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A former tennis player for Lebanon’s Davis Cup team in the 1990s, Nassib Haddad traded his racket for running shoes, completing the Chicago Marathon in 3h44’22’’ among 53,000 participants from over a hundred countries. A performance with a purpose: raising funds for Oum el Nour, a Lebanese NGO dedicated to fighting addiction.
Last weekend, on the legendary asphalt of the Windy City, Nassib Haddad completed a race and sent a powerful message. The Lebanese runner crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon (42.195 km) in 3h44’22’’, turning his personal challenge into a relay of solidarity for Oum el Nour.
From Rackets to Running Shoes
A former tennis champion and Lebanese Davis Cup player in the nineties, Haddad has made a flawless athletic transition. Volume, discipline, consistency: four months of preparation, five training sessions a week, all following a plan tailored to handle Chicago’s fast yet demanding course. The result: a controlled pace, a clean finish and another major added to his résumé.
Destination Chicago: Fifth Major Completed
Paris to start, then Beirut, Berlin, New York… and now Chicago. The marathoner continues to collect finish lines, not limiting himself to the 42.195 km distance — he also takes on 5K and 10K races to maintain his speed and endurance.
Running for Oum el Nour
Founded in 1989, Oum el Nour has grown from a grassroots initiative into a key organization supporting individuals battling addiction. Independent and community-driven, it works to reduce addiction rates in Lebanon and raise public awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. By linking his race number to this mission, Haddad shines a light where it matters most: prevention, support and reintegration.
Performance Note
3h44’22’’ — a solid time, built on steady pacing and a cautious negative split. In the packed atmosphere of a major marathon (53,000 runners, stadium-like crowds for 42 kilometers), sticking to your plan is already a victory.
What’s Next
The focus stays on long distances: marathons, half-marathons and 10Ks — with one guiding principle unchanged: running for purpose, running for a cause.
In Chicago, Nassib Haddad delivered the perfect stride — a clean race and a clear message. When sport follows the right path, the cause finds new life.
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