Yesterday I completed my fourth Abbott World Marathon Major in Chicago. It was a lot harder than I expected: it was hot and the sun was very strong, and it definitely felt more like summer than autumn. It wasn't too bad in the city, but out in the suburbs, it felt scorching hot.
It is fair to say that I really enjoyed the run—there was lots of support all throughout the course, with music, people cheering, and even free beer!
Looking back, it reminded me a lot of Berlin, in that the most interesting views were in the city section. The neighbourhoods, which made up most of the run, were fun but not as special as the city skyline. I like that the course took different angles of the city so you got to see a lot.
One thing that did suck though, was the start. There were too few toilets, so I was busting and had to stop on the run, which is never pleasant experience. I also found it difficult to locate my starting pen. For some reason, they label them alphabetically, but a couple are not in order, which wasn’t obvious. I had to ask two marshals where to go.
Overall, it was a good experience. If I did it again, I'd arrive in America sooner so as not to be so jet-lagged. I'd also plan my meals better. The race and the city were great; I would come back here again. Special thanks to Kath and Thom for being my best supporters throughout. Now that I said I would never do this again, I am secretly dreaming of Boston, Tokyo and Sydney, the remaining of the 7 Marathon Majors.
