The day started early. I was up at 3:30 to begin the trek to the city for the RocknRoll Chicago Half Marathon. Major score of the day: Found a lot with ALL DAY PARKING for are–you sitting down?– $6!! I’d expected to pay upwards of $50 so darn I should have bought more stuff at the expo.
As I mentioned, I ran on the Imerman Angels charity team and I must say charity running has it’s perks. Our home base was a banquet room at a posh hotel just a brief jaunt from the starting line. Every and I mean every amenity was provided to us. I was beyond touched to meet the charity’s founder, Jonny Imerman, a cancer survivor.
We went to the starting line–corral 7 for me. Already in the 70’s at 6:30am. Chicago 2007 redux?
But this is just a half and we’re getting an early start so I can and will deal.
My goal: Training run! It’s hot, I’ve not been running well plus I need to do 20 today so relax and have fun is the order of the day.
Kara Goucher was at the starting line–adorable as ever. Similar to the 13.1 Chicago I did in June, we went out in waves, which was awesome as I never experienced being too crowded. The first mile of the course features a long tunnel which immediately threw my Garmin into liar mode. I’ll just have to run by feel. Nice and easy.
We spent the first 5 or 6 miles in the city, I spotted my posse twice, which was nice, as I expected them to be ensconced at the donut shop rather than out cheering for me. I stopped and gave them my sunglasses–I swear my eyeballs were overheated.
As we turned near the Art Institute and headed south I felt some fatigue. Plus my Garmin had stopped completely, leaving me clueless. WTH? Going under McCormick Place was stifling hot. I was so tempted to duck inside and chill.
By mile 8 we were still heading south and I was bored out of my skull. I lolled, I poured water on myself, I considered pulling a Rosie Ruiz and sneaking across to the Lakefront path where the super fasties were already heading in (of course I didn’t but one can dream).
Finally just before 10 miles, we turned to head in on the Lakefront path. Do you think there could have been one teeny tiny breeze off the lake? Hell no.
I continued bathing at the water stations and thought I’d died and gone to heaven when they gave us cold sponges. The ambulances were kept busy with exhausted runners–hate that. My cheetah skirt was so soaked by this time, it created a sprinkler effect for my legs, which was nice. My soaking wet shoes, not so much.
As we rounded the Aquarium one of my bottles fell out of my Fuel Belt so I had some fun (not) retrieving that.
Not sure if it was the Roctane I got around mile 10/11 or what but somehow I was able to find a bit of a groove and pick it up for the final 5k.
Finish Time: 2:06
This was my first Rock and Roll race experience. It was well done. The expo was ok, the race shirt, good, although I could have done without the blah gray. The start was smooth, the course a bit boring (I’m sure this was exacerbated by the heat) once we left the downtown area. Water and aid stations were excellent. I didn’t stay for the after party as I had 7 miles left to make 20 for the day. The medal was nice although I thought the ribbon was cheap. Personally I think the $110 entry fee is steep compared to other 1/2’s in this area.
