Featured Running Event of the Week - Chicago Quarter Marathon

The Chicago Quarter Marathon was abound with clever puns.  The race started at "Quarter after 9:00" (not 9:15).  The finisher medals were the size of.....you guessed it....quarters.  All very punny and added to the fun of the event.

The SWAG was nice too - a red sweat-jacket with a really cool logo consisting of the Chicago Skyline and Chicago's 4-stars.

In running, there are all types of distances (especially when including trail runs and ultra runs) - but the most common are 5k, 8k, 10k, 15k, Half-Marathon, and Marathon.  The Quarter Marathon is not all that common.  It's longer than a 10k - and of course if half of a half marathon.  6.55 miles to be exact, with a 10k being 6.2 miles.

This event started at Soldier Field Stadium Green and headed south on the Chicago Lakefront Path to somewhere around 43rd Street then turned back.  It was an out-and-back course.  Immediately after the turn around, the return runners briefly separated from the heading-out runners for a few hundred yards.  This definitely alleviate the congestion of two-way traffic.  But, for the remainder, both directions shared the same path.

With nearly 900 runners, an out-and-back on the same path may sound a bit congested - but it wasn't.  The 3+ mile distance to the turn-around was enough to thin the pack so that opposite direction running was not difficult.  The bulk of the runners were always headed the same way.  (In a 5k, usually about 50% are heading each direction at the same time, causing congestion).

During the entire run, the scenery of Lake Michigan was off to the East, and at times the path ran very close to Lake Shore Drive as well, to add the motivation of drivers watching the runners.  There are a couple of rolling hills, but nothing really noticeable.  What was noticeable though was the SKYLINE!  Heading back north, just after the return course met back up with the other path - the entire Chicago Skyline was visible, completely unobstructed by anything else.  This view probably existed for a good mile or so.  The Skyline from Sears Tower to Navy Pier - completely visible.  Now that provides some inspiration!!!!

And there were some surprises along the route as well.  Almost immediately after the start, the runners were greeted with a drum corps.  And then, just before the turn-around, the drum corps was there again!  At least 15-20 percussionists drumming out songs like Iron Man and We Will Rock You as runners passed by.  Definitely a perfect pick-me-up around the half-way point!  An excellent surprise!

There were 2 water stations - but since it was an out-and-back - there was actually 4 water stations - which was perfect.  And the volunteers at the last water station all held out their hands for high-fives as the runners went by.  All the volunteers cheering on the runners towards that finish line.

The finish line itself was on a street, not bike/walking path, so that allowed for a nice wide finish, allowing for the finish-line kickers to have plenty of room to pass.

A great event with an amazing view!!