The Chicago Marathon is here again. This Sunday, 40,000+ runners will run the grueling 26.2 mile course through Chicago, with 1.2 million people ready to cheer them on. In my experience, it’s a thrill just to stand there and cheer and give them the support they need; I can’t imagine what it’s like to actually participate in the run.

I love it that my apartment is 3 floors above the part of the course that runs south down Broadway. The goosebumps rise when I hear the people cheering and see all these motivated, amazing runners press on down the road. Looking down Broadway, you see people’s heads sticking out of their windows…a few wondering what the racket is, but most doing what they can to help these runners achieve what to the majority of them is a dream. And a damn difficult one at that.

So if you know someone running this weekend, head on out and cheer them on. If you don’t? Head on out anyway. Trust me, the goosebumps will rise.

One more thing…are any of our readers/authors participating? If so, good luck!

p.s. Photos of last year’s race: pic 1 | pic 2 | pic 3 (pics open in new window)