Details for the Hall Steps Foundation Chicago Team

This information is for those participating in the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with the Hall Steps Foundation. If you’d like to join the team, please be sure to sign up. If you’ve already signed up and received an email from us, please read this post in its entirety so you’ll have all the team-related information you need!

Thank you for your interest in running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with The Hall Steps Foundation. We’re delighted that our co-founder, Ryan Hall, will be running the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9^th and we know that makes for a very very special race weekend experience.

As we enter our 2^nd Fall Marathon Season, we are thankful for the progress Steps has made in its short history. As we look forward to our first Olympic Year as a foundation, we’re excited for the huge potential that awaits us. We hope that you will be a part of it on October 9^th!

THE CAUSE:

As you’ve probably already heard, this year, in honor of Olympic Marathon Champion and former Chicago Marathon winner Sammy Wanjiru, our Chicago donations will go toward fighting poverty through health in Kenya. Ryan and Sara will be traveling to Kenya next year to train and explore opportunities for Steps to fight poverty throughout Africa.

As you may know, Steps is no stranger to development work in Kenya. We have recently committed a grant to professional runner and Steps friend, Wesley Korir, to build a hospital in his home village in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Wesley will also be running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon! Ryan and Wes are sending a message that world-class runners can compete on the roads, and join forces for a great cause after the race!

JOB #1 IS HELPING WITH RECRUITMENT:

The initial response to our announcement was overwhelming. But, our friends at the Chicago Marathon were very generous, so we still have spots left to join the team. This is a rare opportunity for runners who are not yet registered to run. The single most valuable thing you can do for us at this moment is to get a friend (or 2 or 3!) to train and run Chicago with you! Not only does everyone have 10 weeks of fundraising time BEFORE the marathon, but they have an additional 4 weeks of fundraising time AFTER the marathon. The Steps Team and I will be sending around more information soon about how YOU can help recruit additional members to the team. . . and get rewarded for doing so!

THE COMMITMENT:

For runners who were not already registered for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and are using a Steps Foundation race registration, we are asking for $2,500 minimum fundraising commitment.

For runners who are already registered for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and are joining the Steps Foundation Team, we are asking for $1,500 minimum fundraising commitment.

We’re looking forward to introducing each of the team members individually in the coming weeks. . . in the meantime, here is a brief overview of what Chicago Marathon Weekend will include for The Steps Team!

1. Given the timing, we know that some of you have already arranged your hotel accommodations for Marathon Weekend. Indeed, the downtown Chicago hotels will disappear rapidly. But, we want to hear from you if you have not yet booked your accommodations. We are currently looking to arrange opportunities to reserve a block of rooms at a discounted rate and would be happy to reserve them if there is a need for it. Regardless of this, we will be sharing an official hotel meeting place (in addition to the Expo) when we get closer to race weekend.
2. Steps Foundation will have a booth at the Expo throughout Marathon Weekend. The Steps booth will be staffed by volunteers and will have information, apparel, special appearances every day. Most importantly, this is the place for you to pick up your Steps gear, your race bib (if Steps acquired a bib for you), and meet other runners and Steps volunteers. Ryan and Sara have been known to make some surprise appearances at the booth for Steps Team pictures as well.
3. This year, The Steps Foundation will have an official cheering section at one location along the course. All family, friends and supporters of Steps runners are encouraged to join us there. Our spot will be accessible by public transportation and will be strategically placed for maximum inspiration (Inspiration Consultant: Ryan Hall). We will be in touch with more details.
4. We will host a post-race Steps Foundation Dinner at a restaurant or gathering spot that is easily accessible to most of the race hotels. We typically reserve a private room, so we can have time to re-fuel together, get a Steps update, and trade stories from the 26.2 mile journey. As always, we’re excited to be joined by Ryan, Sara and a few other very special guests! The dinner is free for all runners. We’ll be in touch soon to share information about purchasing tickets for friends and family.
5. One thing our runners always learn is to expect the occasional surprise on race weekend. Whether its an impromptu visit with Ryan or Sara, or a chance to meet some of the other elite runners or marathon legends that are friends of Steps. These are just some of the small perks we are blessed with, thanks to the close friends we’ve acquired along the way. It all makes for a very special race weekend experience—whether this is your first or fortieth marathon.

Once again, thank you for your interest in running Chicago with the Steps Foundation! Ryan, Sara, and the rest of the team look forward to hearing back from you! Good luck with training!