Chicago Marathon - Where It Finally Clicked!

[@BenIsRunning]

Running a 9minuye pb, sick as a dog…there’s something you don’t see everyday! Congratulations to you both for crushing Chicago!

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Benny Boy. It’s mad. Like my body allowed it for a few hours. I’ll take that all day long 😂

[@barryferebach8244]

I did the marathon too, also remember seeing that guy running in bear feet. Got my sub 3, snuck under in 2:59:40.

[@scottw.7626]

Huge congrats. I was with you on Sunday, well actually almost 3 hours behind you, running my first at 68. The crowd and music were rocking through out. Once in a lifetime experience. You’re never too old or too slow to accomplish a dream. Cheers.

[@carinafang3320]

Congratulations to your first marathon. I'm in my 50s, I'm hopeful that I will do marathon one day.

[@seanmcallister1]

Haha love that “well actually 3 hrs behind” … awesome inspiration 1st marathon @scottw.7626 … I just picked up running again at 62 yrs young - enjoying it all over again but can’t imagine (yet) doing a whole marathon… would love to catch any tips or tricks sir 🙏

[@christinaclementson]

That was emotional! What a strong run Ben! Over the moon for you because you worked hard for that. Now, get well soon 🤒 and bask in the glory of a huge PB!

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks so much, Christina! So glad it finally clicked 😂 now rest and recovery needed ha ha

[@jimfrazier1073]

Congratulations 🎉💪💪💪

[@alexcrypto21]

Imagine our boy not talking and filming for us: that would be -10 minutes minimum! Congratulations mate, you’re brilliant!

[@deshall1885]

Congratulations Ben

[@TheNextraa]

Well done, Ben.

[@TheFODRunner]

YES BEN!! Buzzing for you, what a run! Cant wait to see Marys video as well, you guys smashed it

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Andy! It’s lovely when it finally clicks. About time 😂

[@TheMrsMelton]

Amazing, well done Ben!! ❤

[@francismckenna7338]

Fantastic Ben well done

[@Learninglotsoflanguages]

So fun to watch. Now I'm thinking my first marathon I should try Chicago. It's only an hour or so from where I live. Shooting for two years from now. Next year is going to be my triathlon year.

[@AH87saxo]

First of all, I would like to congratulate you for that great, wonderful and marvelous “icing on the cake” that you put on those weeks of dedication and training, “the submerged part of the iceberg” that is preparing for and running a marathon. I discovered you a few months ago and a few months ago I ended up subscribing. I am an average “runner?”, like thousands or millions. I started 12 years ago, I have done dozens of 10K, some 5K, 9 half marathons, 3 Behobia/San Sebastian, 2 “Maratest” (15k and 30k races that were held pre-Covid in Barcelona, every year about 1 month before the city marathon) and the 2017 Barcelona marathon. A few days later I got an injury (I suppose due to something stupid I did, which went against logic and the lessons learned from experience and which they always tell you: don’t try anything new or experiment/test or do anything you haven’t done before, on a race day [and even less in a marathon]): patellar tendonitis. It took me months to recover, then when I was starting to get closer to my good times, COVID and the lockdown came, and then we went back to “bad times/epochs”. I signed up for the Barcelona marathon in 2025, and since the end of May I have been working on creating the foundation/base on which I can “build” when the “specific training” time comes. My main objective is to enjoy the race on D-day, and the secondary objective is: that nothing comes up to spoil my day, nor make mistakes (for example the one I made in 2017… or any other), that what didn’t happen (bad) that time doesn’t happen this time either… …and if possible doing 4h30 or less… I don’t want to be ambitious, and possibly doing that time can’t be said to be ambition 😇😳😅🤷🏻‍♂️ Wish me luck and encourage me. By the way, a friend (that's what I consider him) has been guiding me on the path and the process since I signed up for the 2025 marathon (in March): his name is Ignacio (Nacho) Cáceres, I don't think you've heard of him, but he was an Olympian for Spain in London 2012. As I said, congratulations and a hug to both of you. Enjoy this well-deserved and hard-earned cherry on top!!!!

