Race Report: 13.1 Chicago Half Marathon 2011

When: Saturday, June 4, 2011
Where: Chicago, IL
# of finishers: 130 (officially), couple thousand (unofficially)
Garmin time: 2:39:27
Chip time: n/a
# of potty breaks: zero!!!
Overall place: n/a
Gender place: n/a
Age Group place: n/a

extra stats:
temperature at start (7:13am): 78*
temperature at 8:51am: 84* (red flagged)
temperature at 9:15am: 86* (black flagged)
humidity that morning: high. really high. can’t find a number, but it was high.
gallons of water i drank during race: at least 1
gallons of water i splashed on myself during race: 3…million
gallons of powerade drank: half gallon or slightly less
number of times i splashed water all over my phone: 8
amount of fun i had: infinite

I think all those stats tell you how it went. I was really hoping for the stars to align and let me have a great race and make it in around the 2:15 mark. I knew it wasn’t going to happen and I didn’t want to admit it. Until the day before when I read an email from the race director stating that the extreme heat conditions are less than ideal and they were adding aid stations, a misting station, iced drinks at an aid station, and handing out ice cold towels at mile 7. It was then I had to admit to myself that I wasn’t going to PR and I decided to have some fun. And fun was had.

The course is an out and back starting and ending at the South Shore Cultural Center in Jackson Park. The SSCC is AWESOME. President Obama got married there. And it’s on the lake and pretty and I want to go back. We started out running through Jackson Park on the street, then went to a trail, then ran through a park behind the Museum of Science and Industry, then finally made it’s way to the Lake Front Path. We headed north to 40th-ish to turn back around and bring it on home.

I took it slow. I brought my handheld water bottle. I walked whenever I felt like it and ran when I felt like. I walked at every water station, drinking at least one cup of water and one cup of Powerade (usually more). I also splashed water on myself during the aid stations. And can I just say the Powerade during races is SO MUCH BETTER than Gatorade. It’s not like drinking sugar, no need to water it down, and my tummy doesn’t hurt. I got passed by a lot of people in the first 5 miles and then I was passing people left and right. So many people were burnt out and walking and looked miserable. Maybe it’s just me but I had a GREAT time. I had FUN. I embraced the heat and listened to my body, which I know is hard for runners to do. I finished strong, I ran the entire last mile and there were far more walkers in the last mile than runners.

Overall, 13.1 gets 5 million thumbs up from me. From the way they handled the heat, the insane number of volunteers, the course, the entertainment, the race support, the location, the medals, the awesome start corrals and waves, the post race party was professional and very well managed. They still handed out medals even though the race was called. The volunteers and staff were still out. The photographers were still out. The Windy City Challenge is still on. And then they gave all runners who crossed the start line a code for 50% off next year’s registration. You can bet I used that sucker. $35 plus $5 of fees. Even if I end up not running for whatever reason I won’t feel bad. This is the first race I stayed at the post race party. First race I signed up for again so quickly.

And now it’s time for the awesome race photos…

 

somewhere in mile 11                 very happy michelob ultra turned into bud light

not sure where this was. 9ish.                 10.5 or so.

my shorts and bra match the bib.            forefoot strike! around mile 4 or so.

finishing! wish i wasn’t being blocked.      finishers photo. i’m soaked.

 

i think this is my favorite!                        mile 11.5. walking in the sun.

finish line fuel.                              my fav sign. i think he’s at all Chicago races

cold water. really cold Lake Michigan Water. felt amazing.

 

things that make me happy: awesome medals, bright blue bibs, bud light

 

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary race entry for 13.1 Chicago in exchange for a review of my honest opinion. I can guarantee that everything I wrote are my own thoughts and views on the race. I promise, this race was awesome and I loved it. I received no compensation for this review.