Chicago Marathon - Oct 9th 2022

On a whim, I registered for the lottery for this.

Found out this morning, that I was successful (woohoo/uh oh)

Any advice from people who have ran it before?

Anyone else doing it?

I've ran DCM twice before, so have an idea how to train for it, but have never travelled for a race before. Rough estimate is a finishing time of between 3:30 and 3:45

Looks like its going to be an expensive few days.

Race is on the Sunday. Plan is to fly on the Friday, and home on the Tuesday. Going to cost about €500

Booked (relatively) affordable accommodation about 2 miles from Grant Park. Going to cost me $1100 for the 4 nights.

Murph_D

Congrats on the successful lottery entry, and welcome to the forum.

I'm in for this too, along with a group from the club. Your flights and accomodation costs sound similar to what we will be incurring also - there are probably cheaper ways to do the accomodiation, but it's not something you would skimp on after months (years?) of training.

One of the big things with away marathons, espcially one that's six time zones away, is acclimatising to that time difference. I'll be travelling on the Friday too, but if I was really looking for a great performance I'd probably try to get there earlier. Friday is OK though, just follow the usual rules about staying off your feet as much as possible on the Saturday.

Hopefully there will be enough doing it to provide advice and motivation on this thread and others over the coming year. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

ThePiedPiper

I did this back in 2013, it’s an absolutely fantastic race. Regarding the time zones, with the race starting at 7:00am, I just stayed in Irish time from Friday when I flew out until Sunday. Therefore waking up at 4am to have breakfast on Sunday was no big deal.

A group of us from boards went that year, and we spent Saturday on a boat trip, Chicago Architecture Boat tours or something. It was a super tour, good way of staying off the feet.

The race is very well organised, and a very fast course. Great atmosphere in the city. Best of luck with your plans.

I agree on the accommodation. I've definitely found cheaper options, but this place seems fairly well located, both in terms of start/finish line, and getting to/from the airport.

On top of that, it looks like a nice spot.

I'm hoping that I'll be ok with regards to the time difference. I travel a bit with work, and there is usually a 5hr change. I'd expect to be ok on the Saturday.

Definitely not worried about a great performance. One of the reasons I wanted to do Chicago, is that I spent a month there, 18years ago, and the route goes through my neighborhood. I want to enjoy the race, taking in the different areas

Staying on Irish time sounds like a good idea too.

ISOP

In again, done it in 2019, fantastic Marathon and City

Unknownability

I'm in as well!

Can't wait, I grew up in Chicago so really looking forward to doing it. I have Edinburgh earlier in the year which will be the PB focus and Chicago will be for the experience.

Unfortunately I also have an entry to Berlin so undecided on what I'll do with that and I'm in the lottery for London so the way my luck is going I'll get that as well 🙄🙄.

The €1,500 is similar to the costs that I'm looking at, staying near Grant Park and most likely flying Friday - Wednesday.

scotindublin

Throwing my name onto the Chicago train aswell. A few of us from the club going and also a couple of lads from work.

Thinking of flying over on the Thursday and potentially extending the trip after the marathon and making a holiday out of it.

Ran it in 2015 as my first major. Stayed across the street from Grant Park in the Congress Plaza. Easy access to entry gates and finish.

But I'm scheduled to do Dingle and Amsterdam in 2022. 🥱

adrian522

I've an entry for this too, not sure I'll even make the start line but I'll give it go. I'll probably travel on the Friday as well, but will stay the full week afterwards.

I have family in the area so will have accommodation sorted.

Is it too early to discuss post race beers?

Murph_D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118311573#Comment_118311573

Never too early to plan the beers!

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118324560#Comment_118324560

I was thinking that myself and was trying to see if there is a Bears game on that Sunday as well but the schedule hasn't been released yet.

It's great that race starts so early, meaning you can (hopefully) do things that evening.

The Kerry Man is a good Irish pub centrally located.

adrian522

I was in an Irish bar after an NFL game a few years ago that was decent enough, might be suitable, need to check how far it is from the finish though.

https://goo.gl/maps/LibnapAgpzTvDVj98

adrian522

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118325508#Comment_118325508

They never really have a bears game on the weekend of the marathon unless its going to be a Thursday or Monday night game from what I've seen the last few years.

