The Chicago Marathon

By Andrew Suozzo

Book Overview

Received the Hal Higdon Journalism Award, recognizing serious journalism about running from the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA, 2007).

The first book-length study of the city's great annual contest

In The Chicago Marathon, Andrew Suozzo reveals this citywide ritual as far more than a simple race. Providing a full-spectrum look at the event's production and participants, Suozzo shows how the elements that comprise the marathon also reflect modern Chicago's politics, it's people, and the ways the city engages with the wider world.

The book encompasses all of the forces that come together to make the race the spectacle it has become today. Beginning with a brisk history of the marathon, Suozzo leads readers from its origins in Greek mythology to its modern reality, and also along its rocky road to international prominence. He investigates the roles of sponsorship, small-business support, and the city's intervention on behalf of the marathon, as well as the alliances the event has forged with the media and charity fundraisers. He also discusses race management and the grassroots support that ultimately make it possible, with a special perspective on the aid station directors and volunteers. Finally, The Chicago Marathon features numerous interviews with the runners themselves, ranging from world-renowned professional athletes to amateurs with diverse backgrounds and abilities.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0252074211
• ISBN13: 9780252074219
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

a nice book about the history and status of Chicago Marathon

After having finished 2 times Chicago half marathon this and last year, I also ran this year's Chicago Marathon. With my impressive feeling during and after running, I became very interested in the history, status and some background story of Chicago marathon. I borrowed this book from the Chicago Public Library and read it. It is a very nice book covering all aspect of the marathon itself, including the history, the race director, sponsorship, government support, charities and media, and more interesting the runners. I found a lot of information behind the scene. Mr. Suozzo did a lot of interviews and provided many first-hand evidence of why and how the Chicago Marathon are continually becoming popular as one of the major marathon in the world. This book is particularly informative for people, like myself, who have run Chicago marathon. However, it is not a training book with no technical guidances of how to train and run Chicago Marathon.

Treasure trove of information...

A facinating look, often behind the scenes, of this world famous race. A must read for anyone that has run Chicago or is contemplating it.