Megan Lassman is preparing to push her 21-year-old daughter, Penelope, through all 26.2 miles of the 2026 Chicago Marathon.
For Megan Lassman, a 50th-birthday goal has turned into a months-long training journey with her daughter.
The Evanston mother is preparing to take on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with her 21-year-old daughter, Penelope, whom she plans to push in an adaptive wheelchair for the full 26.2-mile race.
Lassman began working toward the goal earlier this year and is now in her 13th week of training. The pair have already reached a 19-mile training distance, but Lassman said preparing for the marathon has been both rewarding and physically demanding.
She first set the goal two years ago, deciding that she wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday by completing the marathon while pushing Penelope.
The challenge involves more than covering the marathon distance. Penelope weighs about 115 pounds, while her adaptive wheelchair adds roughly 40 pounds. Lassman will also have to manage the wheelchair through the crowds and turns along Chicago’s course.
The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11, with the race beginning and finishing in Grant Park. The official course covers 26.2 miles and passes through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. The marathon expects about 55,000 participants this year.
Chicago’s marathon also has a dedicated para-athletics program, including a duo-team division for participants who push a person with a permanent impairment in a customized wheelchair. The event’s rules specifically recognize authorized duo teams on the course.
For Lassman, however, the race is about more than reaching the finish line.
She hopes the experience will give people an opportunity to see Penelope, learn more about her and recognize the joy she brings to those around her.
“When people see her, they feel joy,” Lassman said.
That message has become part of the reason she continues training despite the physical demands. She said Penelope enjoys the experience, making the long training sessions meaningful for both of them.
As race day approaches, the mother-daughter duo still has the final miles of preparation ahead. But after reaching 19 miles in training, Lassman has already shown that the goal she set for her 50th birthday is becoming a reality.
Their journey is also being shared on Instagram through @thehairandthechair, where followers can keep up with their marathon preparations.
