You better be fast....
Written: Jun 22 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, Flat, Great Crowd Support
Cons: CCCCOLD!!!
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| Mattog's Full Review: LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon |
...otherwise you are likely to freeze to death out there!!!
Last October, 1999, was my first visit to Chicago and my first Chicago Marathon. First, I have to say that the city of Chicago is a great place to visit and is a great host city for a big marathon.
I knew that there were likely to be upwards of 25,000 people at the start of this one and that I wasn't going to run a fast time because of an injury I was carrying so I had made my mind up to jog this one, soak up the atmosphere, and have fun.
At the expo the day before the lines for last minute sign ups were huge and by the end of the day over 30,000 people had numbers. The expo was by far the biggest and best I have ever been to at any marathon. There were hundreds of stalls and lots and lots of free give aways...not to mention some very nice cow sculptures in running shoes.
One of the best features at the expo was a huge TV screen that took you through the course in 5 minutes! Not even Khannouchi was that fast!
At 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the race I arrived in Grant Park by Lake Michigan in the dark to warm up. BAD IDEA...it was 27 degrees, brrrrrrrrrrrr. Luckily I had watched the forecast in the hotel the night before and knew that a cold front was coming in so I wore a few layers of old t-shirts and my oldest Notre Dame sweatshirt (which is now in the Chicago River). It wasn't enough however, and this California boy was frozen to the bone!
As if on Q, the sun came up over the lake just as the starter fired his gun and we were off and running. The course takes you through downtown Chicago and many of the city's ethnic neighborhoods; Greektown, Chinatown, even the aptly named Boystown where Chicago's gay running club always has the best cheering section along the course.
The course is pancake flat and super fast if you can get a clean start and avoid the masses. In fact that day a diminutive Moroccan named Khalid Kannouchi destroyed the world record, obviously the cold didn't bother him too much.
The volunteers along the course and the spectator support is absolutely fantastic. They are 10 deep on the sidewalk for almost the whole course and really give you a lift when you need it.
The organizers do a fantastic job with this race, but as always there could be a few more porta potties :-). At the finish once you have given back your Champion Chip you get a mylar blanket, a nice medal, and a big frothy cup of Sam Adams! I LOVE THIS RACE!!!!
To end a perfect day I went out on the town with some friends for a real Chicago steak followed by many more beers in The Cubby Bear and Harry Carey's.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Mattog
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Member: Matt R.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 72
Trusted by: 37 members
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