I could post, and post, and then post some more about Chicago, but as I (and in the theme of my life since the marathon) am so lazy and busy, I’ll just go point form at it:
- I was astonished at how much the city supported the marathon. From the moment I stepped off the plane, to the moment I headed home I heard hundreds of well wishes and good lucks. (The security guys at the airport asked to see my medal and were so impressed. I beamed.)
- The crowds at the marathon blew my mind. I had heard Chicago supported their marathon (cough unlike-Toronto cough), but it was still beyond my wildest expectations.
- I ran hard (o.k., that’s kind of a lie), and partied hard (o.k., 2nd lie, more like I-drank-a-lot-of-wine-and-sat-hard)
- I want to move to Chicago. (Dear US Immigration Office, I swear I’m cool! I swear! Love E)
- I was lucky enough to spot my parents 4 times on the course. They key was me finding them (my mom had a huge, bright pink sign)
- I went to North Western University and it was beautiful; an American-movie-university-cliche. I’m going to be *that* mother, and force my kids to go there.
- I bought tons of Nike marathon gear, only to lose my white, hooded sweater 3 days after it was purchased —> sooo sad.
- I received TONS of private facebook messages from people from my past when I updated my status, alerting my real life friends and/or people-I-should-delete-on-fb-but-won’t-because-I’ll-then-run-into-them that I, lover of all things tasty, ran a marathon. People are amazing sometimes; I was blown away by their kind words. One of my friends even changed her profile photo to a photo of her in her backyard holding a big sign that read, “Run E, Run!” I think all the support is a sign to how out-of-my-box the whole marathon thing was.
- While I was in Chicago, I hit 3 years at my job. I got a little pin from The Bank to say thank you. HOW HAS IT BEEN THREE YEARS? OMIGOD?
- I’m going to do a separate post on, “My weight and marathon training,” as well as, “what’s next?” I just need to find the time, which is proving hard as all I want to do is sleep, yet all I’m doing is go-go-go.
- I hardly went shopping in Chicago (WHA?), I just didn’t find the time —> there was too much sightseeing to do.
- I met up with 4 people from my blog world in Chi-City. Obs there was my encounter with Theodora before the race, Sarah, a reader from Kentucky who ran up next to me during the race and was exactly what I needed between miles 15 and 16, because omigod that stretch was brutal. (Sarah, how was the rest of your run?), another pretty lady from Germany(!), Caro, who I literally bumped into after the run (Caro! I will email you tonight - I have a funny story for you!!) and the ever so lovely Nicole, who I had a tasty lunch with, followed by a rendez-vous down Michigan Avenue with (Nicole, thank you for your email! Check yours tonight)
- Overall there is nothing I can complain about, the entire trip was spectacular, and Chicago will forever hold a special place in my heart.
