Olympic Gold Medalist and Chicago Marathon Winner Sammy Wanjiru Dies in Fall

Domestic Dispute May Be Cause
Sammy Wanjiru, the 24-year-old Chicago Marathon winner died in a fall from a balcony. Details are unclear, but according to some reports, Wanjiru was involved in a domestic dispute. In October, Wanjiru won the Chicago Marathon for a second time. Wanjiru was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal in the marathon.

Camera crew filming front-runner, Sammy Wanjiru, eventual the winner of the 2010 Chicago Marathon

Check out the video below of Wanjiru running up S. Michigan Ave. in the South Loop, just minutes from the finish line. Wanjiru's marathon performance in the Chicago Marathon was the fasted ever recorded.

Around the South Loop

Progress at the new Firestone service center,  at S. Wabash and 16th, seems to have picked up.

True Rock Ministries, 16th and S. Wabash,  is having a "Harvest Community Day" on October 23, 2010.

When you look south on Michigan Ave. near 16th St., it's hard to believe the Marathon was just yesterday; the city did a great job cleaning up.

2010 Chicago Marathon: The Wrap-Up

The 2010 Chicago Marathon is over, but for many, the memories will live on. Check out some of the highlights from the perspective of the South Loop Connection.

The 2010 Chicago Marathon begins!

South Loopers get ready to greet runners along S. Michigan Ave.

The wheelchair competitors come through first.

The front runners are about to pass by.

The size of the crowd matches the number of runners by around 12:45 p.m.

You never know what you're going to see on Marathon Sunday.

A lot of water was served today.

A happy South Loop resident celebrates completing her first marathon.

2010 Chicago Marathon: Never Say Die

At approximately 2 p.m., the running changed to walking. The unseasonably warm weather turned out to be a factor for some, but most soldiered on determined to make it to the finish line. And there were many people on the street still cheering them on.

Mostly walkers at this stage of the Marathon

You could tell it was getting down to the wire when service trucks started driving up Michigan Ave. Unless they're part of the media or law enforcement, vehicular traffic is banned from the Marathon course.

For someone, the race was over.

Check out the video below to see how things were looking like toward the end.

2010 Chicago Marathon: The Rest of the Pack

It's approximately 12:40 p.m .(when these pictures and video was taken) and the rest of the pack of runners descends on the South Loop. Check out the images and video below to get a sense of the action. There's always lots of drama at this stage of the race. Friends and family members cheer, hold up signs, and in some cases, run the last mile or so to encourage their friends and family members to keep going.

Runners heading up S. Michigan toward Roosevelt Rd and hopefully finish

Runners and spectators by 16th and S. Michigan

Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya Wins thee 2010 Chicago Marathon!

Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya won the 2010 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:06:23. He beat Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, by only 19 seconds.See the video below for Sammy and Tsegaye running down S. Michigan Ave. in the South Loop.



Check back for some Marathon highlights.

10-10-10: The Chicago Marathon is Here!

It's Marathon Sunday
It's a big deal around these parts and for good reason. Started in 1976, the Chicago Marathon is one of the biggest events of its kind. There were 1000 runners in that first marathon; last year, there were over 33,000 finishers! The Chicago marathon attracts amateur and elite runners from all over the world.

Traffic on Michigan Ave. the day before Marathon Sunday.

For information on the event check out the Bank of American Chicago Marathon Web site. You'll find all kinds of information about today's event, including visitor information and spectator viewing guides.

Check out last year's blog post on the 2009 Chicago Marathon by clicking here.

Around the South Loop

Getting Ready for 10-10-10
What a beautiful day Wednesday turned out to be! It felt like mid-June rather than early-October. The city is getting ready for this Sunday's Chicago Marathon. Barriers and risers have started to go up on Columbus Dr. Temporary tents and trailers are also in place east of Columbus Dr.

Gearing up for the 2010 Chicago Marathon on Columbus Dr. facing north

Light, Cameras, Action!
The TV crew for the new Fox TV show Ride-Along were filming in the South Loop by the Adler Planetarium. The notice below was displayed at the head of the caravan of movie trailers. For more information on the new series, Ride-Along starring Jennifer Beals, check out the Ride-Along Facebook page. To see how big the crew was, check yesterdays blog post.

Smile, you may be on TV.

The bike path along the lake by the Planetarium saw plenty of use. Boaters also took advantage of the beautiful, clear day.

The bike path was in use on Wednesday.

Twelfth Ave. Beach was empty, but the water lapping the shore was a pleasant and relaxing scene. Check out the video below to see just how beautiful it was.