[@cyclotaur6315]

Great result and just reward for all your efforts shared. Big inspiration - and I'm not even a runner these days ! 👍

[@UtahRunning]

The scratchy voice at the beginning just adds to the overall grit of the video lol. Love it. And holy hell, what a run! Good job, that time is insane!

[@JohanHenning82]

Could not wait for the video to go live today i peeked on Strava on Sunday lol ...MANY CONGRATULATIONS Ben and Mary on the PB's proud of you both the hard work paid off!! 💪🏻

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks so much, Johan! It was a good day that’s for sure 😊

[@yau-kwanyeung5890]

Congratulations! What is not shown here is the years and years of intentional training that lead to everything falling into place.

[@jocampbell1177]

Wooohooo 🎉 Congratulations All that hard work and effort 😅 So inspiring!

[@francegravel2838]

You are talking and filming 😅😅 and PB. You guys are so impressive...💪💪

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thank you 😊 I do often wonder if I’d be faster without filming but they’re just such great memories it’s worth the hit 😂

[@Namoraslife]

Such a huge PB whilst being ill? You, Sir, are on a different level! Huge congrats and now rest up and get healthy again and enjoy your sweet victory together with Mary. You both smashed it!

[@adamdrake39]

'All came together - 1:44' 😂that would have been something special! Massive congrats Ben. 👏

[@keithf21]

Brilliant. Very inspiring 👏

[@blindinginspiration]

Congratulations on the PB, Ben. I'll be running my first marathon in Bangkok on December 1st. I won't be getting anwhere near your time though!

[@abhishek8977]

Wow, that was awesome!!

[@PaulVining]

Great job, that is an amazing PB!

[@danvoges]

This is so good Ben, congrats!

[@308bar]

Congrats to both you and Mary!

[@ecruzd3rd]

Damn, what a victory and the illness just makes it even more epic. Congratulations

[@iainsmith3625]

Well done!

[@leewellstead2305]

Awesome run Ben. Your channel is Awesome

[@mad8298]

Wow! A big Congratulations on your PB and loved the video. My day at Chicago wasn't as successful and much more crowded in the back of the middle of the pack, but it was still a fun day and I finished. 😁

[@UtahRunning]

Finishing is the main goal. Good job!

[@dougmoss3695]

Congratulations to both Mary and yourself. What a great accomplishment. If the race went for any longer you would have been clocking sub 4 minute miles 😊

[@Adriansyah1995]

Damn, BIG CONGRATS for that insane PB. So inspiring!

[@robinlech3044]

I did Berlin Half with a cold…the warm tea they served at the water stations helped. You are incredible!

[@davidleonard37]

Brilliant Ben, you had the same PB as me and now you've given me hope I can push on now too and beat it again. 9 minutes is unreal.

[@adventuredogs8773]

Wow, congratulations Ben, bloody awesome stuff!! 👏💪💪💪

[@livewire1957239]

Overtaking all those people on the last mile(s) - that's the best feeling! Not to the disadvantage of those people you're overtaking. But it just feels so go good to have something left in the tank and just full on send it at the end of a race! Well done, Ben! Enjoy the recovery 🙂

[@sherylbogardus3062]

Wow!! Simply amazing and well deserved is an understatement. Congratulations to both of you!

[@JamesBond-yy5oq]

Many many congrats to both of you!!! I am so happy for your performance in Chicago!! Keep up the good work, you are inspiration for us all. Greetings from Crete, Greece,

[@WhiskyMystery]

Slow start. Fast finish. Nailed it.

[@markjohnson4237]

Nice. Well done both of you. Cracking race day results. :)

[@tomchin23]

Incredible. Amazing to see. I'm glad you got a PB. Very inspiring.

[@will_hargreaves]

Huge congratulations to you Ben! So pleased to see all your hard work pay off. 2:45 is a simply staggering time!

