I’m back on my side of the Atlantic for today’s travel destination to the US.
I have very fond memories of Chicago – the city of my first marathon run in 2004.
This is a city that shuts down its streets and embraces 45,000 runners (“only” 30,000 runners in 2004) … from elite to newbies … stampeding along the 42km route. The race route goes through several different neighbourhoods and virtually all of them come out to party and cheer on the strangers who have travelled from around the world to be there for this event.
The mood is outright energizing.
My favourite memory of the race was a guy who had hauled out his Lazy-Boy chair to the sidewalk in front of his house. With a thermos of coffee (ok, that’s an assumption) and his breakfast on a small table beside him, he cheered heartily as we ran by.
On a beautiful weekend in October, Chicago is a great place to be if you’re a runner.
My Life Lived Full 
Joanne can take pretty pictures while running a marathon. Be more like Joanne. 😉 Kidding aside, it’s truly pretty, you are amazing, and yay for that guy.
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hahaha!! Thanks Manja – although I’m not one of those people who can run a race and take photos at the same time 🙂. I leave that for playing tourist later!
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[…] Wrigley Building, has kinda-sorta already been featured by Joanne Sisco in a blog post memory of her visit to Chicago, when she was running a marathon. I’m tempted to point out the relative ease of running a […]
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It’s a lot prettier than I imagined…or saw in the movies.
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I had heard great things about Chicago from other runners who had done the race. The city did not disappoint.
I would be afraid to go back and do it again for fear it could not live up to my lofty memories 🙂
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Yes, always keep great memories precious and untainted by change, progress, etc.
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Now I want to do Chicago Marathon!
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We always remember our first one fondly 🙂
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What a lovely memory.
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Thanks. It was, however I can’t help but wonder if the weather had been really awful and I had had a terrible race, whether my memories would still be so fond.
I doubt it 😉
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I had an ex husband whose grandparents lived in Chicago (Highland Park). I will call this your Charming C fro Chicago post, which was the site of your first marathon! Run, Joanne, run! 🙂
I have been to Chicago a few times, just not recently and I like it’s museums ifvart and science. C could be for Cultural Chicago, too.
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I’m not a big fan of roaming through museums and some people are horrified to discover I’m been somewhere and didn’t go to their whatever-famous-museum.
Perhaps it’s more Un-Cultured Joanne Goes to Cultural Chicago and misses it 😉
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Great way to have experienced this city by running through its streets. We went as tourists a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the tourist core, lakefront and canals. There is a much more troubled side to Chicago though.
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Sad, but true.
I’m aware that seeing a city during a race weekend is rather an artificial view of what it might really be like. Tourists flood into the city by the thousands, and the energy is very high and excited.
The reality when everyone goes home is often very different.
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Thanks for the photos…I would love to visit Chicago…the architects…..Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony came from Chicago, and they won a competition (as you do!) to design Canberra, Australia’s capital city….without them we wouldn’t have this lovely city!
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That’s interesting. I knew Canberra was a designed city. I wasn’t aware the architects were from Chicago.
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Yes, they are not very well known, I must do a bit more research and do post on them
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The only time I was in Chicago was on a business trip in November… and it was very cold and blustery. I had been told that the architecture was amazing but I had to keep my head down in order to slice through the wind. Maybe I need to go back when the weather is more welcoming.
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I’ve heard Chicago gets its nickname the Windy City for good reason. I’ll consider myself lucky I was there when conditions were calm 🙂
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I’ve been to Chicago several times and enjoyed myself immensely. They are certainly struggling with local challenges right now, and I wish them luck in making things safer for residents and tourists. 🙂
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oh, that’s too bad. I’m guessing it’s becoming increasingly unsafe?
That would be a shame .
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What a great place to do your first marathon. I love Chicago…I lived there for awhile back in the 80’s (so long ago).
The photos you chose for this post are great
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I could have done my first one in Toronto. There are a couple of them in the city, but I wanted it to be special.
I had heard so much about the Chicago Marathon. It has an amazing reputation … at least it did, I don’t know if it still does.
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I travelled all the way to Dallas for my first half 🙂 (45 minutes!)
BTW…42km sounds so much farther than 26.2 miles!
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yes – but a mile is soooo much further than a km 😉
I’d rather measure many short distances than fewer long distances 🙂
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LOL!
When I am in Canada I use my 5k, 10k, knowledge to navigate milage!
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I do the same thing with miles!!
My hiking partner is an old-school runner. Everything is in miles. It’s deeply ingrained in my head that a 10-miler is 16 km 🙂
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LOL!
