My first experience at the Chicago marathon. Trip to U.S.A.

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I am a runner with 10 marathons on Sunday under my belt. Often people do not know what exactly a marathon, and sometimes I hear things like, yesterday I made a 5-km marathon, yesterday my country 's was a marathon of 10 km, etc.. Once and for all: the marathon is long 42 km and 195 meters anywhere in the world. Shit! Not that the New York marathon is longer than that of Carpi, we want to understand? Like all amateur runners dreaming too 'I run the marathon in New York, because we are this and that, because whoever runs it becomes a highlander, etc.. Then I said: but fuck you, demystified a little 'New York (where, however, already been 3 times) and let us do some' other marathon in the U.S.. L 'goal is to stay under 4 hours. All this happened in the 'autumn of 1999. Where can I go to the 'autumn of 2000 to do a marathon pussy? There are several websites with calendars of track event and begin to give a 'look. Now it jumps to 'eye in the month of October, the Chicago Marathon. We do not know this city if not for the things seen in the usual American movies and I'm not very excited. But then he started reading something about the race: the second marathon in America as the number of participants (30,000), a downhill where the 'year before it was established the world record distance, an' impeccable organization. We're almost convinced, but the prospect of going to a city that, at least as we saw in the movies, was not much, we still restrained. Let's see 'tourism sites in Chicago and, surprise: Like hell it is not that great! E 'brutal! We decided: let's go! And book well in advance of 1 years' s hotel. This has proved a very wise move because we found a cheap (low by the standards chicaghesi, was nonetheless a blow) on Michigan Avenue, Chicago's main street, within walking distance to the start of the race. More calmly booked a flight, after having explored a couple of months and again all the companies that went to Chicago. The end we decided to Brussels on Sabena (the Belgian airline now failed) because it was the one with the lowest fare. There orgasmizziamo for local transport, and the site of the CTA (which would be the 'ATM chicaghese) You can buy a ticket on the internet for the 'entire stay there was delivered at home without additional expenses. Americans for this crap are unbeatable. We arrive at 'O'Hare airport and pass through immigration with our fine form with the usual absurd questions to which we must always answer no. We jump on the metro blue line into the city, go down and take a bus that takes us all 'hotel. It seems difficult, but with the map of the means at hand is easy to turn to Chicago. Our hotel was right next to 'Hilton, where you could go in and scrub the pen under their telephones. It is clear that the city is beautiful, clean and tidy. The first night we are totally fucked up because of time zone was 8 pm so the 3 am for us. 7 hours of difference in Chicago, not 6 as on the Atlantic coast. Let's go eat a sandwich by Johnny Rockets chain of '50s-style restaurant and then to bed. But not before he had attacked a giant Italian flag in the window. Unless we figure our shit do not we have fun. I forgot we were in 2, I and my friend. Beds, I want to clarify. The first night did not sleep for almost nothing (ever heard of jet lag?). For me then that I suffer from insomnia is a drama. At 5 are already in the street to do 2 steps, then wake up 's animal and we do 10 km jog. My first race on U.S. soil, on the shores of Lake Michigan and the sun was sticking unforgettable. Shower (first me, then him) and we rushed to explore the city. We already had a route in mind and the first thing we go to the Sears Tower, which for many years was the 'world's tallest building, before a distant and miserable country decided to build one taller. You pay so much and you go up but there 'is a terrace to' open, as c 'was on the WTC South Tower or on 'Empire in NY. We are therefore a bit 'disappointed, but the view is still fantastic. Let's go eat at the Rainforest Cafe, which is a chain type HRC (there's one in Disneyland Paris and one in London, which are closest to us). This is a rainforest-themed restaurant with amazing audio effects and video: not to be missed. Prices obviously high. The afternoon will be dedicated at the center marathon, where we also pick up bibs, chips, and race packet. The center marathon is an incredible thing, you see that they did things big. Our marathon should take a leaf out of here. D 'other hand, we are in America, so I maybe I'm amazed no avail ... C 'a useful service not only on hares half hours, but about 5 minutes! Incredible! Let me explain for those who do not know what I'm talking about. Let's say one wants to run a marathon in 3 hours and 25 minutes (yes, but it must also behind the 'specific training for this time, otherwise the cocks that it does!). One simply has to pay 'special stand and say what time you want to do. They give you a chest (of a different color depending on the weather) to attack back. Then the starting line there 'is nothing to do but to place themselves behind their rabbits (2 experienced marathoners who maintain a regular pace throughout the race) equipped with balloons the color of the marathon race number and close on time. Sounds easy ... I've seen people with type 2 and 30 days after walking a few kilometers. If you are not trained is more than useless to the sboronata.
Well, we are on Saturday morning, the fateful day before. Start a bit 'nervousness. Fancy a jog only 30 minutes at this point what is there. If you have not worked well in the months before now there's a shit to do.
The ass that I did not know just me (no, not know anyone who has actually run a marathon): all the 'summer to get up at 5 to train, long under the sun, etc.. The ugly to do a marathon in the fall is that you must do the long (30 - 35 km) in summer when the heat is unbearable. My last long 4 weeks before the race was the Milan - Pavia and ass was cloudy and it was hot.
We spend the morning of Saturday at a 'excursion boat on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan and the afternoon at DisneyQuest, which is an indoor amusement park. The most spectacular is the 'virtual roller coaster. With a computer you can design a roller coaster path, then you enter a simulator and traces the path you just drew. Writing seems so fucked up but it is really incredible.
Last supper: pizza (carbohydrates the night before are necessary). The tension has reached critical levels and go to bed, knowing that I can not sleep. ... Continue on the site www.viaggimiei.net