by Larry Eder
Medals from 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Nearly 40,000 runners will be checking the Mile by Mile newsletter for final updates on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, numero 33! Technology, from chip timing to email blasts, has changed the way the sport is managed and produced. Nike’s running.com websites, the adidas mi-coach website and Map my run are three of the more prominent ways that runners and walkers have used technology to enhance their running experience.
What is fascinating to me is how quickly information is disseminated. The announcements of the elite fields, the withdrawal of Ryan Hall, go from iphone/android to the coffee room. Our sport has changed, and will continue to do so, as it attracts more runners to our sport!
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon course is a course made for personal bests. It is flat and fast. In cool weather, with great pacing groups, citizen runners can find the pace that suits their goals. After having observed the race since the mid 1990’s, it is still amazing to me how many runners and walkers get around this course!
So, what will be the big stories of 2010? Will we have defending winners or will we have big surprises? In five days we will find out! See you in the Windy City!
by PhotoRun.net.
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| , | October 4, 2010 |
In this issue:
- Health & Fitness Expo
- Bank of America Customer Upgrade
- 27th Mile Post-Race Party
- Sign Up for Runner Tracking
- The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Program
- Chicago Tribune Marathon Commemorative Edition
- Pre-Race Pasta Dinner Buffet
- Course Entertainment
- Rally Stations
- Help Us Go Green!
- Everyone Can Make A Difference
- 10-10-10: The Date to Motivate Athlete Videos
- Online Diary Update
- You are about to make history!
- Volkswagen FanZone at Mile 12
- American Red Cross Patient Connection Program
- TCS Supports all those Running the Chicago Marathon
- Official 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Apparel
Welcome to race week for the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon!
Health & Fitness Expo
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo
annually hosts more than 175 exhibitors featuring the newest designs in
running gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments in sports,
fitness and nutrition. In addition,
the Expo is the home of Participant Packet Pick-Up for all 45,000
marathon runners. Held at Chicago’s McCormick Place, the two-day Expo
is free and open to the public.
Free Expo Shuttle Service
Free Shuttle Bus service to the Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness
Expo will be provided to and from the five locations listed below:
- Downtown: Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. (8th St. entrance)
- Roosevelt: CTA Red Line Stop serving Red, Orange and Green lines, State St. & Roosevelt Rd.
- Magnificent Mile: Niketown, 669 N. Michigan Ave.
- Fairmont: Columbus Dr. & Wacker Dr.
- Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers: 301 E. North Water St. & N. Columbus Dr. (next to Shula’s Steakhouse)
Buses
will operate between 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 8 and
8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 9. Last pick-up time from
the Expo will be at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information on the 2010 Health & Fitness Expo, click here.
Bank of America Customer Upgrade
Bank of America invites all our customers to join us as we
celebrate the 33rd running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. By
registering as a customer at the Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness
Expo, you will receive access to unique race day benefits. Amenities
for registered customers include pre- and post-race light food and
beverages, private restrooms and reserved finish line seating. For
details and registration information, visit www.chicagomarathon.com/upgrade.
27th Mile Post-Race Party
As soon as you cross the finish line, celebrate your achievement at the
27th Mile Post-Race Party located in Grant Park’s Butler Field. The
outdoor celebration features live entertainment, food and
beverages (available for purchase) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Participants
age 21 and older can redeem the tear-off portion of their bib
number for a complimentary 312 Urban Wheat Ale, courtesy of Goose
Island Beer Co. Photo ID is required.
Sign Up for Runner Tracking
Family and friends of Marathon participants can now sign up for Runner
Tracking. The Runner Tracking service allows Marathon spectators to
track athletes along the course through text messages with a
participant(s) time and location. To learn more about Runner Tracking
and to sign up, click here.
The 2010 Marathon Spectator Guide is the ultimate guide for helping you
find your runner along the course on race day. To download a copy of
the 2010 Spectator Guide, click here.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Program
Can’t
wait until the Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo to get a peek
of the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official Program? The wait
is over, the Official Program is now available at select stores and
fitness clubs throughout the Chicagoland area (wherever Chicago Athlete Magazine is distributed), as well as for viewing at www.mychicagoathlete.com.
Please note that all registered participants will still receive a copy
of the Official Program in their Participant Bag at the Chicago
Marathon Health & Fitness Expo.
Chicago Tribune Marathon Commemorative Edition
Pre-Order now to receive the October 10 and 11, 2010 morning editions
of the Chicago Tribune with full coverage and marathon result listings
mailed to your address for only $6. This is a memorable keepsake for
any marathon runner! To pre-order your copy today, click here. Delivery available to U.S. residences only.
