Ritz Returning to Chicago – Ran 2:07:47 here in 2012

CHICAGO – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced that U.S.
Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will return to the site of his breakthrough
performance by competing in the 36th annual event on October 13. Last
fall, the Midwest native thrilled his regional fan base by finishing as
the top American in Chicago and improving his marathon best by more than
two minutes. His decision to return is fueled by the desire to set his
sights even higher in 2013. Before culminating with the Chicago
Marathon, Ritzenhein will kick off his outdoor racing season at the 34th
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K on April 7, marking his first
appearance at Chicago’s popular spring road race.

“After his breakthrough race last fall, it became a priority for us to
have Dathan back on the start line for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “It’s clear
that he has discovered a winning formula for the marathon and Chicago
fits into that plan. What I’m most excited about is now that Dathan has a
comfort level with the marathon distance and with our event, I think
you’re going to see a supremely confident and fit athlete mixing it up
with a world-class field on October 13.”

Ritzenhein is coming off a career year in 2012, highlighted by a
13th-place finish in the Olympic 10,000-meter final as a member of his
third Olympic team, and a ninth-place finish at the Bank of America
Chicago Marathon in a personal best 2:07:47, making him the
third-fastest American of all-time. Prior to Chicago, his previous
marathon best was 2:09:55 at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. His 2013
season will mirror that of 2012 by skipping a spring marathon and
focusing his efforts on the outdoor track season and a bid to represent
Team USA at the 2013 World Track & Field Championships in Moscow,
Russia, before taking his speed to the flat and fast streets of Chicago.

To jumpstart his outdoor racing campaign, Ritzenhein will headline the
2013 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, leading the way for 40,000
runners as they usher in spring in Chicago. Growing up less than 200
miles from Chicago in Rockford, Mich., he can appreciate what the
arrival of spring means to runners across the Midwest. The Shamrock
Shuffle will also serve as an opportunity for the Portland, Ore.-based
athlete to prepare for his fall marathon, as the course includes
segments of the Chicago Marathon route, including the start and finish
lines in Grant Park.

“After a huge breakthrough at last year’s race, I’m excited to come back
for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Ritzenhein. “I
hope to continue the success I had last year with my eyes focused on the
podium. Dropping my PR down to 2:07:47 gives me the confidence now to
race with the best, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to do that on
October 13. I love racing in Chicago, and competing at the Bank of
America Shamrock Shuffle 8K this spring will give me another opportunity
to do that, and will be a great springboard to build momentum for the
Chicago Marathon. I’m looking forward to hitting the streets of Chicago
this year and to keep breaking down barriers.”

Registration for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will open online at www.chicagomarathon.com
on Tuesday, February 19, at 12 noon (CST). The cost of entry is $175
for U.S. participants and $200 for participants outside of the U.S.
Registration will close when the 45,000-participant capacity is reached.

Registration for the 2013 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K is currently open online at www.shamrockshuffle.com. The cost of entry is $45. Registration will close when the 40,000-participant capacity is reached.

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 36th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants,
including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair athlete field, and
an estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and
international draw, the iconic race assists in raising millions of
dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $219 million
in annual economic impact to its host city according to a report by the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics
Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2013 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on
Sunday, October 13. In advance of the race, a two-day Health &
Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on
Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12. For more information about
the event and how to get involved, go to www.chicagomarathon.com.

About the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Long recognized as an annual rite of spring and the kick-off to the
outdoor running season in Chicago, the 34th annual Bank of America
Shamrock Shuffle 8K takes runners on a scenic tour of downtown Chicago,
starting and finishing in Grant Park. New in 2013, the event will host
the USATF National Club Team 8 km Championships for elite-level
USATF-member running clubs from across the country. The race will begin
at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, and will conclude with live music at
the traditional Post-Race Party in Grant Park. In advance of the event,
the two-day Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Health & Fitness Expo
will take place at Navy Pier on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6,
featuring more than 80 industry-related exhibitors. The Health &
Fitness Expo is free and open to the public. For more information about
the event and how to get involved, go to www.shamrockshuffle.com.

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