[@ColeRunning]

Huge PB. Gotta be chuffed with that 👊🏻

[@judithricken5447]

Hey awesome work! I'm so happy for you and Mary, I expect her video comes soon as well? But the most intrigued I was about the black woman in front of you in 1:25 who was running barefoot!!!

[@andyevans6136]

Ben, so happy for you, you deserve this so much!!!!!!

[@danielneacy3568]

wowzer what a journey finishing with an amazing well deserved pb

[@Leeroy49]

Great running :) now take care and recover well.

[@wemheuer22]

Congrats, loved watching it and the Epilogue gave me goosebumps. My fall marathon was a failure in terms of time but you inspired me to keep the focus on the journey and crack on 👊.

[@silvermandavid]

I was cheering you on at mile 20. I am so happy for you. You killed it! I hope Mary had a great day too.

[@Joe_Souza]

You might have won the race if you weren’t sick. Epic, congratulations!

[@easyeddie2377]

Congratulations Ben and Mary on your massive PB's!

[@JBIRDRN8]

Congratulations Ben!! You did such an amazing job! Wow what a PB!!

[@Mylifeinthreeminutes]

So happy for you Ben! So deserved, and so well earned. There's nothing like a race that just comes together, it makes the other 99% so so so worth it.

[@CoolInOlympia]

Wow! Huge PB!! Congratulations!!!

[@paulomer100]

Brilliant training, build up and race Ben and the last two mins of this video brought a lump to my throat, it’s what it’s all about. Well done to you and Mary who also smashed it !

[@johncomrie2303]

Brilliant Ben well done pal l did same you My pb was a long time ago from 2.38 2.31 .21 in London 1997. living in thailand to the north -

[@elisabethsandve7095]

Amazing! crying here😀😀

[@joannemarkov]

The way I gasped when I saw your results!

[@TheRunningHubCommunity]

Yes Ben 💥 incredible! Train hard. Race easy 🎉

[@cdh79]

Congrats, that's great to see, what a PB! I am going to run my first marathon this Sunday (Amsterdam). I am now in the tapering phase, so I tell myself there's nothing more I can do anyway, and just enjoy it (to keep my nerves in check ;))! This falls exactly in place with your words towards the end! My initial plan was sub-4 when I started my training half a year ago, but my Garmin now tells me 3:22 should be possible and Stryd says 3:33, so as I still want to be a bit more on the conservative side, I aim for 3:40 and then see if I have energy to pick it up on the last 10 to 5k (as I could have on my last 31,5k trainings-run that was much closer to my marathon pace than it should have been). Anyway, well done on your Chicago run!

[@VCassidy]

Congrats Ben! 🎉 Well deserved. Looking forward to Mary's video (:

[@davidculliton2615]

Well done 👏. When I saw the pre race video and heard your voice I honestly thought you were doomed!! So happy your hard work pulled you through. Pretty sure if you were healthy you drop another few minutes off 💪

[@Rusty_Runner]

Congratulations 🎉 Well deserved. Given the throat, talking to camera, and strong second half … i wouldn’t bet against you going sub 2:40 within the next 12 months.

[@carlospagos89]

ben im so happy for you, HUGE PB!! and yes your so right preople only see the final time they dont see or know how much work we put in to get to these milestones we set ourselves they just see the final 1%

[@vikroy3777]

I like fast forwarding to the end of these videos to see what the time was, saves a lot of watching. Congratulations.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Ha ha best comment yet 😂

[@hybridrunclub]

Respect!

[@nikp.7823]

so awesome - what a great experience for both of you, congratulations! Chicago, my old love...

[@RoshanFernandez-md5cf]

Absolutely brilliant!! Someone must be cutting onions nearby cause I’m not crying 🥲. So happy for you both!! I know how much goes into getting those PBs. Well done 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽❤️

[@TwiinStar1224]

You absolutely smashed it well done! I'm just beginning my running journey and have my first half marathon on Sunday. You're ending was absolutely perfect. The marathon is just the culmination of hard work that was put in. It's the process of it all that you really need to fall in love with because the marathon itself is only a small portion of your yearly running.

