Days before the 44th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Bank of America partnered with Girls on the Run Chicago to bring together elite athletes, local influencers, and young women runners for an afternoon of world-class running instruction and inspiration. The inaugural Play It Forward Running Clinic invited dozens of girls to the opening day of the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center for a two-hour running clinic. The young runners learned valuable skills including stretching, pacing strategies, warm-up techniques, and sportsmanship from Chicago’s running trailblazers, including Carey Pinkowski, Jen DeSalvo, Deena Kastor, and others. They also met Chicago-area runner, Ashley Graham, who participated in her 50th marathon in the 50th state this fall.

Photos Courtesy of Bank of America