Evanston Woman to Run Chicago Marathon for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

On Sunday, Evanston resident Betsy Katten will run the Chicago Marathon for a second time.  She's running to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with a group called Team in Training.

The cause hits close to home for Katten, who lost her older sister to Lukemia in 2002.  Katten ran her first Chicago Marathon in 2008 to raise money for cancer research, and will do the same again this year.

"Last time I ran it, especially since it was my first one, I thought a lot about my sister, Pam," Katten said.  "I think being part of Team in Training is what keeps me going, for all the people who have confronted cancer and for all the people who will."

She said she has been training by running through Evanston and into the city.  She'll do a few light runs this week and, like most runners, will eat a big pasta dinner the night before the marathon to load up on carbs.

Katten describes herself as a non-competitive runner.  Even though she ran as a teenager, she said her primary interest in the marathon is raising money and awareness for cancer research.

"I know a lot of people in Evanston that are doing the marathon.  For me, I enjoy being out there, I'm just happy to be participating, I think it's a miracle that your body can let you do this," she said.

The marathon begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Grant Park.