This weekend marks the 31st running of the Chicago Marathon. As Jacy pointed out earlier this week, over 45,000 runners will be taking to the streets working blisters on their feet, rubbing their nipples bloody and raw and draining their bodies of precious electrolytes while I enjoy bacon bloody marys and barbecue.

The marathon has come a long way from its inaugural run in 1977. Back then it was known as the Mayor Daley Marathon, with a field of 4200 runners. Although Richard J. Daley died the previous winter his successor, Michael Bilandic, was a running enthusiast and put his energy behind the event. Bilandic also managed to get Park District Superintendent Ed Kelly (who opposed the marathon when Daley was alive, refusing to allow runners to work their way through the parks or lakefront) aboard. The marathon was funded largely from the pockets of marketing giant Lee Flaherty. Flaherty is the founder of Flair Communications, located in the historic Flair House at Erie and Franklin. Flaherty is also one of the founders (or one of the people to blame, if so inclined) of the Old St. Pat's World's Largest Block party. The first two marathons had no sponsors; Flaherty also footed the bill for the 1978 marathon. In 1979, Beatrice Foods became the marathon's first sponsor.

American runners won both the men's and women's categories in that inaugural marathon. Dan Cloeter finished in 2:17:52, while Dorothy Doolittle was clocked at 2:50:47. A far cry from some of the world records now being set on the course. Hopefully we'll see another one Sunday.