The 36th Running of the Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon – Health & Fitness Expo - Over 200 exhibitors

The running of the 2013 Chicago Marathon is in the final planning stages. This will be the 36th running scheduled for October 13th, 2013. The Chicago Marathon had it's humble start with the first 10 mile run that took place in May 1977 in downtown Chicago and was called the Ravenswood Bank lakefront 10-mile run.In November 1976 at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle St., five key founders of what would eventually become the Bank of America, Chicago Marathon met to begin discussions and planning. The theme of the marathon for 2013 is Health and fitness and considering the founding fathers of the event you begin to understand why? The founders of the event were Wayne Goeldner, physical education director of the Hyde Park YMCA; Wendell “Wendy” Miller, a partner in a financial advising firm and founder of Midwest Masters Running Club; Bill Robinson, Executive Director of Friends of Parks; Sharon Mier, Director of Women’s Sports at the Loop Center YMCA; and Dr. Noel Nequin, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at the Swedish Convenant Hospital. It is not difficult to understand why this group decided it was time for a Marathon in Chicago .

After the overwhelming participation of over 1000 runner in the 10-mile, 1977 became a landmark year for running in Chicago. The then Mayor of Chicago, Mayor Bilandic decided he wanted to have a hand in making Chicago “the running capital of the world.” In a show of support Mayor Bilandic converted a five miles portion of an old equestrian path along the lakefront into a jogging path that today is a beautiful scenic course that stretches for 18 miles and has become more popular than ever.

This was only the beginning by July 1977 Wendy Miller was instrumental in bringing together a group of businessmen to sponsor the Marathon and at that time called it the Mayor Daley Marathon in hono of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley.

On October 1, 2007 only six days before the race, Bank of America completed its acquisition of LaSalle Bank and thereby its future involvement with the historic Marathon. The 30th anniversary closed a storied chapter in the race’s history, ending its 14-year run as The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, a time during which it experienced tremendous growth in many areas including popularity among runners, civic and community support and international recognition.

That brings us to today with the running of the Chicago Marathon being only weeks away. With a list of local and national sponsors too many to name the running of the 2013 Chicago Marathon is set to start on Sunday morning October 13, 2013 how long does it take a well trained runner to complete the 26 miles a little over 2 hours. The course will be open for 6 hours and 30 minutes for those who have trained for this event and other like it for in some cases years and in others for months. Those entering will have 6 hours and 30 minutes to complete the run before the course is shut down and opened back up to the Chicago traffic. Those who completed in lee than 6 hours and 30 minutes will be recorded in the history books for their participation in the run. Those who complete it outside of the allotted time will be recorded not by time but by participation.

Bank of America is the primary sponsor for the Chicago Marathon and as a result of that sponsorship it is expected the Marathon will contribute an estimated $243.46 million in total business activity to the Chicago economy.

Thinking about running a marathon? The 26 miles would require a runner to run at least 1 mile every 15 minutes to complete the run in the allotted 6 hours and 30 minutes. There is a good solution available for considering doing it next year. Nike is a sponsor of a training program specifically for that purpose. There are three program that are offered starting in June of each year prior to the marathon. The program's are Finish the Race (18 weeks) , Set a New PR and Lead from the front(15 weeks) .Nike coaches have developed three downloadable courses for the novice, intermediate and advance runners.

The course will featured cheer stop along the way usually hosted by business sponsors. There will be food and refreshments along the route of Lemon-Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula and Bananas in the later miles of the course. There will be first aid station along the way staffed with sport trainers to assit those participating in the run. There will be 20 aid stations along the route. 

While there may not be enough time to participate in your first marathon for the upcoming Bank Of America Chicago Marathon never say never. If you are a novice or advanced runner and want to take it to the next level the Nike training site may be in your future. If you are not ready for a 26 mile run maybe you could just come out and cheer on a family member or friend who has trained and is ready for the challenge.

A little marathon recent  USA trivial::Youngest Man: 14 years old James Drews (26 Apr 1958, USA) 2:37:05  02 July 1972  Whitewater WI USA .  Youngest Women: 10 years old Jennifer Amyx (16 Jan 1970, USA) 3:12 48   04 Oct. 1980 Johnstown PA USA. Oldest Man 70 years old  (29 Aug 1941, USA)   5:12:48  18 Dec 2011 Dallas TX USA. Oldest women 61 years old Judy Fisher (1943) USA    3:51:21  22Oct 2005 Olympia WA USA.