Pat, and Jim - yay - I'm looking forward to having y'all in the group - always makes the first few miles fly by!
Jen - yes, the course is VERY different from the past two years. I HIGHLY encourage anyone doing the race to download the interactive map that John has placed on the site. You'll see that we're starting out immediately going South - we do not go North at all now, and we do not go through town anymore. That means two things - first, you won't be protected from the early sunrise by the buildings - and second, less of a stroll through our business districts....
Here's my analysis of the new course (but John's course talk would be the best..)
The new course begins in Grant Park and heads South onto Lakeshore Drive - to 18th. We meander around the parking lot at Soldier Field at Mile 2 (the one South of the stadium) and head into McCormick Place. This is where the inside toilets can be found if you're desperate (hopefully) OR you'll have your first bathroom stop at Mile 2.5, just after McCormick Place, where there will also be gatorade and water.
We continue South on the inside lakefront path until Mile 3.25, when we cross over 18th street, and move down the entrance ramp to Southbound LakeShore Drive. Welcome to LakeShore! At Mile 4.5, we hit our next water/gatorade/porta stop, still heading South on LSD. (Roughly 39th street). At 51st (Mile 6.5) we will hit our next gatorade/water stop.
We will be on LakeShore until 53rd street, where we jump off, make a hairpin turn and find ourselves on a lovely path. We're approaching Mile 7 now, and here we DO start to share space with Northbound runners. We will be heading down the Northbound side of LakeShore drive now, in the far East lane....fun stuff! There is water and gatorade at
Mile 7 (a shared stop which we'll hit again on the Northbound side)....we make the turn just past the Beach House at 57th street, and now we're heading home!
It's all path running from here - just head North and enjoy the gorgeous views of the beaches to your right and the skyline up ahead...
The next water stop is
MILE 9.25. All path until Mile 10, where we will have a bit of rough terrain...another water stop at 10.25. Then we're running through beautiful Burnham Park - Daniel Burnham's vision for the city of Chicago and site of the World's Fair. The view of the waterfront is gorgeous here, and a lot of work has recently been done to improve the lakefront...smile and enjoy it!
At Mile 11.5, we're approaching another Gatorade/water stop (this is 31st street) and we are usually greeted by the smell of great Ribs being made at the 31st street beach house! Bring your cash or attempt to get by without indulging
We continue up through the park through Mile 12, where we pass the Chicago Firefighter and Paramedic Memorial park, honoring Chicago's fallen firefighters and paramedics. You can understand as you run by why folks would want to remember their loved ones here, in one of the most beautiful spots we have to offer
Mile 12 also brings us to the shade and the large fountain at McCormick place - if you're hot and sweaty, you might get lucky enough to catch the mist off the large waterfall to your left. Enjoy the shade, here because we're getting close! Soldier Field appears on our left and we're in the home stretch!
We pass Mile 13 while next to the marina - and at about the endzone of the field! The last water stop is here - and then it's a mini left, and a scoot around in FRONT of the Shedd Aquarium! We'll pass one of my favorite statues ever - "Man with a Fish" - which is gorgeous! - and the Shedd, home to some 22,000 fish and marine wildlife - love it! Then it's down under LakeShore drive, and through the best finishing underpass in the world - more runners go through this chute every year, and they sing and cry and laugh and it's AWESOME to be a part of a race where we can do it...
(Yes, whoever is left with me will be smiling here, darnit). Then it's up our ONLY hill (mini - very small) coming out of the shoot, and into the rocking finish, where we will kick some serious bootay.
Okay, i got a little excited just then, but part of what I want is to experience the gorgeous lakefront for all it has to offer! I promise to be part tour guide, part cheerleader, and hopefully set the right pace!
I'll see you all on Sunday! Drink up, rest up, and bring it!
Sallie
The map is here: walkjogrun.net/cdc