"This was my first-ever 1/2 marathon, so nerves were at an all-time high! The pre-race was easy enough, bib and T-shirt pick-up was simple. But when it was almost starting time, the line-up was a disaster, with all the runners fighting for space. And this was just the start of 13

Sweet home Chicago is my hometown marathon. The course is flat, fast, and a great opportunity to push your limits and show off the results of all those summer miles logged under the heat and humidity while your friends sought shelter and air conditioning.

This year's race had perfect weather and

"Rotary Club does a nice job. Basically flat, with a couple inclines that re good for the legs, excellent traffic control. Real good atmosphere.
Sufficient bathrooms, although an extra one wouldn't hurt.
Good parking.
Suggest they consider asking local vendors for raffle donations."