For John Whitaker, staying motivated to run the Chicago Marathon came easy. 

He credits the million-plus spectators for giving the boost to keep going until the finish line.

“I always enjoy getting high fives from all of the kids that are out around the course,” he began. “There are so many people out on the course cheering everybody on that it helps to motivate you through the race. Additionally, my wife Emily always makes her way around the city to greet me at multiple points along with course and I always get an extra burst of energy when I get to see her.”

This year’s marathon was the fifth in a row. He also has a half-marathon along with some 5Ks and 10Ks under his belt, running consistently for about five years aside from track and field in grade school.

In order to prepare for the 26.2-mile course, Whitaker’s training consisted of several runs each week that included one long run. He clocked in 242 miles in about 50 hours of training. 

“I think the mental preparation is almost as important as the physical training,” he said. “For me, the training is actually more challenging than the race as far as the mental aspect is concerned.”

Not unlike any other taxing activities, there have been days he has not had the motivation to run but he admits knowing the health benefit that come from it and thinking about his goal keeps him going.

“I started running to try to improve my health, but as I’ve continued running over the years I’ve found a joy in being out on the road having time where I don’t need to worry about anything else other than putting one foot in front of the other,” Whitaker said. “Running is a great time to think through whatever issues may be going on in my life at that time. There are no other distractions and I’m able to focus my thoughts on that issue. It’s also nice to not think about anything and just enjoy being surrounded by nature.”

Getting started

Whitaker’s finishing time set a new personal best at 4:49:18, beating his previous best time by nearly 40 minutes. But he didn’t start out running marathons off the bat. He encourages those that might be interested in running to get started.

“Go ahead and just start. Don’t worry about your speed or anything else, but just get out and run. As you get experience you’ll get a better idea of what kind of goals you might want to aim for.”

Whitaker also said he plans to run in the Chicago Marathon again. This year, as in previous ones, he has raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The organization greets runners after the marathon with champagne and a welcome complete with a red carpet. 

He expressed gratitude to his wife for her support not only during the marathons, but also during the training.

“She is a great listener when I want to talk about things running related and also helps keep me balanced by making sure that I don’t let my training take over my entire life and I still make time for fun when needed,” Whitaker said. “I look forward to seeing my wife after crossing the finish. The pure joy and pride that I always see on her face means a lot to me.”