Race Review: Carrera de los Muertos

Race Review: Carrera de los Muertos

A coach I was working with once told me that a fast 5k during your marathon taper was a good distraction and a confidence builder. So, with the New York City Marathon 8 days out, I toed the start line at the Carrera de los Muertos 5k in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood last Saturday.

Although I had yet to run it, I included it on my “Must Do Chicago Races” which I published in early 2020. We all know what happened to race season in 2020; this was my first opportunity to finally do this iconic Chicago race.

The race website promoted the event as “Chicago’s Most Unique 5k Race. Amid the lively colors and culture of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, runners and walkers come together to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)!” This years race marked 15 years, or it’s quinceañera! 

Carrera de los Muertos is Spanish for “Race of the Dead” and many participants and their fans were dressed in colorful festive costumes and donned skeleton make-up. Kurt and I joined in. Although next year we’re going to do it so much better. “Day of the Dead” (November 1-2) although somewhat related to Halloween, isn’t meant to be scary, or solemn mourning, but rather a celebratory remembrance of departed family and friends.

Although Dia de los Muertos is a predominantly Mexican tradition, November 2 in my Catholic school youth commemorated the dead as “All Souls Day” where we simply acknowledged our loved ones with their names listed on a donation envelope as far as ai remember.

I was introduced to Dia de los Muertos watching the Disney Pixar movie Coco with my daughter. It’s an incredibly fabulous tradition and such a positive way to retain relationships with our departed loved ones.

The 5k race – a loop through Chicago’s predominately Mexican neighborhood was a celebration – costumes, music, dancing…and running! It was a well organized event. Registration, packet pick-up, staging, course, we’re all executed flawlessly from my perspective.

The field of vendors was an added bonus. My only complaint? They ran out of churros! Our bibs had a ticket for a free churro and they ran out. Kurt was on the injured list, so he was walking the course. When I finished, I stuck around the area to see him finish and then there were no more churros. I know, I’ll survive. But let’s just say seeing the perspective of the back of the packers is educational.

Finally, yes, the “fast 5k” – not my fastest, but fastest in a long while – achieved my personal goal of creating a distraction and building my confidence going into my Marathon. Bring on the Big Apple!

Review: CARA’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler

Review: CARA’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler

About time I get back to some race reviews, right? Well this isn’t exactly a race review per se. The Chicago Area Runnners Association (CARA)’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler isn’t a race, but rather a training run positioned exactly 3 weeks before the Chicago Marathon.

Described as a “fully-supported 20 mile run with a unique point-to-point course along Chicago’s lakefront” it is geared primarily for participants in CARA’s summer marathon training program, but is really great for anyone willing to take on the challenge. The event is open to all. Although for CARA summer marathon training participants (and therefore many, many charity runners) the registration fee is included.

The course offers the only organized and supported opportunity to run the length of the Chicago Lakefront. The start is at the Montrose Lakefront track, with hydration, porta-potties, gear check, and in a good year, lights. Given that runners begin assembling an hour or more before the 6:30am start and official sunrise was only about 5 min prior to the start, well, let’s just say it was hard to get good pre-run photos without a flash. Some snafu with the Chicago Park District created the darkness which was overcome by bright smiles all around in anticipation of the journey.

Some of the 2022 Mercy Home Heroes highlighted with a flash

Everyone assembled according to pace group and each group had numerous official CARA pacers who have been leading group runs at one of CARA’s nine Chicagoland training sites (3 city, 6 suburban) all summer. Since the Lakefront Trail is only 18 miles, the course first goes north to Foster Beach before starting the trek southward. The changing scenery along Lake Michigan as the sun was rising was just breathtaking (as it always is).

There were 10 aid stations with water and Gatorade Endurance, and around the half way point, also gels. It does it’s best to simulate much of the marathon experience and ready participants for the big day. From my own personal experience in two Chicago Marathons, the only thing this training run lacked was crowd support. But that’s okay. Everyone needs the time to work out their race strategy and then the crowds on Marathon day will be a welcomed bouy.

With fellow “Hero” with 7 miles to go.

Construction along Du Sable Lake Shore Drive and the Lakefront trail near Jackson Park, the event’s destination, called for a detour to the west and a pass by the Museum of Science and Industry. No complaints here. The course was pretty. It was also a nice flat straight stretch to the finish (the previous course had a climb out of an underpass and the final yards).

Museum of Science and Industry

The finish had refreshments (including Revolution Beer), finisher shirts, massages, more porta-potties, and sponsor giveaways. The only thing it didn’t have was a clock. As I said, this wasn’t a race. And to discourage anyone from making it so there was no timing anywhere. Participants looking to monitor their training progress and assess race day goals used their own watches and apps.

Perhaps the best part? Shuttle buses back to the start where the majority of participants left their cars. I got a laugh from those sitting around me when I commented, “this bus ride is really long.”

CARA does a remarkably good job on this event and creates such a wonderfully unique experience for participants. Yes, they could do some out and back course which would eliminate the need for buses, half the volunteer recruitment, and logistics requiring the need for set up and breakdown in two different park locations. But what fun would that be? This event is one of several reasons I highly recommend CARA Summer Marathon training to anyone doing a fall marathon.

Race Review: Bucks County Marathon

Race Review: Bucks County Marathon

The original plan was to run Chicago. Then the already twice-postponed wedding of Kurt’s son was re-scheduled for October 9, 2021 – Chicago Marathon weekend – and I knew I’d have to look for another race. I had run Bucks County (Pennsylvania) before, in 2015 just five weeks after running Chicago that year and still managed cut 8 minutes off my time. It was a very flat and fast course.

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Race Review: Des Plaines River Trail Races – Half Marathon

Race Review: Des Plaines River Trail Races – Half Marathon

Just over three weeks ago on Sunday, October 17, I ran my second in-person race since prior to the pandemic. The first was the Chicago Half (which I reviewed in 2018). At the beginning of 2020, I had planned that year to complete my 10th Marathon. Check. And my 50th Half Marathon. Five weeks after the marathon, the world shut down. Half Marathons 49 and 50 would have to wait.

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More Virtual

More Virtual

Last week I finished the Ring of Kerry Challenge I discussed in the July 28 post, How virtual challenges are keeping me motivated and saving my sanity. It was 124 miles and I chose to do it all running. Adding walking, biking or swimming miles was allowed, but for this one, I chose just to include running miles.

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