On April 21st, approximately 2,000 runners gathered at the Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois to participate in Naperville Women’s Half Marathon & 5K. The event route took athletes through downtown and some of the finest neighborhood of Naperville with sneaky hidden hills. Approximately 1,100 participated in Half Marathon and 900 participated in 5k. This race is perfect for all levels or runners as the race has a generous 4-hour time limit to complete. This race has been my annual events since the very beginning. For me, this race is one big “REUNION ..read more

The Boston Marathon seemed to creep up this year! All of a sudden, I’m packing a bag to leave this weekend for this pinnacle event. The weather looks to be a bit warmer than Chicagoans would like, with temperatures in the upper 60’s, so it’s time to plan and hydrate! As you pack your bag, make sure to include your race day kit and shoes. Preferably, one that you have worn to a marathon or long run before. Remember our number one tip – NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY! I also like to include throw away gloves and long sleeve, a myler blanket from a previous race, and an empty water bottle. You can fill ..read more

Chicago Athlete was back on the road to kick off spring marathon season with a brand new trip to Des Moines, Iowa for the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Day Marathon. St. Paddy’s Day is the unofficial start to spring running, with over 100 races to sign up for throughout the Midwest. On Saturday, March 16th, All Community Events hosted the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Day race series which featured a 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon option. Chicago Athlete on the Road has visited countless places in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, but has not made our way to the great state of Iowa before. And, after our w ..read more

Happy New Year to our Chicago runners and beyond! There are just a few hours left of 2023 and as we get closer to the turn of another year, it’s important to reflect on the past and think to the future. For me, and for many of you, this includes 2024 race planning, training goals, and time management. I have spent the last few days signing up for races and getting my calendar set for 2024. There are many different ways to create excitement around training – you can sign up for a new race, set a new time goal, and even buy some new running gear. (It’s finally starting to get cold here, Chicago ..read more

Lyric Opera of Chicago is currently running The Daughter of the Regiment (a French comedy), starring Lisette Oropesa as Marie, the leading role. There are still tickets available for the remaining performances so make sure to book your tickets today before the opera leaves our city. Lisette, aside from leading roles at major opera houses worldwide, is also a devoted runner who has completed at least 6 marathons and is an advocate for health and fitness. I had the opportunity to speak with Lisette to learn more about how she combines running with her demanding career, and how she stays healthy ..read more

Congrats! You got to the starting line, that is a big deal. That is a big part of achieving your goal. Then the race itself, and the finish line… Running a marathon (or any race that you set as a goal) is an incredible feat that requires months of training, determination, and a strong mindset. Not every race goes as planned, despite your best efforts. It can be disheartening to put in so much effort only to face challenges during the race. Remember, a race is not just about the finish line; it’s also about the journey and the invaluable lessons it teaches us. Part 1: So how do you bounce back ..read more

When I was thinking about this installment of MMM, I was not quite sure where I wanted to begin. So I just started brainstorming. I knew “what” I wanted to say, and even some of the “how”; just not quite what the beginning would be; so here we are. A common concept/theme we often are searching for is “success”. The opposite is then looked at as having to be failure. I think that is just BS. Failure is for math tests. Will chat about this in a bit. When I searched “success” the lead off is the definition of course; and I found this one specifically interesting. The accomplishment of an aim or p ..read more

Goodnight shoes, goodnight socks; Goodnight race bib, goodnight alarm clocks. Goodnight gels, goodnight salt tab; Goodnight chews, goodnight hydration lab. Goodnight aid stations, goodnight race staff; Goodnight volunteers, goodnight elevation graph. (Of which there is none, I just needed a rhyme.) Goodnight first responders, goodnight to the L, Goodnight orange barricades, goodnight PR bell. Goodnight friends and family, goodnight Chicago sports, Goodnight porta-potties, goodnight Lake Michigan ports. Goodnight Grant Park, goodnight charity row, Goodnight State Street, goodnight race expo. Go ..read more

Today’s the day! The expo is open and ready for you to attend. You must attend the expo to pick up your packet. You will not be able to have a friend pick up your packet for you. You will need your mobile confirmation ticket with the QR code. Mine was emailed to me on September 27th. I took a screen shot of mine and have it stored in my favorites folder on my phone. You may want to do this, as cell service can be spotty in and around McCormick Place. If you do not have your mobile confirmation ticket, you can find a help desk to provide you with your QR code. You will need your ID to do this ..read more

We are less than a week out from the 2023 Chicago Marathon and the long-awaited release of the 2023 Nike gear line is here! Nike never fails to put out a high quality, performance-driven clothing line to support marathon runners, and this year is no different. The eye-catching designs and connection to the City of Chicago with the colors and styles in the 2023 gear is incredible. The line will be available at the Chicago Marathon Expo, which begins at 11 am this Thursday at McCormick Place, or you can order online now to ensure you get your size. This gear will sell out quickly so if you are n ..read more