My first time running Chicago Marathon on my quest to all 6 world majors.

It’s a big race with 40 000 runners flying in from all over the world,but pre race logistics-such as security checks,bag drop offs,numbers of portaloos,water,gatorades top ups and anything else you might possibly think of was there.  

I was in a wave 2,corral G with a start at 8am and it took me almost 14 minutes to cross the start,which is not bad for this volume of runners. From then on we were cheered on nonstop by lovely people of Chicago,crowd support you only experience in London and New York. In fact I didn’t even use my headphones as listening to the encouraging  crowds was enough to get you around.:) As for the course I probably enjoyed first half a bit more to the second half,mainly because the skyscrapers provided us with some shade from scorching sun of 26 degrees!!! There were plenty of water and Gatorade stops on route,every mile or so in paper cups,which I absolutely detest,especially during later stages of a very hot marathon. They are never full enough and you have to get a few just to get enough liquid in,wasting valuable time. In the last 6 miles or so you could also help yourself to bananas and some gels. I loved water spray stations which provided us with a little cool down for few minutes and  we could definitely do with more then 2 sponge stations on route also! The last couple of miles went in a bit of a haze for me as I felt so overheated and hot and no amount of Gatorade could clench my thirst at that point so I was almost relieved to see a climb(yes there’s a climb at 26 miles!!!)  up to get me to that finishing line to get my well deserved medal and a free pint you get at the end.:) 

All and all it’s a lovely marathon to run,in a beautiful city of Chicago and apart from the heat I loved every minute of it.:)