Irvine, CA (July 23, 2009) - ASICS athlete Ryan Hall has announced he will run the ING New York City Marathon, November 1, 2009. The event, now in its 40th year, is considered one of only five of the "Major Marathons" in the world. This will be Hall's first time running the ING New York City Marathon and his second Major World Marathon this year placing third in the prestigious Boston Marathon in April with a time of 2:09:30.

"My goal is to become the first American winner of a Major World Marathon, and the ING New York City Marathon is a crown jewel of marathons," says Ryan Hall. "I'm ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple."

Hall will also be running the New York City Half-Marathon in August where he will be a leading contender. Hall has proven himself as one of the best distance runners in the world; he currently sits number two all time on the American list with a personal best of 2:06:17 from the 2008 London Marathon. In 2007, Hall won the men's Olympic Trials Marathon in New York, securing a trip to Beijing where he finished 10th overall. Hall holds the American half-marathon record with a time of 59:43.

Fans can follow Hall on his road to the ING New York City Marathon. For more information visit www.asicsamerica.com.

ASICS Corporation, with more than 50 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories. For more information, please visit www.asics.com.