Talks and planning for the Marathon continued, but little was actually done to stage the race. The turning point came in May 1977, when Nequin organized the first big race in Chicago (the Ravenswood Bank Lakefront Ten Mile Run). The event was a great success, with over one-thousand runners participating, up from an expected 200-300. Michael Bilandic, Chicago's new Mayor and an avid runner, was invited to the event. Not only did he show up to lend his support, but he and his wife, Heather, also handed out the awards to the winners. The Mayor's strong support and overwhelming runner participation gave the Marathon's founders, who weren't quite sure if a marathon could succeed in Chicago, the inspiration they needed to make the City's first 26.2-mile road race a reality. Suddenly 1977 was becoming a landmark year for running in Chicago. Several other shorter races were organized for the 1st time in addition to the Marathon, including the First Chicago Distance Classic with almost five-thousand runners, an unheard number of participants at the time. But running fever did not stop with the new races. After seeing the success of the Lakefront ten, Mayor Bilandic decided to make Chicago "the running capital of the world.''

To further show his support, Bilandic turned 5 miles of an old equestrian path along the lakefront into jogging paths, creating a scenic and safe course for runners that today stretches eighteen miles and is more popular than ever. Thus, with all of the new events and opportunities, Chicago's running community was enjoying an explosion of participation excitement.

By July 1977, Wendy Miller approached his friend and fellow Chicago businessman Lee Flaherty. Miller convinced Flaherty, a runner himself, to have his company, Flair Communications, be the official sponsor of the Chicago Marathon. Dr. Nequin and Flaherty then had a lunch meeting at the Drake Hotel with William Daley, son of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, about naming the Marathon. Following the meeting, the Daley family agreed to naming the race the Mayor Daley Marathon.

Initially set up with a $5 entry fee and an eight a.m. starting time, the race was scheduled for Sept. 25, 1977, and specific jobs were distributed amongst the founders. Nequin was the medical director; Goeldner was in charge of registration; Miller was the race director; Mier was responsible for organizing seven-hundred volunteers to officiate and marshal the race; and Robinson was treasurer. In addition, Erma Trantor, a friend of Mier's, was hired to be the race coordinator; Ruth Ratny, a business friend of Flaherty's, was to publicize the race.

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