Chicago Marathon

Welcom to race week 2012.

The training is in the books, and runners are tapering into the 35th anual Chicago Maraton.

My training this year has been unfortunately sub-par, resulting in low to no expectations entering this year's race (and partly responsible for me not posting in this blog much this year).  My sub 3 hour run might be off the table after failing many of my recent hard workouts for reasons unknown.

Regardless, here's my race day info:

Victor DelRosso
Corral A
Bib: 2151

Some info sent out to race participants that might be helpful to potential spectators:

Recommended Spectator Viewing Areas

Family and friends attending the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will have limited race day access to Grant Park between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, and between Monroe Street and 11th Street. This area of Grant Park will be designated as a "Participant Only" zone until 8:30 a.m., at which time spectators will have access to additional areas of Grant Park, including Butler Field, site of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 27th Mile Post-Race Party. For recommended spectator viewing areas visit the Spectator Information page or download the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Spectator Guide.

Continue Your Post-Race Celebration with 312

312 Urban Wheat Ale is proud to set the pace for race day refreshment in Chicago. Join us immediately after the race to enjoy a 312 Urban Wheat Ale at the Bank of America 27th Mile Post-Race Party in Grant Park's Butler Field.

After the 27th Mile Post-Race Party, continue the celebration at one of the five 312 Post-Race Participant Celebrations throughout the city. Be one of the first three hundred twelve runners wearing their 2012 finishers medal at any of the five locations and the first 312 Urban Wheat Ale is on us!

This year's 312 Participant Celebrations will take place at:

Goose Island BrewpubClybourn 1800 N Clybourn Chicago, IL 60614 312.915.0071	Goose Island BrewpubWrigleyville 3232 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60657 773.832.9040	Lizzie McNeal's 400 North McClurg Court Chicago, IL 60611 312.467.1992
Hard Rock Café Chicago 63 West Ontario Chicago, IL 60654 312.943.2252	The Plaza at Park Grill 11 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60602 312.521.7275

Visit the 312 Urban Wheat Ale booth at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health and Fitness Expo to pick up your cheer gear and a map with a list of destinations along the race course to stop for a 312 Urban Wheat Ale.

Some Additional Information from the website:

Broadcast Information

NBC 5 Chicago
NBC 5 Chicago and nbcchicago.com will provide complete live TV and online coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on race day.

670 The Score Sports Radio
Tune into 670 The Score Sports Radio on race day to catch all the action live.

Information Presented By Tata Consultancy Services

Information presented by Tata Consultancy Services will be available throughout Grant Park on race day. Information Tents will be available to assist participants and spectators with event information, course maps and general event inquires as well as lost and found items. Information Tents will be located in the following areas:

• On the east side of Michigan Avenue at 11th Street 
• On the east side of Michigan Avenue at Harrison Street 
• South east side of Grant Park at the Museum Campus underpass 
• Within the Buckingham Fountain Gear Check facility (Participant Only Information Tent) 
• Within the 27th Mile Post-Race Party in Butler Field 
• On the northwest corner of Congress Drive and Columbus Drive

In addition to the six Information Tents, Information Teams of 2 to 4 individuals can be found throughout Grant Park and Michigan Avenue on race morning to assist participants and spectators with maps and viewing tips.

McDonald’s Runner Update Centers

Eight on-course McDonald’s locations are proud to be designated as Runner Update Centers where spectators can go to check on the status of their runners by looking them up online.

• 201 N. Clark St. (at Lake St.) 
• 23 S. Clark St. (at Madison St.) 
• 180 W. Adams St. (at Wells St.) 
• 230 S. State St. (at Adams St.) 
• 600 N. Clark St. (at Ohio St.) 
• 2635 N. Clark St. (at Wrightwood Ave.) 
• 1563 N. Wells St. (at North Ave.) 
• 1664 S. Blue Island Ave. (at 18th St.) 

Spectators Viewing Areas by CTA Trains

Use Chicago’s excellent CTA rail transit system to show your support for this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon from beginning to end. Talk to your runners and find out their planned pace to estimate when they will arrive at particular locations on the course. Below is a list of the best viewing locations from CTA stations along the Chicago Marathon route.

Grand (Red Line) Station – Miles 1, 3 and 12
Board a Red Line train and exit at Grand Avenue.

Monroe (Red Line) Station – Mile 2
Board a Red Line train and exit at Monroe Street.

Chicago (Red Line) Station – Miles 3.5 and 11.5
Board a Red Line train and exit at Chicago Avenue. Walk three blocks west to LaSalle Street.

Addison (Red Line) Station – Mile 7.75
Board a Red Line train and exit at Addison Street. Walk four blocks east to Broadway.

Sedgwick (Brown Line) Station – Mile 10.25
Board a Brown Line train and exit at Sedgwick Street. Walk a half-block north to North Avenue.

