Meh

Ran the Michelob Ultra Chicago 13.1 on Saturday.  Many nice things about the race but a disappointing outcome.  First positive, package pick up.  At my favorite running store on the way to work.  Took a grand total of five minutes.  Second, nice shirt with normal colors and design and sizing actually approximately correct. 

Third, great course.  Started at South Shore Community Center at 70th and Shouth Shore Drive.  Its the south end of the bike path 14 miles from my apartment about 2 plus miles past Hyde Park.  Its a part of the park that is particularly beautiful and an area where I don't usually run except when L. drives me there and I run one way back to the north side.  Course winded through Jackson Park and then north on lake front path to about 37th street and straight back.

Fourth, easy street parking, public transportation and many shuttle buses.  Well organized, easy in and out no matter where you are coming from as long as you start early enough for 7 AM start.  Always funny to see people running toward start area as we are heading out on first mile.

Fifth, nice staging area.  plenty of room for gear check, porta potties, stretching, milling, etc.  Not surprising because start is grounds of former country club with now public 9 hole golf course.

Sixth, many corrals with staged start.  Each corrals were a bit cramped but nice staged starts with 2:30 between each corral's start.  Maybe I would have felt differently if I had been in "H" rather than "A".

The only downsides were the weather, the enormous kind of stupid medal, and my disappointing performance.  Its was mid-high 60s at start, a lot of sun, and not much shade.  (Sunday morning's high 50s would have been perfect) Probably low 70s by the end which I just wasn't ready for psychologically or physically.  Instead of starting slow and trying for a negative split, I decided to try for good times for the first half and just hang on as it got hotter.  First 2 miles were sub-9 and then settled it to low mid 9s.  I was fine until 9-10 and then it got a little ugly.  Finished in a disappointing 2:10 which all can I say is a PKSPR (post kidney stones PR).  On the brighter side, my dodgy calves, tendons, and feet all held up ok.  But it's been a tough 48 recovery period much more akin to a full marathon.

Have to ponder the take aways as I head into summer training and the eventual heat and humidity of Chicago July and August.  But signing up for two of the three summer halves later today and hope to do better.