The First Chicago Marathon in 1905: The Epic Race

By Raymond Britt, Excerpts from the book Chicago Marathon

The runners anxiously awaited the signal to start the Chicago marathon. Each carried a personal reason for being there; each envisioned what lay ahead at the finish line. Unsure of exactly what would happen between the start and finish, they knew this: in the marathon anything can happen.

They also knew that the marathon they were about to begin was of world-class caliber, with significant city, corporate and community support and involvement. It was aggressively organized to be the World’s Best Marathon, with no expense spared, no detail left unchecked.

Elite marathoners had committed to participate, and were expected to deliver unparalleled competition and record-breaking results. As many as ten percent of the city’s population would line the streets to cheer the runners as they passed by.

The marathon course was flat and fast, encouraging hope that a new world record would be set by an elite runner. The route would take runners through a showcase of the City of Chicago’s proud and diverse neighborhoods including Grant Park, Lincoln Park and the South Side.

It was a marathoner runner’s dream. It was just like the world-class marathon the city and runners have come to expect year after year in Chicago. Except this one was different.

This race was the First Chicago Marathon. It was one hundred and five years ago: September 23, 1905.

The First Chicago Marathon: 1905


In early 1905, the newly-formed Illinois Athletic Club made a bold decision: Chicago would set the world standard for the marathon in terms of size, support, ethics, and athleticism. The marathon would epitomize everything that Chicago and its citizens represented: character, strength, spirit.

“Chicago’s first marathon is to be held this afternoon under the auspices of the new Illinois Athletic Club,” noted the Chicago Tribune’s morning edition.

“It is claimed that the field is made up of the best group of men gathered together for a 25-mile run [the official marathon distance at the time] in this country,” the article continued, “and officials of the Illinois Athletic Club think the Marathon record . . . will be broken.”

Even with expectations set high, the first Chicago Marathon lived up to the hype.

At 2pm on that late September day, fifteen determined runners bolted at the sound of the starter’s gun to begin an amazing journey of distance and endurance. Huge crowds witnessed a thrilling race that had it all: action, disaster, suspense, a fallen favorite and a cliff-hanger ending. It was epic, defining a new chapter in Chicago’s athletic history.

The marathon course started at the Evanston Golf Club, headed eastward toward Lake Michigan, then southbound along the lake to Grant Park, and then further south to finish in the Washington Park horse-racing track.

Among the runners included in the elite field were Sidney Hatch of River Forest, a 17 year-old running phenomenon, who had earned 8th place in the 1904 Olympic Games, held in St. Louis. Small in stature but large in heart and spirit, Hatch delighted spectators and earned loud cheers.

Albert Corey ran representing the Chicago Athletic Club and had won the marathon silver medal at the 1904 Games, Corey. Many were convinced that Corey should have been awarded the Gold medal because the winner used performance enhancing strychnine and alcohol concoctions during the race.

Louis Marks, representing the Mohawk Valley Athletic Club of New York was the race favorite. And it was no surprise that Marks sped ahead from the start, heading southeast through Evanston on Ridge Road.

After about 5 miles, the runners veered right onto southbound Sheridan Road. The surface of the road was unpaved, and considerable dust was dispersed into the air by vehicles and bikes, to the consternation of runners. A few runners paused for lemons and oranges as means of immediate relief from throat irritation before continuing.

In the shadow of race favorite Marks, who was extending his lead, Rhud Metzner of the Illinois Athletic Club emerged as a surprise in second place, running a balanced, conservative race. The crowd was beginning to build on both sides of the road. At the 10-mile point, they noted Metzner was running in good form, surrounded by race vehicles, and men in suits

Race officials knew of potential race interruptions that might impact the outcome. Most notable, the Rush Street Bridge was of concern. At 3:25pm Marks, Metzner and J. J. Kennedy made it across the bridge just as it was turning to allow a steamer through. Other runners did not make it in time and were delayed significantly. It was now a 3-man race

Marks remained in the lead, but not out of sight of Metzner and Kennedy, for the next several miles. By then, Marks was completely surrounded by vehicles and crowds that had continued to grow in size as the race wore on. But he was tiring; as he approached 39th Street, he slowed to a walk. With six miles to go, this was not good.

