Featured Running Event of the Week - Fort2Base 10 Nautical Miles

Yep - that's right, this race is measured in Nautical Miles. 

10 Nautical Miles = 11.5 Land Miles.

The race is what some call a "Point A to Point B Race" - in other words, it doesn't make a loop and end where it started.  The race actually starts in one city and ends in another.  It starts in Highwood, IL, goes through Lake Forest, then Lake Bluff, and ends in North Chicago/Gurnee.

To be more specific - it starts - at daybreak - inside Fort Sheridan Reserve Center and then finishes inside Great Lakes Naval Base.  The route is 11.5 miles long - or 10 Nautical Miles.  (Now that you see the start/finish, the measuring method makes more sense, doesn't it?)

The day starts with most participants meeting in the parking lot at the Rosalind Franklin University.  This is done for 2 reasons. 1) There is no parking allowed on either military facility - and 2) if it starts at one place and ends at the other - either way, the car will be in the wrong place.

Buses begin driving people from the University to Fort Sheridan at about 5:00am.  Runners get to start the day as if they lived on one of the posts.  (though I bet, they get up even earlier).  And there are PLENTY of buses - PLENTY.  Buses run back-and-forth from 5:00am to 6:15am.  Race starts at 7:00am.

Once runners arrive at Fort Sheridan, there is a mobile gear check.  Bags are checked and then transported via cargo van to Great Lakes for the end of the race.

The race traverses about 2 miles within Fort Sheridan passing buildings as well as housing complexes then exits the base onto the Robert McClory Bike Trail.  About half of the race is spent on this relatively straight line and relatively flat bike trail. The trail is all asphalt, with a center dividing line the entire way.  The trail is mostly in the shade, it also passes by some commuter train stations and a few houses, but is mostly just a trail with trees on either side for the distance.  There are only 2 road crossings on the trail - both side streets - and both manned with the wonderful men & women in blue!

The path goes under a road through an ancient looking tunnel and goes over the roads a few times - one time in an old wooden floored bridge with chain link walls and rooftop.  The walls and rooftop are ivy covered - making it a very unique memory of the trail.  Also along the trail were member of a local high school football team (in 2 places) cheering people on - in addition to spectators here and there also cheering.  There were hydration stops approximately every 1.5 miles.

After about 8 miles, runners then cross the street outside of Great Lakes Naval Base - this is the final road crossing.  Manning that are also police officers and runners have the priority, as the road is open for limited traffic. 

Then the runners enter the main entrance of Great Lakes - with Navy personnel and MP lining the way - checking for bibs.  No race bib - no entry.

Entering the base in that manner is truly a moment to behold.  The race then continues another 3.5 miles entirely on the base.  Most only the streets, the course does turn to the jogging paths, with a long and enjoyable steep downhill, completely in the shade - a welcome respite!  Of course, whatever goes down - must come up?  Right?

Almost immediately after the paradise of the long shaded downhill is Hero Hill.  A relatively steep uphill which takes runners back up the same elevation, but in 1/3 the distance.  Steep is the word!  At the beginning of the hill are a bunch of Navy Servicemen and Women cheering the runners on - giving them inspiration to tackle the hill.  Along the hill are more of our fine military personnel continuing to provide positive motivation - sometimes even running with the participants up the hill.  Truly inspiring and motivational!!!!  Almost everybody tackled that hill with running in mind - even after about 10 miles of the race had already been run.  Few walked it.  At the top - the famous overhead banner of "HERO HILL".  What a welcome site - and what a feeling of accomplishment for everybody, whether they walked or ran the hill!!!  Also at the top, more Navy recruits cheering on the participants.

The final 1.5 miles ends on the Naval Base streets - with the final stretch down a spectator lined 1/4 mile, where everybody goes into their finish line kick, even exhausted.  As strangers (and friends) cheer each and every person on to "finish strong".   And how could a person not finish strong - such an inspirational and motivational run.

Finish this race, after seeing all the volunteers, all the men and women serving our country, all the men and women in blue, it was truly an emotional experience!!!

This description comes nowhere close to conveying the experience of this race!!!

What a great course - what great volunteers!!

Thank you to all of the men and women who serve our country today - and in the past - across all the branches of the Armed Forces!!