Chicago Marathon 2010: Run Run Run
Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 1:31PM Just over a week ago, Bossyboots ran his very first marathon - here in the Windy City, his hometown! The Chicago Marathon is one of the world's major marathons. It's a Boston Marathon qualifier, and the city literally shuts down because there are hundreds of thousands of people crowding the streets. The race caps out at 45,000 runners, and sells out within a matter of weeks every single year.
As a briefer, check out this cool YouTube vid that shows the Chicago course from the runner's perspective:
I get tired just watching that video!!
Anyway, I took this year mostly off from endurance running, so I was excited to be a spectator this time!
Our day got started EARLY. 4:30a to be exact. Painful.
People that try to drive downtown on Marathon Day are kind of ridiculous, since many roads are closed, and you are dealing with literally hundreds of thousands of pedestrians. Anybody you see downtown is walking to the starting corrals. The subway is full of runners and drunk college kids - which often turns into hilarious people watching.
Bossyboots ran the marathon with one of his best buds, and then us two girlfriends were set up to meet them at miles 2, 13, 17, 22, and the finish line. We deposited the guys at their starting corral and took off to snag a spectator spot at mile 2.
The sidelines are PACKED, but the air is eerily silent. We're all waiting for the runners!
Finally, you can hear the roar of the crowds start to float down the street, and you know the wheelchair start is rounding the curve....
Ten minutes of quiet, and you can hear screaming, shouting, cheering for the Elite runners... I can't even tell you how shocking it was to see these guys streak down the street. They are SO ungodly fast. They run 4:45 minute to 5 minute miles... at marathon pace. This was definitely one of the highlights of my day, as a spectator. When I'm IN the race, I don't get to see them - this was actually my first time to watch Elites run. There are runner jokes about Elites - for instance, the funniest thing I overheard was one "average" runner joking about how his marathon race goal is to finish the half before the Elites finish the full. The funny thing is - these runners tend to finish the full in about two hours!!! Sheez. Elites also tend to be wearing the least clothing - it's a rule or somethin'.
Then came the crushing push of everybody else. Runners of all abilities come to Chicago, so you get to see a huge mix of peeps. There are serious runners, people in costumes, people running to fundraise, young people, old people, first-timers, and people that run the Chi Marathon every year. It's truly one of the sports events of the entire year.
Unfortunately, one tough thing about the Chi marathon is that you never know what the weather will be like. Last year, it was FREEZING!!!! A couple years before that, the race was infamously shut down due to high heat - lots of people went to the hospital, including my good friend J-Rock, who is an experienced runner. It was really, really awful and so dangerous. I can't even imagine training so hard and then getting derailed by weather. A good end to my friend J-Rock's story is that she ran the 2009 Chicago Marathon and owned it! You just never know what will happen here.
As you can see by the photo below... we had a hot year this year. Running in temps over 70 really sucks a lot - not only that, but it can get dangerous: heatstroke, exhaustion, dehydration, you name it.
Bossyboots said that by the time the runners made it to Chinatown (mile 22), it was like a funeral procession. Almost all the runners were walking and feeling defeated - at that point the temps were over 85 and the race alert system was at RED, the highest and most dangerous level. Temps were at 88 the year they shut the race down in 2007.
Bossyboots and his friend Dave reminded themselves that they only had a few miles left, and pushed it to the end, running in to the finish line.
Look how excited this guy is to be finishing! You could literally feel the relief coming off the runners. The hot weather made this a rough day.
Bossyboots looks a lot better in this photo than he felt! He was definitely limping and couldn't wait for an ice bath!
Watching the Chicago Marathon this year was so fun - I loved being a spectator! Here are a few helpful hints if you have friends running an endurance race, and you want to support them!
HINTS FOR SPECTATOR SUCCESS:
1. First of all, if you have a friend or family member who is competing in a long race, definitely get out there to support them in person!!! Those cheers and encouragement aren't just icing - they're necessary. I can't emphasize this enough! Cheer for your friend, but also cheer for everyone else. This is a totally normal thing to do - the runners won't think it's weird. In fact, you'll probably see some of the competitors with their names taped or written on their shirts - that's because they want you to call out to them "Hey Joan, you're doing GREAT!" If they can, you'll likely get some "thank yous" from the runners in return!
2. Race Day is a long day for the athlete, but it's a long day for you, too! Make sure to eat a substantial breakfast. Marathon Morning, I had french toast and potatoes. Know that your runner will most likely have their own breakfast regimen and probably won't eat what you're eating. When I'm running, I eat a Power Bar and a banana. However, YOU aren't running, so go nuts with the yummy breakfast foods!!! ;)
3. Create your spectating plan at least a couple days in advance of the race and communicate that plan to your runner. Bossyboots and I had sat down and worked out the best places for me to try to meet him along the course. He knew exactly where to look for me. Also, plan out when you'll need to walk or take public transit, etc from point to point. Make sure they know which side of the street you'll be on - Bossyboots knew that I would always be on his lefthand side.
4. Be flexible and don't get disheartened if things get messed up. One of our meeting sites was supposed to happen at mile 22, in Chinatown. Our train to Chinatown was a total FAIL. It took us 25 minutes to travel two stops (it should have only taken us 10 minutes.) We had to drop that meeting site and just go straight to the finish line because we knew we wouldn't get to mile 22 before our runners. Thankfully, our friend Goober was spectating in Chinatown, so Bossyboots DID have a friend there to cheer him on anyhow! She even ran with Bossyboots for a little ways because she could see how much trouble he was having with the heat. <3
5. Be respectful to other spectators, and especially the runners. See this lady below? She drove me nuts!! She kept inching her way off the sidewalk (where the spectators were supposed to stay) and moving herself INTO the street (where the runners were trying to run!) Ugh. It started an avalanche of hundreds of other spectators nudging further and further into the street, and there were no officials to drive them back. Yes, you are there to cheer YOUR runner, but remember there are thousands of other people trying to run 26.2 miles. Their morning is tough enough, don't make it harder.
6. Also respect camera and sign etiquette. Don't stand in the street with your camera held high waiting for your runner. Stay back so that you don't obscure others' sightlines. When you spot your runner, lean out to get your shot, and get right back in line. When you are dealing with a crowded race like the Chicago Marathon, everybody has to work together to maintain that positive environment that the runners so appreciate. Same thing for signs - don't knock other people with them or hold them in a way that blocks people out.
7. You've been up since 4:30a. Starbucks - in the evil Venti size - is A1 necessary.
I have to say, spectating was so so fun! It got me excited to run the Chicago Marathon NEXT year though! I can't wait to figure out my 2011 race schedule.
What about you? What are your best spectating tips??
Advice, Bossyboots, Running
Reader Comments (4)
What a great post! We cheered our friend on at mile 16.5... we only had to walk outside our front door on Taylor Street :) The heat was UNreal, I was hot just STANDING still!
great spectator recap and tips! and thanks for the shout-out ;) glad thomas made it through and finished strong on an extremely tough day!
Yay, Bossyboots!!! That is so great. Those elite runners are amazing!
That video is awesome!! I am so happy for Bossyboots - what a great job!