‘Twas the night before the marathon and all through the city
The streets are all ready, the blue line is so pretty.
Volunteer tables are staged and the barricades are placed
Porta potties are lined up in Grant Park with great haste.
Running clothes have been laid beside the bed with care
In hopes that the morning would soon be there.
No sleep comes for runners the night before a race
Only dreams of untied shoes and start lines out of place.
We eat only things we have eaten before
Can’t take a chance of a tummy ache or more.
The night falls away as the alarm goes ring
It’s time to head to Grant Park and get on with this thing.
The start line is here, you’re in the corral
It’s time to hit the streets, you will not fail.
Today is the day you’ve trained for all year
You feel all the feels from excitement to fear.
As you cross the start, take pride my friend
We all cross the same finish line at the end.
Whether it takes you 2 hours or 10 to get here
We’ve done it together and you deserve a cheer.
So, go get some sleep and no matter the weather
The morning of the 9th we will do this together.
Chicago athletes, let’s tackle the 26.2
We’re in this together, me and you!