The Chicago Eight: Marathon Week Day 3

     Ever since the first running of the Mayor Daley(Chicago) Marathon way back in 1977, tens of thousands of different people have crossed the finish line.  But there are 8 individuals who have actually ran every single marathon.  Some of them may be a bit long in the tooth, some of them may not be as fast as they once were, but they all are still keeping at it, and they all will be running on Sunday.  These are their stories:

• Daniel Skrzypczynski ran his first Chicago Marathon in 4 hours and 20 minutes, and has covered the gamut of times and experiences, from finishing the 1977 Marathon with his brother to walking the marathon course with his daughter in the aftermath of undergoing meniscus surgery.
• Ron Williams polished off the 1977 race in 4 hours and 45 minutes, and some of his most cherished memories of the run are completing the race with his daughter, as well as being able to remember when the women's field was so slim that he could easily count the number of women running the race.
• Henry Kozlowski's first time was 5:09, and recalls his parents greeting him at the finish line of the first race proud of him, but also wondering if their son had taken leave of his senses.  One year he came back from falling off of a ladder and still finished the Marathon that same year.  Ultimately, he wants to reach the 50 marathon mark, after which he'll just start doing it for the fun of it.
• Andrew Praxmarer completed his first Marathon with a time of  3:12:57, and one of his cherished memories is running with his wife in her first marathon in 2004.  He recalls the treacherous 2007 edition, remembering how he'd never seen so many people start walking early on in the race.
• George Mueller(who ran a 4:50 his first time) also ran in 2007, but his experience was much more uplifting, as it was completing a comeback from a broken leg.  He didn't even realize it had closed until he finished.
• Randy Burt's first time was 3:36, but his most vivid memory comes from the 1984 Marathon, where he saw Steve Jones running the opposite way as him on his way to setting a world record.
• Larry Moon walked to the starting line in 1977 having never ran more than 20k.  He ended up running that race in 4:20, and made it to the halfway spot just in time to see the first winner crossing the finish line.
• Joseph Antonini ran his first Marathon in 4:05:58, and remembers just how much community spirit there was on the course.  He wasn't sure if he could finish it, and as he approached Soldier Field he saw many people sitting on the side of the course.  He persevered and made it, and all the finishers embraced each other in congratulations afterwards

Come tomorrow morning, all 8 of these men will be stepping off for their 37th Chicago Marathon.  If you see them, wish them well.