Running Icon Kathrine Switzer and RYKA Join Together to Encourage Women in Fitness.

Business Editors, Sports/Fitness Writers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2002

RYKA, the only performance athletic footwear brand committed exclusively to women, named noted marathoner and author Kathrine Switzer as the company's director of women's health and fitness.

With this dynamic new partnership, RYKA and Switzer are expanding a shared mission to enhance women's lives through fitness.

Switzer brings a 30-year career dedicated to motivating women around the world toward an active lifestyle, and will be instrumental in leading RYKA's health and fitness initiatives and programs. In addition to serving as spokesperson for the brand, Switzer will help launch and direct the company's new series of women's-only running and walking events. Throughout the race series, she will lead on-site fitness clinics, as well as host on-line chats to address training tips. Switzer will offer regular "webinars" and write a monthly column covering women's health and fitness topics.

According to RYKA President Mary Taylor, the partnership with Switzer creates new opportunities to encourage even more women to choose and maintain a fit and active lifestyle.

"With her history, dedication and status as a leader in women's fitness advocacy, Kathrine is a powerful inspiration to women everywhere," said Taylor.

Switzer was the first woman to break the gender barrier at the 1967 Boston Marathon. After a successful athletic career, she turned to television sports commentating, became a best-selling author and created a groundbreaking women's-only running series. Switzer has received numerous awards and citations for her efforts in advancing sports and fitness opportunities for women. This year she will be doing her 22nd straight TV broadcast of the Boston Marathon for WBZ-TV Boston.

"RYKA's long-standing mission embodies my commitment to help women adopt an active lifestyle as a means to achieve health and self-esteem," said Switzer.

Since its inception in 1987, RYKA remains dedicated to enhancing women's lives through fitness by supporting grassroots events and programs that invite all women to participate.

RYKA is entering its sixth year sponsorship of the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series. The company supports fitness professionals through R.I.T.A. (RYKA Instructor Trainer Alliance), a program that reaches the most influential fitness instructors in the country, and its partnership with NDEITA (National Dance Exercise Instructor Training Alliance), a leading education and certification organization for fitness professionals. To learn more about RYKA products and programs, visit: www.ryka.com.

RYKA is the only performance athletic footwear brand in the world dedicated solely to women. RYKA designs, develops and markets leading performance fitness products including aerobics, aqua, cross-training, running, walking and yoga shoes. All RYKA(R) shoes are made on a woman's last, and are designed and developed taking into account the anatomical features unique to women's feet -- narrow in the heel and wide in the forefoot. RYKA(R) footwear is available internationally in athletic specialty, sporting goods and department stores and through independent retailers.

RYKA is a registered trademark of RYKA, Inc. Danskin is a registered trademark of Danskin, Inc.