A Place to Breathe

I ran my first two marathons in Chicago in 2000 & 2001. I relished the flatland, the cool October temperatures and the stunning architecture.

This weekend, I made my fifth trip to Chicago. While, I have not run 26.2 miles during this stint, I have been been delighted to able to run in a city so beautiful, so open in it’s wide, welcoming streets, and so nourished by the surrounding water.

Yesterday early morning, my travel buddy and I headed out the door after a long night of drinks and laughter. I had 4 more drinks than my usual 1 and I was feeling it as we took our first steps out of our hotel lobby. Immediately, my buddy pushed the pace. She has always been quicker than I, but somehow I had forgotten what her pace feels like. FAST. I may be the one to endure longer, but she is the speedster.

We took a straight route on State St and headed what we thought was in the direction of the Lake. The wide street was active with lots of folks already out and about. We navigated our way through walkers and bits of contruction. I noticed it felt good to move fast and to keep moving fast. My leg turnover much more fast than usual, my heart thumping more loudly, and my legs burning a bit more than usual. We came to a place where we just turned around and headed back so we could pick up another friend along the way who had been walking. A perefect morning workout in the Windy City that was not so windy, just a bit drizzly.

time: 26:45
mileage: best guess = 3.2-3.4 miles

While at dinner with old and new friends Saturday night, I mentioned to one new friend, I may or may not run on Sunday. My body had been fatigued for some time and I had not felt physically very good at the moment. But, after only 1 drink and a much needed good nights sleep, I was woke and 7am and was ready to go. After coffee, banana and some H20, I soon headed out for a solo run on a quiet and sparsely populated Sunday morning. It was wonderful to see the blue skies emerge after 2 days of overcast and intermittent drizzle and rain. The air felt clean and the day felt bright and promising. After going to bed and not feeling very good physically and emotionally, the Chicago roads were one again my salvation, my church, my friends. I zigzagged my way across Michigan Avenue and down to Lakeshore Drive. A few more steps and I was running on the path with the lake on my right and the myriad of downtown buildings to my left. As I looked ahead and over to the massive body if water, I felt gratitude; gratitude for it’s size, it’s massive capacity to hold me, my emotions. I felt I could breathe deep and exhale big. I was thrilled to see others like me out there...the fellow runners, the cyclists, dog walkers & ...all those engaging in the simple activity of movement.





Give me shorts, shoes, & a t-shirt and I am happy and home.

Thank you, Chicago.

Thank you.

time = 45:00
miles = best guess, 4.7-4.8