Nike 26.2 Preview excited runners at Soldier Field | June 18

Nike Run

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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun01.jpg148195271
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun02.jpg148195292
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun03.jpg148195313
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun04.jpg148195334
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun05.jpg148195355
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun06.jpg148195396
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun07.jpg148195437
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun08.jpg148195458
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun09.jpg148195479
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun10.jpg1481954910
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun11.jpg1481955111
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun12.jpg1481955312
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun13.jpg1481955513
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun14.jpg1481955714
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun15.jpg1481955915
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun16.jpg1481956116
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun17.jpg1481956317
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun18.jpg1481956518
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun19.jpg1481956719
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun20.jpg1481956920
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun21.jpg1481957121
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun22.jpg1481957322
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun23.jpg1481957523
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun24.jpg1481957724
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  Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

  Photo: Chandler West330.wk.NikeRun25.jpg1481957925

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Runners prepare for the Chicago Maraton at the Nike 26.2 Preview event at Solider Field.

Photo: Chandler West

Nike and friends: You outdid yourselves on Saturday at the Nike 26.2 Preview. The weather cooperated—no rain or extreme heat—and the commute to Soldier Field’s south parking lot was manageable, even easy considering it was a Saturday and I was riding my bike south past Navy Pier. But that’s beside the point. The running festival designed to get runners excited about training for October’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon worked.

You registered at one tent to receive an event wristband and running pamphlet. You could get specialized running gear next door, including unique-to-Chicago screen-printed designs. You could check your running gait and trial shoes like the LunarGlide+ 3, which haven’t been officially released yet. You could check out the new Nike+ Sportwatch powered by TomTom and sync your run on-site. You could listen to music, receive tips from Nike’s Coach Jay, and see superstars like runner Dathan Ritzenhein and Chicago Bear Earl Bennett, depending on what time you were hanging out at the main stage.

But most importantly, you could re-hydrate and run laps along the Lakefront Path from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Talk about accommodating the runner who wanted to rise early to run, the double-a-day runner, the runner who needed some extra shut-eye before lacing up the sneaks, or the runner who simply wanted to check out all the action. Did you get jazzed for running this weekend?