6 Chicago Races Whose Fees Go Up at Midnight

Finish on the 50-yard line at the Soldier Field 10
on Saturday, May 24. 

I hate (big bold hate here) paying full price for race registrations. And when you participate in a lot of runs and triathlons like I do, especially those half- and full-Ironmans, your wallet takes a huge hit.

I'm still in the process of finishing my 2013 taxes, and itemizing everything that can't be written off, but I don't want to even think about how much money I spent on races in the last year. Or how much I could have saved if I didn't wait until the last-minute to sign-up for some races because I didn't know if my body would hold up to be able to cross the finish line.

Surely, I'm not alone here. Who doesn't wait until the weather gets warmer or the first race of the season has been completed before plotting out the rest of your running and racing season? OK, so I have a friend who might sign up for everything and then bail on all those races that sounded pretty exciting in January but lost their luster come June and July. For the rest of us, we weren't ready to pull the trigger in the middle of winter, but we're ready to add some races to the calendar now before we're paying full price (or watching the race fill).

Tomorrow might be April Fool's Day, but it's no joke that some race registrations will rise with the start of a new month. No fooling here: The clock's counting down to save on these six Chicago races.

Fit-Pic: Why We Run Soldier Field 10

You ran 10 miles. You finished those miles on the 50-yard line at Chicago's Soldier Field. You did it all on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. So it only seems fitting at an event that celebrates those who've served our country during a pre-race ceremony to see more military honors at the race's end. Uniformed officers lined the concourse at Soldier Field to hand out this year's Soldier Field 10 finisher medals--and they were thanking runners for their accomplishments. Maybe I missed something but shouldn't I have been the one thanking them for their service? And why don't I remember receiving my medal from such an honorable group the last few times I've run this race?

Fit-Pic: Finish on the 50

Now that's a way to finish a race: at the 50-yard line on the grass at Soldier Field. More than 12,000 runners made that a reality this morning at the Soldier Field 10 Mile, Chicago's way of welcoming Memorial Day Weekend. To borrow a phrase used by Fleet Feet when it promotes the race, did you finish on the 50? 

Time to go enjoy the rest of the three-day weekend.

Show Me the Money

The stadium blanket participants received at the 2011 race.

I don't get bonus points for using the famous line from Jerry Maguire, "Show me the money," because Fleet Feet Sports Chicago said it first. But they couldn't be more spot on in using it to incite and excite runners to register for one of the city's favorite races, the Soldier Field 10 Mile. I'm psyched and I'm already registered (so what if part of that excitement stems from my inability to run the 10-miler last year). Sure, the race is still a month away, 29 days and counting to be exact, but it is all about football this weekend. With the NFL draft happening Thursday, April 26, to Saturday, April 28, Fleet Feet is using the time to offer a signing bonus promotion that rewards savings to participants who get their friends, family and coworkers to register during the next four days for this year's Soldier Field 10 Mile. And indeed, you will be shown the money.

Here's how it works:

• Registered participants in the 2012 Soldier Field 10 received an email today detailing the "draft."
• In that email, participants received a link that could be shared with friends and family who might want to register for the race. You can try my link but Fleet Feet was kind enough to offer me an entry back on opening day so I won't be reaping any benefits, unless I somehow could give the money to Salute, Inc., one of the race's beneficiaries.
• When someone uses your link to register for the May 26 race, you'll receive a "signing bonus" on the credit card that you used to register for the race way back when.
• The earlier your team registers, the more money you can recoup from your race registration. On Thursday, it's $15 per registration; on Friday, it's $10 per registration; on Saturday, it's $5 per registration; and on Sunday, it's $5 per registration.

Need a selling point for your Chicago friends? I have some: You still have plenty of time to train for 10 miles. And for anyone who's now wondering why they signed up for Saturday's Lakefront 10, another 10-mile favorite in the Windy City, you can run the Lakefront on whatever mileage you already have stored in your legs and then plan to better that time next month. Hmm, maybe that means I should take my own advice.

