CHICAGO Distance Classic -- August 12, 2007

[kareneast]

Gino's for lunch sounds good to us. We were planning on getting to the expo around 10-10:30, so we will try & change that to get there earlier. If not save us a couple of seats at Gino's & we'll meet all of you there.

Our plan for after lunch is to go to the Sears Tower for a birds eye view of the city & then whatever. If anyone wants to join us....the more the merrier. We would also love to meet up with everyone for dinner. Has there been any thoughts as to where to meet for dinner?

I can't believe a week from tomorrow we will be on our way out there.

 

[eeyore45]

IF anyone wants to do water tower place - for shopping - they have a good food court - and then the Hancock building has AWESOME views - to save the fee to view - go up the elevator for coctails - the lounge (esp the bathrooms!!) has magnificant views!! (THe food court has beer too btw!)

Hancock website: http://www.signatureroom.com/

OOOps that's the signature room, its kinda pricey, but really nice! You can get off their elevator and go around to the other side for the lounge btw..

http://www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com/

I still would love to jump on this race and meet!!

Here's Water Tower, check out the link for dining -well eta, they dont show all the places, but its on the mezzanine level - so you enter go up the main escalator, then go across and down to the mezzanine level - you enter, they help seat your party, then everyone goes and gets their own food, some healthy salads and pastas, cheeseburgers, plenty of Mexican choices - stir fry place....
http://www.shopwatertower.com/html/index10.asp

 

[Jen117]

OK everyone. We will just be pulling into Chicago at 11:00, so I don't think we can meet you all for lunch. I am so sad. I would love to do dinner tho. I will be hitting the expo Saturday afternoon if anyone is around.

Also, are we planning a Sunday morning meet? I will assume all the Hilton stayers will be walking over. If not, I will stalk you and follow you to the start!!!

 

[chimera]

We're a yes for anything on Sat and especially the walk over on Sunday morning!

 

[magslite]

Lunch sounds great.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Sounds like this is going to be a great Saturday and Sunday!

BTW, Cam, you can list me as staying with Anne and her DH at Pat and her DH's home.

I've heard that John Hancock bldg has a better view than Sears Tower. Again though, I don't have a preference, anything will be wonderful since I've never done either!

Seems like dinner is going to be decided on the go?

This is going to be fun!

Oooh and packing, soon I've got to get that together.

 

[chimera]

Yikes...only 5 more days! I have the cell phone list updated with everyone that's PM'd me. If anyone else wants to be on the list or didn't get it and should have, please let me know!

 

[skfulkers]

Good news--Krista and I will be in Chicago next weekend! We found a suitable kennel for Hines, and that was really the only thing holding us back. So we're driving up Friday after work, staying at a Hampton Inn outside Chicago on Friday night, then getting up early to head into the city and check into the Hilton and hit the expo.

Is there still room in the lunch plan at Ginos for two more people? Are we tentatively planning on 11am? Krista and I are definitely both up for dinner with anyone as well. And count us in for the group walking over to the starting line together on Sunday morning.

We're so excited! Now we need to get online and figure out what we absolutely CAN'T MISS while we're in Chicago.

Oh, here's a question for Pat or anyone else familiar with Chicago traffic patters--will we hit any crazy traffic on the I-90/94 corridor heading into the city from the south side around 8:00am on Saturday morning? And what about heading back down south on Sunday afternoon? I was debating leaving our car at one of the southern EL stations and taking the train into town so that we could avoid any traffic, but I'm thinking it might not be too bad on the weekends. Any thought?

Can't wait to see you guys there!

Steve

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Steve, I am not from Chi-town, but when we were there on St. Pat's Day to see the river turn green, we drove in with my frined Liz, parked in some garage near the theater that Wicked is playing and walked about from there. We managed with that traffic and I would suppose it would be managable Saturday. Just don't expect to have fast travel. It will be traffic. MY DH said there is construction on 90/94 so be prepared for construction traffic too. (hth)

Any Chicago people have to add travel info too?

Again, thanks Mel for managing the Cell phone list.

 

[Jen117]

OK, I may or may not be at Gino's. If we are, we will drive there on our way in. I will call someone on the list that will be there to let you know if you need to save us a spots. Otherwise we will be at the expo Saturday afternoon and open for dinner. Also... I am still stalking you all for a walk over on Sunday morning!!!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Steve, I'll ask my DH about traffic - I have no clue!