Pre-Race Pasta Dinner Buffet
The Hilton
Chicago Pasta Dinner Buffet will be held Saturday, October 9, from 4:30
to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan Ave.). Click here for more details.
Course Entertainment
From cheerleaders to bands to DJ’s to cheer zones, there are more than
55 key areas along the course where participants will find motivation,
from the enthusiasm and support of their biggest fans. Click here to learn where you can find on-course entertainment and join the fun.
Rally Stations
Bank of America Cheer Zone
Spectators can enjoy one of the most exciting race day views at the
Bank of America Cheer Zone located at the intersection of Franklin St.
and Adams St., adjacent to the Willis Tower, the tallest building in
North America. Just a block from the CTA’s Quincy/Wells stop and two
blocks from Metra’s Union Station, you can cheer on the runners as they
turn west on Adams St. and head toward the marathon’s halfway point.
Rally cards will be available for friends and family to create custom
messages and provide runners with an extra boost.
U.S. Trust Cheer Zone
Directly beyond the Bank of America Cheer Zone is the U.S. Trust Cheer
Zone, at the intersection of Adams St. and Wacker Dr. Spectators can
support runners at one of the most scenic points of the course, just
before they cross the Chicago River and approach the half marathon
checkpoint. The energy is certain to be high with the second half of
the race on the horizon.
Merrill Lynch Cheer Zone
Spectators can urge on runners just as they need it most at the Merrill
Lynch Cheer Zone, located at the intersection of Roosevelt Rd. and
Michigan Ave. Witness one of the most rewarding sections of the course
as runners face their final challenge–the Roosevelt Overpass–before
entering the homestretch. Just a few blocks off the CTA Red Line and
positioned with less than a half mile to go, the Merrill Lynch Cheer
Zone is the ultimate rally station.
Charity Block Party
More than 10,000 charity runners will participate in the 2010 Charity
Program by running and fundraising on behalf of their favorite causes.
To celebrate the impact these runners make on the local, national and
global stage, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host a Charity
Block Party at approximately Mile 14. Spectators, family and friends
are welcome to cheer their charity runners on at the Charity Block
Party located at Adams St. and Loomis St. near Whitney Young High
School.
Help Us Go Green!
In a recent Mile by Mile we asked participants to let us know, “Which
running sustainability initiative means the most to you?” More than
7,600 people responded, with recycling shoes and clothes, preference
towards eco-friendly products and reducing travel and emissions taking
the top spots. Below are some tips on how you can implement these
initiatives at this year’s Marathonand help us earn certification with the Council for Responsible Sport.
Recycle shoes and clothes
Donate running and other style shoes to Shares Your Soles
at the Health & Fitness Expo, as well as in the park on race day.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon also partners with Chicago’s Pacific Garden Mission homeless shelter to collect discarded and unclaimed items on race day.
Preference toward eco-friendly products
Rehydrate and celebrate your accomplishment, with the new Aquafina
Eco-Fina Bottleâ„¢, one of the lightest and the most
environmentally-friendly bottles in the market. And be sure to reduce,
reuse and recycle by placing your Gatorade Recovery bottles, Goose
Island beer cups and empty Eco-Fina bottles in the Aquafina Recycling
bins and Park District recycling carts located throughout Grant Park.
Reduce travel and emissions
Use Metra and CTA to get to the park on race morning. Click here
for detailed information regarding public transportation throughout
race weekend and to see special schedules in place on 10-10-10.
Additional sustainability initiatives practiced by the Marathon focus
on credits outlined by the Council for Responsible Sport in categories
including waste, climate, equipment and materials, community &
outreach, health promotion and innovation. Participants, spectators,
and volunteers alike can contribute to the sustainability of the
Chicago Marathon and help us become certified in 2010!
To learn more about the Council for Responsible Sport visit www.resport.org
Everyone Can Make a Difference
If you are not one of the more than 10,000 charity runners on 10-10-10,
you could still be a part of a record breaking year for the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon Charity Program. Every donation makes a
difference. To see how you can help go to the Make a Donation section of chicagomarathon.com.
10-10-10: The Date to Motivate Athlete Videos
You have seen the 10 featured athletes throughout Chicago, from banners
lining the downtown streets to the renowned mural wall along the
Kennedy Expressway. Now, get a closer look at their unique and
inspiring stories at chicagomarathon.com. View each athlete’s individual campaign video to see how their motivations brought them to 10-10-10.
