So despite not running how I would’ve liked, everything else about Chicago and the race was absolutely amazing.
We arrived Saturday morning (maybe I should’ve given myself an extra day?) and went straight to the hotel to drop off our luggage. We stayed at The Congress Plaza which was right across the street from the start line! Yes, this was soooo perfect. Kristina was staying here too and somehow, we weren’t able to make a meet up happen 😦 But, through internet convos, we both agreed the hotel was …interesting. It’s an older hotel and I actually liked it because it has a lot of character. So what if it was said there were ghosts around?
Then we headed to the Expo. I don’t do Expos very well and we didn’t hang out long. I realized afterward that I probably should’ve stuck around to buy more Chicago Marathon gear but my husband’s wallet thanked me for keeping the visit short.
Being silly at the #TeamRMHC booth
After the Expo Team RMHC had their dinner and it was here that I got to meet up with another fellow blogger/Instagram friend, Meg @MaxFitGirl29
Insta Friends
My husband and I ate our little hearts out and then bolted. I was exhausted from traveling and wanted to get in a good night’s sleep. Surprisingly, I was actually able to sleep and didn’t have any of those pre-race night jitters keeping me awake.
I had made plans with @SuzLyfe for a pre-race meet up and I found her right in front of my hotel. We squeezed.
Love at first sight. ❤
After the race, Scott@PirateBobcat and I made a meet-up happen–at a bar, naturally.
This dude. Serious coolness.
As soon as we met and exchanged the initial awkward intros of “Yep, I’m Helly,” we started gabbing like we’d known each other for years. Which we kinda have considering we’ve followed each other’s blog for quite some time now. I fell in love with his friends and it was perfect post-race relaxation.
The next day, Monday, I met up with Amber@PbandPrs at The Bean! She nailed a marathon PR in Chicago (3:19!!!) so we took a celebratory pic.
Even more badass in person.
Afterward, my husband and I had to go visit The Greatest Of All Time–aka: Michael Jordan.
I heart Mike.
Then we headed over to Wrigley Field to meet up with Scott and his friends again. We had an absolute blast. Seriously.
With Scott & Friends….at a bar, again, right in front of Wrigley Field 😀
Tuesday morning we ate breakfast at the famous Lou Mitchell’s
Route 66 right out front Lou Mitchell’s!!
and afterward, we headed to the airport for home! It was such a whirlwind trip full of fun stuff and fun people and even though I hadn’t raced how I would’ve liked, I left with only great Chicago memories ❤
–Do you tour cities you race in?
–Ever bean to Chicago? (See what I did there, Scott?)
I travel just so I can tour and run 🙂 I’ll be in Chicago next weekend – visiting my bestie and heading to Wisconsin for – yup a race! lol… we runners be crazy.
Mar and Helly meetup in T-minus 3 months!!!!!!!!
What a cool trip! Chicagomis an awesome city.
I try to give myself at least two nights before a race/hard workout if I am traveling via airplane. The changes in air pressure seem to affect my legs and I need a day to walk around and get some fresh blood into them. Maybe that had an effect on your race?
It def might’ve 😦 I even wore compression socks on the plane, wahh!!!!
You still did great. And you looked gorgeous, so you have that 😉
❤ thank you!!!
Wow you got to meet a lot of bloggers!!! How fun!!
I am obsessed with Kristina. I would have slept outside her hotel door. She would have had to come out sometime and acknowledged me. 🙂
I do not do expose well either. I HATE people. Expos should have drive throughs where you can just have someone hand you your race packet/bag and get the hell out of there!
I was SUPER sad I couldn’t make it happen. I think it hurt me several ways getting there the day before the race 😦
I am GREEN WITH ENVY! Suze and Scott et al for beers?!?! I should have flown out! Someday we’ll meet up. I’m seriously considering NOLA. Squeeee! I loved running Chicago. It was my first! Awwww. 🙂
Suz is in for NOLA and Scott is too, I think. I signed up for Phoenix again 😦 so I’m out on NOLA. A meet up WILL happen though!!
Gaaah! I’ll see what I can swing- NOLA or Phoenix! 🙂
PHOENIX
I’m glad you got to see some of the city while you were here (without being in the race, lol). And you hit some great spots! We all know what the highlight was, though ;D
Love youuuuuuu
You got to meet so many people! So jealous I didn’t get to see you 😦 But wow, you packed in the adventures. Love that you made it to Wrigley.
Sooo sad, but we’ll make it happen someday!! ❤
Yep, we absolutely tour as much as we can during our run cations! We had a great time exploring Chicago as well and it is great to relive the experience through the perspectives of other runners. We already have most of 2016 planned as we continue our journey to run a full (half for my wife) in every state! Good luck with all your running and touring planning!
How fun!! My husband and I are barely beginning our travels so we have a ways to go with our own 50 and 50 goal. It’s super fun to race and tour our country 😀
Looks like such a fun trip! Glad you enjoyed yourself 🙂
I did! 🙂
I love seeing you and PirateBobCat in the same pictures! So exciting! It seems like he’s always surrounded by a ton of friends 🙂 It sounds like a great trip
Seriously, right?? He’s always around people and awesome people I might add. I fell in love with them instantly — cool dude with a cool squad, LOL
Looks like you had a blast! Good for you!
I sure did! Thank you!
You met so many cool people!!! That is an amazing experience. I don’t do expos well, there are SO MANY PEOPLE at races like Chicago that they are tough to get around! Love it. You had such an awesome trip!!!
Yeah, huge expos give me anxiety. I always *want* to look around and take it all in, but then I get all jittery being around so many people
Ghosts??? SWEET! Looks like you had blast and now I’m all Helly Jelly! (see what I did there, lol!)
LOL!!! love it!!!
More importantly, did you eat TACOS with Scott!!??!!?? LOL. So cool that you got to meet so many bloggers!
GAAAhhh!!!! Major fail!!!
So fun! Scott seems like a really fun guy! I was expecting to see you guys eating tacos, lol!
We totally failed on the tacos 😦