Chicago Marathon
Participants in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon get an early start on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 in Chicago. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune / October 13, 2013)
The weather is living up to the forecast, creating optimal conditions for the elite runners in the 36th Chicago marathon.
Paced by Jason Hartmann, a two-time fourth placer in Boston, the large pack of men’s leaders went through 5 kilometers in 14 minutes, 45 seconds.  That was 11 seconds slower than Wilson Kipsang’s world-record split two weeks ago in Berlin.
The Chicago pace translates to 2:04:30.  The world record is 2:03:23.
At the 10-mile mark, the men were a minute faster at than a year ago, when Kebede set a course record of 2:04:38.
It was 53 degres with almost no wind 30 minutes before race time.
Predictions are for temperatures in the high 50s when the top men and women are expected to finish.
There was just a 30-second moment of silence to honor the victims of the bombing at the Boston Marathon.