Seeing Marks in distress, Metzner suddenly became fresh and energized, steadily speeding up from the rear to take the lead. Fearing defeat as Metzner moved far ahead, Marks dug deep to respond, catching up to run even with Metzger the next few blocks. But it seemed that only a race delay could allow Marks time to get his energy back.

Almost unbelievably, upon approaching 40th Street, it appeared that an arriving freight train would delay the race. But the train engineer obliged officials, and let the runners through.

Soon after, with two miles to go, the Marks and Metzner were running nearly side-by-side. It was not clear who had the upper hand; it could go to the wire.

Then the unexpected: Marks suddenly collapsed at the side of the road. He had nothing left.

The race had been turned on its side. The favorite was gone, and Metzner sped onward to enter Washington Park race track. Running onto the track, Metzner was shocked to hear the creams of 15,000 spectators who had paid for the opportunity to witness the epic finish.

And then it was done. Metzner took the victory, Kennedy finished second, and Marks was taken to the hospital. The first Chicago Marathon was history.

Fifteen runners started the race, seven finished, including the disappointed Sidney Hatch and Albert Corey. No records were set, but in the end it didn’t matter. The race was seen as nothing short of epic by organizers, spectators and runners. And there was always next year.

The Classic Era
In years to come, the marathon would continue to capture the imagination of Chicago with exciting races and unpredictable outcomes.

In 1906, the Chicago Marathon created a new course that would remain the standard for years to come. The new course began at Ravinia Park in Highland Park and ended in Grant Park in front of the Illinois Athletic Building at 112 South Michigan Ave. This course overlapped the current Chicago Marathon route over several North Side miles.

After the 1907 marathon, the Chicago Tribune led with this headline: “Sleeping Runner Loses Marathon; Lindquist Trots Two Miles as Somnambulist; Collapses a Mile from Goal.” No one had seen anything like it, and naturally struggled to describe what today’s runners know as ‘hitting the wall’.

By 1909, the finish area of the Chicago Marathon at the Illinois Athletic Club had become a gathering spot for tens of thousands of spectators. Bands entertained finishers from the balcony, and runners were able to enjoy an after-marathon party, much like the current Chicago Marathon finish area celebrations at Columbus and Balbo.

Year after year the city and communities rallied around the marathon as one of the most extraordinary events in the nation. Chicago Marathons continued until the World War I timeframe, then resumed in the early 1920s. However, as the Chicago and the nation faced growing challenges in other areas, interest in the marathon waned.

But the spirit of the Chicago Marathon lived on. More than 50 years later, the marathon tradition was reborn. It was resurrected in 1977 as ‘The Mayor Daley Chicago Marathon.’ Most people knew it as ‘The People’s Marathon.’

A Century Later: Parallels

This year marks the 110th anniversary of that first Chicago’s Marathon, and the race has become one of the largest and most popular marathons in the world, a race where elites come to break world records, and where first-time runners simply want to become a marathon finisher.

And now, every October, Chicago is home to more than 40,000 runners – from the world’s best to complete novices – who will start, discover, battle, and ultimately finish something they once thought impossible, even ridiculous: the Chicago Marathon. 26 miles, 385 yards. In many ways it’s no easier today than it was in 1905.

Like the 1905 inaugural race, today’s Chicago Marathon route is an unparalleled city showcase, passing Millennium Park, the Loop, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lake Shore Drive, the Lyric Opera House, The Mercantile Exchange, Greek Town, Chinatown, the White Sox ballpark, Sears Tower, and finally, the Grant Park finish area.

