Chicago Marathon Why They Run

Chicago Marathon Why They Run

Area runners finished the Chicago Marathon and its grueling 26.2-mile pace with most participants exceeding four hours on a track of physical and mental endurance on a cool 39-degree morning on Oct. 13. The 42nd Bank of America Chicago Marathon started at 7:20 a.m. for 45,000 runners.

Hinsdale Magazine reached out to its readers to find those who finished the Chicago Marathon to ask the question: “Why do you run?” Is it to measure the toughness of the 26.2-mile course? The physical push to override the brain from screaming “stop?”

People often ask, “Why run 26.2 miles?” For some, it’s purely a personal challenge, a goal unfulfilled, a bucket-list unchecked; while for others, it’s a cause worth fighting for, a dedication to a loved one who lost a life to disease. Each mile brings them closer to a cure. Those athletes running may be unsure of their ultimate goal. It’s a desire to push themselves beyond what they are capable of.

“It’s the mystique of the marathon, a leap into the unknown,” Adam Andrzejewski of Hinsdale said. “I’ve trained for and started seven Chicago Marathons over the last 24-years, and finished six of them. In 1999, I had to drop out at 20 miles with Achilles-tendon pain. This year, I turned 50 years old and broke my personal record—set in 1995—by ten seconds. My time was 4:02:24. It felt awesome!

For others like Mira Albert of Hinsdale, this is her second consecutive year as a marathoner. “Before I ran [the New York City Marathon] in 2018, someone told me a marathon starts at mile 20,” Albert said. “I couldn’t agree more. That is the point it becomes a true test of determination and focus, combined with counting on months of training and preparation.”

Like Albert, who was greeted with open arms by her husband and children at the finish-line, Bret Conway of Hinsdale tapped support from his family as well. “In 2018, my wife and kids headed down to Dusek’s in Pilsen to cheer on the runners at mile 19.5,” Conway said. “We had a great time among all that excitement and energy. As a runner this year, I was able to high-five my family in the same spot, and that motivated me to push on to the finish.”

Burr Ridge resident Christy Hernandez ran her seventh marathon, and said she was grandfathered in to run, knowing what a privilege it is, since there are thousands of applicants and not all are selected. “I participate,” Hernandez said. “I am a slow runner, but I continue to do it because of the camaraderie that exists on the course, the amazing people and stories, [keep] me coming back for more.”

During the race, Hernandez met Shara, who had lost her dad to hepatocellular carcinoma in March of this year. “Prior to the race, I never heard of that cancer,” Hernandez said, “and during the marathon, the person I met was running to create awareness.”

Bret Conway

Hernandez met met Shara at mile 12, and stuck with her throughout the race. “I wasn’t focused on my time; I was focused on her finish,” she said. “She said to me, ‘How will I face my donors if I don’t complete this?’ I told her, ‘You won’t have to worry about that, because today we are crossing that finish-line’—and we did!”

Hinsdale Magazine interviewed more runners from the area, and you can read all their comments on www.HinsdaleMag.com.

Dave Pack, Hinsdale

“I ran in my first marathon with Crosswords Runners. Fr. Tom Hurley, [who has run in 15 marathons] and coach Brendan Cournane, who ran in his 100th marathon last week, led our way spiritually and physically. We raised money for some fantastic charities, and achieved a personal goal.”

Cathy Lipinski, Clarendon Hills

“I ran the Chicago Marathon, my sixth one, and finished in 3:58:56. My goal was to run it under four hours. I’m a member of Christ Church of Oak Brook’s Team World Vision runners, and raised over $6,100 for clean water for children in Africa.”

Aimee Banta

Aimee Banta, Western Springs

“I run for for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization that helps children, families and their communities overcome poverty and injustice. They also bring clean water to undeveloped [countries]. This amazing organization gave me a purpose to do something that I never thought I could. While I have been moving my feet for my training for the marathon, I have been raising money for clean water for children. Our entire World Vision team of 2,000 raised over $3 million before the Chicago Marathon.”

Julie Doyle, Clarendon Hills

“I ran to raise money for Epilepsy Foundation. My friend’s 19-year-old daughter died of SUDEP two years ago. (SUDEP is sudden unexplained death from epilepsy.) Our running group raised over $54,000 for research. I am 53, and do not regularly do marathons. It was not easy, but thankfully it was perfect conditions, and the Chicago crowds never disappoint.”

Christopher Schramko, Hinsdale

“A friend with whom I play paddle tennis in the winter introduced me to Imerman Angels, a non-profit cancer support organization. For the past two Chicago Marathons that I have participated [in], [I helped raise] funds for Imerman Angels. This national organization provides a mentoring program to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, to their caregivers and/or family members. The program pairs a cancer patient with an “angel,” who is a cancer survivor and who provides mentoring to help navigate the cancer experience. For every $350 raised by our marathon team, Imerman Angels is able to provide a mentor free of charge. Last week, for the 2019 Chicago Marathon, the team raised a record-setting amount of $400,000 for Imerman Angels.”

Hinsdale Magazine would like to know why you run the Chicago marathon. Please e-mail news@hinsdalemag.com ■