Race Deals That Expire March 31

Running Soldier Field 10 in 2011

Who doesn’t love to save a little dough (even if it’s only a couple of dollars) on race registrations? I know I fall into that category time and again. I’m still kicking myself for missing the early registration deadline for Ironman 70.3 Racine—and as a result, have yet to actually sign up and cough up an extra $50 I could have saved myself if I had just remembered to visit the website before January 14. Maybe it’s just me, but once you miss out on one deadline for savings, you’re likely to do whatever you can to avoid missing the next one whether that means scouting out races that are less expensive to begin with, purchasing those awesome new Active Schwaggle deals or marking price increases on your calendar.

If you’re contemplating a race-filled summer, you might want to spend Saturday registering for those events. Come Sunday, the joke’s on us when the fees jump for some of our favorite races.

But which races am I referring to? Three come to mind:

Time to Think Soldier Field 10 for 2012

It's the end of the work week--TGIF. It's Veteran's Day--thank you to those who've served our country. It's 11-11-11, a date that we're not going to see for another 100 years. All of these are great to celebrate, but here's something to get runners excited and set to start planning for 2012: registration for the Soldier Field 10 Mile race opens today.

The race that's held over Memorial Day Weekend and at Soldier Field has veteran spirit written all over it, so it's only appropriate that this Chicago favorite starts registration on Veteran's Day. Plus it's perfect to get a jump-start to next season whether it's a goal to increase mileage, try a race you've been out of town for before, aim for a PR at the 10-mile distance, you name it. My running mind is excited because I could only watch the 2011 Soldier Field 10, my legs being in no shape to run or even walk the shorter Hut-Hut Hike, let alone 10 miles, even though my mind was ready to go.

Quick details on the race:

• Runners finish on the 50-yard line at Soldier Field
• The race will be held Saturday, May 26.
• The course runs along the Lakefront
• Finishers receive a medal and special commemorative item, in 2011 it was an awesome stadium blanket.

Ready to register for this race that sells out every year? Check out all the details and get started at soldierfield10.com. I'll be signing up later today, will you?


Photo grabbed from soldierfield10.com.

Beating Cheer Fear

Lately I’ve found myself in a spot that’s typically reserved for my parents when they watch me run marathons and do Ironmans: the sidelines. I’m still injured and recovering and while I’m trying not to let it get the best of me (I had a near melt-down yesterday but can’t explain why), I’m still showing up at the races. Except instead of having the goal of finishing said race, I’m there to cheer and fulfill my duties for FFCheer while my teammates are out running. The name alone, FFCheer, connotes cheering and lots of it, but I realized yesterday that I’m really bad at cheering. And I mean really bad. Before I thought it was because I was too busy racing—eye on the prize, head down, barreling toward the finish line in hopes of reaching whatever goal was lingering in the back of my head for the day. You don’t really cheer for your competitors, especially when they’re passing you or you’re passing them. At least I don’t. I feel like I’m being taunted by a five-year-old sticking her tongue out, waving her hands and saying, “Nanny-nanny boo-boo, you can’t catch me.”

With this extended time on the sidelines, I’m noticing that I don’t say anything when I’m watching the runners go by. Nothing. Dead air. Crickets. I’ll snap tons of pictures, but I can’t seem to utter a word out of my mouth, nor do I whistle or clap.

Reflecting back on other experiences, it occurred to me that this is nothing new. I did it more than five years ago when my friend was running her first Army 10-Miler and I tried registering too late to gain an entry—I stood outside the Smithsonian, never saw her run by, but never cheered for the runners that did pass. I did it at Ironman Wisconsin when the runners battled through the heat and the mental challenge of being 26.2 miles away from a 140.6-mile goal. I did it a few weeks ago at the Ravenswood Run. And I did it again at the Soldier Field 10. Yes, I was the girl in all black standing along the road about a half-mile from the finish (or so the race announcer said), likely with a scowl on her face. The scowl wasn’t on purpose, it’s just the look I lapse into when I’m deep in thought or watching intensely. I swear.

