by Mollie Millington | Feb 23, 2025 | race review, running, WMM
Many years ago, a friend challenged me to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks. I said absolutely not but I will do the Abbott World Marathon Majors instead. Fast forward 10 years later and she has run several hundred marathons and I am struggling to complete my 6 stars. But I am nearly there now! In 2024, I managed to complete my 5th star with the Tokyo Marathon. The 2025 race is coming up on Sunday 2 March so I thought I should finally share my thoughts on this race (as best I can remember).
My story starts in the summer of 2019, I woke up at 2am to secure a charity entry place for the 2020 Tokyo marathon (you can see where this is going). I donated about £700 to Florence Charity (which offers day care and schooling for children with special needs amongst other things) and then bought my race entry fee for £150. There are a few different ways to gain entry to Tokyo Marathon with charities. You can either make a donation upfront to the charity (similar to a bid) or fundraise as much as you can and then earn your entry. There isn’t a JustGiving (or similar platform) so it can be tricky to fundraise the money you already donated back. This was the cheapest donation entry I had for the World Marathon Majors, so I was happy to donate and not have to add more stress to my training by asking people for money.
Turns out, I had to reschedule my trip twice due to Covid and restrictions for foreign visitors not on an organized tour. Aside from March 2020, I was supposed to race in October 2021 but there was too much up in the air with international travel to commit. I finally made it in March 2024. There were still regulations in place to keep runners safe, such as to using an app to register whether you had a fever every day for a week or two before and after the race.
Sadly, I don’t have many photos from the race as I was filming on a small sports camera for a vlog. I lost this footage along with some Kyoto city tour photos I logged on to a temporary admin profile on my laptop in haste. Lesson learned!
Without further ado, here is information from my experience running the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
Entries and fees
As mentioned above, I decided to enter via a charity route in 2020, which the organization and charity kindly let me keep my place until 2024. While I paid an entry fee in 2020 (and received a large parcel with all of the 5Km race and marathon finish line goodies plus my 2020 medal at the 2024 expo). I was required to pay an additional race entry fee for the 2024 race and completely understand why. There was so much logistics and communication over the four years, I am surprised they didn’t charge people every time their rescheduled. Compared to the other WMM races I have done, it wasn’t too expensive (not counting the flights and accommodation).
Course and bogs:
The race starts on the west side of Tokyo in Shinjuku City and then ends near the Imperial Palace. There were not enough port-a-loos in our start corral for the number of people waiting which meant I split up from my friends. Just as I made it to the front of the queue, there was an announcement saying we had to start within 11 minutes but the start line was still a ways to walk. I was stubborn and stayed to use the loo and managed to start without any issue.
Along the course, there were many port-a-loos which were well sign-posted both with a warning that a toilet was near by and then volunteers were there with signs where it was time to come off the course. We didn’t run by too many famous landmarks (see the route I ran below). We did go close to the Hanazono Shrine (I think) and a shopping area that was on my tour. Otherwise, we passed a lot of 7-11s.
The course is said to be ‘flat’ but I would say that it is undulating. Strava tells me I had an elevation gain for 157 feet. Of course, I am very literal so would have preferred 0.
Location
Tokyo, Japan (see map above). The expo center and many events leading up to race (including the lululemon shake out run I went to) were in the Koto City area. I went back there nearly every day before the race (including for museums). Most people stayed in Japan either before or after the race to travel a bit. I will say that the jet lag was killer. I slept nearly an entire day after I arrived.
Atmosphere
Even though there were lots of people along the route, both spectating and working, there was not a lot of noise. I don’t know if it is true, but I was told culturally, Japanese people will not cheer unless you speak/cheer to them first. Of course, there were some international family and friends who had traveled with the runner that brought silly signs and they kept up the vibes. It was a sunny day so everyone was smiling.
The food along the course, both officially supplied and by the crowds, was a bit unusual for me so I didn’t try very much (nothing new on race day!). As a ran along, I saw people giving out Coca Cola and was grateful to have a 1/2 cup for a boost while I was flagging.
