Saturday, October 11, 2008

Chicago Marathon on Sunday

A couple of hours ago I returned from the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Expo in Chicago's South Loop. I picked up my packet, my race T-shirt, and my number.

This will be my 19th consecutive Chicago Marathon, and like last year, I'm not in very good shape. Until I missed an entire week of running while reporting on the Republican National Convention last month, I was in so-so shape. As I did last year, I'm going to have fun, take pictures, and deal with the unseasonably warm weather.

Last year's race was cancelled three-and-a-half hours into it because of the mid-80s heat. It was a very difficult day to run--especially for the slower runners who had the indignity of running past aid station without water or Gatorade. The race simply ran out of water. This year, race officials--and I believe them--promise there will be plenty of fluids for thirsty participants.

Also new for 2008 is the color coding system, similar to what you see at some public beaches, that will rate the risk of running. Tomorrow is judged as a moderate day.

There are lots of booths, big and small, at major marathon expositions. By bar the biggest is the space reserved for selling official race merchandise. I purchased some blue shorts at the booth on the left--at a more reasonable price.

Race expos are fun. It's a time to bump into old friends, keep an eye out for famous runners, boast about your anticipated performance on race day (not me this time, as you know), or work on alibis if things don't work out after the starting gun goes off.

And it's time to dream and plan for the next race, such as the runners gathered around the Walt Disney Marathon booth--which takes place each January in Orlando.

As for myself, just crossing the finish line will be enought to dream for on Sunday.

Related posts:

A participant's view of the cancelled Chicago Marathon: UPDATED

Water station mayhem at Chicago Marathon

Happier scenes from Sunday's Chicago Marathon

Shirts of the Chicago Marathon

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6 comments:

Genevieve Netz said...

We're proud of you, John. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Chicago Marathon can be viewed here: http://tubedirect.net/index.php?q=Chicago-Marathon-ONLINE
More than 500 cameras for surveillance over members and leaders. Highly recommended!

Greybeard said...

I'd be delighted if I could just finish.
Good luck John.

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大舞台成人電影情色表演的是美國野a片蠻搖滾歌手瑪莉蓮曼av女優森的情色電影前妻─全世界頭牌脫衣舞孃黛塔范提思,這是成人影片她今年在成人網站英國唯一一場表演。

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參展攤位有的推廣情趣用品,有的公開展示人體藝術和人體雕塑,也有情色藝術家工會成員提供建議。

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活動計畫負責人米里根承諾:「要搞浪漫、誘惑人、玩虐待,你渴望的我們都有。」

他說:「時髦的設色情影片計與華麗女裝,從吊飾成人電影到束腹到真人大小的雕塑,是我們由今年展出的數千件產品精選出的一部分,參展產品還包括時尚服a片成人網站、貼AV女優身女用內在美、鞋子、珠成人影片寶、玩具、影片、藝術AV、圖書及遊戲,更不要說性愛a片下載輔具及馬術裝備。」

參觀民眾遊覽兩百五十多個攤位,有性感服裝、玩具情色及情色食品,迎合各種品味。

大舞台成人電影情色表演的是美國野a片蠻搖滾歌手瑪莉蓮曼av女優森的情色電影前妻─全世界頭牌脫衣舞孃黛塔范提思,這是成人影片她今年在成人網站英國唯一一場表演。

以一九四零年代風格演出的黛塔范提思表演性感的天堂鳥、旋轉木馬及羽扇等舞蹈。

參展攤位有的推廣情趣用品,有的公開展示人體藝術和人體雕塑,也有情色藝術家工會成員提供建議。