The Chicago Marathon is this weekend. Seems like only yesterday that I was standing at the starting line.
Runners love this marathon. The course is famously flat. The race starts and finishes in Grant Park, relieving runners of bus rides to the start.
Almost 2 million spectators line the streets. You never feel alone. It's one of the elite Abbott World Marathon Majors. But for me the best part about the course is that you get to run through 29 of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods, giving you a spectacular cross-section of the city.
These include the East Side, the North Side, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View East, Old Town Triangle, Greektown, Chinatown, Bridgeport, Motor Town, and South Loop. You don't merely pass through different streets. You pass through entirely different worlds, languages, and histories. At mile 21.5 you are greeted by colorful lion dancers performing at the iconic Chinatown Gate. Heading into Bronzeville, gospel choirs line the steps of historic churches. The race reflects the beautiful tapestry of an American city. As someone with German roots on my father's side and Romanian roots on my mother's, I love how our nation is built on the foundation of "E pluribus, unum" -- "Out of many, one." We demonstrate to the world that a nation does not have to be homogeneous to be strong, united, or patriotic. The Chicago Marathon wonderfully illustrates that.
Run this race if you can!