If it weren’t for running I’d probably have no idea that 5k = 3.1 miles!!
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When I lived in Chicago they used to dye the river green on St. Patrick’s Day – it’s definitely a city with a distinct character!
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Wow – I can’t begin to imagine all the dye required to do that. How long did it last?
Funny, I would never consider turning water green. As the owner of a swimming pool, green water is never a good thing! 😉
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Chicago is one of my favourite cities in North America. Thanks for the revisit!
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… and thanks for visiting 🙂
… by the way, I’ve always had a fascination with Cape Horn. Unfortunately I’ve discovered I do get very seasick.
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I’ve battled through that, Joanne. These e days I’m (usually) all right!
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I’m no runner but have wanted to visit Chicago since the ER days…think I hoped I might actually bump into George Clooney there!
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You have me there. I was never an ER fan, so I had no idea it was even placed in Chicago 🙂
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haven’t been to Chicago since I was a tiny baby- so no memories-nice pics! Great theme!
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Thanks 🙂 Maybe you are due for a re-visit 😉
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We have never been to Chicago. What a shame. Good for you to do the marathon and what a help to have so many people cheering. I think I might have stopped at the Lazy Boy and begged to have a rest and some special coffee. 🙂
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There were a couple of streets doing some serious partying – at 10 am! It would have been fun to stop and mingle for a while 🙂
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I suppose that might have put an end to the marathon, at least for me it would have. 🙂
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Ha, but not if you’re a driver! There are so many times here in L.A. when I’ve had to rearrange my travels for the day to accommodate for road closures. I guess that’s just me being selfish.
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Yeah – I know. We hear it in Toronto too. Some drivers get really worked up and yell obscenities at the runners as they go by 😦
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Oh wow, that’s almost funny.
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Not really. Toronto drivers are – for the most part – just assholes.
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Hey, try driving in L.A. I think it’s just something about getting behind the wheel.
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Sadly, I think you’re right. About an hour ago I was nearly side-swiped by an SUV that decided to occupy the lane while I was in it.
Then he proceeded to yell at me in his rear-view mirror waving his arms around angrily like it my fault.
Sigh.
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I think a lot of men drivers can be hostile to women, especially when they were the ones doing something stupid!
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I haven’t been to Chicago in so long! Your photos are beautiful. I cannot imagine so many people all running at the same time, but then I can barely imagine running at all, so what do I know? 😉
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This was the first really big race I ever participated in. It took almost 30 minutes for me to cross the starting line after the starting gun went off.
Long distance running is a special kind of crazy.
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Your photos make me want to brave the bullets and visit the Windy City.
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Thankfully I did not encounter the former nor any of its legendary wind 🙂
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I have heard that Chicago is a great city to visit. Our son & daughter-in-law are there this week, on a little mini vacation. Will have to pick their brains upon their return!
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It would be fun to hear their reaction. When I’m seeing a city only during a race weekend, it’s hard to know what it’s really like during a normal day 🙂
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I’ll fill you in when I see you!
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Excellent!
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Chicago looks like a really cool city Joanne 🙂 I love the image with the river running through it.
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I really liked Chicago although to be honest, it’s hard to judge a city based on a race weekend when it’s packed with people and energy levels are really high. Everywhere we went everyone was happy, excited, and in good spirits – that includes the restaurants, bars, etc.
I’ve discovered the mood of the people I encounter affects how I feel about a place.
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These are beautiful shots, but the image that is most vivid in my mind after ready this is the one that you created with your words… Thanks for including the tid-bit about the breakfasting marathon spectator in the Lazy-Boy. What a sight that must have been! I can just imagine! Such a chuckle 🙂
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Thank you! When you’re running in a big race, you see all kinds of weird things. This guy definitely stood out 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Nice shots Joanne.
Since I don’t run unless someone is actually chasing me 😉 I can’t comment on your marathon experience, but I’ve always found Chicago to be a wonderful city to visit. There’s so much to see and do.
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Thanks Norm. I’ve been there only once and it was such a wonderful experience.
Although running 42km really hurt, it was a great way to experience a city and its people.
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Can’t go wrong with Chicago, running or not……well, unless you’re there during one of THOSE winters! 🙂
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oooo – winter. No. Very bad idea to go in winter!
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I’m not a runner, but I certainly do love Chicago!
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What a great city! … and I had heard about all the great restaurants. It was true 🙂
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I live so close to Chicago, but rarely get there to visit. I did spend a lovely, long birthday weekend there a few years ago and fully enjoyed Michigan Avenue and many other sites in the city. I would love to go back again and explore more of it.
