Kerry Pinkowski is the Executive Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. He has had this job for over three decades. A top high school runner and then Villanova runner, Carey ran a marathon best of 2:22.
Under Carey’s leadership, the Chicago Marathon has grown into one of the best marathons in the world, a testament to his strategic vision and team management.
Every year this writer goes to the Chicago Marathon (missing two since 1990) and enjoys Kerry Pinkowski’s commentary before and after the race. Carey likes to build the field with his team and prepare the event for 45-50,000 runnerss and walkers.
2024 Bank of America is in its 46th year.
History: Back in the 1990s, I was returning from a sponsor party for the Chicago Marathon. Jeremy Solomon, one of the owners of Chicago Athlete magazine with Elliott Weinberg at the time, was driving along the course at about 1 o’clock and we saw Kerry Pinkowski checking out the course. That was and is Kerry Pinkowski, who famously slept little during the last two days of his race.
We sincerely thank Kerry Pinkowski and Alex Sawyer for their invaluable assistance in providing insight into the Chicago Marathon.
RunBlogRun, #1, What are you looking forward to at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon?
Kerry Pinkowski. I’m looking forward to great weather, great racing ahead and a record number of event finishers.
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RunBlogRun, #2, What was your favorite year in the elite Bank of America Chicago Marathon?
Kerry Pinkowski. Must be 2023. We had Kelvin Kiptum’s world record, Sifan Hassan’s event record, Marcel Hoog’s event record and Catherine Debrunner’s record. It was a special day to set records in every professional division of the race in a year.
RunBlogRun, #3, What was your favorite competition?
Kerry Pinkowski. 2010, Sammy Wanjiru and Tsegaye Kebede. It could be the biggest fight marathon in tough conditions. Other competitions that stood out for me in 1990. the race between Martin Pitayo and Antony Niemczak and the 1985 the race between Joan Benoit Samuelson and Ingrid Christiansen.
RunBlogRun, #4, What record surprised you the most at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon?
Kerry Pinkowski. Khalid Khanushi’s world record in 1999. We didn’t expect it. The world record was 2:06:05 and he ran 2:05:42. I knew how great Kelvin was, but Khalid’s record was a surprise.
RunBlogRun, #5 Were you surprised by Sifan Hasan at the Paris Olympics?
No. He is such a competitor. I had a feeling he was going to win after the 10K mark. If they didn’t shake him before then, I knew he was going to win.
How do you wind down after a marathon? Are you taking a real vacation?
We’re still swamped for a few weeks after that. I don’t go on vacation, but I spend a few days at home and turn everything off.
To learn more about Kerry Pinkowski and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, please check out the following:
