New Route, New Entertainment, Same Fun Time

Ready, set, race … your way to the Taste. This year the Bally Total Fitness® Race to Taste 5K Run/2-Mile Walk has a new race course and post-race party! Run/walk through Chicago's beautiful Grant Park and lakefront, and stay for activities and great good at Taste of Chicago. All participants will receive a commemorative Dri-Release event T-shirt, a one-month membership to Bally Total Fitness® and a coupon for one strip of Taste tickets, redeemable only on the day of race.

The 5K Run/2-mile Walk will begin at 8:00am on the corner of Balbo and Columbus. All participants are encouraged to stay for entertainment and select food vendors, open early to accommodate the runners. Taste of Chicago officially opens at 11:00 a.m.

The top three overall male and female finishers will receive cash prizes and all runners receive a one-month free membership to Bally Total Fitness®. The top finishers in each age division will also receive medals, which will be mailed to them.

This year a new post-race party will feature entertainment from the band Pawnshop and selected vendors will be open early to purchase food. All competitors will have the opportunity to win prizes in a raffle. The gifts that are being raffled are a one-week Apple Vacation for two, one-year membership packages to Bally Total Fitness® and many other prizes including gift certificates to some of Chicago's finest restaurants.

Advance registration is available on-line at www.chicagoracetotaste.us until June 25 and is $30 per participant. There is no race day registration. Pre-registration in person is available on the following dates and locations:

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Chicago Cultural Center - Garland Room
78 E. Washington, 5th Floor
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Taste Sports Pavilion at the Taste of Chicago
Northwest Corner of Columbus and Balbo
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Race Day - June 29, 2008
Packet Pick-up only, No race day registration
Columbus and Balbo
6:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.

This event also provides fun activities for kids. Festivities will include entertainment, an inflatable jumping jack and a Kids Dash. Registration for Kids Dash is on race day and the fee is $5. The Dash begins at 9:30 a.m. All participants will receive a t-shirt, bib number and a medal.

Once again, participants are encouraged to bring and donate canned goods at the Race To Taste event. All donations will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.