Um, you know, I had a, a chance to meet him a couple of times and, uh-

uh-Whether it was an airport lounge and, uh, you know, uh, a quick story about Coach Ditka, my father, we're celebrating a birthday party at his restaurant on Chestnut, and, uh, one of my team, he was having dinner downstairs, went down and said, "Hey, Coach, my boss's dad's upstairs.

He's had a real bout with cancer.

He's ce- uh, celebrating his birthday." And, uh, Mike Ditka came up and s- and sat down with my father, spent about a half an hour with him, talking about stuff and everything.

You know, he was just, uh ...

A lot of times you don't see that side of him, but very, very giving, very approachable.

So any of us that have been in Chicago for a while that had crossed paths with him or o- on a, on a personal note, he was just really, uh, s- a, he had a really kind heart, which I don't think we talk about.

What are you looking forward to about the athletes that you've brought in?

Thank you

... surely, uh, a ve- very ved- sad day in Chicago, um, with the passing of the coach.

Um, you know, I had a, a chance to meet him a couple of times and, uh, whether it was in an airport lounge and, uh, you know, a, a quick story about Coach Ditka.

My father, we were celebrating a birthday party at his restaurant on Chestnut, and, uh, one of my team, he was having dinner downstairs, went down and said, "Hey, Coach, my boss's dad's upstairs.

He's had a real bout with cancer.

He's san- uh, celebrating his birthday." And, uh, Mike Ditka came up and s- and sat down with my father, spent about a half an hour with him talking about stuff and everything.

You know, he was just, uh, y- a lot of times you don't see that side of him, but very, very giving, very approachable.

What are you looking forward to about the athletes that you've brought in?

You visit a lot of neighborhoods.

Oh, sure.

I mean, that's one of the unique aspects of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course is the convenience.

We start and finish in the same s- place, so it takes a little bit of the stress off of that.

Uh, 29 neighborhoods.

You get to see the, you know, the fabric of the community, but also very, very accessible for friends and family members and loved ones.

Last year we had over 55,000 people buy day passes, get on the L, and go to different neighborhoods and locations to cheer on-

What's the quickest anybody has ever finished this race?