On Sunday October 13th, at 7:20 AM, the Windy City kicked off the 46th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The preparation began days prior for setting up the 26.2 mile stage, and months in advance for the runners. As a major world marathon, Chicago saw its largest finisher field this year with 52,150 people crossing the line in Grant Park. The community of supporters, racers, volunteers, sponsors, and more lit up the city bright and early in the Midwest’s beautiful autumn time of year. 
Warren has teachers and staff who’ve run this year and in years prior, and our very own girls cross country team volunteered at mile 19 this year to see the action in person!
Chicago’s course is known for its flat, urban route that calls for many speedy times and personal bests. Among the thousands of runners from everywhere, Chicago Marathon 2024 holds the Women’s World Record time, a course finish in Women’s Wheelchair, and the second fastest men’s time ever behind last year’s winner, the late Kelvin Keptum. The 2023 Chicago Marathon winner and world record holder’s legacy is honored in the international runner community after his tragic passing early this year.
A worldly time marked in Chicago was by Ruth Chepngetich, who was the first woman to ever run a time under 2 hours and 10 minutes. Ruth’s unofficial record-breaking time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds occurred in this year’s race, after winning first in 2022, taking second in 2023, and reclaiming the first place title in 2024. 
The fast time of 1 hour and 36 minutes for Women’s Wheelchair happened for the first time on Chicago’s course by Catherine Debrunner. This course record beat its original by 2 minutes and put Debrunner on her second consecutive year of placing first in Chicago. On the men’s side, John Korir crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 44 seconds. In the previous two years, he ran times closer to 2 hours and 5 minutes, finishing in respectively third and fourth. This worldly second place finish put him about 65 seconds behind Keptum’s set in Chicago, 2023.
This event brings its participants and fans together to experience and witness renowned life accomplishments. After the blood, sweat, and tears put into preparation and the final 26.2 miles, Chicago puts over thousands in the one percent of world population that have completed a marathon. Each year, more and more people are inspired to try running, and some to take on the life altering dedication of marathon runners. Be sure to congratulate your local finisher friends and family!
