Chicago Marathon 10.10.10, or Asia, Jerry, and Adair's Big Adventure

Our perfect viewing spot at the 20.5 mile point.

We can look so fresh because we didn't just run 26.2 miles in 85* heat!!

Some of the team and support crew.

Gwen, Asia and Eduardo

We finally got to meet Sam! This was his 48th marathon this YEAR!

No, Asia didn't run it. But as soon as we saw how many of our team were going, we wanted to go cheer for them. And when we found out that Sam (http://www.operationjack.com/) was going to be there, it was a no-brainer. We had to go.

I started researching a month or so ago, and we tossed around the idea of taking the train, but Jerry had to work Saturday morning, so that was out. After quizzing my company's sales rep in Chicago, I decided that we'd drive over, stay near Midway airport, then take the *L* from Midway to downtown. The bonus was that we'd get to hop off and see part of the race....the 20.5 mile point....and hopefully see some of our guys running. ***Imagine trying to spot 61 familiar faces in a speeding blur of 45,000 people.***

The drive to Chicago was blessedly uneventful.....we stopped at Culver's in Stephensville for dinner, then arrived at the hotel about 7:30. Plenty of time to relax and plan our strategy for Sunday morning. I had maps of *Everything*....from how to get to Midway to the CTA route map to how to get to the Runners Reunite area, where we were all going to meet at the letter *R* for .....runner, or Running Fit, or (wait for it.........) RENNING!!!

We were up at 5am for breakfast at 6, then off to Midway. Part of my planning included preparing for unpredictable weather. I mean, after all, it's October 10....which could mean just about anything weather-wise. And we were going to the *Windy City*. So we took every combination of clothes from shorts and tanks to jeans and sweatshirts...........all team-oriented, of course, with rain jackets thrown in for good measure..........and this was for a 1 night trip. WHEW!!! It turned out to be wonderful spectator weather and not so great runner weather....55* at the start, warming quickly. I started out in jeans and a jacket but soon changed to the shorts I had in my backpack. The jacket was shed not long after.

We were the only ones at the corner of Halstead and Archer. We claimed our spot by the guard rail and draped our 10+ years old Red/Black/White Milan CC jackets over the fence to both save our spots and provide a visual sign for our runners. I had started my race watch at 7:30 sharp, and signed us up for runner tracking. We kept expecting text messages that didn't come until 8:40!!! The first 2 told us that John, Katie's husband and Sam had crossed the start at 8:06 and 8:07!!!! More than 30 minutes after the supposed start of the race!!! We tried to figure out, based on their previous races, when they might pass us. Higher math :>(

Gradually our little corner began to fill. A couple from San Francisco were there to cheer for their daughter. The support crew for a high school team parked behind us and began to wheel generators, coolers, flags, and camp chairs down the street closer to the water stop.

I have to hand it to the event organizers.......they gave us lots of notice that something was about to happen. 15 minutes before the wheelers arrived there was a *15 minute* van that came thru. Then the *10min.* van, then the *5 min* van, then..........there were the first wheelers! We could see them coming down the street under the train overpass. Such amazing athletes!

More down time. Chatting with the neighbors, waiting for the runners to appear.

And then in the distance we could hear sirens and bells and whistles. The flashing lights of police vehicles appeared under the overpass. The *5* minute van passed, but it wasn't 5 minutes until the police cars were there. Then a 20-motorcycle cavalcade passed, then the official pace car with the time of 1:38:38. And there were the elite runners. The first 7 were from Kenya and Ethiopia. They seemed absolutely effortless as they rounded the corner for the final 5.7 miles of their race. They would finish the marathon in just over 2 hours!

We waited for more text messages announcing the progress of our runners. Nothing!

Finally more runners appeared under the bridge. (I say *finally* but that's just because we were waiting...........these guys were crazy fast.)

We began watching in earnest. We were pretty sure John and Sam would be the first 2 from our *watch list* to pass by, but we had no real idea when. We had no common uniform to watch for, and in Sam's case, we had never even met him in person. We had only seen his picture online. With a lot of our team mates, we can spot them by their running style, but with Sam, we didn't even have that.

Yeah, we're going to pick 61 people out of 45, 000............rrrriiiiigggghhttt!!!!

But then.........wow! THERE'S JOHN!!! (cue the screaming.....Way to go John!!! WHOOO HOOO!!) We got a head turn and a wave from John! And a few minutes later..........(me: 'is that Sam? Jerry, that's Sam!) By this time we'd made friends with the neighbors and were cheering for their people too, so the group of us yelled, "GO SAM!!!" Sam was clearly watching for us as he rounded the corner, but he didn't know us either!!!

Whew..........that's exciting!! What's next? More waiting? Scanning faces? OK, bring 'em on!!

All this time we'd tried to behave......to stay behind the baracades.....while others, who had arrived 2 hours after we did, began to fill in the street in front of us. The police did nothing. We and our neighbors yelled, "Get off the street!" All to no avail. When my view of the street became completely blocked I caved in to peer pressure and ran to the street too! We didn't drive all this way to look at a wall of backs!!

I should mention that the temperature had been steadilly rising, and it was only 9am. It felt like a summer morning. I was in heaven, but I knew our runners would be suffering.

We scanned the faces watching for Eduardo and Gwen but never did see them. Erin and Christine arrived wearing their electric blue wigs, waiting to jump in with Gwen but left with Laurie instead. We waited, wanting to see Katie pass before we left for the finish but didn't see her.

The *L* took us within a few blocks of the finish but we were still several blocks from the Runners Reunite area. I really wish I had not been in such a hurry to get there, because Grant Park looked really gorgeous!!. Someday I'll go back. On the way I got a call that some of our runners were suffering and were walking. It was that hot!!

We made our way thru the park, past runners proudly sporting their finishers medals, with bags of ice on their heads, on their necks, under their arms....courtesy of the support crew. NICE!!

Finally, at the letter *R* we found John (3:09:09), Gwen (3:20:16), Mandi (3:29:06), and Ryan. For all their protestations about how hard it was, they all looked fantastic!! We all knew that it would be a while before the walkers arrived, so we talked, took pictures and waited while the sun beat down. Eduardo (3:21:46) arrived, then Jean (4:05:22), and Melissa (4:12:23) and Laurie, with Karen, Zoe, and Christine (Team Melaurie).

I IM'd Sam (3:29:27) to direct him from the Charity Village to the Reunite area.

Mimi arrived, and Zak (4:43:42, first marathon!!) and Ge (4:33:36 PR!!). Katie and Jon arrived and everyone's camera came out. We tried to *will* the helicopters closer to provide some breeze.

And then it was time to leave. We walked Sam back to the Charity Village to meet his host for the weekend and then made our way to the *L* to take us back to Midway Airport. She kept reminding me how *flexible* she was being by waiting until after 12 to eat lunch. But, truth be told, we were ravenous too, and after we found the car, shed some clothes and put on sandals, we made our way to the nearest White Castle for sliders for Jerry and I and chicken rings for Asia.

It was a wonderful weekend. We had a night away, cheered for our team, and met Sam.

In less than 24 hours after we'd left, we were on our way back home. It was so fast that Jerry had jet lag Monday!

(If you're not too tired of reading, go to http://www.operationjack.com/ and read Sam's blog. You will be amazed at what he's accomplished this year...........the year of 48 (so far), 50, after this weekend, and soon to be 61 marathons.

Next report, the Detroit Half-Marathon!!!