Start was hard, because we were immediatley funneled into a very narrow section of road (one lane). Spent a lot of time trying to get ahead of people. For being such a flat town this run hit probably as many hills as you could, not much by most standards but for Chicago there were hills. Lots of cotton wood blowing also looked like a snow storm. Zoo was cool although all I go to see was the polar bear, Jen said she saw the camels. Right at the finish 3 thirteenish guys passed me whiched got a little under my skin. In the shoot (there were no less than 8, all empty) this guy came in behind me as starts in with move, I've got to go to the bathroom. So I told him to go ahead but he didn't want to pass me in the shoot. Anyway I was pooped so I told him just to go, I was going to walk. All in all fun race, but I was a little disappointed in my time. I had run a time trial on the track inside the gym a month ago and managed to do 7:08s or so I thought. Could be I miss counted laps (they are short 11 to the mile), or the added heat, hills, and humidity slowed me down a bit.

I think that I probably should have started closer to the front, it sounds funny to me to say that, because I am not that fast. But I was passing people until nearly the two mile mark.

Walked back with Jen and my dad to find my mom who was doing the walk.


The crowds and the hills


only about the race itself was I had finished my bottle of water after the race, went to get another and was told only one per person. I understand limiting the bottles, but at least then have some cups of water somewhere, it was one of the hotter days we have had yet.