U.S.
Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall Joins 2010 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon Field in an Attempt to Lower the Men’s American Record
The Hall Steps Foundation Contributes to Marathon’s Rich Philanthropic Heritage
by Building Team of 100 to Run with Ryan
CHICAGO, IL (April 6, 2010) ÌÄå¨ å¼
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced U.S. Olympic
marathoner Ryan Hall, 27, will compete in the October 10, 2010 race in
an attempt to lower the 2:05:38 American record set by Khalid
Khannouchi in 2002. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif., resident and recognized
philanthropist will lead a team of 100 runners representing his
non-profit organization, The Hall Steps Foundation.
“I have been preparing for an attempt to
lower the American record since I ran my first marathon in London in
2007, and there is no other U.S. course that could allow me a better
opportunity than Chicago,” commented Hall from Boston where he is in
final preparation for the Boston Marathon on April 19. “It’s remarkably
flat and fast with a veteran production team that sets a stage for
athletes to produce personal and national records, which is my goal.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon also has a long history of
generating millions of dollars for charitable causes, so it felt like
the ideal place to expand our Hall Steps Foundation running team from
the 20 that will run in Boston to 100 in Chicago.”
In
conjunction with his athletic pursuit at the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, Hall will lead a team of 100 runners to raise funds for the
non-profit organization he founded with his wife, Sara. The Hall Steps
Foundation’s main mission is to take small steps toward the marathon
goal of ending poverty. To that end, it supports international efforts
to provide clean water, end human trafficking and fund rescue homes. In
the U.S., it seeks to establish a mentor running program for at risk
youth.
As one of
150 charities forming teams for the October race, The Hall Steps
Foundation will contribute to a total $10 million raised on race day.
The money raised by Hall Steps runners will directly support the launch
of its youth mentor and running program, a mission that falls in line
with a recent program launched by the event’s title sponsor, Bank of
America.
Last month, Bank of America announced a
new Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative in which the bank is matching a
two-dollar donation from each entry fee to its Chicago-based road races
to support local youth fitness organizations. Through its involvement
with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (45,000 participants) and
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K (36,000 participants), the bank is
generating $324,000 to be split among four local youth fitness
organizations: ChicagoRun, Girls on the Run, MGR Foundation, and
Special Children’s Charities/Special Olympics Chicago. The initiative
is the latest in the bank’s support of after school programming in
Chicago.
“Through
the Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative, we have been able to combine the
tradition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with support for
local after-school programs in a very impactful way. As a result,
hundreds of thousands of dollars have been generated to expand programs
that provide a great service to our children,” said Bank of America
Chicago and Illinois Market President Tim Maloney. “We are thrilled to
welcome a world-class athlete like Ryan Hall who shares the mission of
giving back, and we look forward to partnering with him to do so around
the race.”
Hall’s
current personal record is the 2:06:17 mark he set in London in 2008
before qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon team with a
commanding 2:09:02 first-place finish in New York. Among the world’s
greatest runners and amid extremely warm conditions during the Beijing
Olympic Games, Hall placed 10th with a 2:12:33 finish time.
This month he will compete at the Boston Marathon in an attempt to
become the first U.S. champion in the race since Greg Meyer in 1983.
His next 26.2-mile race will be in Chicago.
“Ryan is a
very smart athlete and has gone about his career the right way starting
with an amazing debut in London in 2007,” said Bank of America Chicago
Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “He has positioned
himself for a breakout race in Chicago this fall and has all the focus
and drive needed to make a run at the American record. What is unique
about Ryan is his interest beyond personal success and his tireless
charitable efforts. He’s an athlete and a humanitarian.”
Open
registration for the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon closed on
March 23, but a limited number of entries are still available through
its charity partners, including The Hall Steps Foundation. For
information on how to register through a charity, visit www.chicagomarathon.com.
About Bank of America Chicago Marathon
A member of the World Marathon
Majors, the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish
in Chicago’s Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 10,
welcoming runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
According to an academic study, the race generates more than $140
million in economic impact to the city of Chicago and more than $10
million for charities. In advance of the race, a two-day Health &
Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place on Friday, October 8 and
Saturday, October 9. More information on the race, remaining
registration options and how to get involved is available at
chicagomarathon.com.
About The Hall Steps Foundation
The Hall Steps Foundation aims
to empower the running community to use the energy and resources that
fuel its running achievements for social justice efforts. Currently in
its first year of operation, the Steps Foundation funds initiatives
that tackle structural causes of poverty such as chronic lack of access
to basic entitlements including clean water, shelter and physical
security. Specifically, Steps partners with leading international and
local nonprofits in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia to fund
projects that invest in sustainable methods of enhancing access to
basic essentials. To-date, this has included (1) constructing community
wells in East Africa to secure water access; (2) funding an orphanage
in Kenya to ensure access to shelter and basic education; and (3)
sponsoring legal counsel for victims of human trafficking in Southeast
Asia to enhance victims’ physical autonomy. Domestically, the Hall
Steps Foundation is proud to launch its inaugural youth mentor and
running program in Chicago in conjunction with the 2010 Bank of America
Chicago Marathon. This program aims to position athletic activity,
goal-setting and training camaraderie at the center of the national
movement to improve the health and opportunities of U.S. youth.
www.chicagomarathon.com