Courtesy: event press release

Building on its commitment to the Houston community, Aramco Services Company has renewed its title sponsorship of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. An extended contract with event organizers continues to give Aramco Services Company naming rights to the half marathon, a companion race to the Chevron Houston Marathon. More than 8,000 runners are expected to participate in the 2006 Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Jan. 15, solidifying the race's status as the largest half marathon in Texas and ranked among the best in the nation.

"We are quite honored to return as sponsor of the half marathon, which has become not only a Texas tradition, but an event that has grown in stature throughout the nation and world," said Mazen I. Snobar, president and CEO of Houston-based Aramco Services Company. "We are proud to call Houston home, and will continue to show our unwavering support to our beloved community."

Aramco Services Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco). It provides a wide range of services to Saudi Aramco, including engineering, quality assurance, project management, environmental services and marine vessel support. It further assists Saudi Aramco with purchasing and logistics, financial services, information technology, career development and recruiting.

"Corporate sponsorship is the life blood of nonprofit sporting events like the Houston Marathon," said Brant Kotch, Chevron Houston Marathon race director. "Without support and sponsorship from generous companies such as Aramco Services Company, our events simply wouldn't be possible. We are very fortunate to have outstanding assistance from Houston's business community, and are thrilled to have Aramco Services Company be part of our event."

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will again host the USA Men's Half Marathon National Championship in 2006, which is held as part of the regular race. Organized by the USA Track & Field Committee, the championship race draws about 100 of the nation's top athletes to Houston to compete for the national title.

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will be run in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon at 7 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The 13.1-mile loop course will take runners out of downtown, through the Heights and Montrose areas of Houston, and back toward downtown along Allen Parkway. The race will share the finish line with the marathon in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The half-marathon course will be open to runners for four hours.

Registration for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, and other weekend events, is underway on the Chevron Houston Marathon web site at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com. Entry fees are currently $80 for the marathon, $60 for the half marathon and $20 for the 5K. After Nov. 1, marathon and half marathon fees increase by $10.

Traditional registration forms will be available at many Houston- area running and fitness stores, Houston YMCAs, the Tennis Center at Memorial Park and most local athletic clubs after Oct. 5.

More information is available online at or by calling (713) 957- 3453.