Here are a few Chicago Marathon facts...
The first Chicago Marathon was held in September of 1977. It had 4,200 runners.
You must qualify to be allowed to run in the Chicago Marathon. That could be based on previous race times, but many “buy” their way in by raising money for designated charities.
This past October was the 48th year for this event. There were 55,000 runners.
Of those 55,000, one of those runners was our son, Cooper.
It was estimated there were around 1.7 million spectators at this year’s race.
And in the middle of those 1.7 million spectators...enjoying the experience...were my wife, Kim, and I.
And what an experience it was...for all three of us!
Cooper didn’t run when he was younger. In fact, during high school, his mom and I encouraged him to give cross country a try. He didn’t want any part of it! But somehow, after finishing college, something changed. After graduating, Cooper started running. At first, I think it was mostly just to get into better shape...college life has a tendency to leave a mark.
What started out as just getting into better shape quickly progressed. Cooper soon discovered he enjoyed running, and before long, he was running his first race. It started with a 10k. That progressed to a half marathon and eventually, a full marathon. He was running, racing, and having a good time with all of it.
And that’s how we all ended up in Chicago: Cooper racing in the Chicago Marathon, and Kim and I cheering him on.
Both Kim and I were blown away by just how big this race was! Cooper had told us what to expect, both in the number of runners and the size of the crowd that would be watching, but none of that actually prepared us for what that would really look and feel like. There were a lot of people!
First, 55,000 runners.
That’s one huge pack of runners! Reports said that it took over an hour and a half just to get everyone across the starting line. Wow! As we made our way around to different vantage points to catch a glimpse of Cooper running by, the stream of runners making their way through the course seemed to never stop.
As for 1.7 million spectators, I struggle to wrap my mind around that number too. All I know is wherever we went to watch runners go by, the sidewalks were packed with others doing the same...and in a 26.2-mile race, there’s a lot of sidewalks to line!
The good news: we actually got to see Cooper run by us three different times, and on at least one of those, he saw us too, running over to us and giving us both a big high five.
That was a highlight!
I mentioned you could “buy” your way into the race if you didn’t automatically qualify, and that’s how Cooper got in. He raised money for charity. He chose to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Kim and I spent 3 months, many years ago, living at a Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City, following the premature births of our twin girls, so we’ve always had a special connection with that organization. We were happy to see that was his choice. Cooper, along with 1,500+ runners, also raised money for the same cause, collectively raising over $3.8 million...amazing! Way to go, Team RMHC!
One last cool thing about the race.
After crossing the finish line, each runner is presented with an official Chicago Marathon medal, a medal everyone proudly wore the rest of that race day and again the next. You saw them everywhere, walking up and down the street, in all the stores, in all the restaurants, at the airport, and even on the flight heading home. They were everywhere, and all were being worn with pride.
And they were all well-earned!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
In the end, Cooper was glad he ran in it, and Kim and I were glad we were able to make it up and be there for him. It was an experience we’ll all remember for a long, long time.
Fall color was just starting to show in Chicago on that race weekend. Fall is now happening here in NE Kansas too...and it’s sure to come and go pretty fast! Take some time to get out and enjoy it. It will be here and gone before you know it!
And while you are out there enjoying the show, don’t forget, now is still a great time to plant things, especially trees. So, if the fall show gets you motivated to add a little fall color into your own yard, stop on by and take a look!
—Cameron Rees
“THYMELY'' ADVICE: It’s Time to Winterize!
Pumpkins, gourds, ghosts, and goblins were probably the center of your yard for Halloween, but did you know there are also other very important things that need just as much attention?
This time of year, Fertilome Winterizer should be on your lawn care to-do list. It’s also the last step if you follow our Skinner 3-Step Lawn Program. It’s easy to apply.
Speaking of fertilizing, now would be the most important time to hit those trees, shrubs, and perennials in your garden. A good dose of Fertilome Tree and Shrub Food will take care of trees and shrubs. Use Fertilome Gardeners Special on your perennials.
It’s also a time to get those young trees protected from the winter sun scald damage with trunk guards. These inexpensive plastic guards can be the difference between life and death through the winter months.
Stop in today and grab a staff member to help with all your fall needs.
DON’T FORGET THE GARLIC!
Haven’t got your garlic planted yet this fall? Don’t worry, there is still plenty of time!
Typically, in our area, garlic is planted during September or October; however, garlic can be planted on into November. You just want to give it a little time to grow some roots before the ground freezes up.
Here are a few tips on caring for your garlic as it grows this season:
Garlic is a heavy feeder. Prep your soil with good compost and fertilize your garlic with a good, high-nitrogen fertilizer like Hi-Yield Ammonium Sulfate.
Put 3-6” of mulch over your garlic around Thanksgiving.
In the spring, weed, weed, weed!
Harvest green scapes to eat.
Harvest when you have 5 full green leaves remaining or 50% of the leaves have died from the bottom
Cure garlic out of the sun in an area with good air circulation until they are dry - about 3 weeks.
We’ve still got a great selection of Hardneck Garlic Bulbs ready for you to get planted this fall. Stop by and grab you some and it won’t be long till you will be enjoying those great garlic dishes.
Time for a time change
We change our business hours at Skinner Garden Store to align with the planting seasons, the weather, and the available daylight hours. That means that with the fall Daylight Saving Time change, and therefore an earlier sunset across Kansas, we have made a shift to our Late-Fall Hours. This means we’ll be closing just a little bit earlier during the weekdays.
Always check our website for current hours before making the drive out to the store! We can’t wait to see you here!
HELP US CLEAR OUT OUR FALL INVENTORY!
Dream it
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plant it
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Dream it 〰️ plant it 〰️
MORE NEWS, eVENTS & aNNOUNCEMENTS
WINTER PORCH POT WORKSHOPS: Our workshops fill up pretty fast, so it's good to get registered early; registration is required. These sessions are great for bringing some friends, family, or neighbors together for a fun activity, or doing it solo with a cheerful group at the store. Bring your coffee and your creative spirit, or we'll have some examples and inspiration for you when you get here, and guidance throughout. You'll end up with a versatile winter arrangement for the porch, the fireplace hearth, or a table or buffet centerpiece. Check the flyer for all the details and give us a call or email to get registered.