The games tend to be on Sundays at 12 local time so wouldn't really work the same day as the race.

The schedule won't be out till April in any case.

Fado is literally around the block from my hotel, and the Kerryman is within 5 minutes. I think either would work :D

ISOP

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118298260#Comment_118298260

Im in Berlin aswell, run them both, I did in 2019

ISOP

There's a nice pint of Guinness in the Kerryman!

ClashCityRocker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118327350#Comment_118327350

I did Chiacago in 2014, great experience in a class city. Similar to what ThePiedPiper suggested, i basically stayed on "our time" ahead of the race - we went to a Blackhawks game on the Saturday night but left after two periods as my wife couldnt stay awake 😁

It sounds like you know the city already but the route is very flat - just that one sneaky incline at 26 miles coming back in to Grant Park

I think it was the Tuesday after the race I watched Ireland v Germany in Fado, John O'Shea's last minute equaliser means its a place ill always remember fondly!

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329295#Comment_118329295

I had thought about that but with only 14 days between them and two or three of those days would be traveling. I don't think its feasible.

Unknownability

Just at the 30 weeks out point.

How is everyone's planning going?

I've the hotel booked but haven't got around to the flights yet.

My training (lack of) hasn't gone as I had set out in my head. My new plan is 12 weeks base building (6 with Hal Higdons novice and 6 weeks with the advanced) a two week recovery / low intensity period and then into 16 weeks of Hanson.

Booked flights over Christmas, so all set there. Flying on the Friday, and leave Chicago again on the Tuesday evening

Booked a hotel about a 10minute walk from the start line

Regarding training, at the moment, I'm just building up the frequency of my runs at the moment. Trying to run maybe 3 times a week right now, and work through any minor injuries I might pick up as I ramp up my runs. Managed a half marathon a few weeks ago, which was a real eye opener for me. But that's what I wanted from the run.

Planning to follow the official 18 week training plan on the marathon website, so that has me starting on June 3rd.

Murph_D

All booked, flights and accommodation (used the official hotels). Training wise, base building til end of May, then into the marathon specifics.

Unknownability

Just want to get peoples opinion on flights who've flown transatlantic for a marathon or who are more experienced than me.

Would flying out Friday and landing at 18:45 (local) for a marathon on Sunday starting at 0730 be practical?

Just worried that it could be a small bit tight on timing. Realistically I won't be at the hotel until 21:00.

I've no experience travelling for marathons before, but I did see someone mention trying to stay on Irish time when you arrive.

It will help having breakfast before the marathon

I've obviously booked an earlier flight than you, as I get in at 14:00 local time on the Friday. Plan to get to the hotel, and head down to the expo to collect my race pack. Hoping to get all the pain over with on the Friday. Get up by 7am on Saturday, and have a nice, relaxing day

MrMacPhisto

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118828566#Comment_118828566

It'll be hard work staying in bed until 7am from my experience. That'll equate to 1300 Irish time. From my long haul travel experience, a nice easy paced 5k amble after you check-in at the hotel works very well. It blows off the fatigue/lethargy from the flight and sets you up for trying to stay up "late" on the day of arrival. Don't try and fight the jet lag too much though. You really don't want to disturb the natural rhythm of the body 2 days out from a marathon. Luckily, it is much easier flying westbound towards the USA.

Duanington

Chicago is the place to be this year it seems, I'm on the bandwagon too - nothing booked yet of course but I'll sort that out soon.

Training wise, it'll be a case of consistency between now and then rather than anything spectacular. Lots of threshold and hills for the next 8 weeks before morphing back into a Lydiard based approach from June onwards

The official 18 week training plan starts soon (June 6th)

Going to try to stick to it as close as possible, but I have a major swim event in July that has all my training focus at the moment.

Hopefully, only half arseing the training plan from weeks 1 - 6, wont impact me too badly

Was doing some reading about the overall event yesterday. Seems some hotels make big deals out of it, and host roof top parties for the runners.

