How To Run The Chicago Marathon

I’m doing my best to stay busy during my taper…

Thursday: 

My schedule called for 7 miles, so…

I ran 5 miles with the group and 2 solo afterwards.

Also, The Breakfast Club changed up our location and ran from The Well (a non-profit coffee shop).  So much fun!!
To manage my extra energy, I headed over to Radnor Lake to hike 5 miles.  The leaves are just starting to change!

My earliest memory of hiking here was in kindergarten. It’s near and dear to my heart. They don’t allow running on the trails so it’s the perfect place to taper.

The park has beautiful trails and one road that is closed to traffic.  It’s so peaceful. It’s my zen. It’s my yoga.

The Red Bicycle, a crepe shop in Nashville, posted this new crepe on their IG account. I immediately texted it to my husband.

I was supposed to meet my girlfriends for a new Nordstrom opening party. It was a zoo. We aborted the shopping mission and went to dinner at Local Taco.  I had the Portabella tacos…so good!

They were so excited to have their picture taken!

Friday:

I was excited to try the new Cafe Mocha Huma Chia Energy Gel.  It’s really good!

And…I’m actually sticking to my taper plan!!  This blog is providing an extra layer of accountability…thank you!!!!

I love when someone takes the time to write a note.  It means so much.  I received the kindest thank you note with the perfect quote…

And lastly, How To Run The Chicago Marathon from Runner’s World!

A Play-by-Play Chicago Marathon Course Strategy: Break it up into smaller, more digestible check points, like so:

[1] Start line to Mile Four: The Loop
It starts in Grant Park, which is an iconic park and the gem of Chicago. The first few miles are run through the loop on State Street (that great street) and LaSalle Drive, which is the financial district and the urban center of the city. You’ll see some great architecture. It’s a great time to focus on dialing in your pace and get settled.

[2] Miles 5 to 10: Lincoln Park and Lakeview
By the time you make your way through the start and the loop, you’ll have gone through two aid stations on the course, so you’ll have a sense of what the set up is and what to expect for the next 18 aid stations.

Use those first few stations to learn the system and dial in your fueling strategy. For example, if you feel more comfortable taking water with your left hand versus your right, you can give yourself time to set yourself up on that side of the street at the next station.
You should be settling in and have an idea of where your pace is. It sets the tone for the rest of the marathon. With a fourth of the race down, you’ll enter Lincoln Park and run past the zoo. You can use all the feedback you’ve gotten so far to make adjustments on your pace and strategy for the race.

As you move north to Addison, you’ll be able to see Wrigley Field, the farthest northern part of the course. One of the little tricks that I’ve told everyone over the years is, if you look back, you can see the Willis Tower (110 stories and the tallest building in the western hemisphere). It’s the axis of the course, and you can see it at the northern, western, and southern parts of the course so you always know where the finish line is. You can get a visual of how far you’ve come and how far you need to go. Some people don’t like that, but I’ve heard many say they really like having it as a visual guide.

There’s a lot of energy, excitement, and dancing as you run through this part of the course, which is hosted by the Front Runners and the Lakeview community. Make sure you continue to conserve your energy and avoid the temptation to jump on the curbs and join in the fun.
One of my favorite parts of the course is during miles nine and 10 as you make your way south on Sedgwick and Clark Street. It’s a straight shot, and it’s calming and very scenic with a lot of beautiful brownstones.

[3] Miles 11 to 17: Old Town, River North, West Loop, Greek Town, and Little Italy
The second half of the course is faster. If you look at our lead athletes, they’ve always run faster on the second half of the course because there aren’t as many turns and there are more straight-aways. As you run through Old Town, Greek Town, and the West Loop, you’ll experience some great landmarks and neighborhoods with incredible crowd support.

At the halfway point, you’ll cross back over the river, which will be lined with people ten-deep. It’s quite emotional, and it is the gateway to the second part of the marathon. You’ll head west for miles 13 to 15, then east, south, and west again, making your way through Little Italy. There’s plenty to see and hear, and it’s a big energy boost at that point in the race.

[4] Mile 18 to 26.2: The Wall and the Finish Line:
You’ll head right through the heart of the Pilson, the city’s second largest Hispanic neighborhood and home to mariachi bands and dancers. As you make your way to the infamous 20-mile mark (The Wall), your mind’s going to try and trick you to try to get you to slow down. This is a great time to keep your mind engaged. Pick a point on the horizon and run to it. Break it down to counteract the negative thoughts that can slip into your head and start counting down the miles, thinking of familiar routes you’ve trained on. I think of a five-mile run I’ve done hundreds of times, and all I have to do is replicate it in the final miles of the race. Feed yourself with those positive nuggets.

Just past the 23-mile marker, you make the turn onto Michigan Avenue. From here it’s a straight shot to Grant Park and the finish line. Look for the Willis Tower–it will get closer and closer at you make your way. The streets will be lined with cheering volunteers from De LaSalle High School, the Park Forest Running Club, and many other groups.

You’ll know you’re getting very close to the finish when the volume of the crowd intensifies. This is also the point at which you’ll make a quick right turn, then a left, and you’ll see the finish line ahead.

Have you tried the Huma Gel’s? What’s your favorite flavor?

Are you racing this weekend?  Or are you tapering as well?

Have the leaves started to change colors near you?

#choosejoy