Posted: October 20, 2005

Athletics: Los Angeles Marathon Prize Purse Increased to Over $400,000 Resulting in the Nation's Top Guaranteed Cash Prize for Challenge Champion

Race bonuses also offered for the first time to fastest American and Californian athletes

LOS ANGELES - (October 18, 2005) - A race record $417,600 will be available in prize money at the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon presented by Honda on Sunday, March 19. With an overall prize purse increase of 32% from 2005, the Los Angeles Marathon now offers the fourth highest prize purse in the United States and the largest guaranteed first place payout at $135,000.

The major changes for 2006 include increasing prize money for "The Challenge" from $75,000 to $100,000 and adding $51,000 in prize money for places 1-10.

"The Challenge" is an L.A. Marathon innovation in which the elite women start the race ahead of the elite men at a time to be determined - a mathematical model taking into consideration each athlete's past 18 months of racing. The result promises to be a dramatic finish with the first person to cross the finish line winning the $100,000 bonus. "The Challenge" Champion will also be awarded $35,000 for finishing first in his or her division, making the $135,000 cash prize the nation's highest guaranteed first place payout.

For the first time, the L.A. Marathon will also be offering prize money and bonuses for American and Californian athletes. The American and California total prize purses will be $18,000 and $5000, respectively, for the top 3 places per gender. For anyone who places in the top 3 in multiple categories, prizes are cumulative. In addition, Marathon organizers announced a bonus of $1000 for any U.S. athletes who run under the 2008 Olympic Trials "A" qualifying times of 2:20:00 for men and 2:39:00 for women.

"Coming off the largest race in our twenty-year history, we are pleased to be able to increase our prize purse by more than 30% thanks to our sponsors, participants and our new parent company, Devine Racing," said Los Angeles Marathon President, Dr. William Burke. "With the addition of prize money for the fastest Americans and Californians, the Los Angeles Marathon is taking a leadership role in rewarding excellence."

About the Los Angeles Marathon The

1st annual L.A. Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 19, 2006. The Los Angeles Marathon presented by Honda, is the largest marathon held in California, the fourth largest in the country and the seventh largest in the world. It is expected to draw more than 25,000 runners from 50 states and 100 countries in 2006. In total, event day will include more than 45,000 participants for the 26.2 mile run, the Acura L.A. Bike Tour and the Emerald Nuts 5K Run/Walk. Registration for all three events is now open.

Since its inception, the L.A. Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, has raised more than $25 million for local charities by encouraging participants to run for a cause. Once again, the L.A. Marathon promises to deliver what has become known as the "Million Dollar Morning," as 50 charities will benefit from the anticipated $2.5 million raised by runners who complete the 26.2-mile run.

The Los Angeles Marathon will once again be televised live on NBC4 and Telemundo 52 and via the World Wide Web courtesy of NBC4. The webcast enables a global audience to experience NBC4's live broadcast of the marathon in real-time by logging onto NBC4.tv or by linking thru LAMarathon.com.

In addition to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., marathon sponsors include American Airlines, NBC4, Telemundo 52, Saucony and Emerald Nuts. To-date, more than 375,000 runners and walkers have participated in the L.A. Marathon.

For more information or to register for L.A. Marathon XXI, visit LAMarathon.com or call (310) 444-5544.

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.