Featured Running Event of the Week - Soldier Field 10-Miles

"There is a time-out.....on the field."  Something one would hear at a Chicago Bears game.

This past May, this is what might be heard instead "There is a runner.....on the field."

The Soldier Field 10-Miler Starts AND Finishes ON THE FIELD.  Not outside the building, not in the streets nearby, not in a parking lot, not even in a concourse, but on the actual field - on the turf.

The start line is essentially somewhere within the endzone near the sideline.  Runners in corrals A-H line up ON THE FIELD.  Now, some of this area is covered in plastic, but Corrals A&B are directly on the turf - and the race begins on the turf itself.  Runners literally start - ON Soldier Field. 

Runners are allowed onto the field approximately 1 hour before race start time, and most participants took advantage of that hour to take selfies and other photographs.  For many of us, like me, who were never good at football, this was probably our only chance to do something athletic inside Soldier Field.

But wait, there's more!  The race also FINISHED on Soldier Field.  Runners entered the building and ran a portion of the concourse, and the headed onto the field out of the tunnel - just like players at the start of the game.  Each runner had the chance to "run out of the tunnel" and then finish on the 50 yard line.  On the turf for the entire finish sprint.  And most everybody did sprint.  I think I ran my fastest ever pace for those 50 yards!  What a rush!!!  What a way to finish!

The course itself, once it left the Soldier Field sidewalks and streets, went under (yes under) McCormick Place, then spent time on a Lake Shore Drive frontage road and headed south for quite some time.  LSD on the right and the Lake itself on the left.  At about 5 miles, runners turned around and headed north on the Lakefront Path, which Lake Shore Drive a distant memory, and just the lake to the right and Chicago's spectacular skyline straight-ahead, both providing incentive and encouragement!  At the halfway point there was a DJ playing music and cheering runners on.  Refreshment stands were plentiful and were staffed with enthusiastic volunteers cheering runners on.  At various points on the course, especially the final mile and first miles, there were plenty of spectators cheering on friends and family and random running strangers as well.  There was encouragement the entire 10 miles.

Folds Of Honor was the charity, which helps with scholarships for children of those lost in action as well as other forms of assistance.  The race itself is a salute to the Men & Women of the United States Armed Forces and there was a touching and impactful ceremony honoring these brave soldiers prior to the start of the race.  We are able to run and hold events like this because of our freedom - and that freedom comes from our brave Men & Women of the Armed Forces.