changes will probably have to be made to handle the increased
number of runners, guaranteeing that we can continue to offer all
participants a quality race experience," Kotch added.
Online registration opens on June 1 for the marathon, half marathon and 5K.
The races are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.
Runners can register for all three races and take advantage of a discounted
early registration fee by accessing the event Web site at
www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com. The early fee is $85 for the marathon, $60
for the half marathon and $20 for the 5K. The early fees continue through
July 31.
The three races, along with the Texas Children's Hospital Kids Fun Run,
attracted more than 20,000 runners in 2007, making the event one of the
largest of its kind in the country.
The Chevron Houston Marathon, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in
2007, will once again feature a world-class field, with some of the sport's
finest runners competing on one of the fastest courses in the U.S.
The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will host both the men's and women's U.S.
Half Marathon championships, as it did in 2007 when Ryan Hall set the U.S.
record for that distance, clocking 59:43.
Prize purse details for the marathon and half marathon will be announced
later.
The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the
nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all
50 U.S. states and more than 30 countries. The marathon offers the only
closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the
nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization
and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is
Houston's largest single-day sporting event. More information is available
online at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or 713-957-3453.
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