Thanks for your participation in the inaugural Lakeshore Marathon!

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2002 Lakeshore Marathon - Recap

Date: April 21, 2002
Time: 7:30 am Start
Place: Chicago, Grant Park
Temperature: 39 degrees (high for the day)
Wind: 30 mph - east, northeast
Wind gusts: 35 mph - 40 mph gusts along the lake
Waves: 5' to 7' waves recorded
Water Temp: 51 degrees
Conditions: Challenging - cloudy, windy, rainy
Registered Runners: 1548 runners officially registered
Runners Started: 1085 runners officially started
Runners Finished: 1049 runners officially finished

1st Place Male: Francisco Tomas, Alto Pass, IL - 2:34:50   (photo)
1st Place Female: Christen Meyer, LaGrange, IL - 3:08:43   (photo)



photo by Steve Handwerker, SLH Communications

Did you run the inaugural Lakeshore Marathon?

Many participants have inspirational and motivating accounts of their experience. The inaugural event witnessed personal triumphs, lessons learned and acts of human kindness. Please share your story. You're part of running history, so let's be sure we document your account.

Five respondents will receive a free entry in the 2003 Lakeshore Marathon. Twenty others will receive a free, long-sleeve commemorative shirt. Please send in your personal account by June 30, 2002 to be eligible for one of the prizes.

Email your story to info@lakeshoremarathon.com.

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From the Event Founder

Dear Lakeshore Marathon Participants,

A hearty congratulations and heart felt thanks to you for persevering on a cold, wet and windy Earth Day. Your efforts helped to establish a spring marathon in the park along Chicago's shore. We are proud of and grateful to you and all who were there for the inaugural Lakeshore Marathon.

As recorded in the Chicago Tribune, you braved 5' to 7' waves, 30 mph winds and 30-degree temperatures. Recorded in memories are the 15' - 20' plumes of spray that hit as waves crashed into the breakwall, gale-force wind gusts and the back section that eroded to mud and which forced many runners unsuspectingly up and onto an incomplete breakwall. Wow!

We will always remember the raw challenges of the day. Without question, the event made an impact! One thousand five hundred and forty-eight marathoners (1,548) from 407 cities, across 36 states and 14 countries registered to participate. The day however, and the task ahead, did prove daunting for some.

One thousand eighty-five marathoners (1,085) toed the line as the event started as scheduled at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2002. Impressively, one thousand forty-nine marathoners (1,049) finished and no one was left untouched. Inspirational and motivating accounts continue to come in documenting lessons learned, personal triumphs, shared experiences and acts of kindness.

Please be sure to send in your stories and share your experience. You're part of running history so let's be sure we document your account. You witnessed dedicated runners and teams of supporters. We're extremely grateful and proud of their contributions.

As we all experienced and now know, what could be a most scenic and relaxing marathon quickly became perhaps the most difficult urban marathon on record. Congratulations again on your accomplishment and please know that you earned our deepest admiration and respect.

Thanks again for helping us build a new spring marathon in Chicago. We sincerely hope you're proud of your effort and hope you will join us again under more favorable conditions (perhaps in 2003). Let's remember our shared triumphs and personal accomplishments of the day and let's smile at the irony of how the first Earth Day event marathon on the planet got pounded by the elements. Thanks again for being part of the inaugural Lakeshore Marathon.

All the best wishes,

Mark Cihlar
Lakeshore Marathon General Manager

Event Photos Action Sports International was at the event taking pictures, and your race-day photos are ready. Please visit us online and order a souvenir of this memorable day.

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