Monday: 3m easy 8:35/pace, 20 min triceps, 10 abs

I have a good handful of friends and bloggers  that are running this Sunday’s Chicago Marathon! I want to help as much as I can with course tips & things to remember as we all begin to pack our bags for the weekend. Hope this helps!

Don’t Forget!

#1 Bring lots of different clothing options. Chicago’s weather is crazy this time of year and you never know if you’ll need shorts or pants, tshirt or tank come race day. Make sure you have an outfit plan set beforehand i.e. If the temps start at 55 or higher, I go in shorts and sports bra (sometimes a tank top). Anything under 55 gets a tshirt/capris.

#2 Bring throwaway clothes. You will want a sweatshirt/pants/hat/gloves you can toss off at the start line or in the first few miles of the race when you start warming up. You can clean out your closet, or just stop at a goodwill and get some ugly race day clothes :).

#3 Wear sunscreen/sunglasses. Sunscreen will keep your core temperature cooler longer–important during a marathon! Plus you know..who wants wrinkles?

#4 Don’t Chafe. It isn’t fun. Even if you’ve never ever, ever chafed before, a marathon might just do it to ya. Get some body glide, lube, vaseline, or what I love to use Bandaid Friction Stick and do what Frank’s Red Hot’s would suggest and put that shit on everything. No joke. I put that friction cream on inner thighs, under boobs, even the places where a tank or tee could rub against my skin. Toes, heels, arches…I’m not joking, i put this on everything. It’s skin insurance. (the friction cream is dry and non-messy which is why it goes everywhere…vaseline might be too messy for everywhere)

#5 Bring Compression socks/pants for traveling. These things have saved my life legs more than once while sitting on an airplane or driving home for hours. Seriously throw on a pair after a race or after you shower, your legs will never feel better (after a marathon of course).

#6 Race Day Nutrition- Bring the stuff you’ve tried and tested on your long runs. Honey Stingers have been my jam for the last year. Big thanks to my coach Lauren for introducing me to them!

#7 Coffee. Lots of it on race day. mmmmmmm

Course Info  (that I wish I had known before the longest run of my life.)  *SPOILERS!* <–haha

-The first 7 miles you run through the beautiful downtown area & then along the parks and lake for a bit. This tends to be windy since you’re on the lakefront and heading north. Don’t fight the wind or get caught up in pacing just yet. The crowd will be thick and the excitement will catch you early on. You’ll need your energy for the end of the race.

-Don’t forget to enjoy seeing all the different neighborhoods, they pass by quickly so try and take it all in.

-There are a lot of straight miles. Like you run in a straight line without breaks or turns for a mile or two at once.  Around Mile 23 the crowd support becomes scarce, the neighborhood is not very pretty and the last 3.2 miles are a straight line back up Michigan Ave. Just hang in there, put one foot in front of the other and crank up the motivational jams. You’re gonna need it. The crowd will reappear the closer you near the finish.

-It ends on a hill. Earn the medal. A flat 26 miles and you’re gonna finish on a .2 hill, but don’t worry, the crowd support is back and it’s almost time for a free beer.

-Don’t forget to enjoy yourself. This is one of the country’s biggest and best marathons! Take the time to distract yourself from the hard running and read the signs people are holding up, high five little kids, read the tech shirts in front of you to learn about different charities and reasons why people are running, smile, say hi to your fellow racers, give a couple words of encouragement if you see someone struggling near the end, give someone a compliment if you can. No matter what, enjoy this race, enjoy the run and have fun while you’re doing it.

Last Week’s Workouts

Monday: 20m Chest/Biceps, 10 abs

Tuesday: 5.3m tempo 7:49/pace, 10 core

Wednesday: 30m triceps & back

Thursday: 6m easy 8:23/pace

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 1.5m hilly hike!

Sunday: 10.2m easy 8:09/pace

Total Miles: 23

 What your best marathon advice?

 What’s your favorite race day nutrition?