FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NIKE JOINS BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON AS OFFICIAL
FOOTWEAR AND APPAREL SPONSOR
Nike Running Delivers Motivational Tools to
Help Prepare Marathon Participants
CHICAGO, IL. (April 10, 2008) – Nike today announced a new multi-year
agreement with Bank of America to become the official footwear and apparel
sponsor of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, beginning with the
October 12, 2008 race, as well as the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.
As an event sponsor for the next five years, Nike will provide the official
merchandise for race participants, personnel and pacers, and will operate a
comprehensive 17-week marathon training program in Chicago, beginning in
June 2008, to prepare and motivate all participants.
To complement this training program and to support the global group of
runners who participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Nike
Running has made available two new products to evolve the Nike+ experience,
giving runners more options for how they want to run and train. Available
today, the Nike+ SportBand is a wristwatch that also monitors a runner's
steps, allowing runners to "See How They Run," checking time, pace,
distance and calories burned, with a glance. The Nike+ SportBand watch
face is a detachable USB link that captures all the run data from a sensor
located in the runner's Nike+ ready footwear.
Nike+ Coach is a runner's own personal online trainer—empowering runners
with the information and motivation needed to train for a 5K, a 10K,
half-marathon or full marathon—and an easy, accessible way to connect to
the world's largest global running community at nikeplus.com. As of
February 2008, Nike+ runners have run more than 50 million miles on
nikeplus.com—the equivalent of completing more than 1.9 million Chicago
Marathons.
"Both debut and elite runners can now rely on Nike for the 24/7 support
they need to get it done, gut it out and take on the remarkable challenge
of participating in one of the world's preeminent marathons," said Leslie
Lane, Nike global vice president for running. "We will bring a new energy
and our distinct passion to this 31-year institution that has hosted many
thrilling finishes and exceptional accomplishments, including Paula
Radcliffe's world record-shattering performance in 2002. We are honored to
enter into a relationship with Bank of America, another blue-chip brand
with a rich history of promoting sports excellence."
"As a leader in the running industry, Nike has demonstrated a longstanding
passion for the sport, and we are excited to welcome them as new partners
to our Chicago-based running events," said Bank of America Illinois
President David Rudis. "Leveraging their expertise is consistent with our
commitment to strengthening and growing our events, and ushering in an
exciting new era for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon."
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