The Chicago Marathon always offers up a pleasant mixture of fast times and entertaining competition, and the 2018 race looks as though it will uphold that tradition.
The action kicks off 7:30 a.m. Central time on Sunday—so far, the weather forecast promises temperatures in the low 60s and a possibility of rain.
Alexi Pappas Is Training for Her First Marathon:
Mo Farah vs. Galen Rupp
In a sport that rarely offers the head-to-head matchups that fans want to see, this year is a treat. Farah and Rupp are former teammates from the Oregon Project, Races - Places. Farah, a quadruple Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters representing Great Britain, has departed the group to be coached by Gary Lough (husband of Paula Radcliffe, women’s marathon world-record holder). Farah said the fan interest in their duel excites him.
Rupp has a lot more experience at the 26.2-mile distance with six finishes (all in the top three), one DNF (2018 Boston), Keira D’Amato Drops Out of the Chicago Marathon Man Runs a Marathon Around a Single Chicago Block. Farah has raced the London Marathon twice—first in 2014, when he placed eighth in 2:08:21. Then in April, he went out at a furious pace following Eliud Kipchoge’s lead and split the half at 61 minutes. Couch to 5K Plan.
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back Other Hearst Subscriptions. Rupp said he wants to set an American record on Sunday (faster than 2:05:38) and Farah is going for the European record (faster than 2:05:48). Neither hold the fastest times in the pro field, but their competition might just be the most-watched of the day.
The American Women, Led by Laura Thweatt and Maybe Gwen Jorgensen
Farah said the fan interest in their duel excites him defending Chicago Marathon champion from the race with injuries, the American women’s field took a big hit. But Thweatt, with a personal best of 2:25:38, will share the spotlight with 2016 Olympic triathlon champion CA Notice at Collection.
and he is the. (Runner’s World reached out last week and Jorgensen offered to respond to questions via email, but declined a phone interview. She spoke briefly from the stage at a press conference on Friday in Chicago, but she did not attend the athlete media availability event immediately after.) She’s raced a wide-range of distances since joining the Bowerman Track Club this year, with a half marathon best of 1:10:58, and will be looking to gain experience at the distance and inch closer to her stated goal of making the 2020 Olympic marathon team and ultimately another gold medal.
Pacesetters Are Back
In 2015, race officials got rid of the rabbits for the professional fields, hoping it would stoke more interesting, tactical competition between athletes. However, at the request of Farah and Rupp, those pacesetters are back this year.
Chicago is a notoriously flat, fast course where many hope to set new records. Rupp and Farah have stated already that their primary goal is winning the race. If a new personal best comes with it, that will be a bonus. It will be interesting to see whether the pro men’s field follows the pacers or revert to good old-fashioned championship-style racing—or maybe a bit of both.
[How to Watch the 2024 Chicago Marathon Runner’s World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.]
Strong International Talent Is Lining Up
Aside from Farah, the other international men who will be competing for top places include Kenyans Abel Kirui, who won Chicago in 2016, and Dickson Chumba, the 2015 champion. Eight men on the roster have finished marathons under 2:07 and three of them faster than 2:05, including Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew, who has run 2:04:00, and Birhanu Legese, whose personal best is 2:04:32.
On the women’s side, the pace could be fast up front, too. Two Ethiopian women have 2:19 bests—Roza Dereje (2:19:17) and Birhane Dibaba (2:19:51). Brigid Kosgei, who placed second at the 2018 Chicago Marathon, is also back with a 2:20:13 PR to her name.
A Few Other Favorites Will Race, Too
where Rupp still trains, Yuki Kawauchi, is scheduled to race in Chicago, too. Fans have fallen for this Japanese distance runner not only because of his shocking win on Bolyston Street, but for his quirky approach to pro running. Kawauchi works full-time as a high-school administrator while racing marathons, half marathon, and ultramarathons with astounding frequency. He has 26 marathon finishes under 2:12 and 81 under 2:20. He’ll likely add to that list on Sunday, too.
Joan Benoit Samuelson, 61, plans to go for the world record for the 60-64 age group, 3:01:30. Samuelson was the first-ever women’s Olympic marathon winner in 1984 and went on to win the Chicago Marathon in 1985. On Sunday, she’ll be wearing bib No. 124, trying to make history once again.
And another marathon debut that will interest fans, domestic and international alike: Alexi Pappas, 28, is stepping up in distance after competing in the 10,000 meters at the Rio Olympics, where she represented Greece. Pappas has been training in Mammoth Lakes, California, under the coaching of Andrew Kastor and mentorship of Deena Kastor, the marathon American record holder (2:19:36).
