This week on Tuesdays on the Run we’re talking about post-race rewards and rituals, but I’m going to stray from the topic to tell you about my race this past weekend.
I’ve run in many places, states, countries even, but never down the Magnificent Mile, aka North Michigan Avenue right here in Chicago. Until now. This race was not on my schedule, but when I was lucky enough to win an entry from Suz and Luna Bar, they didn’t need to twist my arm.
I was on the road by 5am, headed downtown, determined to get parked and to the starting corrals before the gun went off, something I’d failed to do at RnRCHI. Mission accomplished this time. My SpotHero parking spot was perfecto.
I took in a marvelous sunrise over the lake, that quickly turned to heavy overcast. Humidity thick, as it’s been most of the summer. Ugh.
It was so great to meet up and chat with Suz and her husband Alex. I think we both got the memo on neon colors.
My plan was to use this race as a LSD training run for Indy. Despite the pace I told the wonderful people at Fleet Feet I’d run at packet pickup, they put me in corral A with the whippets. I lined up in the dead back, even though I had no business there.
I love this iconic pre-dawn view down Columbus. If you’ve run the Chicago Marathon, you’ve seen it. I especially love the American flag done in lights on the BCBS building to the right. In honor of 9/11.
Goal: Run happy
We were off down Columbus and under the Millennium Bridge, much the way the Chicago Marathon goes, except when we got to the smelly dark tunnel that throws all Garmins for a loop, we took a left and headed to Michigan Avenue. As soon as I made the turn onto Michigan Avenue I was hit with the smell of Garrett’s caramel corn. Divine. Running on the Mag Mile was fun and as a result I ran the first 5k too fast. C’est la vie. I’d pay later and pay I did but this was a training run so who cares? Not I.
After that firey sunrise the steam settled in.
After our jaunt up and down the Mag Mile, we headed over to the Lakefront Path, the scene of any number of Chicago races. We’d pass the Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, McCormick Place and more before turning around and heading back in. I ran easy and stopped to take pics of the steamy skyline. It was a super-humid 75 degrees with spotty rain. Not my cup of tea. At all.
The race was uneventful. I didn’t look at my Garmin as it was messed up from the tunnel. I strolled through the water stations and took in plenty of Nuun since I was sweating my behind off. It would’ve been worse without the rain and overcast but still, the humidity and heat made it a slog. I thought it was cute when volunteers at the water stations pronounced Nuun as “nun”. Some called it Gatorade, while others just said “electrolytes”. I made a bathroom stop shortly before the turnaround then slogged it in.
At the finish we were treated to cold towels, Luna Protein Bars, a Corner Bakery turkey sandwich and chips and…ready for this? Cheesecake. Ely’s cheesecake no less. A Chicago icon. Love.
Finish time: 2:18. I totally earned that with my photo stops, bathroom breaks etc.
Drawbacks: The propensity for Chicago to be hot as balls at this time of year and the 3-6pm packet pickup option in Deerfield is better than having to trek into the city, but such a small window of time right in the after school/work rush makes it very challenging to get there.
Kudos: I enjoyed the Mag Mile aspect of the course. The race is small enough to never feel crowded. I loved the unique post-race food and they hit it out of the park with the race shirt and medal. The shirt is a nice raspberry color (guys got something different) long sleeve that fits well. Overall a really well-done race.
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Fun that you got to meet up with suz! I would have never noticed that flag made of lights on that building. That is really cool!
Congrats on a race well run!
PS. I like the smell of caramel corn. Do you get any at the finish?
Sounds like a great time except for the weather! That is awesome that the BCBS building did a flag! So cool. Congrats on another half! Sounds like they had some amazing food and the shirt looks super cute!
Ahhhhh…..that photo of downtown Chicago landed me to October 2012 with Mr. Pumpkinhead. I must go back, one of my favorite races with one of my favorite Louises!
I love the medal and shirt (and I’m not much of a medal and shirt girl). I’d do that race just for those alone. Wait….early September in Chicago, right? Um, maybe not.
Ran 18 today at a slog. Look out Indy, looks like some record breaking numbers for Thelma.
XO
Apparently I got the memo about race recap Tuesday. 🙂
That post race food sounds divine! And you did great for a slogfest — you’ve no idea how I wish I could run a half in anything close to that time!
One of my favorite pits race rewards, if it’s hot/warm, is a brownie sundae. And I’m planning on exactly that Friday after my longest long run this training cycle. Bandit won’t be happy — he’s been acting out about being crated at night again since I had to crate him for a few hours while running & running errands yesterday. Oh well — who needs sleep, right?
