Tens of thousands of Chicago Marathon runners started their hours-long journey on foot as the sun rose over North Columbus Drive in Grant Park. What waited for them ahead were 26.2 miles of some of Chicago's most distinct neighborhoods— from the Loop to Wrigleyville, down to the Near West Side, Pi lsen, Bronzeville and Chinatown — and thousands of people cheering them on.Ruby Reducindo, who was dressed as a pink cow holding a sign reading "Mooove" was one of the spectators eagerly looking for her sister in the crowd."I feel emotional and very proud and motivated every time," she said as she teared up. "She motivates me a lot in life, and she's doing so many hard things and then I'm just here to cheer her on." Runners start the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on North Columbus Drive at Grant Park on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Runners start the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on North Columbus Drive at Grant Park on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Catherine Debrunner, who placed first in the women’s wheelchair division, crosses the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Amos Kipruto, Tadese Bikila, Milkesa Mengesha and Jacob Kiplimo run with their pacers on North Columbus Drive at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Amos Kipruto finishes first during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon at Grant Park on Sunday. Hawi Feysa, who placed first in the women’s division, crosses the finish line during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Amos Kipruto, who finished first, holds his rubber shoes after crossing the finish line during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon at Grant Park on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Hawi Feysa, who placed first in the women’s division, kneels after crossing the finish line during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Amos Kipruto (right), who placed first, helps Jacob Kiplimo, who placed fourth, stand after crossing the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Runners start the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on North Columbus Drive at Grant Park on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Mary Ngugi-Cooper (left), who finished fourth, hugs Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei, who finished third, after crossing the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Boki Diriba (left), who placed fifth, and Daniel Mateiko, who finished sixth, run towards the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Staff help Cody Baele after he crossed the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Runners approach Mile 22 in Bronzeville during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times A woman dressed as a traffic cone stands on South Michigan Avenue near West 26th Street in Bronzeville during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Julia Tung (right) and Marcie Tung cheer on runners while waiting for their friends near Mile 22 in Bronzeville during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Isobel Batt-Doyle, who placed sixth in the women’s division, reacts after crossing the finish line at Grant Park during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Runners approach West 26th Street and South State Street in Bronzeville during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Rubi Reducindo, who is dressed as a cow, cheers on runners while waiting for her sister, who is running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, in the South Loop on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times A runner smiles while getting water splashed on himself in Bronzeville during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times ...read more read less