Click here to see the athlete’s videos.
Online Diary Update
For more than three months, nine people have invited the public to
share in their marathon journey. Logging hundreds of miles, dealing
with the lows of injury and the elation of reaching new limits,
juggling busy schedules and offering readers some motivation along the
way, they are now ready for 10-10-10.
To read their latest entries, click here.
You are about to make history!
Each year, runners from around the world travel to Chicago for an
opportunity to run on one of the world’s fastest and most prestigious
courses. This year, you become a part of that tradition.
Congratulations on making it this far and good luck on 10-10-10!
Volkswagen FanZone at Mile 12 
It’s
almost 10-10-10! And just like a marathon runner preparing for 27
miles, Volkswagen is preparing for the ultimate marathon fan zone. In
celebration of VW’s fifteenth consecutive year as the official
automotive sponsor of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, we’re
creating the VW FanZone at Mile 12 (at the intersection of Wacker &
Franklin). Hosted by legendary entertainer, MC and beat-boxer Doug E.
Fresh, with DJ sets by Z-Trip (mash-up pioneer and party DJ phenom) and
Show Business (DJ duo Chris Holmes and Chris Masterson, from That 70’s Show
), the VW FanZone will be the perfect place for marathon fans,
friends and families to cheer on their favorite runners. VW will be
handing out official VW FanZone-branded merchandise, including cheer
cards, pom-pons, and kazoos! Cheer on your favorite runner with a
personalized message sent over our VW digital messaging board and
afterwards sign up for a chance to win a two-year lease on an all-new
2011 Jetta. Just look out for the “Great Jetta Giveaway” drop-boxes. So
as you’re making final preparations for 10-10-10, make sure to plan a
stop at the VW FanZone at Mile 12!
American Red Cross Patient Connection Program
In
the event a participant is transported to a local area hospital at the
discretion of the medical team, the American Red Cross of Greater
Chicago’s Patient Connection staff will be on hand in Grant Park to
provide information regarding that patient to family and friends.
Patient Connection staff can be found near the entrance to both Grant
Park Medical Tents – one just beyond the finish line and a second at
the 27th Mile Post-Race Party.
TCS Supports all those Running the Chicago Marathon
You’ve prepared. You’ve trained. You’re committed. That’s what it takes
in marathon running–and in business. As one of the world’s fastest
growing technology and business solutions providers, Tata Consultancy
Services supports your commitment to excellence. It represents all that
we believe in as we promise what we deliver and deliver what we
promise, day in and day out.
TCS has built a reputation of excellence based on world-class IT
solutions that are on time, within budget and of consistently superior
quality, enabling our clients to experience certainty.
Look for TCS at the Health & Fitness Expo and visit the Race Day
Results Tent at the Post-Race Party presented by TCS to experience
certainty by getting your first look at your race day results.
We invite you to learn more about TCS, our support of the marathon and our health and wellness objectives. TCS proudly supports the American Diabetes Association to raise awareness of the risks of diabetes and help prevent the spread of diabetes.
Official 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Apparel
Nike’s official 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon apparel is now
available for purchase online and in select Chicagoland stores. You can
find your training gear at the following retail locations:
Dick Pond Athletics
Carol Stream Lisle
26W515 Saint Charles Rd 2775 Maple Ave
Carol Stream, IL 60188 Lisle, IL 60532
Schaumburg St. Charles
927 S Roselle Rd 303 N Second St
Schaumburg, IL 60193 St. Charles, IL 60174
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago
Piper’s Alley Lincoln Square
1620 N Wells St 4555 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614 Chicago, IL 60625
Running Away Multisport
Chicago Deerfield
1634 W North Ave 800 Waukegan Rd
Chicago, IL 60622 Deerfield, IL 60015
The Runners Soul
Elmhurst La Grange
124 N York St 5 S La Grange Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126 La Grange, IL 60525
Naperville Running Company NIKETOWN
Naperville Chicago
34 W Jefferson Ave 669 N Michigan Ave
Naperville, IL 60540 Chicago, IL 60611
Running for Kicks Universal Sole
Palos Heights Chicago
7158 W 127th St 3052 N Lincoln Ave
Palos Heights, IL 60463 Chicago, IL 60657
For additional apparel, please visit nikestore.com/ChicagoMarathon.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Thanks Its Official Sponsors!
Chicago Event Management
P.O. Box 2784 Chicago,
IL, 60690-2784, United States
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