Race bling and goody bag
For this race, I walked away with two medals. No, not for my 6th star but for the 2024 and the 2020 races. I would like to commend the Tokyo Marathon race organizers for how well they handled all of the uncertainty during the pandemic. Financially and administratively, it must not have been easy for them.
The goody bag had bath salts and limited snacks. It also had a McDonald’s gift voucher. After I received by 2024 medal, I went to over to the Florence charity celebration for their runners. It was a bit confusing to get to as it involved sub-terrain walkways. Many runners headed here as it was where the official changing rooms are. Since it took me a while to finish the race, there wasn’t much time to enjoy the free snacks and drinks with Florence. My main priority was the sports massage which I was able to receive. After I changed, I can’t believe I went to McDonalds (even when I had to climb stairs to enter the restaurant and then needed a lift to find seating). I knew once I got to the hotel, I would not leave again and just wanted something very salty.
Tips if you want to take part next time
Communication: Organizer emails can be tricky to read because they are written in very formal English. Take your time to read through them as they do contain lots of helpful info. You can also log on to the race portal for more helpful info there.
Expo: Wear comfy shoes because the lines are long to both enter and collect your bib on Thursday. Bring food with you because there are only a few vending machines and one shop in the building where the expo is. There is a larger shop outside but it quickly was depleted in stock. Everyone going crazy for official WMM kit (the videos I saw were crazy!) but I wasn’t that bothered about it. Personally, I don’t think the 2024 WMM designs were that cool anyways. It is no where near the size/energy of the other WMM expos I have attended. Do stop by the charity stalls as there are many and you can let your friends know which ones to register for next year.
Strict rules for start area: No liquids allowed and they mean it. I had to throw away an opened tin of anti-chafe wax which made me very sad. If you plan on carrying water during the race, you need to fill soft flasks within the starting corals (which are huge and do not have many rubbish bins).
Along the course: Remember, Japan doesn’t not have rubbish bins on city streets and no one litters. Plan on carrying your rubbish with you until there are bins along the course.
Finish line: I had to pay to have my checked bag transported to finish line. It was not very expensive and definitely worth IMO. I did receive a towel poncho at the finish line which would have helped keep me warm, but I preferred having dry clothes too.
Best of luck to everyone running in 2025. Be sure to leave comments below with tips from this year’s race.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 18, 2020 | running, WMM
It is with great sadness that I found out yesterday the Tokyo Marathon 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. While I know the decision was not made lightly by the organizers, it has sent many of us die hard runners (and 6 star chasers) into a limbo. We have been training for months, booked time off work, spent money on flights and hotels….. and now we aren’t sure what to do (except contact our travel insurance company).
I have spent a few hours researching marathons all over the world that take place from 22 February as alternatives to the Tokyo Marathon that still have entries open. Please check their websites carefully for all T&C in case I had made an error. And, remember that this list is not exhaustive. At the bottom of the post are links to additional lists of races.
Leave a comment below and let me know which race you are going to do or if there are any additional races to list.
22 February 2020, Red Rock Canyon Marathon, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Entries close 20/2/20.
23 February 2020, Glentress Trail Marathon*, Scottish borders, UK.
23 February 2020, Fort Ebey Kettles Trail Run, Fort Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island, WA, USA. Entries close 20/2/20.
