In the list of things you have to do while in Chicago I am herewith very happy to be able to cross out two items today: the 5K Race of the Death I have been training for since four weeks and the Chicago Architectural Society`s River Cruise. The fact that we have also opened the guests` season with Riin and O`Neal made both especially enjoyable.
Below are Riin`s and Clerg`s shots of the run that took place in the historic Pilsen and University Village neighborhoods.
Here I am, probably the whitest person in at least ten miles distance at seven thirty in the morning stretching for my run which I was optimistically hoping to finish within under 33 minutes, pessimistically not as the last one ...
... which did not prevent everyone else putting on a costume and up a jumbo latino party in an early Halloween celebration.
Soon it was time to leave my gear with Riin, my prep trainer, while the boys were looking for a parking lot (there were 3000 registered runners), and join the others in the start line...
... and start a very entertaining tour through the neighborhood. This tour was probably also the safest and the least touristic one could ever have in a hood of the city, not to mention the healthiest, considering my training and the distance and my heart rate. Peanuts.
The streets were hemmed with the community members making music - DJs, children`s choirs, youth bands and dance groups. All this early in the morning with the sun rising made such an emotional scenery....
... So emotional that I actually had to hold back tears when at the one-mile-point, a band of about seven eight-year-old boys were performing their pop songs to cheer us runners up. Because it kind of weakened my knees it also probably affected my finish time so I guess in addition to working on my speed, I also have to work on my psychological preparation to a race. (Only now I understand why runners or cross-country skiers never really respond to the over enthusiastic spectators.)
I was of course all the time looking for my fan club, who were evidently also looking for me. Below, Riin and O`Neal 100 yard s to the finish line. The latter, not having had anything for breakfast.
By the time the first runners had started to come in (after 15 minutes)...
...the boys had lost Riin and Riin had found a new friend. Extra credits for the costume, dude. (I only wore some skeleton-gloves.)
That`s me approaching the finish line!
And this is us after I had finished with 32.12.8, 136th out of 354 in female age group 30 to 34, 1121th overall and before re-locating our rental.
On our way, we saw a bit more of the neighborhood.
PS. We wanted to go out to a blues club tonight, then toned it down to a comedy club, then to a bar close by, and then to two bottles of wine at home. As you can see below, it was worth it - this is the fireworks as seen from our living room.
PPS. This blog entrance is fully dedicated to my sister Mannu, who, as I realized thanks to FB, ran a 15K race today. How cool is that. And very motivating.
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