The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is an annual display of true grit — regardless of whether you’re among the world’s elite runners or a casual jogger looking for a challenge.

More than 54,000 runners stepped off for Sunday’s 26.2-mile race that weaved through 29 of Chicago’s neighborhoods, where spectators packed sidewalks, screamed, cheered, danced, blew air horns, displayed clever signs and handed out snacks and Gatorade.

And despite several weeks of intense immigration enforcement, mass protests and negative national headlines about Chicago, runners and spectators told the Sun-Times they reveled in the chance to show some Chicago pride.

“Chicago will always show out, and the marathon is the perfect example of that,” said Izzy Mealy, who was cheering on runners in Lincoln Park. “Th

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