Chicago Marathon
set for Oct. 12
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is set for Sunday, Oct. 12. Marathoners will start at 8 a.m. in Grant Park. ( The elite runners will begin at 7:55 a.m. )
Runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will participate. Participants will compete in age groups, and engraved medals will be awarded to the top five finishers in each group.
The 26.2-mile course covers the North, West and South sides of the city, traveling through 29 neighborhoods.
For participants, The Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Hilton Pasta Dinner Buffet will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan.
See more at www.ChicagoMarathon.com .
Gymnastics stars
at Rosemont Oct. 15
The 2008 World Tour of Gymnastics Superstars—featuring past and present Olympics champions Shawn Johnson, Paul Hamm and Nastia Liukin, plus the men and women of Team USA's gymnastics team—will be at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont, on Wed., Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $29.50-$79.50. Call Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or visit www.ticketmaster.com .
Rollers to play
Carolina
On Saturday, Oct. 25, Chicago's Windy City Rollers ( WCR ) All-Stars women's flat-track roller derby team will be playing a favorite rival in the Eastern Region—Carolina Rollergirls All-Stars, ranked #5 in the country. This game marks the WCR's debut at their new home, the UIC Pavilion, 235 S. Racine.
The Oct. 25 bout celebrates the WCR's growth as a league, and subsequent upgrade in venue and attendance capacity. WCR 'alumni'—veteran skaters, referees, and league volunteers from the early days of the WCR—are invited to the bout as guests of honor.
Visit www.windycityrollers.com .
Memorial bike and
walk Oct. 19
The fourth annual Dick Herron Memorial Bike and Walk, which honors fallen bicyclists and pedestrians, will take place Sunday, Oct. 19, at 9:30 a.m. in Lincoln Park at the North Avenue pedestrian bridge. The event is named for Herron, who was killed while riding his bike in 2004.
Donations will fund Herron-Chicagoland Bicycle Federation scholarships that will help young people pay for textbooks, tuition and educational costs through Herron-Chicagoland Bicycle Federation scholarships.
The ride portion of the event will extend 15 miles from North Avenue to Soldier Field and back. The walk will be a five-mile stretch through Lincoln Park.
For more, see www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=1688_0_8_0.
Urbanathlon and
festival Oct. 18
Men's Health magazine has announced that chef Rocco DiSpirito will host the Men's Health Urbanathlon & Festival in Chicago Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 a.m. Registration is still open.
The Urbanathlon event combines traditional road-race elements with obstacle course components against the backdrop of city landmarks. See www.menshealthurbanathlon.com .