Congrats on another half in the bag! I like seeing pics of bloggers together. 🙂 Celebs!!!
Omg that flag was so cool! Whoever thought of that should be knighted…. er through American equivalent. And neon was definitely yet color of he day, from us to the sky!
It’s been too long since I’ve been at that starting line. I got chill bumps reading about the first few minutes of your race! And ugh on the humidity. We are new to Atlanta and I feel like this has been the longest summer ever – I’m ready for FALL!!
I would have loved to do this one! But it’s got to be a sign of old age that I’m now picking races based on packet pickup…
Great job slogging through! The conditions were brutal.
Beautiful photo. Congrats on your finish! Cheesecake… Mmmm…
Cheesecake after the run sounds so good, although I am not sure I could eat very much, my stomach usually craves oranges after races. I ran my second marathon over the weekend and all they had were bagels and bananas and neither sounded good. They should serve pickles!
I love that you were given cheesecake at the finish – yum yum!
That is a really cute shirt! Cheesecake after a run sounds awesome, especially if it was cold (although I’m not sure I could have eaten much after running in that heat!)
I think I would’ve taken my cheesecake to go. I can’t eat much after a race, but cheesecake is always yummy. It wouldn’t go to waste, I’d just need to delay eating it.
Love that you ran the race for fun and didn’t worry about time! I thought that was my plan at a 5K this weekend, but I ended up really racing it. My competitive nature just comes out once that gun goes off!
Great recap! Humidity is sooo tough to run in, my last half marathon was really humid and surrounded by trees so it was like a rainforest! So cool that you won the entry from Suzy! I’d love to finally run a race in Chicago someday!
Oh, and I didn’t know it was pronounced “NOON” until a few weeks ago LOL.
Beautiful shots from the course! This has just reinforced my desire to take a trip to Chicago! Congratulations on your finish…that would be a damn good time for me WITHOUT any picture taking or bathroom breaks!
Congrats on the finish! Somehow this race wasn’t on my radar. Maybe because I thought it was an all women’s race. I heard they are all-inclusive now! Eli’s Cheesecake? Maybe I’ll run it next year…
The weather sounds like it was brutal. Great job and way to push through those conditions!!! Very cool that you got to catch up with Susie and her husband and YAY for Eli’s cheesecake at the finish line!!! Beautiful medal and shirt, too! LOL about pronouncing Nuun as “nun.”
Sounds like a great race… It would be so fun to run Michigan Ave…. and what great after foods!
I love your recap! I’m still working on my recap from my (near train wreck of a ) race from Saturday. Too many jumbled thoughts…I just could not get it done (in am easy-to-understand format). Stay tuned….
Love the medal and shirt! And your photos during the run are great as always!
That shirt looks really cool, and like a very discrete race shirt!
Congratulations on the Half Marathon!
I love the shot of the cloudy buildings!!
Weather aside, sounds like a fun race! And, I’m loving that medal and shirt! Congrats on another half!
I have to say that one thing I miss about living in Chicago is all of the race options. Chicago has such a great running community and I think it’s grown even more since I left. Not ideal conditions, but looks like a great race and your pictures are great – especially of the city!!!!
Congrats on another Half-Marathon in the books Marcia! You did it, despite the humidity. Loved reading this recap, it felt like I was right there with you on the course. How awesome you got to meet up with Susie! Great pic!
I never ever had cheesecake at the finishing line! I need to run races in Chicago!
Yes, that packet pick-up was a pretty small window, I agree!
Thanks Ilka! Yes cheesecake was a totally new finish line food for me as well. Loved it!
I would be thrilled with a 2:18 finish! That sounds like Florida weather- you will have no problems with Florida in December! I love that race shirt- pretty! I like how some of the races are getting more creative with the food- did you say cheesecake? I would trade a free beer coupon for that! Congrats Coach M!!!!
Ugggghhhhh… we are having the hot as balls issue here too still.
How fun that you got to see Suz! I love running a half as part of my training, its a great way to get in a long run while doing something different. I cant believe how hot its still been. That looks like a great race shirt!
running in Chicago is always challenging this time of year. Or rather summer. But ok it’s still hot and humid now as well. But as Chicago holds a very special place in my heart I had little pangs of envy reading your race report! Sounds like a nice route. Not sure I’d enjoyed going out to Deerfield for packet pickup…
Many people get discouraged at first because they want to run ‘fast.’ So they go out and kill themselves, then feel dejected and discouraged. But No pain, no gain !!! 🙂
Congratulations my dear! You did a great job despite of the weather. Anyone can try to do their best in attempt to achieve their goals can be a real runner for me. Glad to hear you had a great race! Thanks for sharing!