Oddly enough, I figured I writing might get in the way of my
running, instead, I have focused more on my running recently and it seems to
have infringed on the time I generally like to set aside to write. I need to
start making more time to write again, but without letting my running suffer
(still have that little half marathon thing coming up in a couple weeks). Time
to catch up on a few things!
Race to Wrigley
recap!
It was wonderful to revisit my very first race one year ago
on that day. Also refreshing, was actually being trained and in shape enough to
actually enjoy running instead of enjoy walking the race. Met up with a few friends (who also blog! Eric's Race Recap and Jennifer's Race Recap!) for the race who it is always fantastic to run with and grab brunch and swap stories with afterwards. I ended up taking the race
pretty easy (it wasn’t difficult to drastically improve on my time from last
year) as I still had the ‘main event’ Journey To The End Of The Night (JTTEOTN)
later that evening which would involve significantly more running than my 5K
warm up race that morning.
Breakdown:
Packet pickup – The packet pickup was well organized and easy
to get to. I was in and out in less than five minutes. Unfortunately, upon
looking inside my bag outside of the Cubs Store across from Wrigley Field where
the packet pickup was held, I discovered that this year the race organizers decided
to go with a basic, blue, cotton T-Shirt instead of the Tech Shirt like last
year. Quite depressing as I always like acquire more race gear to run in during
the week (saves on how often I have to do laundry, after all). Other than this,
I had no complaints about the packet pickup.
Gearcheck/Waves and Corrals. – Gear Check lines were long. It seemed similar
to most simple, small race, packet pickups that I have seen. They divided the
lines by race bib, but the lines for the earlier registered runners with lower
numbers had very long lines compared to the rest of the racers (which still had
adequate lines themselves). Most runners, ourselves included, waited until
about a half hour before the race to actually check gear, to keep hoodies,
cellphones, etc. as long as they could before jumping into their starting
position. I didn’t check any gear, but waited with another friend who did. We
had just gotten to the front of the line to check his gear as the ‘gun’ went
off to start the race. We made it to the starting line in time to start with
the rest of the other ‘chip time’ runners (instead of the ‘fun run’ runners who
started immediately after), but we ended up hoping into the ranks along with
people hovering well below twelve minute miles. This meant I had to do quite a
bit of bobbing, weaving, waiting, and passing along the way. I wanted to take
this race slow anyway (because Journey was later that evening), so it didn’t
bother me too much that my time was affected due to getting caught in some
congested areas where I could not pass people going at a much slower pace than I
prefer (especially for a short race). Compared to my time from last year
however, this time still blew it out of the water, so no complaints.
Course layout – exactly the same as I remember it from last
year. A nice 3.1 mile loop around Wrigley area that ends with running through
the outer area of the stadium (you don’t actually get to see the field (unless
you raise over $1,000) which is sort of sad (but a nice reward for those who do
raise the money). Hopefully the come up with another way next year to run
around closer to the field. Good, reliable course otherwise. There is that
sharp turn at about the two mile mark, but I have never taken the turn fast
enough for it to affect my run.
Finish line – Shorter finishing area after you cross the line,
as people like to stop and get a view of their friends who are also near
finishing. For the most part though, people seem to continue on their way to
grab a banana and/or a bagel and some water. Good, solid, race and I look
forward to it every year. Good starter race for people who run but don’t
typically race (or those who are just starting running altogether for that
matter! Spread the running love and bring a friend!)
JTTEOTN Recap!
While, in the strictest sense, this is not technically a ‘race’,
it involves more running than most people do in a year over the span of one
night in the streets of our fair city of Chicago. The course varies in size,
distance, and location each year. Usually if you run it like a general race, it
is (plus or minus) about 5 miles if you take the most absolutely, direct route.
This is difficult to do, as there are several ‘chasers’ who will be able to
outrun some of the fastest runners (also there is at least one bike chaser as
well). Most routes take the most round-about way of getting to the checkpoints
in order to arrive safely from some unpatrolled roads and back allies. One
successful route used by two participates in this year’s Journey To The End Of
The Night, ended up being roughly twenty-two miles from start to finish (and
can be seen here). They did not run this entirely like a race [hello impromptu
marathon!]; however there is always running involved.