Anyone have any experience of the events in the city after the race?

I'm flying in on the Friday, so planning to walk to the race expo as early as possible on the Saturday morning to get my race pack, and then spend the rest of the day doing as little as possible. Maybe, a gentle 2 or 3km run, just to stretch the legs

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075329#Comment_119075329

Yep, Bank Holiday Monday is kick off. Can't believe it has come around as quick as it has.

Not exactly where I would like to be but I'm injury free and fitness can be worked on and hopefully improved quickly.

I'm going to follow the Hanson Plan again, I've read the book this time so feel I understand more of the theory behind it rather than blinding following a paper plan.

I'll start the plan training for a sub 3 and can also amend the goal time if it's too much.

In terms of travel we are flying out Thursday and back Tuesday.

No experience of the actual post race experience but the Bears are playing away at 18:00 Sunday evening so I'll hopefully be celebrating watching that somewhere down town.

Happy to meet up with others for a jog Saturday or post drinks Sunday.

adrian522

The Bears game is at 12:00 local time, 6pm Irish time.

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119104787#Comment_119104787

Ah FFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Thanks hadn't spotted that.

Still do - able with the 07:30 starting time just more incentive to run faster.

How did ye get on rinsing accommodation?

I booked the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown. Easily within walking distance of the race and expo.

Got it for around €250 per night. Not cheap, but location is perfect, and it's a lot more expensive now than when I booked it

scotindublin

Have to admit I got a bit a surprise when the email came our with the mara plan last week. I haven't nailed down my plan yet but will be starting it proper mid July after a 10 day holiday from July 4th. Actually considering taking a break while away before getting stuck into the plan.

Flying over Thursday on the United flight, 2 lads from the club and a couple of work colleagues also heading over. Staying in the Crowne Plaza Westloop a couple of miles from Grant Park.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress, will be jumping on the sub 3 attempt train.

C

Unknownability

One week to go until the plan starts!

A mix of apprehension and excitement of getting back into a structured plan.

My previous 2 marathons have been also done using 18 weeks plans and both times I've finished and said I'd use a shorter plan the next time. Having thought about it again this time I felt I need those extra few weeks of structure as motivation has waivered in the last month after a solid two months base building.

@scotindublin I'll also be aiming for sub 3.

I'll reevaluate as the plan progresses.

I have three target races in the build up to Chicago, Clara 5k, Mullingar 10m and Tullamore 1/2. All pretty much a month apart towards the end of June, July & August respectively.

I do have a lot of social events lined up but plan is to work the plan in as best as I can even if that includes running at unusual times.

My biggest concern, is I'm in the process of training for a 13km sea swim.

That takes me up to the end of Week 6 of the official training plan. I really want to follow the plan though, as for my previous 2 marathons, I didnt train properly at all, and suffered the consequences.

Fortunately, the first 6 weeks look pretty straight forward. I'll try to knit both training plans together, and see how I get on

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119139475#Comment_119139475

Have you decided which plan you will follow?

There are numerous 12 week plans out there that could be suitable.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119139562#Comment_119139562

I'm aiming to follow the official Nike Training plan from the Chicago marathon website.

My memory of crossing the line for my last marathon, where I couldn't talk or speak for ages afterwards is motivating me to take my training very seriously this time :)

Unknownability

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143086#Comment_119143086

That reminds me of my first marathon in Dublin, it was horrible not being able to enjoy the atmosphere and crowd at the finish line.

Hopefully not repeated for any of us in Chicago.

Just looked at the Nike plan the first few weeks look fairly harmless.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119143125#Comment_119143125

Yeah, they seem fine. It's all about just getting the legs moving. I'm doing a 5km race each week at the moment, just to work the leg muscles. The official training will replace those

The trouble I'm now facing, is how to fit in 5 runs, 4 swims and 1 HIIT class a week, and maybe spend some time with the family :)

I might cut out 1 recovery run a week initially. Try to have 2 days a week off, if possible.

