For the second year in a row, the conditions for Chicago are lining up to be about as good as you could ask for (without being greedy). Partly cloudy with a high of 62° and moderate winds, it's time to cash in on 16 weeks of hard work.
Here's a few pieces of wisdom from Bandit resident coach, Steve Finley and a multi-time Chicago marathoner Tim Rossi.
1. Get to the corral extra early. The race is early (7:30am) and most people won’t give themselves enough time for a proper warm-up and to settle in to the environment. It's crucial. This all starts by getting to bed early (even if you're not asleep) on Saturday, which means an earlier dinner, etc. etc. Just by being there early, you're putting yourself at an advantage.
2. Hot or cold, be extra patient. Whether you're feeling invincible or nervous, however the temps are feeling early on - be extra patient. Banking your energy in the beginning of the race will help you when the tough gets going towards the end of the marathon. Big trust.
3. Your watch will likely not work the first 5k. Mentally prepare to go acoustic mode and track your splits manually on your watch or with the clock. Restart your watch once you gain service, probably at mile 4 to be safe.
4. Tuck in and draft. Chicago is windy, we know this. You’ll save 2-3% of your effort by tucking behind a person blocking wind. That adds up over the course of 26.2. Because the wind is swirling, it's ideal to find a position that covers you in front, but allows for a tailwind. Easier said than done, but when you can pull it off, go for it.
5. Plan to negative split / Be patient until mile 18. Common misconception that every race should be negative split. For instance, at Berlin we advise an even split race. NyC you should plan to... survive. Because Chicago is faster on the backend with the epic crowd and high potential for wind, you should be patient until 18 to start reducing pace.
6. Mentally prepare for the hill at 26. It's not a crazy hill, but it exists and it's at the end, so it'll feel bigger than it is. Lock in and push up it with every ounce of mental strength you have left.
7. Kick for the photo finish. With less than 200 meters to go, find a runner in eyeshot and hit the gas to catch them. Chicago has an iconic photo finish and you'll want to finish on empty in epic fashion.
8. Create boundaries. This is a pre-race bit of advice. Pick and choose your events wisely. Marathon weekend is exciting, but you're here to run a great race first and foremost. Ensure you give yourself cutoff times so you're staying off your feet, resting, and prioritizing nutrition and hydration.
Best of luck out there! We'll be screaming for you.
