Marathon allows runners to ‘discover themselves, the city’

Antonini heard the tale of Phidippides in the “old country” and decided he, too, would one day run a marathon. “You’re always happy you did it once you’re out there”.

Thousands of participants in this Sunday’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon will run the race as marathon organizers, with key assistance from a Northwestern University and Chicago Marathon research team, will utilize big data – both historic and real-time – to supply a comprehensive picture of the race as it unfolds.

Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and 2005 Chicago victor, set the current USA record with a pacer at the 2006 London Marathon.

“I mainly run Chicago because Mile 26 is literally two blocks away from my house, so I can’t even let it pass by on the years that I thought about passing it by”, said Lo, a 46-year-old South Loop resident. Rather than retreat permanently into a few lighthouse sanctuary of her native Maine, Benoit has continued to make headlines in the distance running world, founding the prestigious Beach to Beacon 10K, and outperforming youngsters in high profile races like the NYC Marathon. “I guess I’ve gotta move if I wanna take a break”.

“If running is pure sport, it should be pure sport in every area”, Samuelson said.

“I just remember running head-to-head with Ingrid”, said Samuelson, who now wears her silver hair shoulder-length.

A couple of weeks ago, the CARA group completed a 20-mile run, farther than Flutterman and Berglund ever had run before. He has stated that he has no time goal for Sunday’s race, which points towards his using Chicago as a tune-up for the Olympic trials.

“All runners walk or run this fine line leading up to a marathon”, she said.

“The last two miles were not so great”, said Flutterman, a 28-year-old Gold Coast resident. “But then I keep coming back”.

This year’s L.A. Marathon may have been a disappointment for the Hall family, but for Blake Russell the race was a career highlight. “By 22, you start to pray”.

“Think twice before you do it”, he said, “but then do it”. “My heart says yes, and my gut says no”, she said.

Organizers also tried a regional marketing approach to provide more runners another competitive option with the Mill Race Marathon – a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Chicago will be her second attempt at the marathon distance, after she ran an unspectacular debut of 2:48 is Los Angeles last March. “My first year, I had Gatorade handed to me by a bearded Superwoman”.

“The crowds are a huge help”, Nardi added.

Matt Lindner is a RedEye special contributor.