A Brief History of Marathons in Chicago

The outfits and gear may look a little different in the photo above from the Chicago Marathon 30 years ago, but the goal is the same: run 26.2 miles through Chicago’s neighborhoods.

This Sunday, thousands of runners will once again take to the streets for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. They come from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, with everyone from top-tier elite runners to first-time marathoners hoping to cross the finish line in Grant Park in one piece.

The Chicago Marathon as it exists today first began in 1977. Back then it was called the Mayor Daley Marathon, in honor of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who had died unexpectedly the year before. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, that first race was much smaller than it is today, with only 5,000 runners.

While marathon competitions became increasingly popular during the 1970s, Chicago’s long distance running tradition dates back even further. The first local marathon took place in 1905. It began in Evanston at a golf club with just fifteen runners. They first ran toward the lake,  then south all the way down to a horse racing track in Washington Park, according to the Chicago Public Library. Unfortunately, twelve of the runners hit an unexpected obstacle that was a bit more peculiar than a leg cramp. As they ran toward the Rush Street Bridge, the swing bridge opened for a passing steamboat, bringing those dozen runners to a halt. In the end, a man named Rhud Metzner won a tight race in front of roughly 15,000 spectators.

Today, the Chicago Marathon typically draws 40,000 runners with an estimated 1.7 million spectators.