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That makes 2 of us!
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Hey, watching all those runners is hard work 🙂
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It might sound ironic, but it really is hard work! I really dislike being a spectator at a race. It’s brutal.
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My daughter an I did the New York 5 Borough Bike Tour (twice). The first time, it was in the upper 90s. As we rode through Brooklyn, a family had their kids out spraying a hose up in the air. You could ride off to the side, or you could ride through a cooling shower. We both opted for the shower.
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The New York 5 Borough Bike Tour? This is something I’m going to have to look up. I like the sound of that 🙂
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It was fun. Starts in Battery Park. Up 6th Ave, through Central Park, Bonx and down East Side Highway. Over Queensboro Bridge. Around a park, down the BQE, then up and over the Verrazano bridge to a park on Staten Is. Take the ferry back to Battery Park. First weekend in May (probably booked solid for this year). 35,000 bikes the years we did it.
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35,000?! Wow.
I’m guessing this is a leisurely ride, not a race?
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It is, but since they are closing some pretty major roads, you need to be able to keep a pace above 10 mph. If you don’t cross the QB bridge early enough, the have you skip the park in Queens. If you don’t get down the BQE fast enough, they send you back to Battery Park via the Brooklyn Bridge. There are a couple of congestion points, where it is very hard to keep a meaningful pace.
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I guess they would need to do that – but 10 mph isn’t a bad pace.
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We trained for each one, shooting for a sustained pace of 13 mph as we worked up to 35 miles. You get slowed down so often that you need the ability to break away from the pack a little. The first year, it was so hot that we couldn’t skip any of the water stations. the second year, it was cooler. We skipped the first rest stop and got into a much less congested part of the group.
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I’ve made a note of this tour. Sounds like it would be a fun way to visit the city.
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Calamity Jane *just got back from the windy city*, but mostly the Blues Brothers – I was just talking about that movie today; the scene where they live right next to the railway line – what a classic. Marathons? I get a stitch after 100 metres. I’m as good with them as you are with guitars. 🙂
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ouch – that bad, huh?
If we’re talking movies, Chicago makes me think of gangsters 🙂
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No, not bad, but I was always the one who took a short cut with cross the country runs. Chicago looks really interesting. Enjoying your entries, Joanne.
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Well, you’re one up on me. I didn’t do cross country – or any running for that matter – until my late 40s. I was a late bloomer 😉
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Not related, but I follow ‘not quite nigella’ on FB and she put this up. This looks good – so lucky. If this old news, apologies
http://www.notquitenigella.com/2016/04/03/toronto-restaurants-downtown-midtown-distillery-brick-works/
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Thanks Mick. I’m hungry now after reading this article before having breakfast 😉
I enjoyed the article – I’ve actually been to 3 of the 4 places she featured. Although I’ve been to Yorkville, I haven’t been to that particular restaurant.
Canoe is a very high-end restaurant and I’ve been lucky enough to go there several times on an expense account during my working life. Unfortunately it’s rather out of my snack-bracket to go on my own tab 🙂
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I love Chicago! I’ve been there twice and got to explore a lot of the Miracle Mile. The Lincoln Zoo. The locks on the lake. Marshall Fields for those delicious candies! Not at all like your marathon memories but Chicago memories all the same.
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I like your memories!
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October is about the best month to be out in Chicago. Not too hot, not too cold. Maybe the road constuction is done. Maybe we’ve had a frost to kill off some skeeters. Yup! Come here in October!
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The only time I’ve ever been there and the weather was simply PERFECT. I couldn’t have asked for better 🙂
I’m almost afraid to go back for fear it won’t be as wonderful as it was the first time.
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Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin’ town….
Well, it would be if I was ‘running’ a marathon…
Chicago looks lovely. And their marathon is in October? Hm. [scribbles note on “H’s 50th Birthday Marathon” list]
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I could come watch you run 🙂
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Okay, adding that to the “Pros” column for that one. 🙂
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We could make it a party!! 🙂
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Ooooh, paaaaarrrrty!!
But after the race, right?
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MJ and I could start earlier to warm up the engines so it’ll be in full swing by the end of the race 😉
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But you’ll still have your bar stools on the street to wave your wine glasses at me as I go by, right?
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Absolutely!!
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Put two asteriks by it to make it look really important.
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The photos are breathtaking and your words make them more interesting! 🙂
@rosemawrites from
A Reading Writer
Chase: A Cinquain
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Thank you 🙂
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