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Chicago Marathon Training, LaSalle Bank, Lakeshore Marathon Route And Runners

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Published: June 20, 2007

Every June it happens. Thousands of athletes of all different shapes, sizes, and speeds lace up their gym shoes and begin training along the scenic 18 mile path next to Chicago's lakeshore. For sixteen grueling, ninety-degree weeks, they will run approximately 20 to 40 miles a week, training for the challenging and exhilarating LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October.

The Chicago Marathon is a favorite race for marathon runners around the world. For professional racers, the relatively flat path, along with the cool fall temperatures, make the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon one of the fastest races in the world. Moreover, amateur and recreational marathon runners can enjoy being rock stars for a day as the entire city of Chicago comes out to celebrate and enthusiastically cheer on every runner at every skill level.

The first Chicago Marathon was in September 1977, and 4,200 runners participated in the race. Thirty years later, the Chicago Marathon now hosts over 30,000 participants annually, from over 120 countries. Runners clearly love the Chicago Marathon.

The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) provides an excellent resource for marathon runners training in Chicago. The site provides links to the lakeshore running path as well as several other paths. These maps also conveniently show where mile markers are along the lakeshore, so that the marathon runner knows how many miles they have gone.

Armed with an inviting running path, the marathon runner will also need a training schedule. Excellent training schedules for the Chicago Marathon can actually be found at the New York marathon website, nycmarathon.org. Several training schedules are available, and whether the marathon runner is a beginner or a pro, they will be able to find a schedule suitable to their skill set on this site. Moreover, the site provides daily running targets in easy to download text format. As a result, the runner will know exactly how many miles they have to run each day, instead of just having a weekly goal.

The Chicago Marathon not only provides the marathon runner with motivation and incentive to train and get in shape, it also provides an incredibly entertaining event to look forward to. The Chicago Marathon itself is a weekend long party, beginning with an enormous Health and Fitness Expo at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. This expo features all the newest running and fitness gear on the market as well as samples of specialty energy drinks, bars, and supplements.

On the evening before the Chicago Marathon, many participants will indulge in a carbohydrate intense pasta dinner at one of many Chicago's excellent Italian restaurants. Often the LaSalle Bank sponsors will also host a spaghetti dinner for the marathon runners, and pancake breakfasts the morning of the race.

On the day of the race the entire city of Chicago will line up along the 26.2 mile marathon route to watch their friends or family members run. Or they will just come out to enjoy the fun of the event itself. The marathon route provides runners and spectators with an amazing tour of Chicago. The marathon route winds through the city's ritzy Gold Coast up through Boystown, where locals turn out in colorful drag, down through historic Chinatown and right past U.S. Cellular Field, formerly known as Comiskey Park, home of World Champion Chicago White Sox.

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is a fantastic event for everyone to enjoy. Whether running or watching the race, the Chicago Marathon provides everyone with an opportunity to enjoy the sights that Chicago has to offer as well as the camaraderie and excitement the race generates. Moreover, in October 2007, the Chicago Marathon celebrates its 30th birthday, and promises to be an especially electrifying experience. No one will want to miss it.


Sources:
 Race History. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. 15 June 2007. http://www.chicagomarathon.com/page_L2.aspx?subMen u=&Page_ID=3&Nav_2_ID=550&Page_Title=R />Chicago Lakefront Running Path. CARA. 15 June 2007. http://www.cararuns.org/maps/lakefront_maps.htmlTraining Schedules. The ING New York City Marathon. 2005. Robert H. Glover and Associates, Inc. 15 June 2007. http://www.nycmarathon.org/training/trainingschedu le.php
Health & Fitness Expo. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. 15 June 2007. http://www.chicagomarathon.com/page_L2.aspx?subMen u=&Page_ID=1469&Nav_2_ID=302&Page_Titl />The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. AxisMapsLive.com.15 June 2007. http://www.axismapslive.com/marathon_map.html
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