I have run JTTEOTN several times now, but always as a
participant. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of peering around each corner
and looking down an alley before continuing along the sidewalk for fear that a
chaser may be lurking around the corner ready to sprint after you and your
companions. Many people find that this habit continues for weeks afterwards.
The rush is incredible! As a participant, there is quite a bit of sneaking,
jogging, and sprinting involved. What I had not anticipated, when I signed up
as a chaser for this year’s run of Journey, was the sheer amount of running
involved for chasers! One would think I would have taken this for granted as
being an obvious thing, as I signed up to be a person who ‘chases’ and runs
after people [many faster than me] all night long.
While some chasers prefer to run down their victims like a
lion after a gazelle, chasers such as myself prefer to hunt like raptors. If
you find you are being pursued by a chaser who keeps up with you but just doesn’t
seem to have the speed to catch you, do not get too comfortable; they are
probably chasing you toward two (or more) of their friends who are either in
front of you or off to the sides, just waiting to intercept or to join the hunt
with fresher legs after you have been worn down by their brethren.
Breakdown:
Packet pickup – ‘Race’ day only packet pickup. Everyone shows
up at the designated time (6:30 PM this year) at the disclosed location. If you
get there early (which is of course perfectly welcome and a good opportunity to
hang out with people, mingle, speculate, etc.) you will still not be allowed to
do ‘packet pickup’ until 6:30.
Packet pickup always
includes:
Not just A map,
but THE map. This is how you will
find the checkpoints, what part of the city you will be lost and running
through this season, and where ‘safe zones’ might protect you best.
A blue ribbon. You start with this ribbon tied, visibly, to
one your upper arms to signify that you are a Runner.
A red ribbon. This is for when I catch you and convert you
into a Chaser so you can turn on your friends and run down anyone else you can,
to ensure they feel the same rush as you felt as you were chased through the
city of Chicago. This is a whole different part of the game. People will tell
you stories about playing both sides in one night and how it affects your state
of mind as well as your strategy.
A warm smile. Because they have been right where you are
right now and envy you.
Gear check – none. Bring what you can carry. The end point will
be generally near one of the CTA train lines to get you back to wherever it was
you came from after the best night of your year has come to a close.
Waves and Corrales – No chorales. One wave. There are starting announcements
(generally a basic rundown of the rules and warnings that not everyone in Chicago
is playing this game and cars and busses can still kill you) then 500 – 1,000
people who had just occupied a part in Somewhere, Chicago are simultaneously
unleashed onto the city, to run and claw and fight to reach their designated
checkpoints in one piece. For the first time I got to see this sight as a chaser
who was at the starting line, watching hundreds of people scatter at once,
instead of myself running for cover as soon as all of the runners were
unleashed onto the city. Powerful sight.
Course layout – Choose your own adventure. There are
checkpoints listed (usually about 6) and it is up to the runners to determine
the best course they think will allow them the greatest chance for survival to
the finish (without meeting many chasers and hoping they can outrun or outwit
those they find). Fast? Maybe try direct? Endurance your thing? Try the
round-about way and make a marathon out of it. Have speed AND endurance? Think about
being a chaser (or a runner that is a fun challenge for the chasers).
Finish line – The finish is typically at a hosting bar. This
year, the race was in a pretty well-known area and so to get a bar to agree to
have THAT many people show up on a Saturday night was a bit of a stretch. Instead,
it ended in a central location with a list of ‘host’ bars within about a block of
the finish. Also the end is always near a CTA train line to get people back to
whatever part of town in which they will eventually need to sleep.
With all of the constant running through the city, main
roads, side roads, allies, sprinting after countless runners and patrolling back
streets and populated streets in anticipation of clever runners plotted
courses, this is always a very intense day for running. Glad I at least got the
5K warm up and some brunch in before the evening so I would have fuel enough to
make it through to the end of the night. Can’t wait until the next run!