23 February 2020, Ice Valdaice, Valdai, Russia*
23 February 2020, Banjul Marathon, Gambia*
26 February 2020, Marathon Day Marathon by SVN*, Kent, CT14 7LH, UK.
28 February, Tel Aviv Marathon, Tel Aviv, Israel. Registration is open until 22/2/20.
29 February 2020, Ras Dewi Sant*, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
1 March 2020, Atlanta Marathon, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Entries close 26/2/20. NOW SOLD OUT!
1 March 2020, Little Rock Marathon, Little Rock. Arkansas, USA. Online entries close 21/2/20.
1 March 2020, Napa Valley Marathon, Napa Valley, California, USA*. Use code NVMJUAN for a small discount.
6, then 9-15 March 2020, Enigma Running various marathons around Milton Keynes, UK.*
7 March 2020, Thames Meander, Kingston-Upon-Thames, UK Surrey*
7 March 2020, Spring Marathon by Phoenix Running. Walton-On-Thames, UK. Email Rik for 50% off registration fee if you were due to run Tokyo Marathon. PhoenixRunningUK@gmail.com
7 March 2020, The Woodlands Marathon, Woodlands, TX, USA.*
8 March 2020, LA Marathon, LA, CA, USA. Limited charity places available.*
15 March 2020, Barcelona Marathon, Barcelona, Spain.*
21-22 March 2020 Limmassol Marathon, Cyprus.*
22 March 2020, Rimini Marathon, Rimini, Italy.*
29 March 2020, Rome Marathon, Rome, Italy. Entries open until 15 March 2020 or until bibs run out.
26 April 2020, Southampton Marathon, Southampton, UK.*
There are lots of options out there so please also use these links (not all races still have entries open):
Saxons, Vikings, and Normans have lots of options over the next few weeks around London.
World’s Marathons list for February
World’s Marathons list for March
Ahotu list of of marathons around the world
*as of 17/2/20 entries still open
by thinkmarsh | Mar 1, 2019 | race review, running, sponsored post, travel, WMM
Completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) has been my goal since 2016. I have been lucky enough to win ballot entries with Berlin and Chicago. For London, I obtained a charity place from Plantlife. With the WMM increasing in popularity, it is becoming harder and harder to win a place in a ballot and the fundraising targets are reflecting the demand. I decided to book a tour with 209 Events to run NYC in 2018 (which is why you are reading this). My last two races will be in Tokyo and Boston. My goal is to run Boston in 2021 but I have a lot of work to do before then!
Let’s focus on NYC Marathon though as the ballot results were released on Wednesday this week. Congrats to everyone who got it! You will soon read how much I enjoyed this race (even though I had to use the bathroom five times. So much for a Personal Best). It was a very short trip to the USA, less than a week, due to limited annual leave. My mom even convinced me to flight home to Rochester, NY for two days to see my family at the start of my run-cation. I then had to fly back to NYC to visit the race expo and catch up with friends before running 26.2 miles. Easy, right?
Here is the nitty gritty about the 2018 race. If you have any additional questions though, please a comment below and I will do my best to answer you. I will also be working on a short YouTube video of my trip too.
 |
| Finish line of shake out 5K which is also part of the official marathon course |
Entries and fees: For US residents the entry fee is $295 in 2019. For international runners, the cost goes up to $358. My tour with 209 event was about £1200, which included flights and entry but not accommodation. I stayed with a friend in Queens to save on expenses, which helped keep the trip affordable. The only downside was being very far away from the start line.
 |
| Runners waiting to get on the ferry to Staten Island |
Course and bogs: Course starts in Staten Island and runs through all 5 NYC boroughs (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan). The course is more hilly than other WMM races because there are many bridges. In fact, the start of the race, you climb the steepest bridge/hill.
At the start line, there were several areas for runners that split you by your wave. Each area had a bunch of toilets, a small shaded seating area, and bag drop. Even though there were lots of toilets, there were lots of runners so you had to wait in line. Out on the course, there were toilets every mile at the water stations. I stopped to use them 5 times. There was always loo roll and most of the time only a few people waiting (primarily runners but sometimes spectators).
 |
| One of the port-a-loo areas |
Location: All over the Big Apple. We started on Staten Island and finished in Central Park.
Atmosphere: Electric. The crowds lining the streets were amazing! So much cheering, an abundance of snacks, and my favorite part- pure elation when a spectator sees someone they know running past. I was lucky enough to have my friends from university at mile 16 waiting to give me a hug and cheer. Americans are not afraid to make some noise. In 2018, the sun was out but the temperature wasn’t too high, making it perfect running weather.
 |
| Another medal for my collection |
Race bling and goody bag: The medal was great. Goody bag had usual snacks and water. I can’t remember anything else so must not have been anything crazy. You get a foil blanket when you finish to keep you warm until you collect your bag. My bag was at the far end because I dropped it off late (see “tips for next time” below).
