As 7:30 a.m. rolled around, we headed towards our spot at the starting line in the street. You could say we were a ways back from the Kenyan runners. There were 40,000 runners in the race, so we felt that being at the very front wasn't the right place to be, since that was the 5-minute mile (or faster) group.

As we stood and stretched a bit more, it got more and more packed in, with runners coming in from both sides. Before we knew it, there was almost no room to stretch further.

It was almost time.

Music blared from the speakers, with U2's "Elevation" getting the runners fired up. Layers of clothing were being removed at the last minute and tossed carelessly toward the curbside. Some clothing didn't make it to the side, hitting some runners in the face, who then tossed it out of the way.

Beloved Dukes of Hazard star (and Wisconsin native) Tom Wopat sang the national anthem, but got stuck at one point, causing a few runners to display a facial expression indicating, "Did he just mess up the national anthem?"

And then the announcement, "The 2005 Chicago Marathon is underway!"

A loud roar followed from the crowd and runners.

It took a while for the thousands of runners to get going, and after about nine minutes of walking, we reached the starting line. I hit the button on my watch, and we were off.

"The anticipation and excitement to cross the starting line of this year's marathon was fantastic," said Hacker. "You could literally feel the energy."

Of course, at the beginning of the race, I had to go to the bathroom. Thinking there would be nowhere to go was incorrect, as I witnessed runners going off the course and relieving themselves in alleys and on city buildings. I couldn't resist, and I also couldn't hold it much longer.

OK, now I was ready to run. I thought the race would be nerve-racking throughout as I tried to keep pace, but not lose my running partners. I was absolutely wrong. It was actually fun. I couldn't keep from smiling for the first four miles.

I had never seen so many people cheering and screaming. As I scrolled the city, all eyes were on us. It was incredible, reminding me of the part in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" when he sings in the downtown parade with the city streets packed.

I thought I was running for a good cause until I read a fellow runner's shirt that read, "You think a marathon is tough. Try chemotherapy." Right then, I knew this was more than just a run through the city.

There were other shirts too that caught our attention during the race.

"There was a quote on the back of a runner's shirt that read, 'Marathon: A 30K warm-up with a 10K race," said Hacker. "How true that is."

The marathon led us through all parts of Chicago, from downtown, to the United Center, to U.S. Cellular Field (or what people still call Comiskey) and back. Each section of the city provided a unique and diverse crowd, from the little children holding out their hands for a high five, to the old married couple banging on pots and pans as a means of cheering.

I couldn't resist high fiving the kids, and remember one saying afterwards, "All right!"

Family and friends met us at several different points along the course and cheered crazily, some taking pictures, some screaming and jumping up and down and some videotaping. It was an amazing thought-they came so far to see us run.

The mile markers kept adding up-four miles ...10 miles ...18 miles. When we reached the 20-mile marker, the smile that was on my face returned again. We were going to finish!

Running alongside the highway during miles 19-23 was horrible, as the cheering sections had diminished and the sun started to have its affect. This was the only point in the race I dreaded, as Hacker and Broderick felt the affects, as well.

And then we reached the last mile marker-25 miles. When I read, "One mile left" on the marker, the afterburners kicked in, and the celebration began as Hacker and I raised the roof to pump up the crowd. And it actually worked, as those who were once quiet woke up and cheered like never before. Broderick, an asthma sufferer, showed pure guts and kept trucking along as well, while his face showed the state of fatigue he was in.

I turned to him and said, "We got this, buddy."

And then, the final turn.

"As we made the final turn and could see the finish line straight ahead, I felt a pure rush of adrenaline," said Hacker. "I could see the goal that took two years of training, two years of dreaming and one fantastic day of running about to be accomplished."

I became overwhelmed with pride and joy, especially for Hacker, who had put so much into making this year's marathon a success. We skipped (probably not the best idea after running 26 miles) for the last .2 miles, raising the roof and clapping to once again pump up the crowd.

"The last .2 miles was the best I have felt running in my entire life," said Hacker. "Who knew it would take 26 miles to get to that point!"

"I couldn't have done it without the support of family and friends," Broderick added. "It was an exhilarating and powerful experience."

And when we crossed the finish line, we did it together, arms around each other. We ended the journey the way we started it -- together.