Chicago Marathon Spectators

October 18, 2018

CHICAGO- Rain was not an excuse for the crowd to stop cheering at the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Cow bells, vuvuzelas, music and encouragement were heard loud and proud on Oct. 7 at the 8.5 mile marker by the Addison Red Line station. There were around 44,000 runners participating in the marathon, but a bigger swarm of people stood along the streets watching.

People made it a priority to not miss this event. Jake VanWagner, a 25-year-old from Texas, came all the way to Chicago to watch his mom run.

“My mom runs a bunch of marathons, but Chicago has always been her dream.” VanWagner said. “Seeing my mom happy and smile while running made me feel happy.”

Others made the early morning commute from the west suburbs to cheer for no particular person. Jessica Davis, a 19-year-old from Plainfield, woke up at 5 a.m. to take the Metra just to hold up a sign that said “Keep Going, It’s my Birthday.”

“The motivation and drive to finish strong is great to see from the runners. Everyone is so positive here and cheering for them makes my birthday ten times better,” she said.

Some individuals were not expecting the event, yet still watch for enjoyment. Trevor Smith, a 30-year-old from California, was trying to cross the street, but ended up staying for a couple minutes to experience the race.

“I’m only here to see my girlfriend. This is my first time in Chicago and my first time watching a marathon. I definitely feel inspired here.” Smith continues, “ It is crazy. Twenty six miles sounds miserable. I do not know how these runners continue.”

Although the positive energy during the event inspires some people to run a marathon, a few are still not convinced that running a 26.2 mile race is a good idea. George Velazquez, a 13-year-old from Chicago, expresses his certainty that he never wishes to do a marathon.

“I respect all the people out here. I just can’t imagine completing this race. I would rather stay on my couch and eat chips,”he said.