9 Men Have Run In Every Chicago Marathon
CHICAGO (CBS) -- This Sunday will mark the 34th Chicago Marathon, and for nine men, it will mark their 34th Chicago Marathon.
WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller talked with John Tilgner, one of the nine runners who has come back year after year.
"I've completed all of the 33 previous marathons and I'm hoping to do number 34," he said.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports
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It seems kind of phenomenal, but Tilgner says, "It's kind of ridiculous, probably."
Tilgner says he used to run. Now he walks as fast as he can.
"It kind of loses the spirit of what it's supposed to be about, but I guess it's better than not at all," he said.
Tilgner is a retired Chicago Public Schools teacher. He was 49 when he ran his first Chicago Marathon, and now he is 83.
He says after mile 18, things get tougher. We asked him what goes through his mind as he runs.
"At some point, when you really get fatigued, I'm not sure you think about anything; just trying to stay upright," he said.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon begins at Monroe and Columbus drives at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
