Chicago Marathon: A Story of Why They Run

Chicago Marathon

A Story of 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.

Downers Grove 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, its purely a personal challenge, a goal unfulfilled, a bucketlist unchecked; while for others, it’s a cause worth fighting for; or 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 their abilities.

“I ran my first marathon in 2003, the year after my dad died of cancer," Amy Goray of Downers Grove said. "He was my inspiration to start running marathons, as well as my daughter Sophie, who was 1 at the time. I trained pushing her in a jogging stroller, and eventually after my second daughter was born, upgraded to the doublejogger. I wanted to show my girls that you can set you mind to anything and do it.”

Downers Grove resident Dan Paschall ran his 18th Chicago Marathon this year. Paschall started running about 12 years ago, when he wanted to make some changes and lose some weight. “I became addicted to showing my kids anything is possible, anything can be achieved. What’s important is not how fast you go, but getting out there and doing it. When you run a marathon, you see people that are all different, but heading towards the same finish, whether it be in three hours or six hours.”

Paschall reflected on the marathon camaraderie. “It is a community. Having run marathons in a few different states, Chicago is the best I have seen so far. The crowd and energy that lasts for all 26 miles through our great city is unbelievable. Someone I know once said, 'As you turn north in the last miles of the race, let the city pull you in,' and it really does. It never gets old, earning that medal.”

(L-R) IRENE NELSON, KIM CARTER, MEGANO’SULLIVAN, MARIANNE HULBERT

Irene Nelson is mother of three from Downers Grove, and ran the marathon with three other Downers Grove moms, Kim Carter, Megan O’Sullivan and Marianne Hulbert. “This was Kim and my second marathon, but it was a first for Megan and Marianne. None of us made the 2019 lottery, but that did not deter us. We decided to run for four different charities.”

THE FAMILIES OF NELSON, CARTER, O’SULLIVAN, AND HULBERT CHEERED ON THE WOMAN THE DAY OF THE RACE.

$1,500 per charity fundraising for Bright Pink, the American Diabetes Association, the Arthritis Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Running for a cause felt very rewarding and meaningful, but more than anything, it was very humbling. “It put life into perspective for us whenever we felt tired or didn’t want to run, as we knew others don’t always have a choice in how their lives are run, whether they are battling cancer, diabetes, arthritis or a child requiring extended medical care, and needing a place for their family to stay with them,” Nelson said. The family trained together for 18 weeks, often getting up before 5 a.m. to complete its running, before returning home to pack lunches, take the kids to school and head off to work.

Jackie Mariani, a resident of Downers Grove for 25 years, ran the Chicago Marathon for the second time.

“I don’t think there are enough words for me to express what running has meant to me the last eight or so years,” said Mariani, who is a working mom with two special-needs young men. “My oldest son has autism, and my youngest suffers from a debilitating mental illness and Tourette's Syndrome. For the last 15 years, I have made it my life’s mission to advocate for them, to teach them to advocate for themselves, to not let their diagnosis stop them from giving everything they do 110-percent.

Julianne Lambiasi Downers Grove

JULIANA LAMBIASI

“Completing the marathon this year was a big accomplishment for me, since I broke my leg nine months ago. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and physical therapists. My running family, who I met through the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), inspires me to keep chasing my goals, and I have enjoyed training with them for the past ten years.”

Jennie Fabianski Downers Grove

“One of my 'musts' I do during each race is dedicate miles to those in my life that I love and care for. Specifically at times when those miles get tough, I find that thinking about special people in your life help you get through the challenging miles. The person that always gets a few miles dedicated to [her] is my late mom and all the wonderful memories of her. My inspirations for running starts with doing it for myself. There is nothing better than going out for a run and allowing my mind to wonder and take on the day's tasks at hand."

Tera O’Malley Downers Grove

As the mother of two small children, coupled with a busy career, running has always been O'Malley's therapy. She joined CARA in 2008, starting out with local 5K races, moving onto 10K races, and worked her way up to a half-marathon. In 2011, while cheering for friends at mile four of the Chicago Marathon, she told her husband, “I’m going to run the Chicago Marathon next year.”—And she did. The following year, she signed up to run in support of RMHC to help keep families close. This year marks Tera’s sixth Chicago Marathon with Team RMHC, a charity that is near and dear to her heart.”

Steve Carlson Downers Grove

“This past Sunday was my 18th Chicago Marathon and 73rd marathon overall," Carlson said. “I think the best part is the shared experience. The people I’ve met through training are friends for life.”■

Downers Grove Magazine wants to know why you run marathons. Go to DownersGroveMag. com, and please let us know.