Henry Kozlowski Finished His 48th Chicago Marathon

The 76-year-old runner completed the race while wearing his vintage high school gym shorts.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Running

Henry Kozlowski Finished His 48th Chicago Marathon

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Henry Kozlowski, a 76-year-old marathon runner, completed his 48th Chicago Marathon. He is one of only two individuals to have finished every iteration of the event since it began in 1977.

Why it matters

Kozlowski uses the annual marathon as a personal motivation to remain physically active into his senior years. His streak highlights a rare level of consistency in the history of the Chicago event.

Kozlowski, 76, completed the race in under his 8-hour goal time, far from his 1981 personal best of 3 hours and 50 minutes. He remains one of just two runners to finish every Chicago Marathon since its inception.

The players

Henry Kozlowski

He is a 76-year-old runner from Wilmette who has participated in every Chicago Marathon since 1977.

Randy Burt

He is a runner from Antioch and is the only other person to have finished every Chicago Marathon since its start.

The details

Kozlowski wore his original Lane Technical High School gym shorts, which were issued to him in 1966 or 1967. He meticulously washes the shorts after each use and intends to continue running until he reaches a milestone of 50 total marathons.

1966-1967: Lane Technical High School issued the gym shorts to Henry Kozlowski.
1977: The inaugural Chicago Marathon took place.
1981: Kozlowski recorded his fastest marathon time of 3 hours and 50 minutes.
October 4, 2026: Kozlowski completed his 48th Chicago Marathon.

Season Trajectory

This achievement underscores the historical legacy of the Chicago Marathon as it nears five decades of operation. Kozlowski’s streak represents the rare longevity possible within the sport's most prestigious annual race.

Kozlowski maintains his status alongside Randy Burt as one of the two active 'streakers' who have finished every single Chicago Marathon. This requires successfully registering for and completing the 26.2-mile course every year for nearly 50 years.

The takeaway

Maintaining physical health through consistent habits like marathon running can provide long-term benefits well into later life. Setting long-term goals, such as reaching a 50-race milestone, helps sustain commitment over several decades.