The weather forecast for Sunday - mostly sunny with a high of 87!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Oh boy, just checked the extended forecast for Chicago, and now Sunday is scheduled to have isolated thunderstorms and a high of 84. Good news is that there is plenty of time between now and then for it to change. I've never walked in the rain and don't really want to start now!!

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Okay, now that I know we are really, really, for real really going to Chicago, I have to start making plans!! What is everyone's projected pace/finish time? I've never got the pleasure of running a race with anyone before, I'm kind of hoping to find someone around my pace!

I plan on doing r5/w1 with a pace in the upper 10's, lower 11's and finishing around 2:20-2:25. I did 12 miles yesterday in 2:15 doing 4/1, so I'm thinking in a race setting, my projected race pace is a pretty good guesstimate.

I'm suppopsed to be treating this as a training run, but I know I'm going to end up racing it.

Can't wait to see you all on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

...I still would love to jump on this race and meet!!...

So, are we going to see you?


Kristi, sorry, you know I'm not at your pace or even close. I'll be at the back.

No storms, no storms...

 

[kareneast]

3 days from now we will be on our way to Chicago.

Either the Sears Tower or Hancock Building are fine with us. John was thinking the Sears Tower since it is the tallest building in the world.

We will be parking near the Hilton on race morning (found an outdoor parking lot about a block & a half away from the Hilton so we don’t have to worry about John’s truck fitting in a parking deck, so we will park there for both the expo & the race). Would love to meet up with everyone for the walk over to the start. Has anyone thought about what time they want to leave the Hilton for the walk over?

Krista & Steve – Glad you were able to find a suitable kennel for Hines.

Mel – Thanks for doing the cell phone list.

Jen – I hope you are able to stop by Gino’s on your way to the Hilton.

Pat – Thanks for the updates on the weather. I just hope the humidity isn’t too bad.

Krista – You are way too fast for John & I. Originally I was hoping to beat 3 hours, but after I started having the problems with my hip I was thinking I would be happy to just finish & get my penguin medal. My training has really suffered lately do to the hip issue, the high heat & humidity, & asthma issues. We were thinking we might start out following the 3:30 pace group & then adjust from there. Don't want to take any chances of getting hurt with marathon training starting in a few weeks.

Sandy – Have you decided to join us????????

We were able to arrange for my mom’s cousin to pick up my mom & dad at the Hilton earlier, so we will now be at the expo for around 9am or so. Can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday!

 

[Maherae]

Hello, CDCers!!
Yay!! I'm going to Chicago! The podiatrist put soft inserts in my race shoes and gave me the ok for CDC. I've been wearing the shoes during the day to get used to the inserts. Since the pace is slow, I'm hoping it won''t be a problem. I walked a slow 20 minutes today on the treadmill and survived. I will definitely be with the "balloon cuties" pacing group!

Krista and Stephen, so glad you are able to join the group! Looking forward to seeing you and the other speedies at the FINISH!

Jen, hang in there! You'll get a WISH group "fix" soon! Anne

 

[WDWFAN9]

Hello, CDCers!!
Yay!! I'm going to Chicago! The podiatrist put soft inserts in my race shoes and gave me the ok for CDC. I've been wearing the shoes during the day to get used to the inserts. Since the pace is slow, I'm hoping it won''t be a problem. I walked a slow 20 minutes today on the treadmill and survived. I will definitely be with the "balloon cuties" pacing group!

Krista and Stephen, so glad you are able to join the group! Looking forward to seeing you and the other speedies at the FINISH!

Jen, hang in there! You'll get a WISH group "fix" soon! Anne

Yippee!!!!!!!!! Anne, I am so glad the doc gave you a . DH and I will be with you in the slow but sure group. I think we need a penguin smilie!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

...I think we need a penguin smilie!!

Look in the mirror! (I almost inserted my pic here but thought better about that one.)

I've just finished loading all the cell #'s into my phone. It won't be long! Dress for the heat!

 

[keenercam]

YAY!!! Anne is coming and waddling with us!!! (Anne, I hope you aren't insulted by the characterization, sweetie! )

Mel -- Thank you so much for the cell phone list!

Everyone travel safely. Not sure I'll get back here much as work is crazy this week leading up to my Friday out of the office.

Pray for good weather everyone!

 

[wtpclc]

Things have been really crazy. My last day was yesterday, but I still put 26 hours in this qweek.

I cannot wait to see everybody adn am so glad that Anne adn Krista adn Steve have been cleared to come!!!

So, I know my dh would kill me fro praying for rain. SOunds like the rest of you will too. I'll stop and just pray for cool. ;-)