Chicago2Boston Logistics


It seems like only yesterday, but was actually 6 months ago, that I threw caution to the wind and started this whole Chicago2Boston journey.  To be honest, I spent most of the time assuming that I'd never really have to worry about it happening but now here we are so onto the logistics...

This is not a normal kind of post but maybe my friends can help me figure out the little details that I'm forgetting!  In all seriousness, forcing myself to sit down and write all of this out helped me catch 3 or 4 different things that might have been forgotten so I guess it has already helped some.

What to bring?  What did I forget?

Click the title or here to see the list of stuff

What to wear?

Click the title or here to review the wardrobe challenges of 5 days and 1 carry on bag

Friday, October 8th

Buffalo2Boston

How to get there...

Delta kept f'ing with my flights so, "Hello JetBlue!"









Where to stay...

Nowhere!  Just picking up the Boston Marathon bib on the way to Chicago for the weekend.

What to do...

  1. Take public transportation over to the finish line area.
  2. Go to the medical tents for vaccine verification, scheduled for 11:30am.  Put on bracelet that will be required for bib pickup, transport to the start and to receive a finisher's medal at the end of the race.
  3. Pickup bib
  4. Go to expo, spend money
  5. Don't forget to eat
  6. Take public transportation back to the airport


Boston2Chicago

How to get there...






Where to stay...









What to do...

Relax and get a good night sleep.

Saturday, October 9th

  1. It's the day before a marathon, so it must be time for an Aussie Carb Load.  Break out the race day clothes, go for a short warm up run, run hard/fast for a mile, cool down and drink an alarming amount of sugar in the form of extra strength Gatorade.  Follow up with real food at breakfast.
  2. Check out of hotel.
  3. Take public transportation downtown to the expo at 
    1. ABBOTT HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO
      Abbott Health & Fitness Expo location
      McCormick Place, West Building, Hall F2
      2301 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
      Chicago, IL 60616
  4. Go through vaccination verification process, receive a second wrist band that cannot be removed until the race finishes.
  5. Pickup bib
  6. Go to expo, spend money
    1. Souvenirs
    2. Gu
  7. Visit with friends for lunch?
  8. Checkin to a new hotel
    1. The Congress Plaza Hotel 
      520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
  9. Go to a store and buy...
    1. Pre-race morning food
    2. Sunscreen
    3. Post-race snacks
    4. Airplane snacks
  10. Go to hotel
    1. Stay off of feet
    2. Eat dinner
    3. Charge Watch!!!
    4. Sleep

Sunday, October 10th - Chicago Marathon

    1. Dress up in throwaway clothes.  To save room, these were the same clothes worn on the flight(s) to Chicago.
    2. Eat
    3. Wait and watch crowds starting to filter into park, suggested arrival time for me is 5:30am
    4. Wave 1 start - 7:30am
      1. I'm in Corral B which will start about 3 minutes later
    5. Run
      1. Walk as needed
      2. Have fun
      3. Take pictures
      4. Make new friends
      5. Smile
      6. Remember how unbelievably lucky I am to be able to do this
    6. Finish
    7. Eat, Drink and Be Merry, but not too merry.
    8. Force myself into a cold bath at the hotel
      1. Cycle between cold/hot/cold/hot baths as much as I can stand it
    9. Don't fall asleep without setting an alarm
    10. Meet friend(s) that ran the race?
    11. 3pm at the latest, leave hotel for the airport
    12. Eat more

    Chicago2Boston

    How to get there...

    1. Check to see if an awesome friend successfully got me upgraded to first class 🤞




    Where to stay...









    What to do...

    1. Figure out public transportation to apartment
    2. Call my best buddy Chris who will be in Boston waiting for my arrival, discuss if it is better for him to pick me up from the airport (probably not)
    3. Commute to the apartment
    4. Foam roll legs, take a hot bath, do anything and everything I can think of to bring my body back to life
    5. Embrace the adventure
    6. Charge watch!!!
    7. Sleep

    Monday, October 11th - Boston Marathon

    1. Wake up by 5:30am
    2. Eat
    3. Foam roll legs, take a hot bath, do anything and everything I can think of to bring my body back to life
    4. Embrace the adventure
    5. Leave apartment at 7am
      1. Beg Chris to give me a piggy back ride to the busses
    6. Board bus to the start line at 7:30am
    7. Rolling start begins 9am
      1. Best guess I'll cross the start line no later than 9:30am
    8. Run
      1. Walk as needed
      2. Have fun
      3. Take pictures
      4. Make new friends
      5. Smile
      6. Remember how unbelievably lucky I am to be able to do this
      7. Be a big baby times, knock it off.  See #6 above.
    9. Finish
      1. Find Chris
    10. Do what feels good.  Foam roll?  Baths?  Scream from rooftops?  Celebrate.
    11. Meet up with friends for dinner?
    12. Sleep

    Tuesday, October 12th

    This thing is done and in the books!  (I hope)

    1. Wake up by ~8am
    2. Eat breakfast
    3. Foam roll legs, take a hot bath, do anything and everything I can think of to bring my body back to life
      1. Find a stationary bike to ride?  This works.  For real.
    4. 9:30am, start a long slow hobble public transport to the airport
    5. Try to stay awake long enough to board plane home

    Boston2Buffalo

    How to get there...

    Seriously, I bought direct flights and Delta
    thinks the above works?
    "Hello JetBlue!"




    Where to stay...

    One last commute to go.  A 45-60 minute drive from the airport back to...

    HOME!!!




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