Marathoners have inspiring story to tell

Marathoners hear the quips all the time. They go something like this: “I get tired driving 26.2 miles, I don’t know how you can run that far.”

And yet thousands do each weekend in this country. Completing a marathon is as much a test of mental willpower as it is physical fitness. With training, dedication and planning, most people can get it done. Not everyone is a Moses Mosop from Kenya, who won the men’s race with a Chicago record of 2:05:37. Or a Liliya Shobukhova of Russia, the women’s champion an unprecedented three times in a row.

There are 36,000 other stories of accomplishment that don’t get the publicity of the winners. But they are winners in their own right, many running for a cause, be it a parent who had cancer or a friend who has AIDS. Others run because it’s their hobby or their stress relief. Still others do it simply because they can or because it’s on their bucket list.

So, we congratulate all the finishers of this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Held on a warm October morning, the marathon is a culmination of a summerlong training program of long and short runs on trails throughout the area, all with the goal of crossing that finish line on Columbus Avenue.

While many runners from the Daily Herald circulation area pop up on the results page, a few of the top runners from our area deserve a shout out. Interestingly, DuPage County is home to some of the fastest women in several age groups.

So, congratulations, Megan Taylor, a 19-year-old from Naperville who came in second in her age group; kudos, Kimberly Castner, 48, also of Naperville, who came in third in her group; nice job, Marianne Huml, 56, of Wheaton, who also finished third in her age group; and a tip of the marathon hat to Doris Schertz, 72 years young, who came in second in her age group.

While those names may not be well known, you no doubt have heard by now of Amber Miller. She’s the 27-year-old Westchester woman who started marathon day 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant, finished the marathon and ended the day at Central DuPage Hospital giving birth to a healthy daughter. Some are critical of her decision to run and finish the marathon. We’re not experts and can’t judge. Her doctor says for Miller it was OK. For others, it’s unknown.

We do know that problems can occur even in seemingly healthy people. William Caviness, for example, was an avid runner and by all accounts, in excellent shape. The 35-year-old North Carolina firefighter who was raising money for a burn victims’ charity, collapsed about 500 yards short of the finish line and died at a Chicago hospital. An autopsy Monday was inconclusive as to the cause.

We point out these stories to stress that all runners should seek medical advice before lacing up their running shoes. Everyone needs to be cautious about what they can handle and how far to push themselves. But we also hope that next year’s first-timers aren’t dissuaded from their marathon goal and can one day tell their friends they indeed did run 26.2 miles.