Chicago Runner Creates 'Silly and Stupid' Alternative to Iconic Marathon, Will Do 26.2 Miles of Laps Around a Single City Block

A Chicago man pledged to run around his block nearly 80 times in what he's calling a "homegrown marathon" to raise money for charity.

Matt Brusich said he wanted to train for something and raise money for a worthy cause while still being able to watch the Chicago Marathon, which he called his favorite day of the year, according to reporting by Block Club Chicago.

"I needed a shtick, right?" Brusich told Block Club Chicago. "It needed something to make it appealing. I can't just go out on the lakefront and run 26.2 miles. That's not as fun."

Instead, Brusich will run around his block a more than 79 times, equating to 26. 2 miles, in a marathon sanctioned by the U.S. Track and Field National Office the day before 50,000 people run the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13.

"It's something really silly and stupid," Brusich said. "But I'm silly and stupid, so it fits."

To encourage additional donations, Brusich created a website with 79 virtual buckets that corresponded to a theme for each lap, such as running one lap in a banana costume and another with his dog, and allowed people to donate to their favorite bucket.

Lucky for Brusich, every single bucket was filled. Additionally, a local pizza parlor is selling the "Matt's Homegrown Hot Honey Hustle" pie the day of his marathon with a portion of the proceeds going to a local homeless shelter.

Chicago Block Club reported that Brusich has logged more than 300 hours of training but is looking forward to it all being over.

"My neighbors downstairs have been excited about it for months, so I'm looking forward to my family and buddies tailgating the marathon," Brusich said. "And I'm really looking forward to training ending."