Posted: October 6, 2005

Athletics: Aramco Services Renews Sponsorship of Texas' Largest Half-Marathon

From: Steven Karpas, Chevron Houston Marathon

HOUSTON - (Sept. 28, 2005) - Building on its commitment to the Houston community, Aramco Services Company has renewed its title sponsorship of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. An extended contract with event organizers continues to give Aramco Services Company naming rights to the half-marathon, a companion race to the Chevron Houston Marathon. More than 8,000 runners are expected to participate in the 2006 Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 15, solidifying the race's status as the largest half-marathon in Texas and ranked among the best and largest in the nation.

"We are quite honored to return as sponsor of the half-marathon, which has become not only a Texas tradition, but an event that has grown in stature throughout the nation and world," said Mazen I. Snobar, president and CEO of Houston-based Aramco Services Company. "We are proud to call Houston home and will continue to show our unwavering support to our beloved community."

"Corporate sponsorship is the life blood of nonprofit sporting events like the Houston Marathon," said Brant Kotch, Chevron Houston Marathon race director. "Without support and sponsorship from generous companies such as Aramco Services Company, our events simply wouldn't be possible. We are very fortunate to have outstanding assistance from Houston's business community and are thrilled to have Aramco Services Company be part of our event."

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will again host the USA Men's Half-Marathon National Championship in 2006, which is held as part of the regular race. Organized by the USA Track & Field LDR Committee, the national championship race draws about 100 of the nation's top athletes to Houston to compete for the U.S. title.

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will be run in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon at 7am, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The 13.1-mile loop course will take runners out of downtown, through the Heights and Montrose areas of Houston, and back toward downtown along Allen Parkway. The race will share the finish line with the marathon in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The half-marathon course will be open to runners for four hours.

Registration for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and other weekend events is underway on the Chevron Houston Marathon website at ChevronHoustonMarathon.com Entry fees are currently $80 for the marathon, $60 for the half-marathon and $20 for the 5K. After Nov. 1, marathon and half-marathon fees increase by $10.

Traditional registration forms will be available at many Houston-area running and fitness stores, Houston YMCAs, the Tennis Center at Memorial Park and most local athletic clubs after Oct. 5.

The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is the nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and nearly 20 foreign countries. In 2005, more than 20,000 runners took part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half-marathon, 5K and children's run). The Chevron Houston Marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event.

Find more information at ChevronHoustonMarathon.com or by calling (713) 957-3453.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.