The Workout: Road To The Chicago Marathon Is Wide Open

Registration for the Chicago Marathon opened on February 1st. With a simple click on the “Register Here!” button, and $145 to secure your spot, plus months of training, you too can become a marathoner. So, will you do it?

If you have ever contemplated running a marathon, I encourage you to give it a try. Why? Because it could be the most amazing experience of your life. Of course, if you're like most people, you are probably thinking, "a marathon sounds like pure torture and I'll never do one.” Fair enough. But in that case, hop the train into Chicago on Oct. 9 and cheer on the runners. You might be motivated to try it yourself someday. Stranger things have happened.

I got tricked into doing my first marathon. I'm sure you're wondering how someone gets tricked into running 26.2 miles. Apparently, I'm easily influenced. Several friends of mine were doing Chicago and they managed to convince me that running a marathon wasn’t “that bad” and I should do it with them. Of course, they were totally wrong. It was “that bad.” In fact, it was worse. But after a lifetime of saying I could never do it, I found myself crossing the finish line, something I'd always thought was impossible. It's not an overstatement to say that it was life-changing.

Of course, a marathon is not for everyone. Fortunately, even if you are not ready to commit to such a big endeavor, there are lots of races out there to challenge yourself. You can pick a large one to mimic that world-class event feel, or a small one that is more like a casual weekend jaunt. Most shorter races also offer a walking option. No matter what your experience level or pace, there is an event out there for you.

Need some ideas? You can start by checking out the Race to Wrigley. It offers a 5K (3.2 mile) course starting and ending at iconic Wrigley Field. On a larger scale, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is a huge event with a relatively short distance. Although just under 5 miles, the race attracts 40,000 runners to the streets of Chicago. It's a preview of what the marathon is like, complete with start corrals, closed roads, and big banner at the finish. The Soldier Field 10-miler in May is another great option, a flat run along the lakefront ending inside Solider Field on the 50 yard line. You can look up and see yourself up on the jumbo-tron as you cross the finish. And by June you might be ambitious enough to give the North Shore Half Marathon a try (and they also offer a 5k option if a half marathon still isn't your thing). Overwhelmed with choices? The Chicago Area Runners Association has a useful search engine to help you find local events for the distance you want. And who knows, maybe you, too, will become a marathoner some day. See you at the start line!