What started as a request for “Chicago Fire” newcomer Steven R. McQueen to appear at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last month, to take part in an interview, ended up with McQueen opting to run the 26.2-mile race. The former “Vampire Diaries” actor and grandson of late movie star Steve McQueen finished with a time of 4:16:39, despite having trained for only one week.
“They called me the week before and asked if I wanted to do an interview at the finish line,'” McQueen said during a press junket Monday at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios for NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med.” “I was like, ‘If I’m going to be there, I might as well run it.’ It was one of the most difficult things I’ve done.
“When there were 400 meters left, I felt my body start to shut down and my legs cramp up. I literally stopped and started walking. I was wearing a Batman shirt at the time, and the security guard looked at me and said ‘You can’t walk. You’re Batman.’ That was the extra push I needed to get me across the finish line.”
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McQueen — who said he was “a little sore” the day after the race — plans on running the Chicago Marathon again next year so that he can earn the necessary time needed to qualify for the Boston Marathon. And this time he expects to train for more than a week.
“It was an experience,” McQueen said. “It’s a great way to see the city.”
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