SOUTH LOOP — Get ready, Chicago. It's marathon time.
Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski kicked off the 37th Bank of America Chicago Marathon weekend just after 11 a.m. at the South Loop Hilton Chicago Thursday, and was later honored for heading the annual race for 25 years.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel waxed poetic at the kick-off event hosted at the official home hotel of the race at 720 S. Michigan Ave.
"On Sunday you are going to see people from all over the world share something in common," Emanuel said. "People from different languages, different cultures different continents. They're going to show something of the human spirit and the endurance of that spirit in the pursuit of a single goal."
Bank of America's Illinois President Tim Maloney said one of the race's goals this year would be to exceed the 2013 marathon's estimated $253 million infusion of business activity in Chicago's economy.
Maloney, Pinkowski and Emanuel all praised the marathon's positive impact on Chicago tourism. They also recognized Kenyan runner Dennis Kimetto, last year's Chicago Marathon winner, for setting a new marathon record in Berlin, running 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes and 57 seconds.
Later, Pinkowski and Emanuel acknowledged eight Chicago Marathon "alumni" who have competed in every race since the inaugural marathon in 1977.
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