Posted: September 28, 2007

Athletics: Counting Down To The 30th Anniversary Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon

30 Inspiring Stories in 30 Days Randy Burt is one of only nine men who have completed all 29 Chicago Marathons and are registered to complete the 30th anniversary edition. To celebrate his 60th birthday this year, he will complete his 60th marathon and challenge himself to run 60 miles. WHO: Randy Burt AGE: 59 OCCUPATION: Retired following a 35-year career as a safety professional HOMETOWN: Antioch, Illinois PREVIOUS MARATHONS: 59 RUNNER STORY: Randy Burt attacked his first long distance race in 1962. Impatient for track season to begin, he joined the high school cross country team. After competing in just one meet as a sophomore, Randy was bumped up to varsity status and never looked back. He continued to run cross country in college, but after two years found that he needed to devote more time to his studies. In 1969, he was drafted into the Army and served as a Ranger in Vietnam. At the time of his discharge he had earned a Bronze Star and declined an opportunity it become an officer. He instead elected to return home to complete graduate school. He continued to run for pleasure, though not as often as he would have liked. Feeling that he was missing his old pastime, Randy pushed himself to train for his first road race. He entered the Bay to Breakers Race in San Francisco; his longest race at the time. He was disappointed at his performance and his lack of preparedness for the hills. Determined to make his next run more respectable, he began a routine that he thought was sufficient to prepare him for his first marathon. He entered the Mayor Daley Marathon in 1977, but was once again disappointed with the results. He felt he did not have enough information about the training and proper attire, so he went back to the drawing board. The path to success was not an easy one and it actually took Randy quite a few tries before he felt he had earned the right to call himself a marathoner. He was never able to break the three hour mark, but came close with times under 3:10. He is now a veteran of all 29 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathons and has qualified for the Boston Marathon 19 years in a row. The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will mark his 60th marathon and in November he will celebrate his 60th birthday by running 60 miles. He ran 50 miles ten years ago on his 50th birthday to mark that milestone. Though he anticipates having to walk a few miles this year, his eyes are set on completing the full 60 miles. Randy is in a privileged class as one of just nine runners who can boast running in every Chicago Marathon. Despite nagging injuries that make running a little more difficult each year, he refuses to let go of the sport. He enthusiastically shares that his inspiration for running in Chicago comes much from the spectators. He looks forward to seeing the crowds and joining the elite runners who are attracted to the energy and flow of the race. RACE INFORMATION: The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday, October 7, 2007 as 45,000 participants advance to the start line, embarking on the culmination of 45,000 personal journeys. Along with the massive field of recreational runners, the 26.2-mile course will welcome a full field of world renowned professional athletes drawn to the flat, fast, urban setting and the potential to break world and national records. The professionals will compete for prize money and points in the World Marathon Majors series which will crown its first male and female champions with $500,000 each at the close of 2007. Since the inception of its charity program in 2002, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has generated more than $27.5 million for a variety of charitable causes including $9.5 million in the 2006 event alone. Registration for the race opened on January 1, 2007 and closed when it reached capacity on April 18. Randy’s story and all previously released runner stories are available at ChicagoMarathon.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest