The Chicago Marathon had its beginnings in the 1970s, shortly after the first running of the New York Marathon.
Although these races are two of the three biggest marathons in the United States, their history pales when compared with that of the Boston Marathon, which began in 1897.
That's a full seventy years before the first New York and Chicago Marathons were run.
Now, these three famous American races are part of a worldwide group of premier races run by elite runners from around the globe.
The Chicago Marathon: Increasingly Popular
Since its inception, the Chicago Marathon has steadily become more popular among runners and spectators.
People line both sides of the city's streets in order to watch some of the world's premier runners compete.
Today's races are sponsored by some of the world's largest companies, and the winning racers receive a substantial amount of money.
The Chicago Marathon: A Race for Everyone
Separate starting times are provided for elite runners, wheelchair participants and the rest of the pack.
Most people running the Chicago Marathon are participating for the sense of personal satisfaction they can achieve if they complete it.
These people believe that completing the race with an official clocked time is a major accomplishment, and they're certainly right about that.
Even more people don't finish the race until long after the other competitors have finished and gone home for the day.
These people feel just completing the course is a hard-won accomplishment.
Despite it taking these people several hours to cross the finish line, their accomplishment should not be taken lightly.
The Chicago Marathon: The Website
The Chicago Marathon operates a website that provides runners with current information about the race.
In addition to information regarding training for this particular race, the website provides great tips for training for marathons in general.
Certain groups of runners train specifically for the Chicago Marathon, and the website provides a detailed schedule for the training sessions these groups hold.
You need stamina and strength to finish this demanding marathon, and working with a trainer can really help.
You can visit the Chicago Marathon website for more information.
I can also highly recommend getting a copy of 100 Day Marathon Plan, a great marathon training book that prepares you for your big race in 100 days.
This prestigious race is a favorite with spectators from throughout the State of Illinois in addition to fans living in Chicago.
The media covers the race thoroughly, so people around the globe can learn how their favorite runners performed.
In fact, if you're a marathon enthusiast you'll be able to track the performance of elite runners in the Chicago, Boston and New York Marathons.
They are an inspiring group of athletes, and they just might give you the motivation to ramp up your training and complete one of these world-class races.
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