Posted: May 11, 2005

Athletics: Colorado Colfax Marathon to Debut May 21, 2006

Race to Promote America's Longest Continuous `Main Street'

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2005--Colfax Marathon Partnership, Inc. announced today that it will stage the first Colorado Colfax Marathon to take place on Sunday, May 21, 2006. The Partnership, a private nonprofit organization founded by the cities of Aurora, Denver and Lakewood, was created to produce the event in support of economic redevelopment and marketing initiatives all along Colfax Avenue.

The net proceeds from the 26.2-mile event will be used to fund nonprofit organizations that foster fitness, health education, good nutrition, obesity prevention and a healthy lifestyle for kids in Aurora, Denver and Lakewood. Beneficiaries will include the foundations of the Aurora, Denver and Jefferson County school districts and other nonprofit organizations engaged in youth fitness and related purposes.

Running events include a marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, and kids' training and 1-mile run/walk, as well as a sports and fitness expo on Friday and Saturday of the race weekend. The marathon, which is expected to attract more than 6,000 participants, will feature a point-to-point race course along Colfax Avenue which will start at Aurora Sports Park in Aurora and finish at Colorado Mills Shopping Center in Lakewood.

"On behalf of all the businesses and residents that are part of the Colfax Corridor resurgence, this is an extremely exciting event for us," said Dave Walstrom, Executive Director of the Colfax Business Improvement District. "Colfax Avenue is truly one of the most unique streets in America and this will give us an opportunity to showcase our businesses and redevelopment initiatives to a broad, new market."

The Partnership is pleased to announce that the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post will be the title sponsors for the inaugural event.

"We are proud to be prominently involved in a world class event," said Kirk McDonald, President of the Denver Newspaper Agency. "We are committed to promoting a fitness lifestyle in our state, along with our commitment to community involvement through Post-News Charities. The marathon supports both of these goals, including its support of public school foundations and kids fitness. We are thrilled with our involvement."

Creigh Kelley, BKB Ltd., and Jean Townsend, Coley/Forrest, Inc., are managing the event for the nonprofit organization.

For more information on the Colorado Colfax Marathon, please call 303-694-2202 or visit www.coloradocolfaxmarathon.org.

Quotes from City Mayors

AURORA: "The Colorado Colfax Marathon will be the first long distance running event to traverse the longest continuous commercial street in America, Colfax Avenue. We are thrilled that the marathon starts in Aurora and we are hopeful that because of the event's marketing and advertising throughout the year, economic development efforts will steadily increase in Aurora. This is exciting news for our citizens." The Honorable Edward Tauer, Mayor, City of Aurora.

DENVER: "This event will be unique to Colorado's great list of running events as it will provide fun, healthy activities for athletes of all levels and ages while raising vital funds for public schools and youth fitness programs in Denver, Aurora and Lakewood. Just as we in Denver are working with our regional neighbors to revitalize Colfax Avenue, we are proud to participate in this tri-city event." The Honorable John W. Hickenlooper, Mayor, City and County of Denver.

LAKEWOOD: "Lakewood is proud to be a co-founder of the Colorado Colfax Marathon. The positive spotlight that this event brings to Colfax Avenue will facilitate our economic development efforts. Colorado Mills, the finish line host, is one example of a successful Colfax Avenue development. This event will help us attract other complementary developments." The Honorable Steve Burkholder, Mayor, City of Lakewood.