Chicago Marathon Sun, Oct 9th 2016.

opus

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Registration information has just opened for this. Same as last year.

Guaranteed Entry:

Time qualifier
Men who have run a verifiable sub 3:15:00 marathon and women who have run a verifiable sub 3:45:00 marathon on or after January 1, 2015.

Otherwise a lottery:

The lottery entry period will be open for six weeks starting in March. The dates and times for the lottery entry period will be available in February.

Ok I stole all the above from blockic's thread last year Just entered it myself using a time qualifier from Boston so committed now, anyone else considering it?

Bez Bing

Applications for non-guaranteed entries will be available from March 15 to April 12.
I'm gonna enter the lottery for this, so fingers crossed.

opus

Email showed up this morning

Congratulations! Your application for a guaranteed entry to the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon has been approved.

Hope you the good news as well in the next few weeks. Must admit I'm not sure what sort of numbers apply for it?

scheister

since ballot results are out today might aswell bring this thread back to life.

Is there many waiting on the ballot results

paulers06

Application approved!!! email arrived at 10.27

However, I'm running Berlin in Sept so will defer it to 2017

adrian522

You have to pay for this year and 2017 to do that as far as I know?

paulers06

Jeebus, just saw that. Cowboys!!

Bez Bing

Got accepted myself today. New York last year, Chicago this year.
Boston 2017 to make it a hatrick!

scheister

Got in myself will be my 1st of the majors

dodgeyankle

im in.. need redemption after last year. 4h01m28sec.. 25 degree day.. freak weather for October. hopefuly better weather this year and well under the 4 hours for a pb...
possibly the best organised marathon around...

Ruu

Doing Berlin and New York this year so enough money spent!

Very enjoyable last year and did get fairly warm towards the end (I came in at 3:50). Quick exit from the finish line, food bag if you want it, medal, heat blanket and/or cold cloth and out. I hate being stuck in there! I stayed right across the street from finish at the Congress Plaza Hotel, about 1.5 miles from the expo I think.

Bez Bing

Any other suggestions on the best areas to stay?

Was it not worth while hanging around the finish area?

scheister

Was looking at sport travel international as a non runner got my race entry all ready. They are charging €475 if u want to get a race entry though then. I think I paid €190 for my entry in the ballot. Surely no one will pay that

dodgeyankle

Ruu wrote: »

Doing Berlin and New York this year so enough money spent!

Very enjoyable last year and did get fairly warm towards the end (I came in at 3:50). Quick exit from the finish line, food bag if you want it, medal, heat blanket and/or cold cloth and out. I hate being stuck in there! I stayed right across the street from finish at the Congress Plaza Hotel, about 1.5 miles from the expo I think.

I got dropped off in the city that morning right by the park, and we hung out in the congress lobby, used hte bathroom, stayed warm etc before we headed over to the start..
I had no choice but to wait around the finish line, as I was waiting for my brother to finish and he was a hour behind..
I had to search for some shade, found some trees in the corner and laid down there. was a band on, bbq , beer etc...but all I wanted was a couch or bed to be honest..

hotels are way over priced. try air b and b.. 300 a night for hotels.. crazy.. that was before the lottery, prob more now..

Bez Bing

Well lads how is the training going? Everyone got sorted with flights and accom?

scheister

Bez Bing wrote: »

Well lads how is the training going? Everyone got sorted with flights and accom?

flight were a lot more decent then i expected flying out Friday back Monday €530 return.

noelearly

Think I've read somewhere that the corrals are being assigned today. Hoping to be among the 3.15 pacers. Think that it corral B.

opus

Bez Bing wrote: »

Well lads how is the training going? Everyone got sorted with flights and accom?

Just booked my flights today in fact! Flying out the morning of Fri 7th so should get there around lunchtime all going well. Going to sleeping on a friend's floor for a few days around the marathon & then heading to DC to visit a friend who's moved there for a year or two.

Bez Bing

I see I have been assigned to corral D. Just sent them an email requesting to be moved to corral B based on my most recent 1/2 time.

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

I see I have been assigned to corral D. Just sent them an email requesting to be moved to corral B based on my most recent 1/2 time.

If you have done a half marathon under 1.35 they will change it for you. Don't think you get an email saying that they have reassigned your corral, it's just a case of checking the athlete centre. I got Corral B just hope they don't reassign me at a later date.

