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Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2013/2014
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has been held annually
for the last 30 years in September/October; next time in October 2013 (date to
be confirmed). Since the first
Chicago Marathon took place in 1977, the number of runners has increased from
4,200 to 45,000, but the race has always been one of the largest marathon road
races in the world, making it an obvious member of the World Marathon Majors.
The limit of 45,000 registered entrants is usually reached as early as 6 months
before race day. The record-breaking number of runners is watched by 1.5 million
spectators, making the streets of the Windy City crammed to capacity on Marathon
Sunday.
The Chicago Marathon is one of the many city marathons that boasts a fast and
flat course with no significant hills. The course starts in Grant Park by Lake
Michigan. From here the route goes through the neighbourhoods of northern
Chicago and all the way to the South side before it returns to Grant Park,
taking the marathoners on a colourful journey through the many sides of Chicago.
The crowds along the way are famed for turning up in large numbers and are
extremely supportive.
In the Chicago Marathon’s 30-year history, the race has seen some of the most
record-setting and exciting battles at the finish line. One of the most dramatic
endings occurred in 2006, when Kenyan Robert K. Cheruiyot slipped right before
breaking the finish tape. Cheruiyot fell on his back and hit his head on the
asphalt. But he was lucky enough to slide forward in the fall causing his timing
chip to cross the finish line and making him the winner, 5 seconds ahead of the
slightly confused runner-up Daniel Njenga. Cheruiyot suffered a concussion, was
taken to the hospital and discharged a couple of days later.
Race favourite Moses Mosop of Kenya won the 2011 edition of the Chicago
Marathon with a smashing time of 2:05:37 setting the new course record. Ahead of American favourite Ryan Hall by almost
two and a half minutes. And Liliya Shobukhova from Russia won the women's
race in 2:18:20.
Feel like running Chicago Marathon in October 2013? Registration and further
information on Bank of America Chicago Marathon is found at the
official website
Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2013 Course
Click
here for course information and course map.
Meltdown at Chicago Marathon 2007
The 2007 race of the Chicago Marathon, on Sunday 7 October 2007, ended in chaos
and commotion when temperatures reached an all time high of 88º F (31º C) two
hours after race start. By this time, the first elite runners were crossing the
finish line while most first-timers and other runners were not even close to
halfway. Several runners fainted or vomited because of the heat, and when the
water stations started running out of water, the organisers had to close the
race down. Everybody who had not crossed the half marathon mark 3.5 hours after
start time was driven to the finish area in Grant Park.
Naturally, this caused quite a ruckus among the runners who had trained for
months and spent a great deal of money on entry fees, travelling expenses and
accommodation. The organisers claimed that they were forced to call off the race
due to safety reasons as emergency rooms were full and the medical staff was
overburdened. The disappointed runners maintained that the organisers should
have been better prepared – for example by checking the weather forecasts and
providing enough water to keep everyone hydrated. However, we’re not pointing
fingers at anyone here, only offering our sympathy to the frustrated runners and
the race organisers who had to make a tough decision.
Runners complained about many water stations running out of both water and
Gatorade and runners had to turn to fountains and generous spectators to get
hydrated and to cool down their sweltering bodies. 9,000 registered runners
checked the weather forecasts and stayed at home, while 11,000 runners did cross
the start line but not the finish line. Some of these dropped out at their own
free will and busses picked up the rest of them after the course was closed.
According to eye witnesses, some runners seemed to welcome the excuse to escape
the steaming sauna that the race had turned into. Others were, of course, sorry
to see months of training go down the drain. Only 24,000 participants crossed
the finish line, one of the lowest numbers ever in the Chicago Marathon history.
Selected videos from Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2007
See more info and past results on the next page:
Chicago Marathon Results and Information 2013/2014