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Chicago Marathon
The pinnacle of achievement for
elite athletes and everyday runners alike, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is
one of the World’s greatest marathons. Over 1.2 million spectators will line the
26.2 mile marathon course, cheering on the athletes to help them accomplish a
personal dream.
In November 1976 at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle Street, 5 key founders of what would become The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon met to begin planning and discussions. Those present included Wayne Goeldner, physical education director of the Hyde Park YMCA; Bill Robinson, executive director of Friends of Parks; Wendell ''Wendy" Miller, a partner in a financial advising firm and founder of Midwest Masters Running Club; Sharon Mier, director of women's sports at the Loop Center YMCA; and Dr. Noel Nequin, director of cardiac rehabilitation at the Swedish Convenient Hospital. At this meeting, the group decided it was time for a world class Marathon in Chicago. Talks and planning for the Marathon continued, but little was actually done to stage the race. The turning point came in May 1977, when Nequin organized the first big race in Chicago (the Ravenswood Bank Lakefront Ten Mile Run). The event was a great success, with over one-thousand runners participating, up from an expected 200-300. Michael Bilandic, Chicago's new Mayor and an avid runner, was invited to the event. Not only did he show up to lend his support, but he and his wife, Heather, also handed out the awards to the winners. |
The Mayor's strong support and overwhelming runner participation gave the Marathon's founders, who weren't quite sure if a marathon could succeed in Chicago, the inspiration they needed to make the City's first 26.2-mile road race a reality.
Suddenly 1977 was becoming a landmark year for running in Chicago. Several other shorter races were organized for the 1st time in addition to the Marathon, including the First Chicago Distance Classic with almost five-thousand runners, an unheard number of participants at the time. But running fever did not stop with the new races. After seeing the success of the Lakefront ten, Mayor Bilandic decided to make Chicago "the running capital of the world.'' To further show his support, Bilandic turned 5 miles of an old equestrian path along the lakefront into jogging paths, creating a scenic and safe course for runners that today stretches eighteen miles and is more popular than ever. Thus, with all of the new events and opportunities, Chicago's running community was enjoying an explosion of participation excitement.
By July 1977, Wendy Miller approached his friend and fellow Chicago businessman Lee Flaherty. Miller convinced Flaherty, a runner himself, to have his company, Flair Communications, be the official sponsor of the Chicago Marathon. Dr. Nequin and Flaherty then had a lunch meeting at the Drake Hotel with William Daley, son of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, about naming the Marathon. Following the meeting, the Daley family agreed to naming the race the Mayor Daley Marathon.
Initially set up with a $5 entry fee and an eight a.m. starting time, the race was scheduled for Sept. 25, 1977, and specific jobs were distributed amongst the founders. Nequin was the medical director; Goeldner was in charge of registration; Miller was the race director; Mier was responsible for organizing seven-hundred volunteers to officiate and marshal the race; and Robinson was treasurer. In addition, Erma Trantor, a friend of Mier's, was hired to be the race coordinator; Ruth Ratny, a business friend of Flaherty's, was to publicize the race.
The first race was a great success and that success continues today.
Today I'm going to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to work together to develop new policies to promote fitness. And at the White House, federal agencies and businesses and professional sport leagues have set up activities, as you can see, to educate people about better eating, preventative screenings, and the danger of substance abuse.
For many older adults, even a walk to the car tires them easily. A research program, sponsored by the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and the University of Michigan Health System, is measuring the effects of a moderate intensity aerobic exercise program among older adults.
Heavy alcohol intake: Having three or more alcoholic drinks a day (two or more for women) nearly doubles an individual's chance of developing high blood pressure. Over time, heavy drinking puts a lot of stress on the organs, including the heart, liver, pancreas and brain.
Safety Turtle is a personal wireless alarm system designed to protect young children from drowning or serious injury in backyard swimming pools, lakes and other water hazards. Unlike other alarms that are triggered when a person enters a swimming pool area, the Safety Turtle system goes with and safeguards the child wherever he or she goes.
To be considered for most types of financial assistance, students must first complete a form called the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) which is available in the Office of Student Services. It is important that you obtain this form and complete it as soon as possible. Remember, you must fill out 1 of these forms each year that you want to be considered for financial assistance. Bevill State Community college encourages students to apply as soon as possible after January 1 for the upcoming academic year.
Worlds Greatest Marathons
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