The 48th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon took place last Sunday, October 11, 2026, with the city welcoming more than 55,000 runners. Nearly 2 million people lined the streets on that sunny, warm day to witness an event that brings together elite and amateur athletes for one shared experience.
Marathons may focus on the runners, but spectators also play a vital role in the marathon experience. Although nearly three decades have passed since I ran the Chicago Marathon in 1997, I still remember how the energy of the crowd along the route kept me going — and the friend who jumped in at mile 21 to help me finish. Being a good spectator takes a little preparation. Run for Good provides tips on spectating: “runners love looking at and hearing from marathon spectators to break up the monotony.” Supporters are encouraged to hold signs and shout simple motivational phrases to the runners like “stay tough.”
Since running Chicago, I’ve enjoyed being a marathon spectator. I’m always impressed and inpsired by the runners of all ages, sizes, and abilities I’ve seen run in New York, London, and Chicago. Not long after beginning my current job in 2023 with Abbott, the title sponsor of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, I heard colleagues talking about their plans to be part of the Abbott Cheer Zone at the Chicago Marathon. For each World Marathon Major, a lottery is held for dozens of Abbott employees around the world to receive a bib to run, and more than a hundred additional employees and their guests are selected to be part of the cheer zone.
This fall, I was finally picked to join the Chicago cheer zone and was joined by my husband Mark and cousin Patricia. We spent the day cheering for thousands of runners while tracking the progress of several who are my colleagues, family, and even a few family friends I’ve never met. My colleague Sam finished in just under three hours, with my cousin’s son Colin not far behind at 3:13. Two runners, Bryn and Lizzie, whose moms are college friends of Patricia’s, were running Chicago for the first time.
We also kept an eye out for a few additional first‑time runners: Kiana, Elana, and Erin, in from Boston and connected to Sara through her husband’s friend Colin. We tracked their progress from our spot at mile 25, yelling their names as they ran past. Cheering for these motivated young women we knew only through a few degrees of separation was a reminder of how friendship expands outward to people we may never meet, but still can support.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
Confucius
Cheering on these runners is not so different from how we support our friends. We show up and cheer each other on, celebrating the wins, seeing them through the difficult moments and staying present throughout the journey. Cheering on the marathon runners was a good reminder that showing up for one another doesn’t have to be complicated. Friendship, like cheering on a runner, is built on small acts of support repeated over time, helping each other to keep going.
Erin, Elana, and Kiana after finishing the 2026 Chicago Marathon
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