The Chicago 20-Miler Training Run was established in response to the popularity of marathons and the number of Chicagoland runners participating in the fall marathons. The final 20-mile run before race day is one of the most difficult runs in the marathon training process, and the coordinators of the run recognize the importance of the support of family, friends and neighbors in completing the run.

While not a race, the 20-Miler Training Run does provide all the amenities that one will find on race day, including aid stations, volunteers, mile markers and post-run food. The event can be considered a "dress rehearsal" for the race. The run will take place at 7 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Busse Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village.

Dr. Joshua Blomgren, Primary Care Sports Medicine specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and a medical provider to the Chicago Marathon in October, also serves as Medical Director of the run. Dr. Blomgren will be on site to provide any necessary medical care to runners as they complete their final training. To register and learn more about the Chicago 20-Miler Training Run, visit www.20miler.com.

Dr. Blomgren also was featured in the latest issue of Chicago Athlete Magazine, giving a mile-by-mile breakdown of what one can expect from their body when running a marathon. Starting at miles 1-5 to completing the marathon Dr. Blomgren explains the physiological response of the body and what a runner can expect to experience and why. Read "Breaking Down: Marathon Mileage and the Body", page 58 at: yudu.com