Chicago, Here I Come: A Marathon Without Big Goals

This is a translation. The original post is in German.

The Chicago Marathon is coming up. In a few days I’ll be standing at the start line, and honestly, it feels very different from earlier races.

I trained hard, but unfortunately I struggled through a lot of injuries. My preparation went anything but to plan. Still, I managed 31 kilometres in training. That gives me confidence that I can basically cover the distance.

My goal: finish well

I’m starting without big goals. No personal best, no pace chart, no pressure. Right now I just want to finish the marathon. I want to finish it well and feel good doing it. If I cross the finish line with a smile, that’s a complete success for me.

After a year with so many setbacks, that may be the most honest goal I can set myself.

The trip at a glance

Then it’s straight on without a break: from Chicago I fly to Iceland, where the road trip week begins (see the Iceland post).

Highlights in Chicago

The map shows where I’m staying, the marathon expo, restaurants and sights, plus the start and finish of the marathon and the Abbott 5K. Once the map is loaded, click a marker to see the address and, where available, the phone number.

The race courses

Abbott 5K on Saturday

The 5K starts in Grant Park on Ida B. Wells Drive, heads west along Harrison Street, then up Wacker Drive to the Chicago River and along the river to just short of Michigan Avenue. There it turns around, and the finish is on Wacker Drive at Adams Street.

Chicago Marathon on Sunday

Start and finish are in Grant Park. The course first heads north through Lincoln Park to Lake View, then west to the United Center, south through Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen and Chinatown to Bronzeville, and back up Michigan Avenue. The black markers show every tenth kilometre.

Accommodation

I’m staying at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown (40 E Grand Ave). Central, with a kitchen in the room, and perfectly placed to get everywhere on foot or by public transport.

What I want to see in Chicago

Sights

• The city’s architecture, maybe with an architecture tour – or maybe Saturday’s 5K will take care of that!
• The site of the former Meigs Field. This is a bit nerdy, but that was the airport where you took off in Microsoft Flight Simulator 95.
• The museum with one of the real Stuka planes and Apollo spacecraft.

Architecture walk

If my legs still cooperate after the marathon: a short walk of about 2.5 km from Clark/Lake station across the State Street Bridge to the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, then down Michigan Avenue to the Chicago Cultural Center and the Red Line’s Monroe station.

Conclusion

For me, this marathon is less a measure of athletic performance than a sign of perseverance.

I’ll report after the race on how it went. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Follow me on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon app

• App Store
• Google Play

You can follow me during the race: just install the Chicago Marathon app and track me with bib number 17869!

See you soon from Chicago, and after that it’s on to Iceland.