Tips if you want to take part next time:
- Eat well early because you start late. I ate porridge at 4:30am and didn’t start running until 10:30am. By the time I got on the ferry, I was hungry which lead me to eating all of my post-race snacks at the start area and then having to use bathroom five times during the race.
- Learn the course profile. It is very hilly, which I knew but it was different to experience it. I suggest adding hill reps into your training plan to prepare.
- The expo wasn’t that impressive to me. Maybe the space was too big, but there didn’t seem to be very much to shop for outside of the official store.
- NYC involves a lot of walking. Keep that in mind if you are going to sight-see before or after the race. For Chicago and NYC, I went to the movies the afternoon before the race and treated myself to a reclining chair to keep my feet up.
- Know where the airport is! The day after the race, I headed back home. Unfortunately, I went the wrong way on the subway and arrived only 1 hour before my departure instead of the suggested two. I was sweating but so tired and sore I couldn’t move any faster!
- Sign up for shake out 5k (even though you don’t get a medal). After enjoying the shake out 5K in Chicago, I knew I had to do it in NYC too. I ran with friends and enjoyed the landmarks along the route. We were given bobble hats instead of medals, which was disappointing but what can you do? Book a table for brunch if you plan to go after the race because everyone will be trying to do the same thing.
- Check your bag on time! As I was eating and waiting for the toilet, I didn’t manage to check my bag in time. That was a lot of stress to find the ‘everyone else’ van which also meant I had to walk further from the finish line to find it.
- Keep tampons on hand. Of course, my period started that morning but I didn’t realize it until I got to start pen. I had to bum one off a Spanish lady but it didn’t have an applicator so I didn’t quite get it in position right. Luckily, it wasn’t a disaster in the end.
Did you run NYC in 2018? What was your favorite part of the race? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | Mar 1, 2019 | race review, running, sponsored post, travel, WMM
Completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) has been my goal since 2016. I have been lucky enough to win ballot entries with Berlin and Chicago. For London, I obtained a charity place from Plantlife. With the WMM increasing in popularity, it is becoming harder and harder to win a place in a ballot and the fundraising targets are reflecting the demand. I decided to book a tour with 209 Events to run NYC in 2018 (which is why you are reading this). My last two races will be in Tokyo and Boston. My goal is to run Boston in 2021 but I have a lot of work to do before then!
Let’s focus on NYC Marathon though as the ballot results were released on Wednesday this week. Congrats to everyone who got it! You will soon read how much I enjoyed this race (even though I had to use the bathroom five times. So much for a Personal Best). It was a very short trip to the USA, less than a week, due to limited annual leave. My mom even convinced me to flight home to Rochester, NY for two days to see my family at the start of my run-cation. I then had to fly back to NYC to visit the race expo and catch up with friends before running 26.2 miles. Easy, right?
Here is the nitty gritty about the 2018 race. If you have any additional questions though, please a comment below and I will do my best to answer you. I will also be working on a short YouTube video of my trip too.
|
| Finish line of shake out 5K which is also part of the official marathon course |
Entries and fees: For US residents the entry fee is $295 in 2019. For international runners, the cost goes up to $358. My tour with 209 event was about £1200, which included flights and entry but not accommodation. I stayed with a friend in Queens to save on expenses, which helped keep the trip affordable. The only downside was being very far away from the start line.
|
| Runners waiting to get on the ferry to Staten Island |
Course and bogs: Course starts in Staten Island and runs through all 5 NYC boroughs (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan). The course is more hilly than other WMM races because there are many bridges. In fact, the start of the race, you climb the steepest bridge/hill.
At the start line, there were several areas for runners that split you by your wave. Each area had a bunch of toilets, a small shaded seating area, and bag drop. Even though there were lots of toilets, there were lots of runners so you had to wait in line. Out on the course, there were toilets every mile at the water stations. I stopped to use them 5 times. There was always loo roll and most of the time only a few people waiting (primarily runners but sometimes spectators).
|
| One of the port-a-loo areas |
Location: All over the Big Apple. We started on Staten Island and finished in Central Park.
