After running the well-orchestrated Chicago Marathon last Sunday for the first time in 10 years, I couldn’t help but conclude what a difference it makes when a city actually gets behind its marathon. That hasn’t always been the case in Chicago. Even in its glory years of the mid-80s, city support was lukewarm and there were more fire hydrants than spectators out on the streets to watch (kinda like here).

But now, the city is firmly behind the race and the crowds were so enormous that at a few points, the noise was literally deafening. The marathon’s presence was palpable from the moment I landed. Runners filled the airports as thousands came from all over the world (especially South America) and the hotels and restaurants were packed to capacity.

The race itself should be a blueprint for big-city marathons around the world. The execution of raceday logistics was impeccable from the start to the course to the aid stations to baggage pick up. I started the race in the final seeded corral (way behind the 3:50 pace group), but within a mere 90 seconds, I had crossed the starting line. The flat course really isn’t anything special (which ones are?) but it went through many of the coolest Chicago neighborhoods and districts that were teeming with spectators.

What was especially impressive were the aid stations. In a marathon of this size (45,000 runners), aid station management is critically important. There were tables set up on both sides of the street every mile that were so long and well-staffed, there was never any panic or congestion. I’m not sure how long the tables were, but they were so lengthy that it seemed just a short distance to the following one at the next mile marker. When I started struggling in the last few miles and was mentally focused on just getting to the next aid station, they came up remarkably quick.

As always, there were a few people from the Austin Marathon in Chicago to learn what they could from this extraordinary race. But the folks who really need to witness this event and learn from it are reps from the city of Austin. If they did, they could see for themselves what a major-league race can do for Austin such as, generating excitement, promoting travel, filling hotels and restaurants which could have important economic ramifications for a city trying to recover from a tax revenue shortfall.

Austin doesn’t even have to look as far away as Chicago for a great example of what an economic boon a big-time marathon can be. A glance down I-35 to San Antonio would do. There, the city government (led by an innovative city manager) got on-board with Rock ‘n’ Roll from day one and San Antonio now boasts a race that rivals any in the country. Houston does too. The Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in March will almost certainly become a major event as well.

If our city government was prescient and cared enough about our marathon to get behind it in a meaningful way (such as providing police, road closures, Cap Metro sponsorship, etc.) as other municipalities have done with their signature events, the Austin Marathon could still grow into the elite, far reaching event it deserves to be.

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O For the past year, Joe Thorne, the former UT All American, has been making the big switcheroo from runner to triathlete. Thorne qualified for his first Ironman Hawaii and made it pay off last weekend, by finishing 14^th in his division in 9:35:58. But it was his run which opened a few eyes. Thorne had the fastest marathon (2:51:19) by an amateur and only three pros ran faster, including overall winner Craig Alexander of Australia who ran 2:48:05.

O Also having a big race, was Paul Terranova who finished with a 3:17 marathon to record a 9:54:13 overall finish. Meghen Browne also had a super race, finishing in 12:29 to snag an 11^th in her age group. Jason McMillian, a local pro, finished in 10:45:43. And Tereza Macel, a Canadian who spends plenty of time training here with Texas Iron, finished as the fourth pro in 9:23:43. Macel will be back in town for the Longhorn Triathlon next Sunday (October 25^th).

O Just awful news from San Antonio where Alexandra and Greg Bruehler were killed last week when the tandem bike they were riding was hit from behind by a truck doing 70 mph, about three miles north of Helotes. The couple had survived a head-on car crash in San Antonio two years ago and had rehabbed to the point that Alexandra (who broke her back) was training for the New York City Marathon next month. Both Bruehlers were runners, cyclists and triathletes. They leave behind a seven-year-old daughter, Kylie.

O More tragic news. David Allison of Austin was killed on Wednesday after he was struck by a car while cycling in Booneville, Mississippi. The 48-year-old was riding on a the Natchez Trace Parkway when the vehicle hit him from behind while trying to pass.

