The AIDS Marathon Training Program, which serves as a major fundraiser for AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , had a successful 2009 season as more than 400 runners competed in three races and raised more than $400,000 net. Here's a detailed look at the '09 AFC running season:
—Total number of participants: 419
—Number of Bank of America Chicago Marathon runners: 259
—Number of Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon runners: 121
—Number of Maui Marathon runners: 29
—Male/female ratio: 44%/56%
—Age range of runners: 12-66
—Chicagoans: Ninety-two percent were from Illinois. Other runners in the AIDS Marathon Training Program were from Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
"Given the challenging economic situation, I would say we did well—very well," Ishaug said. "The $400,000 [ raised ] will support our housing, case management, prevention and policy programs and make a huge impact in the fight against AIDS. An agency that raises $400,000 net from an event should be very proud, and very grateful. So to all the runners and their supporters, we are grateful beyond words. We hope to be able to recruit and retain even more participants next year and make even more money for our critical programs."
The 2009 net total was about $100,000 less than the 2008 total, the result of a "very challenging economy," Ishaug said. "In 2004, we netted nearly $800,000, so we are setting our sights on reaching those levels once again."
Since 2003, the AFC has netted more than $4 million through its marathon training program.
The 2009 top fundraisers were: Chris A. Coleman ( half-marathon ) : $6,000; Nathan J. Aslinger ( half ) : $5,273.43; Joseph L. Lucarelli ( full ) : $4,470; Lindsay Landsberg ( half ) : $4,445; and Kevin Lopez ( full Maui Marathon ) : $4,197.47.
Program representative Dan Lakin said one of his 2009 highlights came at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, when he and another program representative were waiting for their final runners near the end of the 13.1-mile race.
"They spotted their last runner and started running with her, but then Dan saw another woman who had stopped and was crying," Ishaug said. "He let [ the other program representative ] run with the AIDS Marathon Training Program [ runner ] and Dan encouraged this woman to not give up. He encouraged her to run and when she saw her sister on the sidelines, he pulled her in to start running with them, in her flip-flops, and as they got closer to the finish-line they pulled in other family members to help her finish the race."
"One of my most memorable training runs was when one of the runners dedicated her run to her brother who died of AIDS," Lakin said. "She said that they spread his ashes on a hill that the runners normally run around. However, during one of the training runs, participants are encouraged to run up this hill to practice for the marathon and every time he sees that hill now he thinks of her."
Ishaug added, "We love, love our runners, our volunteers, and all the families and friends that make the marathon training program so special. We are certainly looking forward to 2010."
The training program is being dramatically revised and expanded, Ishaug said. Full details will be announced Nov. 12 at AFC's Annual Meeting & Reception, held at University of Chicago's Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza.
