Soldier Field Race Report

Saturday I ran another race... This time it was the Soldier Field 10 mile. I last raced this in 2008 (report here) and there have been some improvements since then. Which is good because the event has grown even larger. I know it wasn't smart to "race" 13 days after finishing up a marathon but I kind of signed up on a whim. Some friends of ours were running and I'm a sucker for races I know people running. Plus, I saw an e-mail saying there were only 50 spots left open while I was sitting in the Springfield, MO airport 2 months ago. When I got that e-mail I realized I wanted to try and run it again.

Race morning started off early. I had traveled the previous two days for work so I didn't get much sleep the few days prior to Saturday. Never a good way to start. My race sherpa (my husband) and I got out the door with 1 hr and 10 minutes until start time. We drove since Soldier Field isn't easy to get to by train. Also, we were making a day of it! After sitting in the parking lot for nearly an hour in 2008 we got smart and planned a tailgate party with our friends. Of course we weren't the only ones driving but figured that early in the morning it is only a 10 - 15 drive and the line getting into the lots shouldn't be too bad. Ummmm, yea right! The line to get into the lots was horrible! By the time we made it to the lot and then walked up to the stadium I had 20 minutes until race start and I had to pee. After spending 26.2 miles holding 2 weeks earlier it I wasn't about to do that again for this race!

Because this race was at a major stadium there weren't a lot of port-o-potties since they had real bathrooms inside to use. I didn't have time to go through the 1 open door find the real bathrooms and get back to the start. I guess I also didn't have enough time to stand in line for the port-o-potties because the lines weren't moving. I literally jumped out the p-o-p and climbed over and through barricades as the gun for my coral went off. I was going to jump in with the other corral but wanted to make it for mine since it took off 4 minutes before and had WAY fewer people. Luckily the corral police were kind enough to let me past as my group was going by. I have never ever been that last minute for a start!

My game plan was to take it easy the first 5 and push it the last 5. I wasn't looking for a PR and wasn't sure how I would be feeling. Well my plan went to crap. I started off the first mile right where I wanted to be and was feeling okay. I was tired and my stomach started to act up again. This stomach thing has become a pain my last few races. I wish I knew what it was. After mile 1, I instinctively picked it up too soon at mile 2. Race morning started off a comfortable morning that turned hot fast! After running under McCormick place the first mile there was little shade on Lakeshore drive on this out and back course. I started to melt even but still maintained a decent pace. In between miles 3-4 we saw the elites on the back portion of the course. The winner (from Illinois) won for the 3rd year in a row and maintained a 5:05 pace. Side note: Ryan Hall came in 12th. Though I wish I could have seen him on the course. Anyway, I still thought I would be able to pick it up on the back half of the course. Then I hit the turnaround, walked through the next water station, and didn't want anything to do with racing anymore.

The last 4 miles were kind of survival miles for me. I was burnout on running, hot, and tired. Not very good excuses I know but just how I was feeling on Saturday. The back portion of the course was on the lakefront path south of where I normally run so it was nice to run that portion. Plus always cool to finish up on the Bears 50 yard line (even though they rush you off the field quickly after crossing the finish line) after running through the tunnel the Bears run out of for every game.

I finished in about 1:32 which equates to a 9:13 average. Way off of any sort of PR but still a respectable time for how I was feeling.

While waiting for our friend to finish announcements were made that the race had been canceled 2 hours into the morning due to extreme conditions. Racers on the course were directed to walk to the finish. Our friend finished running as did everyone else around him. When I headed to the car people were still running on the course too. It was a hot day (in the upper 70's) sure but I thought it was a bit much to "cancel" the race when it was nearly over. I am sure they were just being careful and I hope all the people who finished have official results.

Overall, the course is decent enough and I would recommend the race to anyone who loves Chicago, the Bears, or visiting different stadiums. Fleet Feet Chicago does a great job organizing such a huge race. The water stops were plentiful and well supported. There are not a lot of fans along the course because they are all waiting for you in Soldier Field! I like that they have a corralled start and it's good that it goes up to those running a 9 minute pace. The race in 08 seemed overcrowded and while this year it was crowded I didn't feel suffocated like I did previously.

Soldier Field 10 mile run Race Report

I wanted to title this post "It's so much smaller than I though it would be". Although this is something you guys never want to hear ;) ;) I am talking about Soldier Field. It is so huge from the outside then you go in and the field and seats are so small. Now I know why I can never get tickets to a Bears game...too few seats! But onto the race itself.

Before the race. I look like such a dork. I never know what to do with my hands.

