Chicago marathon adds nonbinary division in quiet manner some runners find 'hurtful'

  • Former Grayslake resident Cal Calamia finishes a San Francisco marathon. Calamia plans to run in this Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon in the nonbinary category.

    Former Grayslake resident Cal Calamia finishes a San Francisco marathon. Calamia plans to run in this Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon in the nonbinary category. Submitted photo

  • Jessica Gorden-Song, founder of TransRun, decided not to run in this year's marathon because she felt uncomfortable running in the male or female category.

    Jessica Gorden-Song, founder of TransRun, decided not to run in this year's marathon because she felt uncomfortable running in the male or female category. Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times

 
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
 
 
Updated 10/5/2022 4:01 PM

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the most prestigious races, drawing runners from around the globe. So when Cal Calamia heard that the race on Sunday had opened a nonbinary runner category, the former Grayslake resident was ecstatic.

"It's really exciting. It feels really good to choose nonbinary in my hometown race," said Calamia, who does not identify as either male or female and uses the pronoun they.

 

But Calamia grew concerned upon realizing there was no "elite" nonbinary division, as in the male and female races, or any finish line ribbon or monetary prize. Calamia then noticed there had been no public announcement to promote the division.

• For the full story, visit chicago.suntimes.com.

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