Chicago Marathon

Drew and I flew into Chicago Friday morning to run the Chicago Marathon Sunday morning. We met my parents at the Marriott downtown in the afternoon and then headed to the expo to pick up our race packets. We spent a lot of time shopping Friday along the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.) During my training this summer I paid myself 50 cents for each mile I ran to spend on a shopping spree in Chicago! All of my money was spent at GAP and The North Face. I also bought a Chicago marathon pink pullover at the expo.

Drew and I at the expo (3 pictures)

The view from our hotel room. We were on the 32nd floor.

Friday evening we walked down Ontario Ave. to Ed Debevic's to eat dinner. It was a 50's diner style restaurant. They were very sarcastic and a bit rude (this atmosphere is what they are know for!)

We went to the Hershey's chocolate store and one of the workers put Drew and I to work in the factory! We got a lot of free chocolate out of being humiliated in front of everyone in the store!

The Hershey kiss and I on the street corner.

The wrote on the wall in Niketown.

A big Chicago Marathon mural was outside Niketown. It had every one's name who was running the marathon on it! Drew and I could not find our names because they were listed according to our bib numbers (not alphabetical). I was not looking through 45,000 names! NO WAY!

Saturday morning we went down to Millennium Park. I am standing in front of the amphitheater.

Drew and I standing in front of a big, metallic bean looking thing called "Cloud Gate." It reflected the city when you looked in it and everything else!)

I took this picture of myself, Drew, and my parents in "Cloud Gate".

Drew and his reflection

My parents and Drew and I in the background.


This water fountain was also in Millennium Park.


My mom and her sisters, Mary and Linda
Saturday evening we ate at Giordanos. They are known for their Chicago style pizza.



Sunday Morning! RACE DAY!
This is the OPEN corral. (The holding area for all the runners to wait to start the race.)
I took my camera with me down to the starting corral. Drew and I walked down there together because it was early and about a mile hike. The race course went right by our hotel, which was the mile 1 marker. I ran with my camera the first mile and then handed it off to my mom under the bridge by the hotel.


For anyone who is a runner or knows anything about running races: the port-a-john line!!!! You gotta go before you run!

Drew stretching

Drew and I in the corral

Looking ahead at the starting gate. Yes...there were 45,000 runners!

Finally...approaching the start line!!! We had to walk awhile after the gun went off to get to the start line.

Drew running in front of me.

All the spectators! They were everywhere! They estimated 1.5 million spectators. They lined the entire 26 mile course!

All the runners ahead of me! They go forever!!!

More spectators! They filled every possible space along the course.

My split tattoo. My goal was to finish in 4 hours and 15 minutes. This tattoo helped me pace myself time wise. I was right on track to finish on time until about mile 21! I hit the wall! I ended up finishing in 4 hours and 31 minutes. It was very warm and the sun was beating down during the last hour of the race. I had to stop and stretch quite a few times. Drew was the same. His goal time was 3 hours and 50 minutes. He ended up finishing in 4 hours and 12 minutes. I will post more about our official finishing times, course pictures, and the drama that went down after the race later.