The alarm went off at 5:30 am...ugh. Of course I couldn't fall to sleep until late and then woke up at 4:30am then every 20 minutes until the alarm sounded. So early! But we took off on time and after a few issues with finding our way to the parking lot we made it to the field just before 7 a.m. On the way to the field I ran into my friend Archie and his girlfriend. Didn't know they were running so that was a nice surprise. After one last bathroom break and almost forgetting to attach my chip I lined up between 8:30 and 9:00 min/mile at 7:15. Then stood around taking it all in. It was a beautiful day, a little too sunny said the girl with no sunglasses but in the 50's. The starting corral was tight so I was hoping the group would eventually thin out. I would come to find out later this would not happen. Shortly after Tim McGraw's cousin sang the national anthem (what no Tim? He's in town for a concert he wouldn't swing by for a 2 minute song???) we were off...sort of. Only took about 2 -3 minutes to finally get started.
mile 1: It was crowded and I was tripping over people. I got stuck behind yellow shirt guy. I would veer right to go around, he would veer right, then I tried left, you get the picture. This went on for a good 1/2 mile right until we went through a tunnel under McCormick Place. I hate that tunnel. Lucky for us it wasn't hot so it could have been worse but regardless I still hate running through tunnels in Chicago - they're gross! About this time I saw a 40 year old woman who probably weighed less than my 6 year old niece. Her legs were like the size of 3 of my fingers wide. Very disturbing. I wanted to feed her. The pace wasn't too fast and I was actually running right around my goal.

mile 2: Brought a slight uphill but nothing else sticks out. I think unfortunately this was my fastest mile which was not in the initial game plan. What are ya going to do?


mile 3: I ran by by Archie's girlfriend once the course took us onto Lakeshore Drive and hung with her for about a 1/2 mile. 8,000 people and I run by her such odds. They were starting to slow and we were coming up to a course that split weird and I took the left path and she went right so I was by myself again. Still keeping a good pace and was definitely wondering if I could maintain. Spoiler alert: The answer is no I could not.


mile 4: I look across to the inner lakefront path to see some of those fast runners actually contending for the $ spots across the way. Oh to run like them...I kept on and was trying to figure how much longer to our turnaround to head back to the field.


mile 5: The lovely turnaround. Over a curb and uphill on soft grass from actual Lakeshore Drive to inner lakefront path. This turnaround sucked but I don't imagine there was anyway else to have it on this out and back course. At this point I could feel myself struggling. I was just tired and honestly a little bored. I tried to push myself but my body was fighting me. My normal mental pick me ups were not working their mojo today. Also I was hoping the field would have thinned a bit by now. No such luck. I think out of the 8,000 runners half of them happened to be running between an 8 and 9 minute mile. So at mile 5 I still was bobbing and weaving more than I would have liked.


mile 6-8: Please just get through this. One foot in front of the other. You aren't breaking any records today sister girl...


mile 8.4: What was a nice breeze at mile 7 turned to a cold headwind here. It didn't last long once I made it to the other side of the McCormick Building. Legs were heavy and I was just tired. Really tired. In my mind I thought "wow you didn't even feel this bad at mile 23 of the marathon last December better training next time".


mile 9: One mile left. You can do one mile. Ugh, there's still one mile. Is this mile ever going to end. Why haven't I made it to the field yet. Oh yes there's the field. Oh man through a tunnel - oh wait cool this is the tunnel the actual players use to run out onto the field. Ooh this is fun. There's the field. Then I tried to sprint the last .25 mile. My sprint is laughable but at least I finished strong.
Made it to the finish! Yay!


I found Jacob quickly in the stands as spectators weren't allowed on the field and actually ran into Archie again who was waiting for his girl. Made my way through the tunnel, collected my awesome medal, stocked up on the free food because the race packet stunk and I believe it was my due to take a few extras. At least I'm not as bad as people who grab empty boxes and just start filling it with food. Now those peeps are just ridiculous. The food isn't that good...


Jacob and I. I'm very squinty


Final results aren't up yet but garmy said I ran 10.07 miles (too much weaving or I started the watch too soon) in 1:27 and change. Sorry I'm too lazy to get up and grab the guy to look at the actual time. I remember it worked out to an 8:43 average. Definitely not my goal but at least it was under 9 min/mile average today. My last 2 miles were a bit sad and garmy reflected my poor feeling. Room to grow. And hey no matter the outcome it's a PR! Gotta love your first race in a new distance.


And you know what else? Nothing beats a hard earned free beer at 9:30 in the morning! Cheers!

I'm officially taking part in the Soldier Field 10

FANTASTIC! So excited right now. I just got an e-mail from the local running store saying registration to all the races they sponsor throughout the year is open. One of the races is the Solder Field 10 mile run. I have been wanting to do this for a couple years but it fills up quickly and it always closes before I make the decision to pay the money and sign up (yes it takes me forever to sign up for races). I'll end on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field and the after party is on the field too. How cool is that!!! Plus I have never done just a 10 mile race only a 10k or 1/2 marathon so it is a guaranteed PR no matter how I run :) The race will be interesting b/c every single weekend in May is booked with bachelorette parties and weddings. And never mind the fact that I haven't ran in over week (thank you 12 inches of snow and the fact that I hate you treadmill). Whatever it is going to be awesome! Who else wants to run this thing with me? Sign up now!