Atmosphere: Electric. The crowds lining the streets were amazing! So much cheering, an abundance of snacks, and my favorite part- pure elation when a spectator sees someone they know running past. I was lucky enough to have my friends from university at mile 16 waiting to give me a hug and cheer. Americans are not afraid to make some noise. In 2018, the sun was out but the temperature wasn’t too high, making it perfect running weather.
|
| Another medal for my collection |
Race bling and goody bag: The medal was great. Goody bag had usual snacks and water. I can’t remember anything else so must not have been anything crazy. You get a foil blanket when you finish to keep you warm until you collect your bag. My bag was at the far end because I dropped it off late (see “tips for next time” below).
Tips if you want to take part next time:
- Eat well early because you start late. I ate porridge at 4:30am and didn’t start running until 10:30am. By the time I got on the ferry, I was hungry which lead me to eating all of my post-race snacks at the start area and then having to use bathroom five times during the race.
- Learn the course profile. It is very hilly, which I knew but it was different to experience it. I suggest adding hill reps into your training plan to prepare.
- The expo wasn’t that impressive to me. Maybe the space was too big, but there didn’t seem to be very much to shop for outside of the official store.
- NYC involves a lot of walking. Keep that in mind if you are going to sight-see before or after the race. For Chicago and NYC, I went to the movies the afternoon before the race and treated myself to a reclining chair to keep my feet up.
- Know where the airport is! The day after the race, I headed back home. Unfortunately, I went the wrong way on the subway and arrived only 1 hour before my departure instead of the suggested two. I was sweating but so tired and sore I couldn’t move any faster!
- Sign up for shake out 5k (even though you don’t get a medal). After enjoying the shake out 5K in Chicago, I knew I had to do it in NYC too. I ran with friends and enjoyed the landmarks along the route. We were given bobble hats instead of medals, which was disappointing but what can you do? Book a table for brunch if you plan to go after the race because everyone will be trying to do the same thing.
- Check your bag on time! As I was eating and waiting for the toilet, I didn’t manage to check my bag in time. That was a lot of stress to find the ‘everyone else’ van which also meant I had to walk further from the finish line to find it.
- Keep tampons on hand. Of course, my period started that morning but I didn’t realize it until I got to start pen. I had to bum one off a Spanish lady but it didn’t have an applicator so I didn’t quite get it in position right. Luckily, it wasn’t a disaster in the end.
Did you run NYC in 2018? What was your favorite part of the race? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | Nov 24, 2017 | race review, running, travel, WMM
|
| Kit lay before the race. Thanks to my husband for the card. |
This year was the 40th anniversary race of the Chicago Marathon who took part in the first weekend of October. There was a big opening ceremony with the press as the expo opened, featuring some of the more famous participants of the race over the years. I met one of the eight men (pictured below) who has run them all, who said to start off slow. While waiting in the start pen, I learned there was a lot of security because of the recent Las Vegas shooting which was a bit sad to think about- how we live in a day and age where that needs to be a consideration.
 |
| The eight gentlemen who have ran every Chicago Marathon. |
Race entry and fees: There is a ballot entry, along with charity places, legacy finishers and time qualifier (good for age). In 2018, it will be $195 for US residents and $220 for non-US residents. I feel very lucky to have won a ballot for my first and third World Marathon Majors (WMM) so far. Direct flights to Chicago are mid-price. As I added a stop in Houston to my trip, mine were a bit more. I also was lucky enough to stay with friends in the suburbs which allowed me to save a lot of money during my one week stay in Chicago. There are hostels local to the start line though if you plan ahead (or wait till the week before the race for people to cancel, we learned). I arrived Wednesday to allow my body to adjust to the time difference but it didn’t seem to be too much of a problem.
