This is the text of the Chicago Marathon monthly newsletter emailed to all current and past participants who have registered their email addresses with the marathon. ________________________________________________________________________ May 12, 2008 Welcome to the first installment of the Monthly Countdown e-Newsletter. Believe it or not, there are only six months until the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon! On the 12th of each month leading up to the October 12 race, we will send a dose of news, encouragement and tips straight to your inbox. We have launched several exciting online features that will help create a community of energy and support building up to race day, including Featured Runner Essays, Question of the Month, Q & A’s with marathon experts, training tips and opportunities for you to share your own stories and advice. In addition, we would like to introduce you to eight runners who will maintain Online Runner Diaries detailing their preparation for the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. They will share each step of their journeys in an online diary leading up to October 12, and you’re invited to follow along. Meet them at chicagomarathon.com. In this Issue:

• Featured Runner Essays
• Q & A with Joan Benoit Samuelson
• Question of the Month

FEATURED RUNNER ESSAYS This month, we kick off our Featured Runner Essays with two 2008 registrants: Caroline and Justin. Running is an important part of each of their lives. Visit chicagomarathon.com to find out why, and to learn what led them both to enter this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Want to share your own marathon story? Visit chicagomarathon.com/mystory for details on how you can be one of our Featured Runners. Q & A’s Joan Benoit Samuelson is a living legend. She was the gold medal winner of the inaugural Olympic women’s marathon in 1984, and set a long-standing American Record of 2:21:21 on the streets of Chicago in the 1985 Chicago Marathon. We caught up with Joan, who is still running and breaking records at the age of 50, while she was in town for a Nike fun run. Read the Q & A at chicagomarathon.com. QUESTION OF THE MONTH Last month we asked you: What is the motivation behind your decision to run the 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Visit chicagomarathon.com to view the top responses. This month, we want to hear your answer to the following: What was the most extreme length you went to this past winter to get in your run? Please submit your answers in an e-mail titled “Winter Extreme” to press@chicagomarathon.com. We’ll post the top responses on the Chicago Marathon Web site and include them in the next Monthly Countdown e-Newsletter. ________________________________________________________________________

Good catch! Hopefully this doesn't foreshadow any other snafus with the race organization ....

LOL Lets just hope the water and sport drink suppliers know the correct date too.