Bez Bing

Yeah have a 1:30 half so hopefully they move me, would like to be in with the 3:20 pacers

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

Yeah have a 1:30 half so hopefully they move me, would like to be in with the 3:20 pacers

I'm sure you will. Would it not be possible to still go with the 3.20 pacer or is the time gap between starts too long.

Bez Bing

noelearly wrote: »

Bez Bing wrote: »

Yeah have a 1:30 half so hopefully they move me, would like to be in with the 3:20 pacers

I'm sure you will. Would it not be possible to still go with the 3.20 pacer or is the time gap between starts too long.

Not so much the time between corals as we all go off at the same time, it's weaving through all the people to get to the pacers. Much easier if I'm in the same corral with them and others going the same pace.

scheister

noelearly wrote: »

If you have done a half marathon under 1.35 they will change it for you. Don't think you get an email saying that they have reassigned your corral, it's just a case of checking the athlete centre. I got Corral B just hope they don't reassign me at a later date.

where does it tell you the corral. Had a look at the athletes centre and cant see it any where

noelearly

scheister wrote: »

where does it tell you the corral. Had a look at the athletes centre and cant see it any where

Just google Chicago marathon start corrals and it will give you a link to the runners page. That's how I found it.

scheister

noelearly wrote: »

Just google Chicago marathon start corrals and it will give you a link to the runners page. That's how I found it.

Corral E.

Have a HM PB 1:41 may see can i get pushed into D looking to do a sub 3.30 that day

Bez Bing

Just released they moved me into corral B, last couple of weeks training has been spotty enough but hopefully the 6 or so weeks will go smoothly.

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

Just released they moved me into corral B, last couple of weeks training has been spotty enough but hopefully the 6 or so weeks will go smoothly.

I'm in B myself, is that the final placements now. Never received email or anything like that.

Bez Bing

I didn't receive an email but according the website corral assignments are final since Tuesday Aug 23rd.

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

I didn't receive an email but according the website corral assignments are final since Tuesday Aug 23rd.

That's good hoping to go with 3.20 pacer or if pushing it the 3.15. Submitted my 1.32 half marathon time on the deadline.

opus

Do they send you an email with your corral or is it just a matter of checking the page with the different times and assignments?

It's all getting real now, I've two half marathons in Sept so will decide after those what sort of run I should aim for in the windy city.

Bez Bing

opus wrote: »

Do they send you an email with your corral or is it just a matter of checking the page with the different times and assignments?

It's all getting real now, I've two half marathons in Sept so will decide after those what sort of run I should aim for in the windy city.

I haven't received an email from them anyway, I though I read somewhere that they mail a package to international runners.

Re: the race, my training in August has been less than ideal so trying to get some long stuff done now before the taper so will probably forgo racing a half in favor of an extra longer run.

Out of interest Opus when is your last 1/2? Will you race it flat out?

opus

Bez Bing wrote: »

Out of interest Opus when is your last 1/2? Will you race it flat out?

Afraid haven't done any race flat out since a 5k & a 10k last year

The two halfs are on Sept 10th & Sept 18th. My plan is stick to the 1:30 pace group for the first one & maybe (all things going well) push on a little in the last 5k. If (and it's a big if!) that works out ok then I'll try the same samething at the second one but with the 1:25 pace group instead.

Time will tell

noelearly

Been quiet on here recently, not long to go now. Has anybody received information recently on the expo or indeed info bid numbers etc etc. I seen on Twitter yesterday that we should expect an email today with details I haven't received anything as of yet.

Nursing the dreaded head cold, always seem to pick something up during the taper.

scheister

noelearly wrote: »

Been quiet on here recently, not long to go now. Has anybody received information recently on the expo or indeed info bid numbers etc etc. I seen on Twitter yesterday that we should expect an email today with details I haven't received anything as of yet.

Nursing the dreaded head cold, always seem to pick something up during the taper.

Got an email from them just after lunch today. Check ur junk mail maybe

Bez Bing

Yeah got mine this morning too. Training has gone well the last few weeks but still cursing a two week gap in the middle due to combination of work/holidays and a dodgy calf.

noelearly

scheister wrote: »

Got an email from them just after lunch today. Check ur junk mail maybe

No nothing in the junk box either, I'm sure it will be sent along soon enough.

opus

noelearly wrote: »

No nothing in the junk box either, I'm sure it will be sent along soon enough.

Same as the rest, got the email yesterday as well.

I'm doing a reverse taper as was laid up with a dose of something for ~1.5 weeks, got back over 40 miles last week and aiming for something over 60 this one.