 |
| Obligatory bib shot at the expo |
Course and bogs: The course travels through 29 neighbourhoods in 26 miles of the race. I really enjoyed Mexican part of town as it was one big party with lots of fun music. There were lots of bands long the way too with varying genres of music. The portal loos were deserted at 6:30am in the morning but as my pen time approached at 8|:30am, the line was probably the longest I have ever waited in for a race. Along the way, loos were available at some of the drink stations but I only used them once (big improvement from Berlin) There were 20 aid stations long the way, some with medical tents and/or Gatorade. I was pleased to find the aid stations were not bottlenecks along the race route. They were so long, as well as on both side of the road, that I was able to keep a constant pace. To compensate for the warmer temps, wet sponges were distributed at a few points, along with fire trucks and sprinklers offering mist across the road for runners to cool down.
 |
| 6|:30am portaloos without a line |
 |
| Come start time, the lines were the longest I have every been in |
Location: Throughout the “Windy City” in the midwest of the United States. The city is easily accessible by most major airlines.
 |
| Such a cool display to get the runners going in the early morning. |
Atmosphere: I love Americans. They are excited to be there and cheer for the runners. There was rarely a lull in spectators along the course. Signs were in abundance and made me chuckle. Favourites included ‘You are running better than our government” and “Make America chaff again”. People were also handing out candy, donuts, pretzels and beer. I even heard someone say “Who shows up to watch a marathon for four hours and doesn’t bring beer?”
 |
| Custom sign from my friend, Pattie, who flew in from Atlanta for the weekend |
Race bling and goody bags: I might be a bit biased, but the medal is pretty cool as it means I am 1/2 way through my WMM quest. Goody bags had various drinks and snacks. Everyone got a free Goose Island beer too at the finish. Unfortunately, I don’t drink beer but I took one to share with friends or fellow finishers. No one was up for it though so I ended up throwing it away.
 |
| So happy to be done |
Tips if you want to take part next time: I did a lot of research before the race to look for other tips. The best one I read was that the GPS get confused in the city because of the tall buildings. The suggestion was to keep track of miles as “laps” for your mile splits. I found this a good distraction tool but did miss the mile marker a few times. As I have found for many of these big races, there isn’t a need to carry water as the aid stations are so frequent. I decided to wear my Osprey Duro rucksack to keep a small amount of water on hand in the heat. I sipped it along the way and took Gatorade on board at the aid sessions where I could.
 |
| Halfway there! |
I highly recommend you to do the 5k the day before the marathon. It was a lot of fun and can be something to do with your friends and family who are in Chicago with you but not taking part in the marathon. After the race, there is an awkward/stiff walk to the park where you can get a free massage at the after party. If you tend to be stiff after a race, let me warn you that the walk is long to get there. It is worth it though as you walk by the picturesque fountain and there was hardly a wait line. Plus the massage feels so good after your efforts on the course. I didn’t stay for the party in the park because we had dinner plans but it didn’t seem too busy.
 |
| Line to enter the massage tent |
Finally, the weather is unpredictable for that time of year so be prepared to give up a PB (PR) if it is hot outside. I know it sucks, but you need to take care of you.
 |
| Start of the 5K with friends |
I want to say thank you to my friends, Pattie, Lisa and Mel who came to Chiacago for the weekend. Also, big thanks to Christian, Leigh, Mia and Moo for allowing me to move in for week and for a fabulous celebratory dinner. It was so good to be back in my homeland. I was lucky enough to earn three medals and a belt buckle in eight days in two different states. It is a trip I will never forget.
by thinkmarsh | Nov 24, 2017 | race review, running, travel, WMM
|
| Kit lay before the race. Thanks to my husband for the card. |
This year was the 40th anniversary race of the Chicago Marathon who took part in the first weekend of October. There was a big opening ceremony with the press as the expo opened, featuring some of the more famous participants of the race over the years. I met one of the eight men (pictured below) who has run them all, who said to start off slow. While waiting in the start pen, I learned there was a lot of security because of the recent Las Vegas shooting which was a bit sad to think about- how we live in a day and age where that needs to be a consideration.