It’s a spectacular journey, but, as in 1905, not one without its challenges. There is a point for every marathon runner when, in the face of increasing fatigue, aches, pain and the devilishly tempting opportunity to simply stop, they will choose to continue. Why?

Because the runners are there for a reason: to fulfill a once-in-a-lifetime goal; to run a personal best; to disprove those who say they can’t; or simply to do something once seemed beyond reach.

It’s as true today as it was at the first running of the Chicago Marathon, on September 23, 1905. One hundred and four years later, organizers, spectators and runners agree: the marathon continues to be nothing short of Epic.

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Excerpts from “Chicago Marathon” by Raymond Britt, and published by Arcadia Publishing.



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Boston Marathon: Predicting Your Finishing Time After Running the First 13.1 Miles

Around the time Boston Marathon runners reach the half-way point in Wellesley, the question on most runners' minds is: What might my finish time likely to be?

How can runners predict a finish time halfway through the race?

The short answer, after analyzing thousands of finishers splits over the years: multiple your 13.1 mile time by 2.1. Cross the half-way point in 1:30, you could finish in 3:09, for example.

But first, note that statistically, the 2.1 multiplier is a decent guide. But it won't hold for those who started too fast, or finished with extra energy left over.

The blue dots in this chart plot the intersection of first and second half splits for each Boston Marathon 2013 finisher. The cluster around the yellow trend line hold reasonably true to the finish multiplier of 2.1 times half-marathon split. But you can also see a great many runners who blew up in the second half of the race, shown in the general upper left area



Of course there are variances, and I've got answers for you, by age gender, age group and by 30 minute finish time increments for all who finished under 4:30 in 2013. See age group details below.

[Competitor Magazine (www.competitor.com) has published our analysis of more than 17,000 finishers at Boston Marathon 2013 to provide some guidance. Click this link for the full article. Below are some of the charts contained in the piece.]

For more, see our complete Boston Marathon Race Coverage.

Boston Marathon: What to Expect on Race Day

What to Expect on Race Day: The Boston Experience

[Excerpts from the book Boston Marathon: The Legendary Course Guide; proceeds go to charity.]

The excitement of race day begins with a dawn's early light procession of thousands of runners heading toward buses that will transport them to the race start.

Boston Marathon 2009 Start  by Raymond Britt

I prefer to get on one of the earlier buses to get settled in Hopkinton, but there's no real advantage to an early or a late boarding time. With two staging areas at Hopkinton High School for runners to relax before the race, there's plenty of space for everyone.

The bus ride from downtown Boston to Hopkinton always seems long, long enough to make you realize that 26 miles is quite a distance to run. As if you didn't know that already. But it is a little intimidating, still.

There can also be a small delay between the time your bus enters Hopkinton and arrives at the high school, as it takes time to empty each bus in order. I only mention this because it happens every year: a long bumpy bus ride with dozens of runners constantly hydrating inevitably leads to one or more who beg the bus driver to make an unscheduled stop for emergency bladder relief. Lesson: everyone, as we tell our kids before long trips -- go before you leave.

Once in the Athlete Village, find a spot, and relax. People bring all sorts of things, from blow-up chairs, to blankets, to plastic bags to newspapers. Bring what you like, just expect it to be disposable. If it's a rainy morning, you may want to wear an old pair of shoes in the potentially muddy village, and change to your dry race shoes later.

It can be chilly in the early morning, and my preference is to wear fleece to stay warm. In the past, a noon start meant the rising sun would warm the area late in the morning. With a 10am start, and runners moving to the start area soon after 9am, it's probably a good idea to wear a plastic cover or old clothes to stay warm until the start.

The Race

Standing on Main Street in your race corral just minutes before the starting gun, take it all in: helicopters whirring above, TV cameras panning the runners, spectators lined up deep along the narrow roadway, the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner complete with an Air Force flyover, and of course, the natural buzz of excitement from all the runners around you. Prepare to experience the greatest marathon there is.

