Chicago

 

Our trip to Chicago and my Illinois half was because of a conference Dave was attending.  Camden and I had lots of plans for our time, but Dave was also able to get in on some fun the first two days.  We arrived to the hotel before lunch time, but we were getting hungry.  We found a diner called Ed Debevic's that was open because they serve breakfast.  We ordered burgers and hot dogs.  It was good food, but the waiters were rude...on purpose!  It was fun!

The water looked green to me even though they dye it green for St. Patrick's Day

We ate and got out!

We then started learning how to use their public transportation by taking the train to Wrigley Field.  The Cubs were playing the Red Sox and won!  It was a good day and perfect weather for a day game.  And they showed a video of Harry Caray singing the 7th inning stretch.  It was a fun time!

 

The mascot ran around the field after the win!

The 7th inning stretch!

The ride back on the train was definitely more crowded than the trip up!  But we made it back and were able to check into our room.  By this time, we were getting a little hungry, so we headed out for pizza at Giordano's.  We had about a 30-minute wait for the table, but since the pizza takes an hour to cook, they have you order your pizza before you sit down.  So, we all ordered personal size Chicago style pizzas.  Dave and I also ordered their Little Italy salad, and it was super good.  We were fighting over our shared salad!

After dinner we had a scheduled architectural tour and on our walk to the dock, we walked past a McLaren car, the Artura model.  Apparently, it was only a $300,000 car.  Only because some McLarens cost more than $1,000,000!  This car was for rent and the guy renting it let Dave and Camden sit inside.

Our day had been very long so far.  We had been awake since 4:30 am!  But on our way to our next activity, we made a Joyride run at Target!  IYKYK!

We would probably say our favorite activity of the trip was that evening!  We had a scheduled architectural boat tour down the Chicago River.  Our meeting spot was at the Navy Pier.

  

The tour was so much fun!  Entertaining and we learned a lot about the buildings.  And since we did the tour as the sun was setting, we had great views of the city both at dusk and at night.  So cool!  There will be many pictures since the views were so awesome!

Our tour guide

Trump Tower

Chicago riverwalk

The Sears Tower...officially the Willis Tower

The corn cobs...

...and they park cars right up to the edge!  Valet parking only!

A map of the Chicago river

We had an awesome day during our first day in Chicago!  The city definitely showed off for us! 

Illinois...26

 

I finally am more than halfway done with the states...Illinois was state 26!  Camden and I tagged along on a conference trip to Chicago with Dave and found one half marathon within driving distance.  Actually, one half in the entire state for this weekend!  So, on July 19 we drove 30 miles from Chicago to Elk Grove Village and ran the Christmas in July half marathon.  I wasn't super excited about the theme, and still wasn't when finished, but the course was decent, and the race was executed very well.  They had more than the usual number of hydration stations, which was good.  And even icy pops at one that you ran by twice!  I would recommend the race if you were okay with running on a bike path through a park.  It did have bikers on it, which wasn't the best, but it was a shared path.  

Lots of Santas!

One of the views of the run.  Pretty, but not exceptional.

Too bad I didn't see any elk!!  

I felt really good the first 3/4 of the race but started to drag after that.  My time was my usual around 2.5 hrs.  But Camden got a PR with 1:37:44!  And he had not really trained.  The downside to this, however, was that he could barely walk up and down stairs the rest of our trip in Chicago.  And there are a lot of stairs throughout the city!

Camden finished state 6

Overall, it was a fun but early day.  I do need to figure out how to not get a calf cramp right before the finish line.  I am not speeding up and it seems like I am hydrating and getting electrolytes, but somehow it happened again that I am having to walk right at the end or pull a cramp.

And even though the bling was not my favorite, we had a fantastic time in Chicago!  More to come on that later!

The medal was a snowglobe....

and did I mention it lights up!

Oh my!