►Southwest Half Marathon Returns! Sunday, May 1, Palos Heights, IL

April 5, 2011 - PRLog -- PALOS HEIGHTS, IL—One of  Chicagoland's more popular (and fastest-growing) running events—the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon—will return for its fourth year on Sunday, May 1.

In 2010, the event drew more than 1,800 runners. That number is expected to top 2,000 this year.

Start time and location for the 13.1 mile course are 7:30 a.m. at Palos Heights City Hall,  Route 83 and 76th Avenue in the southwest suburb. Unique to this half marathon is that it has a flat course and only three turns.

In addition, the event will feature an on-site vendor expo and live band, and a half-mile "walk, run or roll" at 7:45 a.m. by the South West Special Recreation Association for children with special needs.

Additionally, the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair--a free community event  featuring fitness experts, injury prevention advice, health screenings and more--will be held on Saturday, April 30.  The fair—open to the public as well as runners--will be held from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Moraine Valley Church, 6300 W. 127th Street.

The half marathon registration fee is $65 (no on-site registration). To register, course route information and more, please visit www.firstmidwesthalfmarathon.com or call 773.868.3010.

A portion of event proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society's prostate cancer  research programs, the South West Special Recreation Association and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.