Wasn't able to raise any enthusiasm during the Summer to chase a time goal for Chicago so just a tourist marathon for me

noelearly

opus wrote: »

Same as the rest, got the email yesterday as well.

I'm doing a reverse taper as was laid up with a dose of something for ~1.5 weeks, got back over 40 miles last week and aiming for something over 60 this one.

Wasn't able to raise any enthusiasm during the Summer to chase a time goal for Chicago so just a tourist marathon for me

Got my registration email this morning, over 60 a week before, fair play. This is the hardest I've trained so far for a marathon so hopefully all comes right. The dreaded Jet lag hopefully won't have an adverse effect.

Bez Bing

So what corral is everyone in and what are the targets?

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

So what corral is everyone in and what are the targets?

Corral B for me still deciding on what pacer to go with. 3.10, 3.15 or 3.20. Felt really good a few weeks back but every run is a chore now and this flu still hasn't fully gone.

What about yourself?

Bez Bing

noelearly wrote: »

Corral B for me still deciding on what pacer to go with. 3.10, 3.15 or 3.20. Felt really good a few weeks back but every run is a chore now and this flu still hasn't fully gone.

What about yourself?

Corral B myself, think I'll go with the 3:25 group and try to push on.
Anything under 3:30 I'll be happy with anything under 3:20 would be bonus territory.

Last 6 weeks or so have gone really well and my MP stuff has been around 7:30 m/m but I'm concerned I don't have the endurance built up.

scheister

Corral E myself. Little annoyed as aiming for a sub 3:30 so the paces are in a different group. My own fault not really been allowed race over last while by my trainer so did not have a sub 1:40 HM to get into the right corral.
The race really has come fast. Hard to think this time next week ill be in the airport.

noelearly

scheister wrote: »

Corral E myself. Little annoyed as aiming for a sub 3:30 so the paces are in a different group. My own fault not really been allowed race over last while by my trainer so did not have a sub 1:40 HM to get into the right corral.
The race really has come fast. Hard to think this time next week ill be in the airport.

That's annoying alright with the corral, apparently GPS doesn't seem to work for the first 3 miles due to being downtown so important to have your splits memorised. You should good passing people on your way to a 3.30 all the same.

Bez Bing

noelearly wrote: »

That's annoying alright with the corral, apparently GPS doesn't seem to work for the first 3 miles due to being downtown so important to have your splits memorised. You should good passing people on your way to a 3.30 all the same.

Don't see why that would be a problem, I run in downtown Manhattan all the time and my garmin 230 doesn't have much of a problem but I wouldn't reply too much on that watch in the marathon all the same as there is always a margin of error and pace bands are the way to go in longer races.

opus

Bez Bing wrote: »

So what corral is everyone in and what are the targets?

I'm in corral A, thinking I might see if I can find a 3:15 pace group somewhere & try and stick with them. Who knows I might make it

Bez Bing

opus wrote: »

I'm in corral A, thinking I might see if I can find a 3:15 pace group somewhere & try and stick with them. Who knows I might make it

Good man Opus, how did the two half's go for you in Sept?

noelearly

Bez Bing wrote: »

Good man Opus, how did the two half's go for you in Sept?

Corral B for me with the 3.15

Off topic here but anybody recommend travel insurance?? Does it cover marathons, first one aboard so bit clueless.

opus

Bez Bing wrote: »

Good man Opus, how did the two half's go for you in Sept?

Was sick for the first one so had to let it go sadly, made the start line for #2 but was still recovering so felt fairly rotten for the last 5/6k but was happy just to have made it there.

noelearly wrote: »

Off topic here but anybody recommend travel insurance?? Does it cover marathons, first one aboard so bit clueless.

I've yearly travel insurance which handily last's 'til the end of Oct, this is what it has to say about sports.

If you intend to take part in a sport or activity during your trip, please note that cover is available for the activities listed in the two tables below provided:
• You follow the safety guidelines for the activity concerned and where applicable you use the appropriate and recommended safety equipment;
• The activity is not the main purpose of your trip;
• The activity is not part of a competition or tournament;
• The activity is not on a professional basis.

Cost ~€45 afair.

scheister

noelearly wrote: »

Corral B for me with the 3.15

Off topic here but anybody recommend travel insurance?? Does it cover marathons, first one aboard so bit clueless.

Some cover marathons some dont. My normal policy does not cover you while running the marathon but took out cover with my travel company to be safe and that does not during the marathon

opus

Had a look at the weather just now, this would be grand if it's accurate!



Any plans for a post run beverage or two?