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| Cousin Jill and I after the race (note the beer instead of water) |
In 2009, I did the Chicago Marathon and it was quite a day. In spite of the sub-freezing temperatures early in the morning, the city of Chicago was there in force to cheer on all of the athletes. Some memorable moments include a group of men performing a dance routine while dressed in wedding dresses and accepting a can of Old Style from a friendly Chicagoan at mile 23 (hey, I was in some pain!)
I also had family there cheering me on, and luckily they were in spots where I really could have used a lift. It's funny - I definitely tried to look like I was running strong and feeling good as I passed them, but the post race photos told a different story. Special thanks to the Orland Park crew for all of their encouragement. It definitely pays off to bring your own cheering section if possible. Trust me, you'll need it at some point, but even if you don't have someone to cheer for you you, the crowd will root for you as will other runners, so be sure to write your name on your arm or shirt so people know whose name to shout.
A few shout outs of my own: My cousin Jill (pictured above) has made it a goal of hers to run the Chicago marathon this year and is doing so for a wonderful charity; the American Cancer Society. She has completed a number of races and will be realizing her goal of completing a marathon on October 7th. More information about her and her goal can be found here: Jill's Fundraising Page
Also, my friend Amber (who I ran with in 2009) is organizing a team to run the Chicago Marathon for Mercy Home. Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is a children's charity dedicated to providing a solution for at-risk children in Chicago. If you would like to still get into this sold out race, you can do so by joining Amber's team and helping the kids of Chicago. Join Amber's team! http://www.mercyhome.org/marathon
Drive slow
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