Track Expert's Advice to Marathoners: Hug the Turns

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is Oct. 13

The state's road course certifier has some helpful advice for those planning to reduce their times in this year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon: hug the turns.

Runners who don’t hug the 36 turns along the marathon route could unwittingly add up to a half mile to their race, resulting in unwanted extra minutes to their finishing time, said Jay Wight, who measures Chicago’s course for USA Track and Field

"Over a course that long, with that many turns, if you’re not running the tightest line, you’re going to be adding significant distance," he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon -- this year on Oct. 13 -- annually draws 45,000 participants and 1.7 million spectators.

This year's race will feature four of the world's fastest runners. Additionally, it's the first race in a major U.S. city since the Boston Marathon bombings, prompting officials to greatly increase security.

 

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