Chicago Marathon elite field heats up with Deena Kastor

After a fall, winter and spring spent battling her way back from a foot injury she suffered during the Beijing Olympics, marathoner Deena Kastor has officially announced she'll be running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11. The first elite to commit to the race, Kastor will look to improve on her marathon personal best of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds—a U.S. women's record she set in 2006 at the London Marathon—on Chicago's flat, fast course. Kastor is no stranger to Chicago; she told me in March that she loves racing (and eating!) here. "My past successes in Chicago are mostly based on the fact that running is so well received in this city," Kastor told me a few days before winning the Shamrock Shuffle. "I admire the training groups and the large number of people that have chosen running as their sport of choice. I thrive in large numbers, and Chicago never disappoints when it comes to supporting the sporting world."