Chicago's 'good vibrations' helps thousands of marathoners cross the finish line

The steady beat of feet hitting pavement and the encouraging cheers of spectators once again filled Chicago's streets Sunday for the 46th annual Chicago Marathon. Roughly 50,000 runners were registered to run the race, one of the world's six major marathons.

Supporters cheered on the runners along the 26.2-mile course that weaves through 29 neighborhoods on Chicago's North, West and South sides. Chicago's mostly flat course is also known for breaking records. And Sunday was no different as Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich won the marathon with an official time of 2:09:56, becoming the first woman in history to run under 2:10.

Runners told the Sun-Times the energy along the course was high thanks to the constant cheers and the city's captivating views. At aid stations throughout the course, tens of thousands of gallons of Gatorade and water and 12,000 pounds of bananas were handed out.

Among the athletes taking part Sunday morning was Batbayar Tserendorj, a north suburban man. He was running his second Chicago marathon.

Last year, the night before he was to run his first marathon in Chicago, Tserendorj got a call he'd been waiting months for since being diagnosed with liver cancer in spring 2023. Doctors did what they could to stop the tumors from growing, but nothing had worked. His best chance was a liver transplant.

"So then I had to wait," Tserendorj said. "Your dreams are turned upside down when you learn you have cancer."

To cope with his diagnosis, the then 60-year-old turned to training for the marathon.

"I needed to be strong and occupy myself, not just by reading books or watching TV, but something physical that I can challenge myself with," he said.

His doctors gave their OK, telling him "don't push, just listen to your body."

Then, hours before the 2023 Chicago Marathon, his doctors at Northwestern Medicine called to tell him a new liver was ready; he had to go to the hospital immediately.

Tserendorj was torn. His wife and his son told him to go right away. But Tserendorj had been training so hard.

"I felt good, I wasn't in pain, and I had trained all summer," he said. "I asked my doctors if I can pass the liver on to someone else. If the organ will be wasted, I will go."

His doctors assured him another patient would get the liver. The next day, he completed his first marathon. And 19 days later, on Oct. 27, he got his new liver. On Sunday, he once again lined up at the starting line.

"I'm dedicating my running to all organ donors," Tserendorj said. He tells everyone he knows to be an organ donor, calling it "a second chance at a new life."

Will run for donuts

In Little Italy around the 19th mile marker, music pulsed to keep the runners' energy high. Spectators rang cowbells, whooped and held signs with clever sayings or photos of their loved ones.

Gisselle Izaguirre, 19, came to watch the marathon from Plainfield. She stood along the course with three dozen glazed Dunkin' donuts, offering the runners a much-needed sugar rush.

Most passed by without a second look at the treats, but some runners stopped to grab some.

“I just thought it would be a fun way for the runners to enjoy the marathon, not take it too seriously,” Izaguirre said.

Izaguirre, a runner herself, has completed a half marathon and hopes to run the Chicago Marathon soon, she said.

“It’s definitely really inspiring to see people get up and run 26 miles for fun,” she said. “It’s definitely motivating.”

Adeolu Bilewu was in Chicago to watch his 27-year-old daughter Bethany Bilewu finish the marathon. He held a sign that read, "my favorite daughter."

“I’m so proud, she’s my first child, my first daughter. I’m definitely excited for her, she’s a go-getter," he said.

Watching the marathon was Bilewu’s introduction to Chicago and his first time watching a marathon.

‘Chicago is the best in the U.S.’

At the finish line in Grant Park, the streets teemed with people, including runners draped with shiny silver blankets and purple finisher medals. Spectators, carrying bouquets of flowers and bananas, craned their necks looking for their runners.

Neil Garrett, 46, sat on the grass icing his calves shortly after crossing the finish line. He took selfies in his finisher blanket but described his mood during the run as “shattered” and “disappointed.”

He ran the Chicago Marathon last year and has run the London Marathon twice in his home country.

He had battled a migraine and jet lag to cross the finish line. But the support of his 18-year-old daughter, the crowd's energy and the Chicago views helped him complete the race.

“I had my support system telling me I had to finish,” he said.

Tatiana Moritz, 48, and Cesar Moritz, 51, made the trip from southern Brazil to run their first Chicago marathon. The couple has run multiple marathons, including another one of the seven majors, the Berlin marathon.

“I like Berlin and Chicago, they’re both great cities,” Cesar Moritz said. “But Chicago was more exciting — the crowd, the music. We know a lot of cities, but Chicago is the best in the U.S.”

Both described Chicago as having “good vibrations” and said the music and humor along the route kept them going. And as for the rest of the day, their plans are simple.

“Celebrate and drink a lot,” Moritz said, lifting his Goose Island 312 beer in a toast to his wife.