Chicago Marathon : Official Thread (Page 2)

Originally posted by JennyBlaze22 Woohoo one week till packet pickup-- just a tad excited I'm in Corral D this is my 2nd time running Chicago & my 2nd marathon. Also hoping for a 4:15ish (4:22 last year) but have a secret number as well ....HHaha does everyone have that secret goal number that you just cant speak of ?? PuMPeD, Jenny B*

Ha. I'm sure most people have that secret, "the stars have aligned", goal that they dare not speak of.
I know I certainly do.

A race belt is fine.
On the day of the race, a lot of people will be wearing layers, which they will shed at the start. You'll need to show your bib to the volunteers as you enter your corral. I wore a sweater last year while I was waiting in the corral, I had to lift it up to show my number before being allowed in. Some volunteers take this responsibility very seriously.

The info in the packet is just a precaution against bandit runners, I think.

I've always used a race belt (maybe except once)but I wasn't sure with the tightened security. Yes the other (terrorist) security issues is certainly the white elephant in the room.

YES. Do not expect to be able to move corals whatsoever. Learned that lesson last year. 

oh baby jesus wearing a t-shirt with a tuxedo on it....PLEASE have this weather next Saturday.  just ran 11 miles in 80+ degrees and that just SUCKED!

Nice sucking it up in the 80+ heat. I love the expression you used. Never quite heard of that one before. Gave me a LOL moment. 

it was a terrible butchering of some quotes from Talladega Nights...

Thanks for working behind the scenes and the heads up on early arrival.

Thanks for working behind the scenes and the heads up on early arrival.

Sorry about the knee. Have you tried the Kinesiology tape? I swear by that stuff. 

Haha. Yes. Probably a "taper tantrum"...

http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/taper-traps?page=single

I've run the marathon a bunch of times, and several friends are running this year for the 1st time. Almost all of them have mentioned nagging pains in the past week.

Don't know if this impacts anyone, but I just read that the organizers have banned 3rd party packet pick-ups.
Everyone needs to get their own packet on Friday or Saturday.

I'm with one of the charities and they are leaving the Hilton at 5 a.m. to walk to the charity village, then I believe leaving there around 6- for the first wave, then 7 for the second one. FWIW. 

By "checked in" do you mean dropping your belongings at gear check?

Gear check opens at 5.30am, well before you arrive. It will take you roughly 25-30 minutes to get from Ogilvie/Union (furthest Metra stations, much less if you're arriving at any of the other Metra stations) to Grant Park, so you'll have plenty of time.

Corrals close at 7.20 and 7.45 (wave 1 and 2, respectively). Typically I hunker down in my office, and I don't even walk over to the start of the race until 7.15am.