FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Be a Marathoner for Life

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 15 May 2008. The Metro Health Grand Rapids
Marathon has done it again. The small friendly marathon in West Michigan
which brought you celebrity pace teams, beer and chili in the finish area,
and a hug from the race director at the finish line has come up with a new
innovation: a lifetime of guaranteed racing.

Beginning in 2008, marathoners have the chance to sign up for the Lifetime
Entry Program and run every Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon (GRM) until
they retire from running. Why a lifetime of entries? According to GRM
race director Don Kern, "Marathons can be expensive. Fees go up every
year. They also go up if you wait until closer to the event."

The Lifetime Entry Program gives a runner a permanent race number and entry
to either the full or half-marathon for the rest of his/her life. This is
the only lifetime entry program known among road racing. In addition to
the yearly race shirt, runners receive a special edition shirt and VIP
treatment at all future races.

The 2008 cost for the permanent entry is $650 and is not transferable to
other runners. For math-savvy runners, the calculations are simple: At
normal rates of increase, Kern estimates a runner will break even within 5
years--sooner if they are the kind of people who wait until the last minute
to register and pay late entry fees.

To sign up for this year's race or all future races, runners should go
online to www.grandrapidsmarathon.com.

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