Chicago is a rich, rich city for runners, with dozens of well-managed races of all lengths, culminating each October with its world-class marathon. But the best wins not for the professionalism of its execution, for in that regard it comes up short (the focus is on the cause not the clock), nor for the challenge of its course, a mere 5K run along the lakefront. No, Race for the Cure wins for the raw emotion on the course, where teams of breast-cancer survivors rub elbows with the friends and loved ones running in memory of those who did not survive. Most races have some financial connection to a charity; this one is so organic that you won’t have sweat in your eyes, it will be tears.