Congratulations to Sheri Piers, Top American Finisher

Hopkinton. Unless you are right behind the elite runners, do not expect to begin running swiftly immediately after the starting gun. Main Street is very narrow, and there's little room to move. You will likely walk across the start line before you start shuffling, then slowly running on a steep descent. The good news is that you can't run too fast on the downhill because you are so close to other runners, so you won't beat your legs early on. Instead, enjoy what I think is one of the most amazing images in marathons: looking downhill to see thousands of heads bobbing up and down Main Street for as far as you can see.

Let yourself settle into a groove through the first 5k of net downhill road. Not that you won't experience some small rolling hills; you will. That's actually a good thing. It lets your legs stretch out and work a variety of muscles.

Ashland. You will briefly pass through Ashland for a couple of miles. Mile 3 is nearly all slightly downhill; just make sure not to overdo it in your early race excitement. You'll pay later if you run too fast here. Mile 4 actually takes you slightly uphill, and it's a good chance to even out your running pace. It's at this point that I usually lock in to a pace/mile that sticks for the next several miles.

Boston Marathon Course Map www.baa.org

Framingham. The main landmark in Framingham is the train station and large crowds greeting runners at about the 10k point. Miles 5 and 6 approaching this destination have continued to roll gently downhill with some brief inclines. but by now you're under control. Enjoy the crowd in Framingham -- wave, high five and smile. You won't see many people for three more miles.

Natick. Some peace on the road at this point is not a bad thing. After all the excitement from early morning through the first few miles, now it's time to do what you do best: run. The course is calm, gently rolling, but not difficult. Near the 15k mark, you will pass the Natick landmark: the clock tower and Natick Town Common. Crowds will be waiting, waving you on your way to Wellesley.

Wellesley. After Natick, the next two miles are again largely without spectators. Again, time to stay in control and appreciate your surroundings. Because when you get to Mile 12, the real race really starts.

There is nothing like the Screaming Women of Wellesley College. Sure, you've read about them, but you have to be there to experience it. The screaming is so overpowering, in a fun way, that I steered clear left away from all the fuss in my first few Bostons. But in recent years, I've decided to join the fun, running close to the crowd, taking it all in. You should too. Because after that, it's all uphill. Sort of.

Shortly after Wellesley College, you will reach the 13.1 mile point in downtown Wellesley. It will be gut-check time: how do you feel? Did you hold enough in reserve to handle the hills that will soon greet you? You will have miles 14 and 15 that roll ever so gently and slightly uphill through tree-lined neighborhoods to sort that all out. Then it's one steep roller coaster ride downhill approaching mile 16, and then it all begins.

Newton. The famous hills of the Boston Marathon really begin just before the 16 mile mark. There's a solid incline as the road approaches and crosses the 93/128 freeway. The spectators will begin narrowing to see runners, until there's a small gap to run through as you cross the bridge. They will be telling you 'you look great!' and you will begin wondering if you can handle the rest of the hills. Be confident: sure you can.

Because, surprisingly, the next hill doesn't come at you for another mile and a half. Not bad at all, really. You just keep running under control, and when you see the crowds getting thicker, prepare for a solid right hand turn at the Newton Fire Station to begin a steady climb. The crowds will cheer, you will smile as you put your head down and chug up this hill. It's about 3/8 of a mile long, not too terrible. I just run at the side of the road, keeping my eyes on the white stripe on the road, not looking for the top. When I get there, I get there.

And when you reach the top of that hill, again a surprise awaits. It's more than a mile to the next hill, and most of that is downhill, to boot. In fact, by this time, you will begin wondering what all this talk about the Hills of Boston was all about. Your main challenge at this point will be similar to your other marathons: handling getting through mile 19 with enough left in your tank to finish.

The third Newton Hill arrives at about mile 19.25, and is a little deceptive. Not particularly steep, it just keeps going longer than you expect. At 19.5, you will think you've crested the climb, but it's a brief respite. There's more to go. Stay with it.

