The spirit of the Chicago Marathon draws thousands of runners and spectators each year, and it is one of the most popular marathons in the United States.

Held every year in Cook County, Ill., the Chicago Marathon is one of the most famousmarathons in the United States. The 2008 marathon has attracted more than 50,000 registrants, which is quite an improvement from its humble beginnings of 4,200 participants in 1977. It has earned prestige as one of the five World Marathon Major marathons, according to its Web site, and is ranked just behind New York as of 2007.

The Chicago Marathon is unique for many reasons, not the least of which being that runners don't need a qualifying time to enter. The race has a maximum capacity of 45,000 participants every year, but elite runners can enter beyond that standard, as well as runners who are representing charitable organizations. The marathon is held in September every year, and draws a tremendous amount of press coverage and spectators.

Much of the Chicago Marathon's popularity is derived from its impressive sponsorship, which includes several dozen of the world's most popular corporations. McDonald's, Hilton, Energizer, Volkswagen and Nike are some of the most notable sponsors, and the entire event bears the Bank of America brand. In addition, a large group of charities encourage participants to run for fundraising purposes, including the American Cancer Society and the Red Cross.

Furthermore, the Chicago Marathon attracts runners from all over the United States in addition to 120 countries throughout the world. To date, the U.S. has the highest number of champions of the race, with Kenya coming in at a close second, and the U.K. trailing in third. According to the web site, this particular marathon has traditionally been more popular with men than with women, but that trend is gradually beginning to change.

The race itself spans 26.2 miles through the surface streets of Chicago, starting and ending at Grant Park, which is just a few blocks away from Buckingham Fountain. This marathon is also unique because, despite its length, it is relatively flat, with a top elevation of only 24 feet. Officially, the race closes six and a half hours after it begins, though many of the elite runners finish in a quarter of that time.

The Chicago Marathon takes runners past the "El", the United Center, U.S. Cellular Field and Old St. Patrick's Church. Much of the race is run with a spectacular view of downtown Chicago, particularly during the first and last mile in the vicinity of Grant Park. Many of the runners use the Sears Tower as a personal landmark and frame of reference for how well they are doing on time, as it can be spotted at several points during the marathon.

Even more impressive, there are a few runners in 2008 who have participated every year since the marathon's inception. The entire city of Chicago focuses its energy on this event in September, and many of the local shops even run sales in honor of it. The spirit of the Chicago Marathon is almost as important as the race itself, and it has become an integral part of Chicago's history and culture.