NEW DYNAMIC WEBSITE TO CAPTURE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT FOR
THE LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON
Redesign depicts core values of race: strength, dedication, commitment,
ambition, victory
August 8, 2007, CHICAGO - Registrants for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
spend 18 weeks or more training specifically for the 26.2-mile race,
logging hundreds of miles and sacrificing precious hours for the cause. The
commitment is driven out of personal will and determination and the journey
is a passionate one.
In its 30th year, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon identified a tremendous
opportunity to better communicate with this audience of impassioned,
dedicated and loyal runners by redesigning its website from top to bottom.
And after months of development, the newly-designed site has finally
launched â www.chicagomarathon.com.
Originally built to handle the mass registration of 45,000 entrants, serve
as a vital communications tool for specifics surrounding the behemoth event
and hosting immense race-day online traffic, the websiteâs operations were
previously focused on functionality. This new dynamic website captures the
essence and emotion of the Marathon while fueling the hungry athletes
preparing for it with all the encouragement they need.
âThe LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon decided to take the opportunity to raise
the bar of the industry and develop a site that would not only further
engage its audience, but reach out to non-runners alike with an opportunity
to dial into the never-ending energy the Marathon generates,â said Shawn
Platt, LaSalle Bankâs Senior Vice President and Director of Brand
Management and Sports Marketing
With runners at the critical time in their training regimen, heavy mileage
scheduled each week and the much-anticipated taper six weeks away, the new
website will provide a boost of energy at an opportune moment. It will also
live on year-round for runners in other races around the world looking to
feel the encouragement of a global online community.
Key Highlights of the New Site:
Revolves around incorporating the raw emotions of all aspects of the
event, including training and preparation and race day from the
perspectives of both the runners and the dedicated fans and supporters,
through imagery that spans the Marathonâs 30-year history.
Images capture the core values of the event: strength, dedication,
commitment, ambition, achievement and sacrifice. When combined with a
sleek design, energetic colors and a user-friendly navigation, the site
embraces and connects not only with marathon participants, but with
those that support and encourage participants as well.
âInspiration Bankâ offers visitors the opportunity to share their
motivation, stories and tips through online diaries, runner essays,
photo galleries, polls and top ten lists. In alliance with the emotional
feel of the new design, the âInspiration Bankâ is another manner in
which all involved â runners, spectators, supporters â have the ability
to connect with the global Marathon community.
Includes a variety of features such as a countdown clock, runner
tracking, podcasts, online polling and video galleries.
Nology Interactive was retained to lead the charge in the design,
navigation and content management system that would serve as the
cornerstone of the new site, not only because of their expertise in Web
development, but because of their intimate understanding of the personal
emotion that drives success in sport.
âThe LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is an iconic Chicago tradition and
Nology Interactive has worked extensively to ensure that runners and fans
will have the ability to access an easy to navigate website leading up to
and on race day.â said Todd Gordon, founder and vice-president of strategic
innovation for Nology Interactive.
About The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will celebrate its 30th anniversary on
Sunday, October 7, 2007 as 45,000 participants advance to the start line,
embarking on the culmination of 45,000 personal journeys. Along with the
massive field of recreational runners, the 26.2-mile course will welcome a
full field of world-renowned professional athletes drawn to the flat, fast,
urban setting and the potential to break world and national records. The
professionals will compete for a portion of the $650,000 prize purse and
points in the World Marathon Majors series which will crown its first male
and female champions with $500,000 each at the close of 2007.
Since the inception of its charity program in 2002, The LaSalle Bank
Chicago Marathon has generated more than $27.5 million for a variety of
charitable causes including $9.3 million in accordance with the 2006 event
alone.
Registration for the 2007 race is now closed as the 45,000 participant
capacity was reached on April 18. For more information, visit
www.chicagomarathon.com.
About Nology Interactive
A wholly-owned subsidiary of TeamWorks Media, Nology Interactive was
launched in October 2006. The Chicago-based company provides web design and
development, IT consulting services and Internet access to more than 200
businesses nationally and locally, including the Chicago White Sox, Fox
Sports Net, Chicago 2016 Committee and United Stationers. Further
information is available at www.nologyinteractive.com.
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