O There’s a glimmer of promising news for our severely injured RunTex colleague Justin Gabriel. He’s been moved from Brackenridge to Texas Neuro Rehab in south Austin and Justin’s been opening his eyes. He survived a bout with pneumonia and friends who have visited him, say he is doing better. But Justin is by no means out of the woods. The Keep Justin Running fundraiser to help his family with medical costs will be next Sunday morning (October 25^th) at 9 a.m. The short run will start and finish in the RunTex Riverside parking lot and Gary Clark Jr. will play. To donate or register for the event, go to www.keepjustinrunning.org

O I missed the inaugural Run Austin Half Marathon last Sunday, but, judging from my bulging inbox, glad I missed it. I received complaints about everything from the start (way too narrow), poor traffic control and aid stations, improper placing of mile markers, 5-K and 10-K runners colliding into the back of the half-marathon pack, cheap T-shirts and the fact that the race ran out of medals. Guess we’re spoiled by the race management pros who work our local races.

O San Antonio’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon (November 15) is approaching a sell out. Race director Lucy Diaz said she expects the marathon and half marathon to close by the end of this month with 25,000 runners. Diaz also announced Austin’s fabulous Del Castillo will be one of the supporting bands at the postrace concert. Grand Funk Railroad (thought they were derailed years ago) will also open for Los Lonely Boys from San Angelo.

O At last year’s San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, Liza Hunter-Galvan of San Antonio PR’ed with a time of 2:29:37 to finish second. At the time, the New Zealand native was 39 years old. But a few months later, the former UTSA runner was suspended for two years by the New Zealand federation for using a banned substance. Recently, she admitted in an interview with an Auckland TV station that she had, in fact, used an illegal drug. Hunter-Galvan said the primary reason she injected herself with the drug Recormon (a drug used to treat anemia which is not sold in the United States) was because it contained EPO and she believed EPO had "wound-healing properties" that would help her get over a lingering hamstring injury. "I knew I shouldn’t take it, but justified it," Hunter-Galvan said in the interview. She said she injected herself with the drug three times. Hunter-Galvan didn’t even tell her husband of 23 years—Ariel—she was taking the drug and says she threw it out because of the drugs’ side effects. After testing positive for the banned substance, she said, "I felt a sense of relief." Somewhat surprisingly, two Kiwi icons—Peter Snell and Lorraine Moller, both anti-drug zealots—offered their support to her. Moller said, "I believe Liza is not a cheater at heart."

O Catching up at the Chicago Marathon last weekend with friends. Greg Meyer, the ’82 Chicago Marathon winner and ’83 Boston champ, is a vice president for institutional advancement at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mark Coogan, a ’96 Olympic marathoner, lives in Exeter, New Hampshire and is now an assistant distance coach at Tufts University. Todd Williams, a ’92 Olympian, is now a sales rep for Adidas in Florida. Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympic marathoner, is one of the top coaches in the country at his alma mater of Brigham Young University. Boston Bill Rodgers was not in Chicago for the marathon last weekend. The King of the Roads is battling a recurrence of his prostate cancer and undergoing radiation.

O Post-marathon alert: If you run one this fall, don’t be shocked if you get sick in the following week. According to exercise immunologist David Nieman of Appalachian State, marathoners are six times more likely to get sick after a race than if they didn’t stress their immune systems. Neiman, who has run 58 marathons or ultras, has found that the immune cells are temporarily impaired after running for longer than 75-90 minutes. We know moderate exercise can have a protective effect, but something as strenuous as a marathon can create an open window of what Neiman calls "immune dysfunction" which can last up to three days. During that time, viruses and bacteria can gain a toehold, increasing a marathoner’s chance of getting sick. To counter this, Neiman suggests post-race recovery should emphasize plenty of sleep and rest, wash your hands frequently and eat fruits and veggies. Also, try to keep mental stress at a minimum.

O The Ian Crocker Swim School is riding a wave. The school, started last year in Austin after the Olympics with just one pool, has now expanded up to Dallas. The school has lessons for every level of swimmer from infant to national-class. It’s owned and operated by three former UT swimmers, Crocker, the former world record holder in the 100-meter butterfly, Neil Walker and James Fike. Both Crocker and Walker are Olympic gold medalists. For more info, go to .www.iancrockerswimschool.com or call 418-6562.

O What I’m listening to this morning: "11:11" by Rodrigo y Gabriela. I’m pumped to go to Stubb’s on Tuesday night for their show.