An Incomplete 13.1 Chicago Race Report

13.1 Chicago course map

After only an hour's sleep, the Green Girl woke up at 3 am to get ready for 13.1 Chicago.

I arrived at the Museum of Science and Technology shortly before 4:30 and parked my car outside the closed parking structure.

They opened up the garage and I parked and walked up to the entrance of the museum where yellow school buses were lined up.

Buses at the Museum of Science and Technology

A runner named Moses from Wisconsin sat next to me on the shuttle and we chatted about the race and the warm weather. I mentioned it was still 78 degrees when I landed at MDW at midnight.

When we got to the South Shore Cultural Center, we waited for Jill, a friend of one of the runners from Miles For Smiles, a team dedicated to raising money for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST), to get my bib and race packet.

Sun rise over Lake Michigan

The sun painted the sky with deep hues of red and orange as it rose over Lake Michigan.

Jill and Moses went off for warm-up runs while I walked around the cultural center.

As I was heading for the last corral of the alphabet, O, I ran into Moses. I wished him luck and told him I hoped the Finish Line would still be there when I got back. He said he hoped to win.

13.1 Chicago Start/Finish Area at the South Shore Cultural Center

The officials let us know there was a Yellow Flag alert for the race due to the hot weather conditions and mentioned there was a possibility the race could be closed if it got hotter.

My strategy to deal with the heat and humidity was to go with 5:1 run/walk intervals, listen to my body, hydrate as much as possible, and take Succeed! S Caps electrolyte capsules.

Mile 1 marker with Yellow Flag

Despite the heat and lack of sleep, my body felt good and I was ready to run.

I stopped each mile at the well stocked aid stations. I gulped blue sports drink and poured water over my head.

The stretches without shade were almost unbearable but every now and then a welcome breeze would blow through.

By the time I reached Mile 6, the flag had been elevated to Red and the clock had been disabled.

Mile 6 marker with Red Flag

At the halfway point, the timing mat had been removed.

Including walk breaks, I was averaging a 14:30 minute mile so I knew I was well under the 16 minute cut-off.

The Mile 7 marker had a Black Flag. I continued running.

When I was at 7.47 miles, we were stopped in our tracks by race volunteers. They let us know due to the heat, the race was Black Flagged and officially closed.

Mile 7 marker with Black Flag

Disappointed, we all lined up for a shuttle to take us to the Finish Line.

It wasn't until we were on the bus that we heard news of a runner dying. Humbled, we stopped complaining about not being able to finish the race ourselves.

Boarding the bus back to the Finish Line

At the Finish Line, we all received our not completely earned medals.

I saw Moses and I asked him how he did. He told me he won and I high fived him. I asked him how Jill did and he said she placed fourth.

I explained how I only went 7.47 miles before the race was closed and told him how a runner had died.

Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza

Moses and I grabbed a finisher's slice of Lou Malnati’s pizza and found a shady spot to relax and cool off.

I asked him if he got to break the ribbon since he came in first and he said yes. I told him I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

First Place Overall Male - Moses Waweru

After we finished eating, I followed Moses as he went to claim his first place award and prize money.

Even though I didn't get to finish my race, I was so proud of Jill and Moses for their outstanding performances!