The Great Chicago Marathon Mystery: How Many Runners Actually Made It to the Finish Line? (Spoiler Alert: It Wasn't a Clown Car)
Ah, the Chicago Marathon. A glorious autumnal tradition where runners with legs of steel and lungs of a particularly enthusiastic vacuum cleaner conquer the Windy City. But this year, a question has plagued the internet like a particularly clingy piece of confetti: exactly how many runners participated in the 2022 Chicago Marathon?
The Speculation Begins: A Sea of Humanity (or Maybe Just a Lot of Sweaty Socks)
Newspapers were throwing around numbers like confetti at a wedding reception. "More than 40,000 runners expected!" they declared. But did expectation translate to reality? Social media was abuzz with theories. Were there actually more runners than pigeons in Millennium Park? Did someone accidentally open a portal to a parallel universe filled entirely with marathon enthusiasts?
Behold! The Official Numbers Revealed (Drumroll Please...)
Thankfully, the folks at the Chicago Marathon finally released the official numbers, and it turns out we can all rest easy (especially those poor pigeons). There were a very impressive 39,420 runners who took to the streets, which is some serious dedication considering that running 26.2 miles is about as appealing as spending an afternoon untangling holiday lights.
But Wait, There's More! A Statistical Deep Dive (Because Why Not?)
Now, you might be thinking, "39,420? That's a nice round number, but is it REALLY accurate?" Fear not, fellow statistics enthusiasts, because we've got a breakdown for you!
- Marathon Maniacs: 20,931 runners were classified as male, which means they probably spent the pre-race carb-load strategizing the perfect playlist for the run.
- She Runs the World: 18,489 runners were identified as female, proving that Beyonce's anthem holds true even over long distances.
The Burning Question: Where Did All the Other Runners Go?
Alright, alright, so we know the official numbers. But what about those whispers of a 40,000-strong stampede? Here's my theory: maybe those extra runners got lured away by the irresistible aroma of a deep-dish pizza or decided to take a scenic detour to admire Lake Michigan.
The Takeaway: A Celebration of Running (and Maybe Deep-Dish Pizza)
The 2022 Chicago Marathon was a massive success, with nearly 40,000 runners taking on the challenge. Whether they were aiming for a personal best or simply to finish without tripping over a rogue pretzel vendor, they all deserve a round of applause (and maybe a celebratory slice of deep-dish).
