Last Saturday, Newport & District Running Club’s Jonathan Pierce took part in the Chicago Marathon, one of the seven “World Marathon Majors”. Featuring around 73 metres of elevation, the race takes place on an anti-clockwise course around the city of Chicago itself, starting and finishing in Grant Park, a large park near the harbour to the east of the city.

Jonathan sent us this report after the race: “Chicago Marathon was my 32nd marathon; an early morning start in the cool darkness of Chicago, but it was going to be a warm one, and it was. I completed in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 2 seconds (I was 1:43:45 at half way). Not bad for an old one with a cold!

I placed 15,643 out of 54,000 runners. The crowds were amazing, and the scenery was cool. I had to keep an eye on the road most of the time, as bridges had carpet over the metal grill construction and sunken man holes were everywhere. It was glorious sunshine all day, but the tall buildings kept us in shade until the last section of the marathon, which was hot. I would recommend this marathon!”