The Cell to Ourselves

I can't believe there weren't tens of thousands of runners in this race, but that was all the better for those of us who were there.  The Run for ALS 5k is probably the most fun and unique race I've ever done that most runners apparently have never heard about.  I'm serious about the title for this entry.  About 400 of us runners basically had the Cell to ourselves.  When do you ever get an opportunity like that?

This is the second year of this race, it has the feel of running with a bunch of your friends on a Saturday morning.  But the course all comes down to the third mile.  It starts in the north parking lot, and winds through the lots for the first two miles.  It's somewhat monotonous and a little boring.  But then you leave the parking lot, and it gets interesting.  You run up the ramps to the concourse that leads to the ball park.  It's a pretty good incline full of switchbacks.  Once you enter the concourse on the third baseline, you don't have time to stop for a hotdog.  You start running around the park on the main level, just short of a full loop.  Once you get around to the first base side next to the dugout, you take the stairs down to the field level.

I started out the race with my friend Anthony Ponce, from NBC-5.  Anthony is a fine reporter, and a really strong runner.  He was aiming to run close to 6 minute pace, while I was trying to run 6:20's.  So, like I said, we started out together.  Then I watched him from behind, and tried to keep him in sight.  And I could still see him in front of me until we turned to enter the ball park.

After that loop around the concourse, and the stairs down, you're on the field.  You get to do a full loop around the ball park on the field along the dirt track that winds around the exterior of the grass, including the warning track.  It was a little strange, and very cool.  I kind of wanted to slow down and take it all in, rather than try to get through the last part of the race as quickly as possible.  I've been on the field for work, but this was different.  I'm a huge baseball fan, and I wanted to see the field from the players perspective as we passed by all the different positions.  

Suffice to say, I tried to take it all in as quickly as possible.  Despite the ramps and stairs, which made the course much more difficult, I still was trying to run a good time.  In retrospect, I probably should have slowed down.  A good time was not in the cards.

The good news first.  I won my age group, and finished 11th overall.  But, unfortunately, I ran closer to 6:50 pace.  It was not impressive.  But the race was truly fun.  Dina Bair, from WGN is pictured below finishing strong.  She organized a team of local media folks who ran the race.  I heard nothing but great reviews from them afterward.

I can see this race growing quickly inthe next few years.  It's an amazing opportunity to run in a place you would never get the chance to otherwise.  I've run races at sports stadiums before, including one other one at the Cell, but never one with as much access as this.  

After the game we all went back inside the park and watched the All Star game on the Jumbo-Tron.  The concession stands were open.  It was like a ball game.  Except that only the 400 runners and volunteers were there.  We had the place to ourselves. 

Speaking of great courses, I just got word that the Rock-n-Roll half has finalized a course map.  It already started on Columbus drive in the same spot as the marathon.  It followed the marathon course for the first couple miles.  But then it turned off onto the Lakefront path for the second half. 

This year, they are staying on the roads.  It should be fun.  Here's a link to the course: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/chicago   I'll be out there.  

See you on the roads....

 

Comments

[Wendy Abrams]

John, on behalf of the Les Turner ALS Foundation, thank you to you and all of your media runner pals for supporting the 2nd annual Strike Out ALS 5K at US Cellular Field.

It is so exciting that all of you came out to join Dina this year, and that you loved the race and the venue and that you wrote about it in your blog.

We have high hopes that this event will continue to grow and to raise the funds so urgently needed to help those in the Chicago area who are living with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

All of the funds raised stay in Chicago for research at Northwestern and to provide care for our patients.

Join us again on Sept. 10th for our 10th Annual ALS Walk4Life at Montrose Harbor - it's not as challenging as a 5K, but it's certainly meaningful to the 5,000
people who will be there to support ALS and the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

Thank you again,

Wendy Abrams
Exeutive Director
Les Turner ALS Foundation