It’s always like this in the majors marathoning world. (The majors for the uninformed or uninterested consist of six specific marathons held annually around the world. They are considered by many to be the crème de la crème in running.)
You register for a major marathon months in advance. It gives you a time frame in which to find lodging, train if you’re the runner, and plan if you’re the support team. My son Kevin and I have done this for 44 years, ever since his first majors marathon in Chicago at age 12.
One week from today he and I shall reconvene in Chicago, the site of his first aforementioned marathon. Back then, there were only 3000 runners and I was at the finish line when he came in second in his age group.
Times have changed. Bombs and other deceits have restricted attendance at the finish lines, no matter where they are. Still, we persist.
With this in mind, I shall leave my home in Michigan and travel to downtown Chicago a week from today, while Kevin will fly from Fargo. For the first time ever, we’re splurging to stay at a hotel that is just two blocks from the starting line and not much farther from the finish line, since Chicago is a loop course and not a point to point.
We’ve never spent the money to do this before, but as we both age it seems like a great idea. I’m already excited about the vibe, because there will come a time that either Kevin or I cannot keep going. But this isn’t it.
Wish us luck!
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