|
| The eight gentlemen who have ran every Chicago Marathon. |
Race entry and fees: There is a ballot entry, along with charity places, legacy finishers and time qualifier (good for age). In 2018, it will be $195 for US residents and $220 for non-US residents. I feel very lucky to have won a ballot for my first and third World Marathon Majors (WMM) so far. Direct flights to Chicago are mid-price. As I added a stop in Houston to my trip, mine were a bit more. I also was lucky enough to stay with friends in the suburbs which allowed me to save a lot of money during my one week stay in Chicago. There are hostels local to the start line though if you plan ahead (or wait till the week before the race for people to cancel, we learned). I arrived Wednesday to allow my body to adjust to the time difference but it didn’t seem to be too much of a problem.
|
| Obligatory bib shot at the expo |
Course and bogs: The course travels through 29 neighbourhoods in 26 miles of the race. I really enjoyed Mexican part of town as it was one big party with lots of fun music. There were lots of bands long the way too with varying genres of music. The portal loos were deserted at 6:30am in the morning but as my pen time approached at 8|:30am, the line was probably the longest I have ever waited in for a race. Along the way, loos were available at some of the drink stations but I only used them once (big improvement from Berlin) There were 20 aid stations long the way, some with medical tents and/or Gatorade. I was pleased to find the aid stations were not bottlenecks along the race route. They were so long, as well as on both side of the road, that I was able to keep a constant pace. To compensate for the warmer temps, wet sponges were distributed at a few points, along with fire trucks and sprinklers offering mist across the road for runners to cool down.
|
| 6|:30am portaloos without a line |
|
| Come start time, the lines were the longest I have every been in |
Location: Throughout the “Windy City” in the midwest of the United States. The city is easily accessible by most major airlines.
|
| Such a cool display to get the runners going in the early morning. |
Atmosphere: I love Americans. They are excited to be there and cheer for the runners. There was rarely a lull in spectators along the course. Signs were in abundance and made me chuckle. Favourites included ‘You are running better than our government” and “Make America chaff again”. People were also handing out candy, donuts, pretzels and beer. I even heard someone say “Who shows up to watch a marathon for four hours and doesn’t bring beer?”
|
| Custom sign from my friend, Pattie, who flew in from Atlanta for the weekend |
Race bling and goody bags: I might be a bit biased, but the medal is pretty cool as it means I am 1/2 way through my WMM quest. Goody bags had various drinks and snacks. Everyone got a free Goose Island beer too at the finish. Unfortunately, I don’t drink beer but I took one to share with friends or fellow finishers. No one was up for it though so I ended up throwing it away.
|
| So happy to be done |
Tips if you want to take part next time: I did a lot of research before the race to look for other tips. The best one I read was that the GPS get confused in the city because of the tall buildings. The suggestion was to keep track of miles as “laps” for your mile splits. I found this a good distraction tool but did miss the mile marker a few times. As I have found for many of these big races, there isn’t a need to carry water as the aid stations are so frequent. I decided to wear my Osprey Duro rucksack to keep a small amount of water on hand in the heat. I sipped it along the way and took Gatorade on board at the aid sessions where I could.
|
| Halfway there! |
I highly recommend you to do the 5k the day before the marathon. It was a lot of fun and can be something to do with your friends and family who are in Chicago with you but not taking part in the marathon. After the race, there is an awkward/stiff walk to the park where you can get a free massage at the after party. If you tend to be stiff after a race, let me warn you that the walk is long to get there. It is worth it though as you walk by the picturesque fountain and there was hardly a wait line. Plus the massage feels so good after your efforts on the course. I didn’t stay for the party in the park because we had dinner plans but it didn’t seem too busy.
|
| Line to enter the massage tent |
Finally, the weather is unpredictable for that time of year so be prepared to give up a PB (PR) if it is hot outside. I know it sucks, but you need to take care of you.
|
| Start of the 5K with friends |
I want to say thank you to my friends, Pattie, Lisa and Mel who came to Chiacago for the weekend. Also, big thanks to Christian, Leigh, Mia and Moo for allowing me to move in for week and for a fabulous celebratory dinner. It was so good to be back in my homeland. I was lucky enough to earn three medals and a belt buckle in eight days in two different states. It is a trip I will never forget.
Recent Comments