But I think it’s far from inviting to a racer. Correct me if I’m wrong but who’d really want to see a spectator just standing on the sidelines, especially when you needed a little kick to the finish and your power song wasn’t cutting it? The only problem is I don’t know what to shout or what runners want to hear. Yay, runners! Keep it up! You’re almost finished! Less than a mile to go! I never liked it when I heard the shouts of being five miles from beer along the Chicago Marathon course, partially because my stomach can’t tolerate beer after a race and partially because they underestimated the mileage, the toughest mileage, we had left to encounter on the course. But maybe I should have gone with the obvious and read the names on the bibs and shouted, “Go so-and-so,” as they ran by. The only problem with that is I would have yelled, “Go Jeff!” to a girl. Oops.

What cheers do you want to hear from the spectators when you’re in the final mile of the race? I’m all for suggestions, I could use them for next time because I’ll still be on the sidelines (my tip: try as hard as you can to avoid injury cause when it happens it more than messes with your race schedule and fun running). And I’m tired—and embarrassed—to be a silent spectator. 

Photo grabbed from prc1333 at flickr. 

Fit-Pic: Soldier Field Finish on the 50

Doesn't this make you want to get out and run? A picture might be worth a thousand words but this one needs more of an explanation before that inspiration sets in. Ten miles along Chicago's Lakefront. A start outside Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. A finish inside Soldier Field on the 50-yard line with a run around the concourse. Watching yourself run on the stadium's JumboTron. Fifteen thousand runners. A sweet Adidas climalite tee for all registrants, and a football-themed stadium blanket and medal for all finishers. First-timers, seasoned runners, all paces fast and slow. That's the Soldier Field 10 Mile race for you.

A Chicago favorite way to start off Memorial Day weekend, even when the weather decides not to cooperate and throw conditions more worthy of Shamrock Shuffle weekend than now. Speaking of which, it was close to 30 degrees warmer Shamrock morning than it was SF10 morning. Go figure. But that didn't stop the runners nor did the semi-strong headwind I felt as I rode my bike to the race site--12,275 finished the race according to the race results. There would have been one more, me, but it's probably not a wise decision to walk 10 miles when you've been advised not to run for at least three more weeks to heal a stress fracture. Right?

Hurry Up to Run the Soldier Field 10

Maybe you didn't think that 10 miles was possible for your running legs to handle back in January. Maybe you once thought that you'd be out of town for Memorial Day Weekend. Maybe you recovered faster from that last race than you thought and now you're on the hunt for your next adventure. Maybe you thought that the Soldier Field 10, a race that has quickly become a Memorial Day Weekend tradition around Chicago--and starts off that weekend of barbecuing and beaching--had already sold out. Now's your chance to grab one of the 1,000 spots--or less considering it was Monday when I heard 1,000 were available--that are left in this race that finishes on the 50-yard line at Soldier Field. The race is expected to close before the week is out, and do you really want to be SOL from one of the city's favorite races on the weekend that kicks off summer?

Probably not. Unless of course, you've injured yourself. In that case, you could always volunteer, an option I wish I had remembered for myself when I showed up to watch the Ravenswood Run on May 1. And an option I may very well have to do, depending on what my healing stress fracture looks like when I return to the doctor later this week.

But if I can run, I will. I love running this race, even when I sleep through my alarm and barely arrive before the race start or when I take the first half too quickly and get slammed with a slowing wind on the route back. And the goodie bag perks are pretty nice, too--they justify what many would consider a hefty registration fee ($80 if you registered after January 31) for a 10-miler. Here are my reasons for why you should run:

