Look Out...Here They Come!
What a difference a year makes.

Last year at this time, many of the top Americans featured in this year's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon had either yet to make their mark on U.S. marathoning, or, in the eyes of some, already had their best running days behind them.

Jenny Spangler, 41, from Lake Villa, IL, and a local favorite, had stamped her seal on the sport back in 1996 when she won the U.S. Olympic Trials in a best of 2:29:54, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

After dropping out of the Olympic Marathon in Atlanta, GA, due to injury, Spangler fell from the spotlight--until last year--when she stormed back at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, surpassing everyone's expectations, including her own, to set a new U.S. Masters record of 2:32:39 and qualifying once again for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

This year, Spangler is no longer a sleeper, and her focus has changed accordingly.

"Last year the whole goal was to see if I could finish and get under the Trials qualifying time," said Spangler. "This year I'm more focused on running fast and I've been doing different workouts to get faster."

Blake Russell is another American marathoner who has made a name for herself in the last year. Though she ran 2:30:41 in her first 26.2-miler at the Twin Cities Marathon in 2003, the sixth fastest debut by an American, Russell earned name recognition after the Women's Olympic Marathon Trials last April, where she stormed out to an early and sizeable lead, only to slip to fourth place over the final half mile, finishing in a personal best of 2:30:31.

"I generally like to go out hard and get the adrenaline flowing," said Russell, 29, originally from Acton, MA, and now residing in Marina, CA. "The good thing after running (the Olympic Trials) in St. Louis is I know I'll always be able to make it to the finish line."

In this, her third marathon, Russell is ready for a breakthrough, and Chicago might just be the perfect place.

"Ever since I first mentioned running a marathon everyone told me to run Chicago," said Russell. "It attracts some of the best competition in the world, which leads to fast times every year. I can realistically run 2:26 or 2:27. Chicago almost always has great weather, so if the conditions are right, anything is possible."

Marla Runyan, 35, from Eugene, OR, on the other hand, has been a force on the track since winning the Pan Am Games 1500m in 1999. She was a 2000 Olympian, placing 8th in the 1500m final, and most recently, competed in the 5000m in Athens. Runyan debuted in the marathon in 2002 in New York, finishing as the top American in 2:27:10, the second fastest debut by an American.

On the men's side, Khalid Khannouchi is a name that is synonymous with The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, having won here four times, and setting a then World Record of 2:05:42 in 1999. Khannouchi, from Ossining, NY, feels at home on these city streets. However, after setting another World Record and an American Record of 2:05:38 in London, Khannouchi has been hampered by injuries and unable to compete in Chicago for the last two years, leading some to believe that his world record-setting days have passed. But, at 32, Khannouchi's not ready for a curtain call, as evidenced by the four-year deal he inked with The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon this past May.

"I think I can hold on," said Khannouchi. "I still believe I can run a personal best if I get a good day. You just have to keep that positive attitude."

And though Khannouchi is a marathon specialist, he has competed well at shorter distances this summer, placing third at the Bellin 10K in Green Bay, WI, in June, and 10th at the Falmouth Road Race in August.

Khannouchi was sidelined at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, which left the door open for some surprises. And even though the Olympic Marathon Team was made-up of familiar faces, the story of the day was the performances of the men from the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. The fearlessness of Brian Sell, the race savvy of Clint Verran and the eight-minute PR by Trent Briney, made waves throughout the distance running community. All three men will be at the starting line in Chicago.

"We at Hansons love The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon," said Verran, 29, of Royal Oak, MI, who placed fifth in 2:14:17 at the Trials. "We appreciate how they support up-and-coming American athletes. We believe it to be the best marathon in the world--it's world-record fast, close to home, and the spectators are the loudest in the world. If you're fit and ready to run fast, there's no better choice than Chicago."

Sell, after leading much of the Olympic Trials Marathon before fading to 13th in a PR of 2:17:20, believes he is ready to maintain the pace that got the best of him 20 miles into the race.

"The plan was to go out at 5:02 at the Trials," said Sell, 26, of Rochester Hills, MI. "I was the only one dumb enough to do it into the wind we had, and I paid for it in the end. This year, we hope to have a nice pack going about that pace, and hopefully we get the usual beautiful Chicago weather and we can roll."

Trent Briney, 26, of Rochester Hills, MI, plans to be in that pack, after shaving 8 minutes, 35 seconds off his marathon PR at the Trials to finish fourth in 2:12:34.

Peter Julian, 33, of Boulder, CO, echoes the sentiments of most of the elites--he wants to come to Chicago to run fast, having run a PR of 2:15:54 here in 2001.

"It (the course) is fast, and I need all the positive feedback I can get," said Julian.

Running fast is a common thread connecting these runners, one that lures the best of the best to Chicago to be carried by a smooth course and passionate city. That much remains the same each year.