Dathan Ritzenhein Running 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

By Chris Lotsbom
February 11, 2013
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

(11-Feb) — Organizers of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will be returning to the Windy City to run the 36th edition of their World Marathon Majors event on Sunday, October 13.  Ritzenhein, 30, set a personal best of 2:07:47 at last year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon when he placed ninth overall and first among Americans.

“After a huge breakthrough at last year’s race, I’m excited to come back for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Ritzenhein in a statement from race organizers.  “I hope to continue the success I had last year with my eyes focused on the podium.  Dropping my PR down to 2:07:47 gives me the confidence now to race with the best, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to do that on October 13.”

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Ritzenhein became the third-fastest American of all time with his performance in Chicago last year, a mark that places him only behind Ryan Hall and Khalid Khannouchi.

Dathan Ritzenhein Looking to Improve on 2012 PR

“I love racing in Chicago,” said the father of two children, who grew up 200 miles from Chicago in Rockford, Mich.  “I’m looking forward to hitting the streets of Chicago this year and to keep breaking down barriers.”

It was also announced Monday that Ritzenhein will race in the 34th Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K on April 7.  It will be his debut at the event, which recorded over 34,000 finishers in 2012.

“After his breakthrough race last fall, it became a priority for us to have Dathan back on the start line for the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “It’s clear that he has discovered a winning formula for the marathon and Chicago fits into that plan. What I’m most excited about is now that Dathan has a comfort level with the marathon distance and with our event, I think you’re going to see a supremely confident and fit athlete mixing it up with a world-class field on October 13.”

Ritzenhein plans to compete on the track in the spring and summer of 2013 before turning his attention to his fall marathon.  In 2012, Ritzenhein represented the United States at the London Olympics, placing 13th in the 10,000m.

More: LRC Chicago 2012: American Dathan Ritzenhein Runs a 2:07:47 PR to Become Third Fastest American at 2012 Chicago Marathon (And Finishes 9th in the Race)

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