My running buddy and friend Trish and I had a quick weekend in Chicago. We signed up for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10K race produced by Lifetime Fitness. I flew Delta, she flew JetBlue, and we met at O’Hare airport to start our adventure.
Picking Up Our Numbers
When we flew into town, we took a taxi from the airport. There was a lot of traffic, so the cost was higher than anticipated. He dropped us off at the Radisson Blu in Downtown Chicago on North Columbus. We picked this hotel because it was the closest to the start and finish of the race, which started at Maggie Daley Park.
Once we dropped off our bags, we headed over to the Chicago Athletic Center. If I’m directionally challenged, you should see Trish. She may be just like me. After some time, we finally found the center and picked up our numbers. We also bought a couple of pairs of sneakers each.
Then, we walked around Grant Park and made our way over to Maggie Daley Park before heading back to our hotel for check-in.
Radisson Blu
When you walk into the Radisson Blu, you are impressed with the modern decor. We went up to our room. I have never experienced a maze like that. It was hard to find the room because of the wallpaper depicting buildings in Chicago and the windy, curvy halls. Every time we went to our room, we went a different way. It was a bit disorienting.
The room was spacious with two queen-sized beds and an oversized bathroom with a walk-in shower. We didn’t have a view. At first, we noticed that the refrigerator in the room didn’t work, but the Radisson staff alleviated that quickly. They also provided us with extra water and towels. When we requested a robe, they brought it up, but it took about 20 minutes as they had just returned from the laundry.
The best part of the Radisson Blu is the 2nd and 3rd floors. On the second floor, there is a full gym with a basketball court and pool room. The third floor had an indoor lap pool and jacuzzi. The outdoor pool was a 25-yard lap pool with a hot tub and kiddie pool. One of the days we were there, they even had a DJ.
The Radisson Blu takes up the first 20 floors or so, and the rest of the building is owned by tenants with rents ranging from $2K and up.
Giordano’s
That evening, we were told to go to Giordano’s pizza for deep-dish Chicago pizza. When we got to the restaurant, it was a zoo. There were so many people from so many countries there. We were told that Giordano invented the deep-dish pizza and it was the best in Chicago.
So we waited. We checked in, placed an order for two individual pizzas, and sat on the side of a building waiting to be called.
About 15-20 minutes later, I received a text message. We quickly went back into the building, which was wall-to-wall people, and we were seated at the entrance, the loudest and most stressful place to sit. There were wait staff coming in and out of the kitchen, and hordes of people waiting to be seated. It was one of the most stressful dinners I’ve had.
Plus, when the pizza came out, it was awful. I was expecting a delicious deep-dish pizza; instead, I got a lot of mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce (which wasn’t that great), and a pie crust of a pizza. It looked better than it tasted. I was shocked that so many people were there waiting for this restaurant.
Race Day
We made our way to Michigan Street early. Our wave wasn’t taking off before 7:45 am, but we were both up at 5 am and decided to get dressed, have coffee at Stan’s Donuts, then go back to the park.
At the park, we ended up shopping some more, buying a race t-shirt and a cap.
The race was amazing. It took us along Lake Michigan, and the views were breathtaking. The only issue was the bottlenecking at parts because the path was narrow. But I didn’t care. I was there for the energy and excitement of the race.
The Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10K was a weekend filled with adventure, challenges, and unforgettable moments. Despite a few hiccups, the experience was enriched by the people, the city, and, of course, the race itself.
After the race and walking around the after-party, we headed back to the hotel to relax in the hot tubs.
Lunchtime at Rosebud
We enjoyed relaxing by the pool listening to the DJ. But at lunchtime, we were hungry, so we made our way back to Michigan Avenue to get some lunch.
We stumbled upon Rosebud and decided to go in. Rosebud is an Italian restaurant, but they had salads and appetizers perfect for sharing. We ended up sharing a chopped salad and coconut shrimp. It was good and gave us the energy boost we needed.
Shopping Again?
After lunch, we walked over to Nordstrom Rack and did some shopping. We went into a few other stores as well. Of course, we ended up buying stuff we didn’t need, but it was still fun.
By the time we walked back to the hotel, we had put in 20,000 steps. We were both exhausted.
Smith & Wollensky for Dinner
The concierge recommended Smith & Wollensky for dinner. They are known for their steaks, but I thought it would be a good place to get fish.
Once there, I decided on the filet mignon with a coffee grind rub. My husband makes this dish, and it’s delicious. The steak was incredible, but the rub wasn’t fantastic. It was okay (not as good as my husband’s, but don’t tell him I said that).
The best part about dining at Smith & Wollensky was the view. Trish and I had a Chicago River view, and it was spectacular. The water was aqua blue, and we watched as boats and kayaks floated by. Tourists on the boats were waving to us, and I even blew a few kisses.
The dinner was amazing and so relaxing.
Wrapping Up the Trip
After dinner, we headed back to the room to pack up for an early morning departure. What a great runcation with Trish. I can’t wait for our next adventure.
