Some say Peg Leg Sullivan started the great Chicago fire of 1871. Others blame Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. Whoever it was, it seems they struck again, exactly 145 years and 12 hours after those first sparks began to burn down the Windy City. This time it wasn’t a barn on DeKoven Street that was set ablaze, it was every muscle in my lower body as I ran down Michigan Avenue.
My legs stiffened up and my pace dropped by three minutes per mile. But I swore to myself I wasn’t going to let the Chicago arsonist ruin my final two point two miles, so I powered through the finish. I was proud of myself, especially after the busy weekend I’d had.
That’s the story of how I finished my race. But there was much more to my time at the Chicago Marathon than those final 25 minutes.
From the moment I arrived at O’Hare I knew this was going to be different from my typical marathon event experience. Whenever I cover marathons for Runner’s World (such as Boston, New York, and Los Angeles), I get major runner envy, wishing I was out on the course instead of in the media center. Twelve hours, two video interviews, and a stint at the expo booth later, it finally sunk in that I would be joining in on the fun. Thankfully my nerves were calmed by a mix of friendly runners along the lakefront, supportive locals at the expo, and Cubs fans roaming the city streets.
The first chance I had to meet our group of VIPs was at Saturday morning’s shakeout run. Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso led our large group through Grant Park and near Soldier Field. We were joined by some local runners, including a man who has run over sixty marathons and a woman who ran her first half marathon the week before.
Race morning we had our VIP area, complete with bagels, drinks, and, most importantly, heat. Most runners in our group, especially those from California and Florida, said they were excited to be running in cooler weather. Led by Coach Budd Coates, we made our way to the start line in plenty of time to get some last minute stretches in.
The course was incredible. The fan support was unlike any I’ve experienced before. People lined both sides of the street, ringing bells, holding signs, and yelling at the top of their lungs. I was able to see both baseball stadiums and the United Center, home of the Bulls. (Note to race organizers: playing the Bulls’ iconic 1990s intro music as runners ran past that area would increase moral, and renew appreciation for the Alan Parsons Project).
Even though my body was rejecting the final miles, I was able to power through thanks to the crowd support and clearly marked signs labeling how many track laps were left in the race. I gave it my all, and there was nothing I would have changed. I’m proud of myself and would definitely run the course again.
Thank you to the VIP members who came out with us this past weekend; some qualified for Boston, others were struck by the same muscle arsonist I was. In the end, there was nothing but smiles across our post-race gathering spot. We were thankful to have completed one of the best courses in the country, if not the world.
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How to Better Pace a Marathon Based on Effort Runner’s World VIP. He already misses the pizza and hot dogs.
CA Notice at Collection Runner’s World in 2014, Derek Other Hearst Subscriptions Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden’s Boston victories and Amy Cragg’s win at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar.
