Chicago Marathon - Oct 9th 2022

09-12-2021 05:57PM #1

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 · 09-12-2021 08:33PM

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 · 09-12-2021 09:05PM

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.

09-12-2021 09:08PM

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 · 09-12-2021 10:16PM

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

Unknownability · 09-12-2021 10:18PM

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 · 12-12-2021 01:45AM

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.

12-12-2021 01:53AM

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 · 12-12-2021 08:40PM

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 · 15-12-2021 12:13PM

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

Never too early to plan the beers!

Unknownability · 15-12-2021 03:00PM

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 · 15-12-2021 03:02PM

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 · 15-12-2021 03:34PM

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.

15-12-2021 08:07PM

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

ISOP · 16-12-2021 08:19AM

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

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

ISOP · 16-12-2021 08:20AM

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

ClashCityRocker · 16-12-2021 05:48PM

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 · 16-12-2021 08:05PM

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 · 16-03-2022 09:21AM

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.

16-03-2022 10:14AM

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 · 22-03-2022 04:23PM

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

Unknownability · 24-03-2022 11:44AM

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.

24-03-2022 01:16PM

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 · 24-03-2022 01:56PM

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 · 25-03-2022 10:59AM

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

17-05-2022 01:52PM

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 · 23-05-2022 10:05PM

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 · 23-05-2022 10:31PM

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

Unknownability · 23-05-2022 11:04PM

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.

24-05-2022 06:27AM

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 · 25-05-2022 04:19AM

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

Chicago Marathon - Oct 9th 2022

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