CHICAGO | Each of the 37,942 participants in Sunday's Chicago Marathon had a story as to how they arrived at the finish line, but few were more touching than that of Cori Goodfellow.

Goodfellow decided this year that she was going to run the 26.2-mile race only after she was fully recovered from donating a kidney to her friend Kristy Swenson. The Valparaiso resident underwent the procedure Oct. 8, 2008, and began training for the marathon almost immediately after her recovery.

"I had run many half-marathons before but never a whole," Goodfellow said. "I never could find the inspiration, but with everything that happened, I wanted this feat for myself."

Even before she donated a kidney to Swenson, Goodfellow's own journey toward her 26.2-mile destination was uncertain. When she was 8 years old, Goodfellow was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis among a litany of other health problems.

"The doctors told me that eventually I wouldn't be walking," Goodfellow said. "I've been in remission for years now, but I have to exercise every day to keep my joints from hurting. That's how I got to running."

Running the long distance of the marathon was one thing, but doing so 368 days after donating a kidney was quite another. Goodfellow and Swenson are friends through a volleyball league at Calvary Church in Valparaiso, but they weren't initially close enough that Swenson would expect to receive a kidney transplant from Goodfellow.

"We were kind of hi and bye friends," Swenson said. "When she first offered to donate her kidney to me, I told her I appreciated it, but no thanks. Then she called me again and said she was serious. Obviously, we have grown very close."

Swenson knew that if she didn't find a donor soon, her health would start to deteriorate quickly, so the pair went through the tests and Goodfellow came back a blood match. As both recovered from the procedure, Goodfellow started talking about running in the Chicago Marathon.

"I have always prayed for her to be blessed because of what she's done for me," Swenson said. "It makes me feel great knowing that she's healthy and doing wonderfully. I love the fact that's she running and doing marathons."

Initially, Swenson didn't think she'd be able to make it to Chicago on Sunday to cheer on her friend. Swenson's mother, Ricky, is set to receive a kidney transplant next week, but, ultimately, Swenson couldn't keep herself away.

Goodfellow crossed the finish line at four hours, 12 minutes, 39 seconds, and Swenson was right there to greet her with a big hug.

"She called me yesterday and told me that she was going to be able to make it," Goodfellow said. "It was awesome. I definitely think I'll do one again."

Chicago Marathon

More than 45,000 runners registered

37,942 started the race

33,419 finished the 26.2 mile contest

Sammy Wanjiru, of Kenya, won the marathon with the fastest time on American soil, finishing in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 41 seconds.