The hot topic at the 32nd annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held Oct. 11, was the cold temperatures—especially after heat and humidity marred the 26.2-mile journey each of the past two years.
Mother Nature sent the temperature into the mid- and upper-80s in 2007 and 2008, but the temperature when the 2009 version kicked off at 7:30 a.m. was 33 degrees. The thermometer eventually hit the 50s and the sun shone.
But it was cold, period—cold for the estimated 1.5 million spectators and cold for the 34,792 runners who started the race. The temperatures were, no doubt, a contributing factor for Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru, 22, the reigning Olympic champion, who broke the Chicago course record, finishing in 2:05.41, surpassing the former record by one second, set by Khalid Khannouchi, then a Moroccan, in 1999. The women's winner was Liliya Shobukhova of Russia in 2:25.56.
My fingers were numb for about three-quarters of the race, and even for an hour or so after crossing the finish line. So much for the snazzy black cotton gloves that I bought for $10 at the annual Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, held Friday and Saturday at the McCormick Place Convention Center. The Expo welcomed more than 125,000 visitors in 2008—and no doubt just as many, or more, this year.
The Chicago Marathon continues to be an amazing event. Carey Pinkowski, who has served as the Executive Race Director since 1990, deserves a pat on the back for, once again, delivering an unbelievable weekend. Here's a look at the stats from the 2009 Chicago Marathon:
—19,444 registered female runners
—25,056 registered male runners
—33,411 finished
—There were 291 runners from Brazil—and I had to laugh at the fan who was serving as a DJ in his area on the course broadcast, "Don't trip the Brazilian; it wasn't his fault that we lost the [ 2016 ] Olympics."
—Among the countries with one entrant were Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Gabon, Fiji, Jordan, Namibia, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
—A total of 114 countries were represented, for 6,232 runners.
—Following Illinois, the highest numbers of domestic runners were from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. The fewest came from Hawaii, North Dakota and Wyoming ( 21 each ) .
Runners train for about six months to run a marathon—and then most hope to cross the finish line in three or four hours. But don't think for one second that those who need five hours, or even the maximum of six and a half hours, aren't proud of their feats. Runners were still wearing their medals for all to see Sunday night at O'Hare International Airport as they were heading home.
It was no surprise that several times I saw fans holding handmade signs boasting that, "Pain is temporary; pride is forever."
Reading the signs that fans hold is one of my favorite things about running a marathon—and this marathon had some of the best, funniest, most creative signs I've seen in the six marathons I have finished over the past two years.
The Chicago Marathon features bands and more along the course. Lakeview was, arguably, the most entertaining section on the 26.2-mile journey. It had the Chicago Spirit Brigade along Addison Street, then the Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corp ( ROTC ) and not just one, but two sets of female-impersonator cheerleaders on Broadway.
And, yes, I did get yelled at while running on Broadway—addressed by name, no less—by Jeremy, wearing his prettiest female attire. I can only imagine what some of the runners near me must have thought.
I eventually crossed the finish line with a personal best, by about 15 minutes. It was my best marathon time of the six I've run.
Next up for me on the marathon trail: the annual Honolulu Marathon on Sunday, Dec. 13. I know there won't be any talk of cold temps at that race.
