Posted: October 3, 2007

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

30 Inspiring Stories in 30 Days A Chicago native, Thomas Lanigan has roots that date back to the first Chicago Marathon held in 1977. Over the course of 30 years, the race has continued to beckon him first as a runner and then as a spectator. An Assistant United States Attorney, Thomas will join the running ranks again this year in celebration of the 30-year race that has taught him the invaluable lessons of hard work, dedication and commitment. WHO: Thomas Lanigan AGE: 52 OCCUPATION: Assistant United States Attorney HOMETOWN: Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Originally from Chicago, Illinois) PREVIOUS MARATHONS: 20 RUNNER STORY: In 1977, Thomas Lanigan was challenged to participate in his first marathon at the very first LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. As the fastest runner in his class at the Chicago Police Academy, he thought taking on the marathon would be more fun than work so he happily accepted. He was honored to run with a group of other police officers from the city and can remember waiting at the start line for the race to begin. He still remembers the much smaller group of runners and the excitement of being a part of the inaugural race. Though he cannot remember his exact finish time, he distinctly recalls the sensation of accomplishment when he crossed the finish line. He so enjoyed running in the marathon that he entered and finished in the race 15 additional times! Though he completed law school and took a job with the FBI which forced him to leave his beloved city, he managed to return to the marathon whenever possible. He also squeezed in appearances at the Marine Corps and Honolulu marathons along the way. Over the years, Thomas found the benefits of running impacted his entire life. He learned the importance of discipline and endurance. He has taken the aspects of training and competing in marathons and applied them to his life. Whenever adversity crosses his path, he thinks of the miles he has put behind him and attacks the challenge with the same determination. He believes that anyone who truly dedicates the time and energy required to be a good runner can equally apply those qualities to other areas of their lives. On a few of his return trips to Chicago, Thomas was unable to compete in the race and was forced to join the crowd on the sidelines. Though he was not able to run himself, he took advantage of the opportunity to absorb the marathon’s energy and excitement. This year marks the 30th anniversary of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and therefore of Thomas’ first marathon. He has tired of being a spectator and looks forward to returning to the race as a runner to celebrate this special occasion. 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. Thomas’s story and all previously released runner stories are available at ChicagoMarathon.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest