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EspañolCHICAGO MARATHON
The LaSalle Bank 'Chicago Marathon' is a major Marathon held yearly in Chicago. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors.[1] The October 7 2007 running will be the 30th Anniversary running of the race. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon It has been run every year since the 1977 running of the first race under the original name the "Mayor Daley Marathon" drew a field of 4200 runners.Suozzo, p. 6. It is the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances.Suozzo, p. 10.
There is no qualifying time to participate in the Chicago Marathon, but only runners who finish within 6½ hours are officially timed. The race is limited to 45,000 runners on a first-come, first-served basis. Increasingly, local (e.g., Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital), national (e.g., American Cancer Society) and global (e.g., Global Business Assist, British Red Cross) charities and humanitarian organizations encourage sponsored participation in the event as a means of fund raising.
| Contents |
| Statistics |
| History |
| Winners |
| Deaths |
| Notes |
| References |
| External links |
Statistics
Chicago Marathon start/finish
It has grown significantly from its beginnings. In 1995, 9000 people registered. In 1999, over 29,000 people registered. The 2001 marathon run on October 7 reached its cap of 37,500 just prior to the entry deadline on September 19.[2] The cap was instituted after the 2000 race drew 33,171 runners.[3] In 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 it reached its cap of 40,000. LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Reaches 40,000 Participant Cap Lamppa, Ryan The 2004 race run on October 10 reached its cap on August 16. The 2005 race run on October 9 reached its cap on July 14 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Reaches 40,000 Participant Cap at Record Pace Lamppa, Ryan The 2006 race run on October 22 reached its cap on May 26.[4] As of April 18 2007, the 2007 race to be run on October 7 had reached its cap of 45,000 entrants. THE 2007 LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON CLOSES REGISTRATION: RACE REACHES 45,000 PARTICIPANT CAPACITY Caponi, Marianne The 40,000 registrants and 33,000 finishers in 2003 made the Chicago Marathon the third or fourth largest Marathon depending on which metric (registrants or finishers) is used.Suozzo, p. 14.
Like most large marathons, the Chicago Marathon is entered by a small number of elite (mostly African) runners, and legions of middle-class and upper middle-class runners, predominantly male, caucasian, and from affluent countries. The largest demographic description of marathoners is of young urban professionals who reflect traditionally middle-class values of discipline, planning, hard work and deferred gratification. The vast majority of runners are not competing in hopes of winning the marathon, but instead are in pursuit of success in competition against their own historical standards or planned goals. For many success is completing the course with an officially timed result, which means completing the course before the official closing time of 6.5 hours. For others, success is completing the course at all even in 8 hours plus by reaching the closing chutes in times described as walking times.
Although entrants have registered on a first-come first-served basis, numerous official charities have additional late registration rights to award. The 2007 event has 85 charity partners. The 2006 event raised $9.5 million for charity. Charity fundraising is now closely intertwined with the event as the runners now raise money for research, aid the suffering and heighten public awareness of different causes.[5] The marathon offers all registrants the opportunity to sign up to run with a charity partner. The marathon recognizes four levels of charities based on the number of participants recruited.[6] This program has existed since 2001:[7]
| Year | Charity count | Runner count | Funds raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 | NA | NA |
| 2002 | 14 | 1674 | $2,950,000 |
| 2003 | 19 | 2527 | $4,540,000 |
| 2004 | 29 | 2449 | $4,740,000 |
| 2005 | 43 | 3000 | $6,317,000 |
| 2006 | 60 | 5000 | $9,500,000 |
| 2007 |
As an example, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society required participants to raise $1400 to be a team member in 2004.[8] Children's Memorial Hospital only has a $500 requirement.[9]
History
The 2005 Marathon at Grand Avenue passing under Michigan Avenue (Chicago) along the Magnificent Mile.
The first marathon at the 1896 Games of the I Olympiad generated interest in the sport which led to similar races throughout the most western countries and across the United States. Marathons sporadically occurred in New York City, Chicago and St. Louis with a few runners.[10] Between 1905 and approximately 1915, A Chicago Marathon (organized by the Illinois Athletic Club) existed in rivalry with a St. Louis Marathon.[11] It was not until the health consciousness of the 1960s that Marathon growth gained traction. Frank Shorter's 1972 Games of the XX Olympiad Marathon victory represented the convergence of many middle-class American ideals.[10] Then the 1976 New York City Marathon, which was the first New York City Marathon to embrace the five borough course, popularized the big city Marathon. As the New York marathon began to grow exponentially in the 1970s, the Chicago Marathon was established as a rival to the New York City Marathon. By the mid 1980s, the Chicago Marathon was ensconced as one of the big four marathons.[13] During the mid 1980s, it was named America's Marathon/Chicago and opened up the way for appearance payments. Joan Benoit Samuelson described the Chicago Marathon's of the mid 1980s as "The World's Marathon".[14]
The founding location of the Chicago Marathon is at 214 West Erie in River North.
The Chicago Marathon was founded over the objection of Ed Kelly, Chicago Parks Superintendent who refused permission to run in the parks or along the Lake Michigan lakefront. With the help of Lee Flaherty, who operated out of Flair House at,[15] Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's support for the marathon was enlisted. Although Mayor Daley died, his successor, Michael Anthony Bilandic approved the race and got Kelly on board. Michael Bilandic, a runner, and his wife actually passed out medals at the first marathon on September 25 1977. Flaherty footed the bill for the first race, which had no sponsors. He again footed the bill in 1978 when the race was again called the Mayor Daley Marathon. However, in 1979 Beatrice Foods became the first race sponsor. It has from its inception with 4200 runners and 2128 been one of the nation's largest marathons. The 2000 running was second only to New York.[16] However, the 1979 and 1980 events continued to be gatherings of amateur runners. By 1982, the race finally had sufficient prize money to attract world class athletes. The 1982 was the first with world class times such as the 2:10:59 by Greg Meyer, the last American-born male to win the race.[17] By 1983 the Chicago Marathon had achieved its status as one of America's most important marathons. In 1984, Beatrice raised the purse to $250,000 ($50,000 more than New York's).[17] The race had become a legitimate rival to New York and continues to vie for top runners. The 1985 race was spectacular with Steve Jones breaking his own course record (2 seconds short of the world record) and Joan Benoit Samuelson the 1984 Games of the XXIII Olympiad Champion, two-time defending Chicago Marathon Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist, Rosa Mota and the fourth place Olympic finisher and world record setting Ingrid Kristiansen. Benoit set a record that stood nearly a generation. Although 1986 had 40 world-class runners among the 8000 participants the times paled in comparison.[19] Beatrice dropped out as a sponsor in 1987, but Heileman Brewing Company sponsored the 1988 Old Style Chicago Marathon.[20] The race resulted in three women who had been passed over for the 1988 Games of the XXIV Olympiad placing in the top positions.[21] In 1991, Heileman discontinued its sponsorship and both the prize money and performances waned.[22] 1992 again had no sponsorship, but 1993 brought new sponsor LaSalle Bank.[23] In 1994, the race became the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.[24] In 1996, LaSalle Bank purchased the Marathon.[25] In 1998, the race began using the ChampionChip.[26]
In the early years the Chicago Marathon was held in August. The Chicago Marathon has never excluded women. However, historically the women's field has been smaller than the men's. This seems to be the result of historical sexism as the older age categories have large multiples of men to women, but the women are beginning to outnumber the men in the 20's field.[27]
A complete history of the ''The Chicago Marathon'' has been written by Andrew Suozzo and published by the University of Illinois Press. [1].
Winners
Deaths
★ 2003 - Rachael Townsend, 29, The Plains, Ohio - mitral valve prolapse[28][29]
★ 2001 - Luke Roach, 22, Seattle, Washington - Collapsed near finish line. Body temperature reached 107°F How marathons can kill you Ritter, Jim [30]
★ 2000 - Danny Towns, 45, Edmond, Oklahoma - Cardiac arrest[31]
★ 1998 - Kelly Barrett, 43, Littleton, Colorado - Died due to low sodium levels[32]
Notes
1. World Marathon Majors
2. Marathon Hits 37,500 Cap on Final Day of Registration
3. THE LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION CAP; Race will limit the field to 37,500 participants
4. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon raises .2 million for affiliated charities
5. Suozzo, p. 12.
6. Suozzo, p. 126.
7. 2006 Charity Program Overview
8. Suozzo, p. 131.
9. Suozzo, p. 208.
10. Suozzo, pp. 4-5.
11. Cooper, p. 25.
12. Suozzo, pp. 4-5.
13. Treadwell, p. 188
14. Treadwell, p. 64.
15. Lee Flaherty Toomey, Shamus
16. Suozzo. pp. 19-21.
17. Suozzo, p. 22.
18. Suozzo, p. 22.
19. Suozzo, p. 23.
20. Suozzo, p. 24.
21. Suozzo, p. 25.
22. Suozzo, p. 28.
23. Suozzo, p. 29.
24. Suozzo, p. 30.
25. Suozzo, p. 31.
26. Suozzo, p. 33.
27. Suozzo, pp. 12-13.
28. Autopsy can't explain why young marathoner died Sweeney, Annie
29. Coach copes with wife's death Znidar, Mark
30. Seattle man dies at Chicago Marathon
31. Danny J. Towns, 45, enjoyed running Smith, Bryan
32. Running Commentary:Two-Wheel Tragedy Henderson, Joe
References
★ Cooper, Pamela, "The American Marathon", Syracuse University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8156-0520-X.
★ Suozzo, Andrew, "The Chicago Marathon", University of Illinois Press, 2006, ISBN 0-252-07421-1.
★ Treadwell, Sandy, "The World of Marathons", Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1987, ISBN 0-941434-98-2.
External links
★ Chicago Marathon official site
★ Marathon Info
★ Chicago Marathon: What to Expect on the Course
★ Charities participating in the Marathon
★
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