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Gwen Jorgensen is racing Chicago

This will be Jorgensen's first marathon since committing to professional running full-time

Gwen Jorgensen

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Gwen Jorgensen, 2016 Olympic Triathlon gold medallist, is set to run the 2018 Chicago Marathon. This will be Jorgensen’s first marathon since committing to professional running full-time. She posted to Instagram Monday saying, “Running next to this marathon queen is so inspiring I decided it was time to sign up for one myself.” The queen she’s referencing is her teammate, Shalane Flanagan

In her first-ever marathon, Jorgensen crossed the finish line of the 2016 New York marathon in 2:41:01. For Jorgensen, this first attempt was a simply a bucket-list endeavour, and a way to cap off a year of triathlons. Known as the best runner on the International Triathlon Union circuit, Jorgensen wanted to test her skills in her favourite triathlon discipline in a new setting.

RELATED: Check out the Nike 4% spikes that Gwen Jorgensen wore at USATF Championships

Jorgensen told Sports Illustrated that she had no marathon-specific training before New York. Her debut marathon was only two months off of her gold medal performance at Rio. 

RELATED: Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen runs 2:41 in debut marathon

Since New York in 2016 Jorgensen has had a baby and become a member of the Bowerman Track Club. She’s now training full-time for the event with Olympic goals. 

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Jorgensen joins an elite field of women running in Chicago. Arguably, the two biggest American names in the race are Amy Cragg and Jordan Hasay. Cragg is 2015 American marathon champion, and Jorgensen’s teammate at the Nike Bowerman Track Club. 

Hasay is relatively new to the marathon scene, but a long-time staple in American distance running. She’s reportedly going for the American record of 2:19:36 held by Deena Kastor. Hasay ran her personal best last year in Chicago, finishing in 2:20:57, which is the second-fastest American women’s all-time. 

RELATED: Farah to face Rupp in showdown at Chicago Marathon this October

In other Chicago news, there will be a Mo Farah versus Galen Rupp show down in the men’s field. Farah broke the British marathon record at the London Marathon in April with his third-place time of 2:06:21. For his part, Rupp proved his mettle as a 2:06 marathoner in Prague last month, winning in a time of 2:06:07. 

The Chicago Marathon gets underway October 7th at 8:30 a.m. EDT. 

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