First-time marathoners beware of ‘Mount Roosevelt’
BY MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporter mdudek@suntimes.com October 7, 2012 12:24AM
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Attention first timers of the Chicago Marathon: despite what you may have heard, the racecourse isn’t totally flat.
As exhausted runners enter the 26th mile — within earshot of cheers coming from the finish line — the cement will slowly and cruelly rise underfoot.
Say hello to “Mount Roosevelt.”
The 700-foot stretch along Roosevelt between Columbus and Michigan rises 23 feet and can be a challenging and unexpected obstacle for lovers of level land.
But know this: once crested, the finish line is in sight.
Also, take comfort in the fact you’re not dealing with Boston Marathon’s formidable 88-foot, nearly half-mile long energy zapper known as Heartbreak Hill.