UIC-Halsted (Blue Line) Station – Miles 16, 16.5
Board a Blue Line train and exit at UIC-Halsted. Use the Halsted Street exit or Morgan Street exit. Walk two blocks north on Morgan Street to Adams Street to view the runners at Mile 16 in Greektown or use the Halsted Street exit to Mile 16.5.

18th (Pink Line) Station – Mile 19
Board a Pink Line train and exit at 18th Street. Walk one block east to Ashland Avenue.

Halsted (Orange Line) Station – Mile 20.5
Board an Orange Line train and exit at Halsted.

35th-Bronzeville-IIT (Green Line) Station – Mile 23
Board a Green Line train and exit at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT. Use the 33rd Street or 35th Street exit.

Sox-35th (Red Line) Station – Mile 23.25
Board a Red Line train and exit at 35th Street. Walk two blocks east on 35th Street to State Street.

Roosevelt (Red, Green and Orange Line) Station – Finish Line
Board a Red, Green or Orange Line train and exit at Roosevelt Road. Walk east on Roosevelt Road toward the Museum Campus/Grant Park.

Participant Times and Locations
Below are the approximate times the first and last participants will pass through the listed mile markers.

Start to Mile 2 (Wheelchair Start: 7:20 a.m. & Runners: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
Marathon starts in Grant Park at Columbus Drive and Monroe Drive The route travels north on Columbus to Grand Avenue, west on Grand to State Street and south on State to Jackson Boulevard.

Mile 2 to Mile 4 (Wheelchair: 7:26 a.m. & Runners: 7:39 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
Continues west on Jackson Boulevard from State Street to LaSalle Street and north on LaSalle Street to Division Street.

Mile 4 to Mile 6 (Wheelchair: 7:33 a.m. & Runners: 7:49 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Continues north on LaSalle Street from Division Street to Stockton Drive, north on Stockton Drive to Fullerton Parkway, east on Fullerton Parkway to Cannon Drive and north on Cannon Drive.

Mile 6 to Mile 8 (Wheelchair: 7:40 a.m. & Runners: 7:58 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
Continues north on Cannon Drive from Fullerton Parkway to Sheridan Drive, north on Sheridan Drive to Inner Lake Shore Drive, north on Inner Lake Shore Drive to Addison Street, west on Addison Street to Broadway Street and south on Broadway to Roscoe Street.

Mile 8 to Mile 10 (Wheelchair: 7:47 a.m. & Runners: 8:08 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)
Continues south on Broadway Street from Roscoe Street to Clark Street, south on Clark Street to Webster Street, west on Webster Street to Sedgwick Street, south on Sedgwick Street to Menomonee Street.

Mile 10 to Mile 12 (Wheelchair: 7:54 a.m. & Runners: 8:18 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)
Continues south on Sedgwick Street from Menomonee Street to North Avenue (eastbound lanes), east on North Avenue to Wells Street, south on Wells Street to Hubbard Street, west on Hubbard Street to Franklin Street.

Mile 12 to Mile 14 (Wheelchair: 8:01 a.m. & Runners: 8:27 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.)
Continues west on Hubbard Street to Orleans Street, south on Orleans Street to Franklin Street, south on Franklin Street to Adams Street, west on Adams Street to Racine Avenue.

Mile 14 to Mile 16 (Wheelchair: 8:08 a.m. & Runners: 8:37 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Continues west on Adams Street to Damen Avenue, south on Damen Avenue to Van Buren Street, east on Van Buren Street to Ogden Avenue and northeast on Ogden Avenue to Jackson Boulevard.

Mile 16 to Mile 18 (Wheelchair: 8:14 a.m. & Runners: 8:47 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Continues east on Jackson Boulevard to Halsted Street, south on Halsted Street to Taylor Street and west on Taylor Street to Laflin Street.

Mile 18 to Mile 20 (Wheelchair: 8:21 a.m. & Runners: 8:56 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Continues west on Taylor Street to Ashland Avenue, south on Ashland Avenue (northbound lanes) to 18th Street, east on 18th Street to Halsted Street and south on Halsted Street to Cermak Road.

Mile 20 to Mile 22 (Wheelchair: 8:28 a.m. & Runners: 9:06 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Continues south on Halsted Street from Cermak Road to Archer Avenue, northeast on Archer Avenue to Cermak Road, east on Cermak Road to Wentworth Avenue, south on Wentworth Avenue to 27th Street.

Mile 22 to Mile 24 (Wheelchair: 8:35 a.m. & Runners: 9:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
Continues south on Wentworth Avenue to 33rd Street, east on 33rd Street to State Street, south on State Street (northbound lanes) to 35th Street, east on 35th Street to Michigan Avenue, north on Michigan Avenue to 29th Street.

Mile 24 to Mile 26 (Wheelchair: 8:42 a.m. & Runners: 9:25 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Continues north on Michigan Avenue to Roosevelt Road, east on Roosevelt Road (westbound lanes) to Columbus Drive, north on Columbus Drive.

Mile 26 to Finish (Wheelchair: 8:49 a.m. & Runners: 9:35 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
The route concludes north on Columbus Drive to the finish line.