Pictures from Lakefront Ultramarathon/Rest Week
So, I decided on the spur of the moment to enter the Chicago Lakefront Ultramarathon 50M race - here’s details with tickets
Hair was cut the morning before the race, then I took off for the Amtrak to Chicago
I ended up getting a fantastic rate on a room at the Palmer House Hilton, staying on the Executive Floor - private elevator, etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t really have enough time to fully enjoy the room, due to the race.
I met up with JBo at Bistrot Margot for a pre-race dinner…
Pre-dinner cocktail
Pate appetizer
Sautéed Whitefish, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Haricots Vert, Lemon-Caper Amandine Sauce
(not pictured - Pre-race dessert of Beignets De Pommes - Fresh Apple Slices in a Warm, Golden Crisp Beignet with Apricot Coulis and Vanilla Ice Cream)
4:30 the next morning, I was up and ready to go
Still dark out, and the race started promptly at 6:30am. A little chilly at the start, but nothing bad - just cool enough to keep cool, but not too cold. Not much wind to speak of, and I was feeling pretty good, and right on pace. The course consisted of a short (roughly 1-1/2 mile) loop, followed by 3 long (roughly 16 mile) loops.
The long loops took us from 63rd stret up to the planetarium, then around Northly Island, where there were a bunch of wild flowers still in bloom. I felt pretty good for all of my first loop, and I stopped very briefly at my drop bag to grab a Hammer Bar. Soon after starting my second loop, the wind started picking up out of the north, and my pace started slowing down. By the time I got up to Northerly Island, the wind was gusting up to about 25MPH, and I was feeling pretty beat up - my ankles and feet were taking a beating from the pavement, and I was considering dropping after the second loop. I decided that I’d finish the second loop before making and decisions, change my socks when I got back to my drop bag, and see how I was feeling then. Josh met up with me on my way back to the start/finish point, and encouraged me to run as much as possible of the way back.
I got back to the start/finish point, changed my socks, and decided to stop at that point - my ankles and feet were killing me, and I didn’t feel like dealing with the wind for another loop.
Josh helped me get back to the hotel, and we headed out for a drink and lunch
Manhatten and a bleu cheese/bacon burger
Post-ultra snack - Lay’s Limón potato chips and Cran/Raspberry Xenergy, which gave me the energy for several of the following before bed:
Bombay Sapphire Martini in the hotel bar.
I spent most of the last week in active recovery mode, and headed back up to Chicago for FoBAB and sushi this past weekend. Now I’m back home, and am starting the base phase of training for McNaughton next April. Feeling mostly recovered from the Lakefront Ultra - my left ankle is still a bit sore, but getting better.
