Question:Can you give me more specifics re. the course, the temps, and is it really
that windy?
Answer:
This is an interesting prediction, all the way from Guatemala:
Guatemala's most important international race, coban half marathon, was ran
last Sunday. Silvio Guerra from Ecuador won in 1:04:08 breaking last year
time imposed by Khalid Khannouchi (1:04:30).
Last year Khannouchi used this race as part of his training to win Chicago
Marathon. Silvio Guerra is doing the same thing, in an interview he told
reporters he is not 100% yet, but he is getting ready to fight a place in
the top three finishers of next Chicago Marathon.
Kannouchi has declared he is ready to defend his title so I predict and
interesting mach between this two.
Should be a great marathon in Chi-Town.I seen where the K man was coming back to defend. I'll
be there along with many other r.r. runners.Chicago is a great course and
great marathon, now we just need great weather.See ya there.
ORN Chicago Marathon.
I am planning to run Chicago for my first marathon...also happens to fall on
my 40th birthday. Training is going great!
Can you give me more specifics re. the course, the temps, and is it really
that windy?
Chicago is an excellent choice for a first marathon. The last two years
have been perfect (IMO) weather for a marathon. Temperatures in the 50's, no
rain. The wind was not a factor. I can't promise anything for '98 though.
Just for the record, Chicago's nick-name "the windy city," is not due to the
high winds. It go it's name from the Chicago-style politics that are practiced
there. Boston is actually the windiest major city in the USA.
Loop course starting and finishing on the Lakefront downtown. Runs through
a variety of city neighborhoods, with a decent number of spectators (and
this number keeps increasing every year). Flat as a pancake - a definite
PR course, with the exception of it is getting so large (>15000 last year,
I think) that it's hard not to lose time at the start.
Weather has been ideal the last few years, with temps in the 50's and no
precipitation. Of course, when I last ran it in 1993, it snowed.
Basically, October weather in Chicago should be ideal on average, but can
vary significantly in any given year.
In the early 90's, half of the course was run on Lake Shore Drive and the
wind could be miserable. With the current loop course, only the last 2 or
3 miles are on the Drive, so wind shouldn't be an issue other than those
miles.
The weather may be a factor this year. For the past two years, the week
*before* the marathon has been lousy. This year, the Chicago Marathon is a
week earlier.
For all those who are superstitious....
I'll back that up. Chicago is a great race providing the weather is O.K.
The last two years have been great, but such weather here is unusual for
that time of year, and our luck will run out sooner or later. The only
major drawback I noted was the plug ugly T shirts. Runner's World
notwithstanding, most people I know disliked them.
