Posted: November 16, 2005

Athletics: Runners Sought for Foot Locker City Challenge at 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2005) -- Foot Locker has teamed with P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona to present the 'City Challenge,' a race within a race that pits six Valley area marathon runners against one another in this one-of-a-kind contest at the musical marathon that celebrates its second running on January 15, 2006.

The Foot Locker City Challenge is a unique program in which six P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona marathon runners from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe are selected to represent their city during the race. The participant who finishes the 26.2-mile marathon in the fastest time is named Foot Locker City Challenge champion. The challenge is that the group must run the first 13 miles of the race together. It is not until that halfway point that they may break from the group and pursue the title. The 2005 winner, Lorraine Murrietta, came from Scottsdale and the '04 winner was from Phoenix, so the challenge is laid out for Tempe in '06.

Two runners each from Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, the host cities for P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, will be chosen to represent their area and vie for the championship title. Eligible applicants who expect to run their marathon between 3:45 and 4:00 hours may register at Valley area Foot Locker stores or on the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona website, www.rnraz.com. Participants will be interviewed and selected by race organizers and a panel of Foot Locker representatives.

The Foot Locker City Challenge is open to marathon runners only and the deadline for contest applications is Nov. 28, 2005. Those people already entered in the marathon may still register for the City Challenge. Those not yet entered in the marathon are encouraged to register soon.

The Foot Locker City Challenge champion will receive a prize package that includes a two-night stay at one of Arizona's finest resorts along with the opportunity to meet the headlining act at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona post-race concert at Tempe Beach Park on race night. The entire team can expect to be featured on the local television broadcast of the race.

The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon offers a fast, flat scenic course that starts in downtown Phoenix, runs through Scottsdale and finishes at Arizona State University in Tempe. Sixty live bands and 40 local high school cheer squads are staged approximately every mile along the 13.1-mile and 26.2-mile courses. The event concludes with an evening concert in Tempe featuring a premier rock 'n' roll headliner act. All participants receive a free concert ticket with their race entry.

Foot Locker is part of Foot Locker, Inc., a specialty retailer that operates stores in 20 countries in North America, Europe and Australia. Through its athletic group of specialty retail stores, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports, as well as its direct-to-consumer channel footlocker.com/eastbay, the company is the leading provider of athletic footwear and apparel.

To register for the race or for more information on the Foot Locker City Challenge and P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, visit www.rnraz.com or contact Elite Racing, Inc. at 800-311-1255.