If I'm not in the best shape of my life after all this training, I'm going to pack it all in :D

Unknownability

Best of luck to anyone starting an 18 week plan today.

The first steps of a long journey.

Did my 10 minute Recovery run this morning. I'm officially up and running.

Got to do my speed run this evening, because I'm already behind schedule :D

Mrs Mc

Jumping on the Chicago bandwagon a novice from DCM mentored novices thread in 2015 and 3 marathons later looking forward to my first international marathon.. got through on the lotto and it’s been defferred since pre Covid. Returning from injury so plan A is to get to the start line so will see how it goes. PB is 4.23 in Dublin in 2019.

Murph_D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119177396#Comment_119177396

You'll have to revive that log, @Mrs Mc. 😉

fatherted1969

Also in for Chicago, got flights last night relatively cheap, 450pp. Staying in hotel Felix. Accommodation seems to be a lot more expensive this year. Had booked the hyatt 2 years ago for 850 for 5 nights, that's now 2300 so I had to look elsewhere. Hope I have it right but it looks about a mile from the start/finish. Flying with AA on the Fri morning, getting in around 12 local time. Flying out tue night. Have galway bay the week before and dcm 2 weeks after so I'll have to work out which I'm running and which are training. Looking forward to it. It'll be my 4th star all going well.

Unknownability

Great to see more people in.

Best of luck everyone, all the plans must be started or starting shortly.

@fatherted1969 if chicago is a training run, can we appoint you as entertainment officer?

scotindublin

Best of luck to everyone with the training. Have been building up a really good base with pretty consistent 50 mile weeks since the start of the year.

Plan is to tweak my club sessions after my holiday in early July and ramp up long runs.

How does everyone feel with racing during training? Just now I only have the Bettystown 5 mile in July which will be a post holiday blow out and then the Tullamore 1/2 at the end of August, that feels like it fall perfectly for Chicago.

C

I've a 8km in August, but I'll just use that to replace one training run. Wouldn't worry about an occasional race myself to be honest, but it probably all comes down to what you're hoping to achieve in Chicago.

Me for example, I'm trying to break 3:30. My pb is 3:52 from 6 years ago. Not done a marathon since, but didn't really train properly for it.

Im following a training plan this year, so expect 3:30 to be possible. What I really, really want, is to break 3:30 and enjoy the entire race. If both of them are fesible, then I don't think a race or two during training will impact me

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119208525#Comment_119208525

I'm on week 2. Really enjoying the recovery runs so far. Had a speed run today. Was tough, as my route had hills, and got caught in a 2 minute 80% pace section, going up a hill.

Unknownability

Well done, has runnung and swimming interfered with each other at all?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119212643#Comment_119212643

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119212667#Comment_119212667

Not yet fortunately

Think its just about to start though. Definitely losing motivation for swimming. The running is such a novelty at the moment.

The swim is only 4 weeks away, so just need to remain focused for 2 more weeks, and then I'll be tapering anyway, so fingers crossed I've the hard work already done

scotindublin

Totally get you with the race strategy during training, the Bettystown 5 mile for me is really just a bit of blast after my holiday and will just replace my normal Tuesday training session.

Tullamore will be a ( all things going well) vindication that the plan for Chicago is on track. Anything starting with a 2 is what I am chasing.

If I enter races outside of those over the training period they will ran at a pace that is appropriate to that's weeks training.....all focus will be Chicago.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119213152#Comment_119213152

Looks like I spoke too soon. Was doing my long swim tonight, and got cramps in both calves towards the end. First time that's happened me. Was speaking a swimming coach who happened to be in there, and mentioned it, and he asked me if I was doing much running. He blamed that immediately.

Will try cutting down from 5 runs to 3 runs next week, and see if that helps

How's training going for everyone?

Just started back into it, now that the swim is over.

Was supposed to do a 15km at marathon pace yesterday, but only managed a 12km, approx 10seconds slower per km than I wanted.

Probably a fair representation of where I am at the moment. Hopefully catch up to where I want to be over the next 4 weeks. My plan has me doing a 20km this weekend. I'll target 15 or 16km

Just under 11 weeks to go