For casual track and field fans, Marathon races provide an interesting opportunity. While not on the same status as the Olympic Games, marathons are an excellent way to experience the thrill that continues to pull thousands of sprinters to the tracks. But sometimes, there are greater things that motivate the runners to take on the difficult challenge, and the upcoming Chicago Marathon will see one such participant who will run for a very personal cause.

The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled for October 13, and anticipation is already running high. Thanks to sprinters like the late Kelvin Kiptum, the race has been firmly established as one of the most prestigious World Marathon Majors events in the world. And it is here that 26-year-old Brandan O’Brien aims to spread his message.

Chicago Marathon gives a grieving son a platform to shed his burden

The Elmhurst resident will be among the 50,000 runners who will take to the streets of Chicago in 9 days. While running is already a significant part of O’Brien’s life, this time, things will be even more profound. A YouTube upload from October 4 by WGN News shares the details behind the marathoner’s motivation to compete in the upcoming race. According to the news piece, spreading awareness about mental health has prompted him to decide to run at this year’s Chicago Marathon.

Brendan’s father died by suicide in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt, the marathoner’s father suffered from depression after being forced to stay away from coaching lacrosse. “He died from suicide, it was incredibly sudden,” says O’Brien as he struggles to keep his voice from quivering. Since then, Brendan has resorted to running as his solace, and to keep his own sanity.

“Running is the opportunity to look inward,” notes the YouTube video, and O’Brien also talks along the same lines. At the upcoming Chicago Marathon, Brendan will run “to remember his father’s legacy and to promote suicide prevention,” along with other members of the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention team. While Tom O’Brien won’t be among the crowd cheering for his son, he certainly won’t be the only one whose presence will be missed by the crowd in Chicago next Sunday.

A towering legacy that waits to be acknowledged

Kenyan long-distance runner Kelvin Kiptum lost his life in a horrific accident earlier this year in his native country. In the heartbreaking incident, the Olympian’s coach’s life was also taken. As the track and field community mourned Kiptum’s untimely demise, his name has never ceased to come up every time a Marathon race has taken place since. Kiptum still holds the marathon world record of 2:00.35, which he attained at this very race last year. And he did so by breaking the previous record of his national colleague Eliud Kipchoge.

Kipchoge was devastated and vowed to honor his late comrade at the 2024 Olympic Games by bagging gold in the latter’s memory. While that didn’t go as planned, Kiptum’s status in the global track community was already firmly sealed. The Chicago Marathon organizers have also planned to honor Kiptum in their own way this year. “He’s still prevalent in everyone’s thoughts,” said  Race Director Carey Pinkowski. But will the racers also be able to match the late Olympian’s legacy with their performance? What do you reckon? Tell us!