NATIONAL DISTANCE RUNNING HALL OF FAME NAMES KARDONG
FRED LEBOW AWARD RECIPIENT

NEW YORK CITY -- In almost every issue of Runner’s World magazine, Don
Kardong shares a funny anecdote on running or a touching story that inspired him.
All of these provide readers with a glimpse into his commitment and dedication to
running.

These qualities set Kardong apart. They are also the reasons behind his selection as
the first recipient of the Fred Lebow Award.

Established by the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, the Fred Lebow
Award honors the spirit and commitment of Lebow who co-founded the New
York City Marathon and worked tirelessly to build the race into a world renowned
event that unifies nations, races and cultures. The award celebrates Lebow’s
dedication, passion, leadership, creativity and foresight.

“The New York City Marathon is Fred Lebow. Without his vision and devotion,
the marathon would not have the impact internationally that it does,” said John
Petrone, co-director of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. “We want to
honor individuals like Lebow who rise to the occasion and demonstrate
characteristics that set them apart, that selflessly work to show us all that is
possible.”

Kardong was nominated for his achievements in helping to shape running and for
leading one of the country’s top road races. He founded the Lilac Bloomsday Run
in Spokane Washington in 1977, and his vision and foresight grew the Run from
over 1,000 participants in its first year to over 50,000 runners in 2000. Kardong is
a past president of the Lilac Bloomsday Association (1980, 1982-84), which
organizes the Run, and remains a member of the Association’s board of directors.

The roots of his dedication reach much deeper than building the longevity and
participation of a road race. Kardong has fought to establish and preserve the
rights of athletes. He served as an athlete’s representative to The Athlete’s
Congress (TAC) and the Road Runner’s Club of America. He also served as the
chairman of the Men’s Long Distance Running Committee of TAC from 1986 to
1992. Kardong was a founding member and past president of the Association of
Road Racing Athletes, an organization representing the interests of world-class long
distance runners.

“Don has many of the same leadership qualities that Lebow exhibited throughout
his work on the New York City Marathon,” said Earle C. Reed, co-director
of the Hall of Fame. “Don is passionate, driven and knowledgeable. He has
influenced the sport of distance running in imaginative ways.”

The Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board -- made up of 10 of running’s most influential
people -- nominated individuals for the Lebow Award and voted by closed ballot at
their annual meeting during Hall of Fame Weekend this past July. The Lebow
Award is sponsored by Runner’s World magazine, The New York City Road
Runner’s Club, Larry Rawson, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
and The Chase Manhattan Bank.

In accepting his award Kardong remarked about the uniqueness of the award
design. “I’m not only honored to receive the first Fred Lebow Award from the
National Distance Running Hall of Fame, I’m also excited because this is the
coolest award I’ve ever seen”. The award was conceived by Romanelli
Advertising/Design, Inc. and created by Vincent R. Clemente, sculptor and former
pottery/ceramics professor at Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute.

An electronic image of the Lebow Award may be downloaded from the Romanelli
Advertising/Design, Inc. website at www.romanelli.com/press/lebow.jpg