Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – Day 427
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Good morning!
We’re back home, and I feel as mentally and physically exhausted as I did after Alex and Nicole’s wedding last month. What a weekend! I owe many people thanks for making this year’s marathon such a huge success.
Lis and Steve drove down from Minocqua to pick up Cindy and me in Crystal Lake and bravely took on Chicago traffic. They’re seasoned city drivers—years of experience in D.C. paid off. Getting me and all my equipment unloaded at the hotel was no small task, especially with parking several blocks away. Their help was an enormous stress relief.
Maria and Mr. Peachy (Pete) also came from Minocqua and stayed at the Moxy Hotel. They were on hand to help me navigate the city’s “accessible” sidewalks—which, as it turns out, have plenty of cracks and curbs that don’t meet ADA requirements. Having extra hands to lift the power chair over the rough patches made all the difference.
Maria and Pete also made four colorful race-day signs that matched the Andy’s Army shirts. They stood out beautifully—some of the best on the course, according to Nikki (and I agree!).
Then there were all the cheering sections who came to encourage our runners. Friends from D.C.—Dave, Katie, and William, along with Erin and Ann—added their energy to the day and helped keep Nikki’s spirits high.
Nick and Jill (my brother and sister-in-law) drove in and became pros at navigating the El trains, chasing the runners around the course so they could cheer at multiple spots.
The same goes for my NIU college friends. They were there to support Emily (Dave and Sue’s daughter) and Ben, and somehow managed to catch their runners five or six times along the route. They even swung by our hotel at the halfway mark for a beer with me—perfect timing!
Kim—Nikki and Alex’s mom—was everywhere on the course, shouting encouragement at every turn and sending many photos, keeping us updated.
Other family members joined in too. Nicole and her dad, Eric, darted from point to point, and I have to say, for first-time Chicago marathon spectators, they moved around like seasoned pros.
Tim and Tom (my brothers) families joined us at the early cheering stations, and seeing everyone together in their Andy’s Army shirts made for one powerful sight.
Barb, Mark, and Geoff caught up with us near mile 12.5—but they were on the opposite side of the road. It took about 30 minutes before Barb and Geoff found a safe opening to cross. Mark, wisely, stayed put. He was still there when we went back to our hotel.
I’m sure there were others out there cheering who I didn’t get to see—thank you all for helping push this team to the finish line.
These cheering squads scattered throughout the course kept the runners’ spirits up and gave them the strength to keep running when their legs wanted to stop. Alex said it was the toughest race he’s ever done—and that’s coming from someone with nearly 15 years of competitive swimming to compare it to. Nicole said that near the end she was mentally spent, with “tears in her eyes willing this to be over.” And then—she spotted another Snarski cheering section. That moment gave her the lift she needed to keep going strong.
Many of you followed along on the marathon app and sent texts throughout the day. Those messages meant the world. This is a weekend I’ll relive for weeks, months, and years to come.
Final times for Team Andy’s Army: Mike – 3:12:24 (too far ahead to see!) Meghan – 5:12:47 Alex – 5:16:28 Nikki – 5:36:21 Friends: Ben – 4:06:15 Lisa – 5:12:48 Emily – 5:39:59
When Nikki and Zack returned home yesterday, their kids had a banner draped across the porch that melted everyone’s hearts. Loved it.
Everyone lifted my spirits this weekend. You made me feel so loved. Thank you.
Have a great Tuesday. Love you guys! ❤️
