Chicago Marathon

I appreciated not having to take a bus to the start since the marathon course is a loop. I showed up early to use the facilities, hand off my drop bag, and grab a spot to sit by the corrals. I was seeded in the A corral but I made my way to A-B border to not fall into the trap of the start-line surge. The 7:35am start time had us waiting in cooler weather. I ran the first 5k by feel and noticed some slight GPS drift, but after we crossed the river going north, I tried to settle into race pace. Turning around by Wrigley at Mile 8, I had found my rhythm and focused on getting back to the Loop for the halfway mark. The neighborhood crowds and cheer groups from miles 14-20 kept the race interesting as the weather kept heating up. My favorite parts of the race are always Pilsen and Chinatown, and that started my push for the final 10k. Heartbreak/Nike's speaker wall cheer station at mile 23.5 was a good reminder that we had less than a 5k to go. The northbound miles back to the park had me throwing water on myself as the heat was taking its toll. The last 800m features a hard right onto "Mount Roosevelt", the rudest bridge incline, that quickly becomes a 90deg left turn with a 200m sprint finish.

The race starts and ends in Grant Park. Transit is convenient, but take note of route changes due to road closures for the course. Showing up early helps you get to the port-o-potties and grab a spot to sit. Weather can be unpredictable - chilly and rainy or sunny and hot, so prepare for both. There are many run groups cheering along the course and offering unofficial aid withe water bottles, fruit slices, sponges, and ice. Friends/family supporting you can catch you multiple times around the loop (miles 1-3, 13-14, and maybe 17/18 before meeting you at the finish in the park). If you're hoping to catch them, be on the same page for where they will be - runner's left or right. GPS will be affected by the buildings in the loop, so watch out for the first three miles and just after halfway at 13-14mi. A change of clothes in your drop bag is very helpful for post-race.