EDGEWATER — Father Mike Bradley is running the Chicago Marathon this weekend — his 50th marathon — to raise money for a program that provides assistance for older people in Edgewater.
When the 70-year-old takes off running Sunday, he “doesn’t really care how fast or slow [he’ll] go,” he said. Instead, he’ll focus on praying for people who are going through challenging times, using a list he’ll attach to his arm.
The list “is getting long,” and it’s filled with little drawings and phrases that remind Bradley of people who are suffering in the community, he said.
“I see so many people in the community who are running their own marathons of pain and loss,” said Bradley, who’s a priest at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, 1420 W. Granville Ave. in Edgewater.
“I feel any little aches and pains I get over the 26.2 miles are nothing compared to what others are going through, especially people who have chronic illnesses, people who’ve suffered loss and young people in difficult relationships. I try to include all of those intentions in my prayers.”
Bradley “got hooked” on running after he completed his first marathon in 1995 “without a lot of preparation or training,” he said.
Since then, Bradley has completed 49 marathons and ran with numerous training groups, including the Chicago Area Runners Association. In recent months, Bradley has chosen to train at his own pace.
“There’s something that feels really good about having a goal and being able to reach it, and, most of all, to have a cause that you’re helping, because that’s what really makes it all worthwhile,” he said.
Sunday’s marathon will be his 21st Chicago Marathon. He’s also run marathons in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Louisiana and Paris, France.
Bradley has even run four ultra marathons, which are 50 kilometers, or about 31 miles, each.
He enjoys running alone.
“I appreciate the quiet and the alone time to pray and reflect,” Bradley said. “Oftentimes, I go to one of the cemeteries nearby and sometimes stop at the graves. It’s a chance to catch up on all my thoughts.”
Bradley took a break from running for three years while dealing with “medical setbacks” and only recently started running again in June, he said.
“I never thought I’d be able to run again with all of the problems I had, but I’ve felt so much support and prayers from people,” Bradley said. “That’s why I’m able to keep at it and make a comeback.”
While Bradley trained for this year’s marathon, he collected donations for St. Gertrude’s Heart to Heart ministry, which offers support to older people regardless of their religious affiliation.
St. Gertrude’s will host a community fun run this weekend in support of Bradley’s efforts, while raising money for Heart to Heart.
Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk starts 8 a.m. Saturday at the church. People can register online. It’s free to participate; T-shirts are $15.
Participants can run or walk the route, which is about 2 miles long, or choose to walk around the block.
“The fun run means a lot to me because I’m an old guy,” Bradley said. “I’ll be 71 in a few weeks and people tell me they can’t believe I’m still running. I can’t believe it, either; but it’s important for us as a community to encourage each other to keep up with that.”
After the Saturday run, there will be a pep rally to show support for Bradley and a blessing at the 5 p.m. Mass for anyone participating in the Chicago Marathon, according to St. Gertrude’s website.
Through the church’s Heart to Heart ministry, volunteers provide transportation for older people as they run errands, go to doctor’s appointments or attend church services. Volunteers also visit older people in their homes to spend quality time together, Bradley said.
“During lockdown, when the elderly were especially isolated, the volunteers continued to keep in touch with people and help them feel connected,” Bradley said. “It’s very worthwhile.”
Additionally, Heart to Heart offers a lending library of medical equipment so people throughout Chicago can borrow walkers, wheelchairs, crutches and other medical supplies that could otherwise be expensive, Bradley said.
“Something I really like about it is that all of these services are available to people regardless of their religious affiliation,” Bradley said. “The lending closet in particular is a very positive thing, as well. People come from all different neighborhoods to borrow things they need for at-home health care.”
In October 2020, Bradley ran a remote marathon through Edgewater, raising more than $24,000 for Heart to Heart. Older people who appreciate the program came outside to cheer on Bradley while he ran 26.2 miles by himself, he said.
“I started at 6 a.m., and it was dark,” Bradley said. “I came down the front steps of the church, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a crowd of people there, including some senior citizens, and it was really uplifting.
“There were older people waiting outside at different locations throughout the neighborhood, offering me water and energy bars. It was like my own cheering section.”
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