It’s been an eventful 12 months for former Fire captain Logan Pause.
At this time last year, he was preparing to close the books on his tremendous 12-year playing career with the Chicago Fire. Since then, he’s transitioned to his new front office position as club Vice President, integrated himself in the club’s Academy and youth systems and, most recently, capably returned to an on-field role as the First Team’s interim assistant coach.
And to cap it off? He’ll spend an idle weekend for the Men In Red tackling his first marathon on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Pause is set to join more than 40,000 fellow runners in traversing the 26.2 miles of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, doing so to raise funds for the Chicago Fire Foundation.
Donate now to join Logan’s Supporters Section | Bid on Logan's Jersey
“I wouldn’t say I had (running a marathon) on my bucket list," Pause said of his new challenge, "but I’m someone who really enjoys running so I’ve always probably thought that I would do something like that when I was done playing. I’ve kicked the tires on the idea with Jessica (Yavitz, Executive Director of the Chicago Fire Foundation) while I was playing but it never worked out with timing. I knew right out of the gates once I was staying around (in the front office) that it was something I wanted to do for the Foundation.”
Understandably, Pause’s extensive duties in his first season as a club exec coupled with family obligations have at times made it difficult to carve out opportunities for training runs, particularly with his move to the bench. But with a long run of 18 miles under his belt -- "I know at least a little of what the pain and the pounding are like at that mileage now,” he said -- Pause is confident he’ll be able to see things through to the finish line when the day arrives.
“I wish I had had a little bit more of a training plan but my goal is to enjoy the event -- and to also finish,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve gone to previous Chicago Marathons and it’s such a great event with tons of support from fans and from groups of runners, so it's an experience I'm really looking forward to.”
In the spirit of what is always an awe-inspiring occasion in the city of Chicago, Fire fans have the opportunity to be part of "Logan’s Supporters Section" and assist in raising funds for the award-winning initiatives of the Chicago Fire Foundation.
Donations of all amounts are gladly accepted, and minimum donations of $150 officially enroll fans in Logan’s Supporters Section. As a Supporters Section member, fans receive two suite tickets to the Oct. 25 match vs. the New York Red Bulls with the opportunity to attend a postmatch meet-and-greet with Logan, as well as a Supporters Section Tshirt and a Chicago Fire fan pack.
Additionally, fans are invited to bid on the jersey Logan will wear in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, with the winner of the auction receiving the custom “26.2”-numbered jersey autographed by Pause.
Click here to donate now and bid on Pause’s commemorative jersey, and visit the course on raceday to celebrate the accomplishments of Logan and all of this year’s runners in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
