Running from recession: Runner chases job, marathon dream

Bob Dunn is chasing his dream job - and his dream marathon.

Since Dunn lost his management position in manufacturing this year, he spends 45 hours a week looking for work.

But now that his schedule is more flexible, he has time to train as he likes for the Chicago Marathon - and shoot for a personal-best finish.

Dunn is one of 45,000 people who will take off Sunday in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which will include the top-ranked male and female runners in the world.

The men's field will be led by two Kenyans, defending Chicago champ Evans Cheruiyot and Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru, who some say has a shot at setting a world record.

The women will be led by World Marathon Majors champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany and top American runner and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor, making her comeback after breaking her foot in last year's Beijing Olympics.

Both the men's and women's defending wheelchair champs, Australia's Kurt Fearnley and Champaign's Amanda McGrory, will be back. New entrants include a former U.S. Army infantrymen, Steven Baskis of Forest Park, who lost his vision in combat last year in Iraq.

For whatever reason, in this time of economic turmoil, the race sold out its entry slots faster than ever this year. "Running has always been a good stress-reliever," race director Carey Pinkowksi said.

The marathon also provides a gulp of power gel for Chicago hotels, restaurants and businesses, generating an estimated $143 million for the economy.

A record 8,300 charity runners also expect to collect $10 million for more than 100 charitable causes.

For average runners like Dunn, the marathon is not about racing with the leaders, but about competing with themselves. So Dunn, who has run four marathons elsewhere, will be out to beat his personal best time of three hours and 57 minutes.

The race comes in a year when widespread layoffs have given some runners an unexpected boost in free time. Some use marathon training as a way to keep themselves in shape and keep their spirits up, while giving themselves a goal to reach.

For Dunn, "It's definitely a stress buster to get out and calm yourself down and get your blood flowing. You can think creatively when you're running, and sometimes come up with some critical insights."

Good spirits

Dunn trains by himself, but has learned to spot the other marathon trainers when he leaves home in Elmhurst and hits the Illinois Prairie Path through Villa Park, Lombard, Glen Ellyn and beyond.

The serious runners often wear belts to carry a drink, and when Dunn is out on a long run, like the 22 miles he ran a week ago, he'll see the others out running early and still running hours later.

Ironically, Dunn moved to the Chicago area two years ago for work as director of the supply chain for a large metals company. He was too busy with his job to run the marathon last year. Then in February, his company eliminated his department.

So Dunn joined executive job search groups that meet in Arlington Heights and Oak Brook, while teaching at Elmhurst College, chairing the city of Elmhurst's financial task force, and doing some consulting. He also puts long hours researching companies, developing proposals, going on interviews, and sending out hundreds of resumes, focusing on his background in aerospace and energy.

To boost his own energy and set other achievable goals, Dunn also signed up for the marathon shortly after being laid off.

So now he trains almost daily at 7 a.m., alternating long runs with cross-training days of sprints and calisthenics. It's more convenient than his old regimen, when he had to run on his lunch break and weekends, which conflicted with doing things with his wife and three children.

For Dunn, it's a personal test in a challenging time. Of the 45,000 runners last year, about 31,000 finished.

Dunn approaches the run in a way that could also serve as his job-wanted motto: "I'm very accomplishment-oriented. I always finish what I start."