2008 Runner Diaries
Debbie is a rock star charity runner from New York City. The 37-year-old securities analyst represents The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training and has raised over $225,000 in her three marathon finishes. She is motivated to run this year’s Chicago Marathon to continue to be an inspiration to her five-year-old niece, Kate, who was diagnosed with leukemia, Kate’s twin sister Olivia and big sister Emma. Debbie’s marathon running encourages them to dream big. Diary updated 10/24
Rob is a long-time spectator turned marathon finisher and this year’s Chicago Marathon will be his second 26.2-miler. As he puts it, “After 16 years of excuses, the dream became a reality and my goal was reached. I finished the 2007 Chicago Marathon.” This year, Rob, a 41-year-old educator from Naples, FL, will return to Chicago to complete yet another life’s goal: he’ll run the marathon with his father and identical twin brother. Diary updated 10/21
Heather is a marathon rookie who will be taking the plunge at the Chicago Marathon this fall. The 35-year-old mother of two from Grand Blanc, MI made a commitment to run a marathon when she was pregnant with her youngest daughter, who is now one-year-old. She admits that she did not know what a tempo run was until last year, but hopes to finish the marathon in four hours. She’s looking to challenge herself, and wants to convey the idea to others that “real people can run, too.” Diary updated 10/30
Caron is a 47-year-old veteran of 14 marathons from Hillside, IL. At the 2006 Chicago Marathon she decided to use her marathon expertise to help other runners, many of them first-timers, achieve their own marathon goals by serving as an official pace group leader. She dutifully paced the 4:15 group and finished in exactly that: 4:15:00. Secretary by day and singer/actress by night, sometime between her two jobs Caron plans to prepare yet again to head up the official 3:55 pace group. Diary updated 10/14
Two years ago, Dylan completed his first marathon while his wife was pregnant because he wanted to understand the “trials and tribulations” she was experiencing. He never expected running to stick, but it did. He discovered that running a marathon was “one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can go through.” The 30-year-old family man from Philadelphia, PA is returning to Chicago to finish what he started last year. He didn’t complete the 2007 race, but is fired up to cross the finish line in 2008. Diary updated 10/15
Emily will run her debut marathon in Chicago this year, but she’s no stranger to the marathon experience. Now a 23-year-old graduate student from Michigan, she volunteered at the Chicago Marathon while attending Chicago's DePaul University. She credits her volunteer experience as motivation to take on the challenge herself. “It was amazing to watch not only the elite athletes but all the ordinary runners. These people inspired me to run a marathon.” This year, Emily will move from the sidelines to the start line and run with her dad and uncle. Photo: Emily (center) with her parents Diary updated 10/10
In 2000, Robert kicked a 40-cigarette-a-day smoking habit. Eight years and 12 marathons later, he is preparing for his sixth consecutive Chicago Marathon. Originally from York, England, Robert resides in Chicago, and the 43-year-old investment manager’s goal for the year is to complete all five World Marathon Major events—London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York. In April, he completed London and Boston on consecutive weekends. Two down and three to go. Photo: Robert (right) Diary updated 11/7
Amy is returning for her 10th consecutive Chicago Marathon. But the 35-year-old from Libertyville, IL doesn’t just run marathons, she races them. She has competed in 14 marathons and owns a personal best of 2:54:40, just shy of the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard. In 2007, Amy finished as the top Illinois female at the Chicago Marathon. She’ll toe the line this year with the hope of running even faster. Diary updated 10/20