I have fallen in love with the Chicago Marathon — and the city of Chicago — all over again.

Each marathon has been incredibly special in its own way, and No. 4 proved to be more emotionally powerful than I even imagined.

I walked to the El platform before sun-up (when many Chicagoans were just stumbling home from another wild Saturday night). Every person on the train was either wearing a bib number or holding signs in preparation to spectate. At each stop, more runners and fans piled on, and my heart swelled with joy and excitement.

A big to-do was made about the marathon’s increased security measures, but honestly, it made everything run much more smoothly. There was zero question of where you had to go and how to get there. And with no non-runners allowed in the start and finish areas, it was far easier to maneuver your way around. In my opinion, the race organizers knocked it out of the park on their first try. In making things safer, they also made things more efficient. Win-win.)

READ MORE: http://rulesforrunning.com/2013/10/17/race-recap-chicago-marathon-3/