And soon, you're at mile 20. 10k to go, the fun part. The real challenge awaits: the final Newton Hill, your path to mile 21. You will hear the climb before you actually get there. The roar of the crowd, combined with a pounding of drums, tells you that It's Almost Here.

You will see the gentle turn ahead, you will veer in that direction, then you will see an incline that simply disappears into the trees above. You will not see the top. That's not a bad thing, necessarily; it's a signal to keep you head down, stay focused on the road. Again, I get to the side of the pavement, and keep my eyes on the road's white stripe, and just keep moving. Just tell yourself that in a few very short minutes it will be over, and you'll be on your way to the finish.

Average Boston Marathon Finish Times by Age Group

When you get near the top, you will know it. Literally, a clearing seems to open up, and you can begin to see daylight. After a small dip, which you'll hope signal the end, there's another small incline then the hard part is over. You're on top of the backside of the course, and you'll be able to see downtown Boston in the distance, just before you fly (or not) downhill towards Boston College.

Brookline. Miles 22, 23 and 24 on their way though Brookline towards Boston are each net downhill, but that doesn't mean the course won't toss you a slight curveball here and there in the form of gentle inclines that frustrate the mind and body ever so irritatingly. As my body is wearing down in those final miles, I start thinking that the finish line can't come soon enough. And these little jabs by the course inclines seem much more potent than they should be.

Boston. But by mile 25, all is forgiven, and you can begin to feel the finish line. The course flattens out once you cross the bridge by Fenway Park and the Citgo sign, and you know it's over soon. Take the last mile to savor where you are -- on hallowed ground, following the footsteps of 111 years of marathoners.

The most special part of the course, for me, is the right turn onto Hereford Street, followed by the left turn shortly afterwards onto Boylston, with the finish banner in the distance. There's a calm before the elation on quiet Hereford Street, shaded from the sun, isolated from the intense spectator cheers that await just seconds away.

The turn onto Boylston Street puts you in full view of what I believe is the greatest final stretch that you can experience in a marathon. Nearly a half mile of smiles waves and cheers from spectators on both sides of the street.

Boston Marathon Finish Line by Raymond Britt

The finish banner, an unparalleled sight, comes into view. Take a deep breath, appreciate every stride that takes you closer to the Boston Marathon Finish banner. You worked hard to get to this point. You're there. Enjoy it.

As you run those final strides to the finish line, begin celebrating your own personal independence. You trained for months or even years to get to this point. And there you will be. Completing something that you once considered impossible, even ridiculous. A marathon, 26.2 miles. But not just any marathon. The legendary Boston Marathon.

Then it's your moment. See the time, cross the line, smile for the cameras. Congratulate yourself, be proud. You've done it. Go ahead, admit it to yourself: you Really Rock. You're a Boston Finisher. Yes, you are.

You've done something extraordinary, celebrate it. Celebrate your independence, celebrate your spirit and attitude that earned that trip to Hopkinton and drove you the next 26.2 miles to the most coveted finisher's medal in long-distance running.

In the Long Run, life is a collection of Moments That Matter. The ones you will remember for the rest of your life. In April, your moment is in Boston, on Boylston Street, under the Finish Banner.

That moment is yours. Celebrate it. From that moment on, you are a little more special. You are Boston finisher. Congratulations. Welcome to the Club.

Boston Marathon Photos: 26.2 Miles of In-Race Images

The Boston Marathon experience is unparalleled, and you've got to see it to believe it. We've run the Boston Marathon 13 times, and in recent years photographed the race literally on the run. We've shot hundreds of photos from inside the race, as we were running it, to capture the complete experience from Hopkinton to Boston.

Our top-selling books (proceeds go to charity) Boston Marathon: The Legendary Course Guide and Boston Marathon Portraits: Images of Inspiration (both of which are recommended by MarathonGuide.com) feature more than 200 photos from these in-race photo journeys. Here's a sampling, from the books, of what you'll experience on race day.