Posted: December 6, 2005

Athletics: P.F. Chang's and Rock 'n' Roll are here to Stay

P.F. Chang's China Bistro reconfirms support for Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

PHOENIX, Ariz., (Dec. 5, 2005) - P.F. Chang's China Bistro has agreed to continue its title sponsorship of the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon through 2009. The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona will celebrate its third annual running on Jan. 15, 2006. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The foot race, which broke the record for world's largest first time annual running event when it debuted in 2004, expects to attract 34,000 runners and walkers between the marathon and half marathon this year. It pumped more than $ 41 million dollars into the local economy in the first year alone.

"Elite Racing is at the vanguard of providing world-class marathons that appeal to both elite athletes and weekend warriors. Professional race management coupled with broad-based community support has produced an annual event that we are proud to sponsor," said Bert Vivian, President of P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

"We were so fortunate to have had P.F. Chang's join us from the very beginning," said Tim Murphy, founder and CEO of Elite Racing. We absolutely could not ask for a better partner. Their involvement has been astounding; it has gone over and above anything we could have imagined. The team at P.F. Chang's is involved with this race, from the chairman and president to the individual teams that operate each restaurant. They run, they volunteer, and they support our primary charitable organization, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program."

In July P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona received top marks as Arizona's best 'Special Event' from Governor Janet Napolitano at the 25th Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism. It was recognized for its "unique draw for tourism and attracting visitors from outside the local area … an event that stands out in the crowd because of its creative approach, distinctive appeal, media coverage and/or enhancement of community pride."

This year the race welcomes a special guest as Haile Gebrselassie, universally regarded as one of the world's best distance runners, will attempt to break the world record in the half marathon. Gebrselassie, from Ethiopia, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a four-time world champion and, over the course of his career, has broken an astounding 18 world records on the track and roads.

Following its record-breaking turnout at the inaugural event in 2004, Arizona's musical marathon has steadily grown in participation. The marathon and half-marathon courses run through Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, and feature a post-race party at the finish near the Arizona State University campus. The race features an assortment of live music staged approximately every mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, providing runners and spectators with continuous entertainment and motivation. In addition to the music, local high school cheerleading squads will line the route, cheering on participants and competing for cash and prizes. The band Collective Soul will cap-off the weekend's festivities at the evening concert at Tempe Beach Park, open to the public and free to all race participants and volunteers.

Elite Racing, Inc., based in San Diego, Calif., produces a series of musical marathons that includes the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon™ in San Diego, the Country Music Marathon &1/2 Marathon™ in Nashville, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon™ in Virginia Beach and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, Calif.

For more information on this event visit www.rnraz.com or contact the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon, c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121 or call 800/311-1255.

For information on P.F. Chang's China Bistro, contact Laura Cherry at 602/957-8986.