The girls’ cross country team joined the Lake Zurich Alpine Runners to help at a water station for the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7.

“We leave on the bus at 4 am, get downtown, and set up all the cups and water on tables so we’re ready for the runners,” Laura McNair, sophomore varsity runner, said. “Then we take a small break, and then the race starts. We pass out water to all the runners, and then clean up and dump all the water out when all the runners pass.”

This is McNair’s second year on the cross country team, and she helped at the marathon last year as well. The girls’ cross country team volunteers at the marathon every year, and some runners from the boys’ team usually go as well, according to McNair.

According to Chicago Magazine’s website, 45,000 people ran the 2012 Chicago Marathon. The average finish time is 4 hours and 32 minutes, according to Marathon Guide’s website. McNair said seeing all of the runners is a unique experience.

“It’s interesting to see all those people and getting the experience of seeing all the runners, as well as the elite runners,” McNair said.

In addition to helping at the marathon, the cross country team experienced a little of the city, too.

“It’s a really fun experience because normally I don’t go downtown, so seeing downtown and going around is pretty fun,” McNair said. “But this year, the marathon was the day after Homecoming. I didn’t consider not going to the marathon, but it was hard getting out of bed. The experience is definitely worth it, though.”

Bruce McNair, Laura’s father, ran the Chicago Marathon this year. This was his fifteenth marathon.

“It was really nice to see my dad, and I also saw him finish,” McNair said. “He broke three hours, which is really great.”