[@MsTrinichic]

Sweet redemption!!!! It finally clicked!!! Thanks for letting us tag along on this journey. Get well soon .... Soooo Mary's is coming out tomorrow?

[@ankitaggarwal028]

Very many congratulations Ben !!! You have well earned it

[@davidrogers7787]

So, so pleased it finally all came together for you Ben. What a performance!

[@robbiegray958]

Massive congratulations 🎊

[@958lea]

Congratulations, well done Ben!

[@sweatelite]

Legendary!

[@stevepigott6152]

Amazing Ben. So pleased for you. What an incredible journey 🥳🥳🙏🏃‍♂️💪

[@geeman1754]

Asolutely spectacular achievement., As you said. Most people don't see the hard work you guys do behind the scenes . 💪🎉🎊 Thank you for taking us on your amazing journey 🤗🤗🔥🔥

[@itsianwood]

So pleased for you!!!

[@jimokane8743]

Well done Ben, you sent it big style and got the rewards. What an amazing PB, with the lurgy is even more impressive.

[@aylaamon3267]

I lived-tracked you and Mary during the race and teared up watching you both smash your goals! Congratulations on an amazing run, and thank you for taking us along on the ride - and for the nostalgia. I lived in Chicago for 6 years and the marathon was my first World Major. I hope you ate a massive deep dish pizza to celebrate :)

[@richardbrown1573]

Absolutely crushed it Ben - what an amazing run. Huge congratulations on the well deserved PB!

[@trevorlangridge]

Ben what a fantastic achievement so well deserved and a massive PB. What could you do not holding a camera? Well done I am so pleased for you.

[@50Something]

You both really raised your games for this one, it paid off!

[@martinpullen595]

Amazing work, Ben! Congratulations on your very impressive PB.

[@ThisMessyHappy]

Thanks Martin! Hope your legs are recovering after 2 marathons in 2 weeks!! 😊

[@runninghikingsouthkorea4852]

Awesome time! Ran that PB with a camera and filming. Outstanding!

[@colleenomarsh2147]

Well done!!!🎉

[@joannebrown816]

Video quality is amazing. Love the epilogue at the end , so true. Thanks for inspiring.

[@OliverTacke]

I needed twice as much time for my first marathon ever two weeks ago 😅 Congrats, man!

[@pierre-yvesdantec3802]

You've worked si hard .. you réservé it... Congrats!👑

[@jellyabramovic2473]

Congrats Ben! So very happy for you! 🎉 Cant wait to hear Mary's story.

[@DeeJay_78]

So many likes and every one of them thoroughly deserved. EPIC! You are both fantastic , CONGRATS!

[@BamainMn]

I ran my pb on that course…I pumped just watching you run that pb. Congratulations!

[@SantaCruzRunner]

I’d normally say unbelievable result, but you did so much work to put yourself right where you needed to be, so I believe it 💯. Congrats Ben!

[@katiuskasotomayor1285]

Congrats Ben! so amazing. You both are such an inspiration.

[@DrGruffLes]

Nicely Done! Hard work and preparation in the hard part, but well done for smashing it out! How'd Mary do? Hope we have a video from her too! :D

[@TravelRunner]

Crushed it! Congrats on the HUGE PB!

[@luciannedemarco6296]

CONGRATULATIONS to you and all the runners. My son ran with a knee injury and FINISHED. We are so proud of him...of all of you!

[@nicholasrattray8186]

Congratulations 🎉 to you both for your PB’s. I ran Chicago in October 2022, a week after I ran my 2:54:49 London. Ran a 2:58:49. So watching your video recalled some of the route. Starting at 7:30 am is pretty tough. You will have a Berlin qualifying time now, which is great. Congrats to you both again!

[@qubitgg]

About flipping time! 👏

[@georgelhernandez6219]

Congratulations!!! Many of us do better in this great city of Chicago.