Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon, one of the big international marathons, is going on today. I just finished watching the first place finishes in  the men's and women's race. I hasten to add that I watched on TV. Having run a different marathon yesterday, I didn't really feel like standing on the sidelines on these sore quads.

Conditions were excellent this morning: cool and not too windy, here in the Windy City.

A new course record was set for the men by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya: 2:03:45. He is reported to be raking in 175,000 dollars for the day in prize money and time bonuses.

Rita Jeptoo, also of Kenya, took the women's race at 2:19:59 or so. By coming in just under 2:20, she earned an extra 40,000 dollars, which I think brings her payday to 140,000.

That may sound like a lot of money for a couple of hours work. But there's even bigger money involved in the World Marathon Majors program, of which Chicago is a part. The Majors programs involves winning points by placing well in the world's biggest marathons.

"On January 23, 2006, Boston, Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago and ING New York City marathons collectively launched the World Marathon Majors – a new series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world."

It sounds like a grueling schedule. But that kind of money can be very motivating.

Half a million smackers
is a lot of do-re-mi.
It draws elite attackers
to a very high degree.