• That $80 registration fee, or $65 if you registered before February 1 and took advantage of the early-bird special, gets you a lot more than entry into this race. You also get an Adidas technical T-shirt, and finishers will go home with a special Soldier Field 10 stadium blanket and medal.
• This year's Adidas tech tee is one you'll want to sport on your runs like you chose it off the store rack--I think it might even match the 2010 Boston Marathon women's jacket if you're looking to color coordinate. 
• The 7:30 a.m. start means you can avoid the heat, if Chicago finally decides to get warm and stay warm, or get a hearty workout in before beginning the rest of your day. Or if you were going to escape the city for the weekend with a Saturday departure, you may as well run and hit the road later--you might even miss some of our dreaded traffic.
• Ten milers aren't as taxing on the body as say a marathon. You could even double up and do another workout later in the day. But you still get the awesome calorie burn and rev to the metabolism that any run will give you.
• You can meet--and run with--the FFCheer Team. Yes, a little plug for me and my running buddies, but five of the six of us will be there on May 28--our capitán is out of town but there in spirit.
• You can see some familiar faces from Chicago area media outlets who will be running on the Media Team. I'm not sure who will be running, but media teammates include John Garcia, Lauren Jiggetts, Dina Bair and Amy Freeze (even if she's now reporting weather in New York).
• You can run for the reason you have a three-day weekend in the first place: Memorial Day. That's a huge draw for the participants and the organizers. "I love working the starting ceremony and honoring the men and women who have served our country," says Dave Zimmer, president and owner of Fleet Feet Sports Chicago, which puts on the race. 
• You can experience Soldier Field in a way that you can't at a Bears football game, from the field finish to watching yourself on the Jumbotron, sprinting those final steps.
• My personal favorite: This race brings all sorts of runners together, beyond the basics of never-run-10-miles and routine-runner. "People are truly excited to run this event and finish inside Soldier Field and they do it for so many different reasons," Zimmer says. "Bears fans, football fans, the excitement of finishing on the field of this historic stadium and now raising money for the American Cancer Society and Team Salute."
• Ah yes, this race benefits the above two charities, the American Cancer Society--you'll likely see some of its DetermiNation runners racing--and Salute, Inc., which provides financial support for military men and women.

Who's in? If you're not yet registered, but this convinced you to sign up, head over to soldierfield10.com for all the details.

Photo provided by Fleet Feet Chicago.

Free 10-Mile Training with Equinox

Training for the Soldier Field 10, the 10-miler that finishes on the 50-yard line at Soldier Field on Saturday, May 28? Need a little kick in the pants to get running? Having some trouble running on your own with Chicago's crazy weather swings? Equinox can help. And you don't need to be a member of the fitness club to benefit.

Equinox Fitness Clubs has created a unique training program to help those signed up for Fleet Feet Sports Soldier Field 10 Mile train properly. All you have to do is make your way to one of two Equinox locations--Lincoln Park or Highland Park--on Saturday mornings through May 21 to be a part. Sessions begin at 9 a.m., and you're asked to arrive by 8:40 a.m. so everything can start on time. Oh, and you have to bring a photo I.D. But you can leave the money at home--this program is free. Gratis, for nada, zero.

And we're not talking that you just show up for a run and that's it. Equinox's weekly sessions offer cross training through scheduled runs, access to group fitness classes (um, awesome, considering all the variety and hard-core sweating and good sore feelings I've gotten at those), training tips, and question and answer segments. Plus you can use the Equinox facilities and amenities on the day of training--hmm, I sense a little stretch session on the mats or a post-run spin. Well, maybe not for me since I don't even know if I'll be able to run--darn injury woes, again--but those who use this training can benefit from more than the free runs. That's all I'm saying--and that I'm jealous (insert smiley here).

Find these weekly training sessions here:

• Equinox Lincoln Park: 1750 N. Clark, Chicago. 312-254-4000
• Equinox Highland Park: 799 Central Avenue, Highland Park. 847-681-7777

Photo grabbed from news.medill.northwestern.edu.

Ten Ways to Kick Off Your Memorial Day

I'm still having a hard time believing Memorial Day Weekend is here. It's always one of those weekends that looms on the horizon once the snow melts and the trees start to bloom, the mark of summer's start across the Midwest, and the perfect excuse to get out and play. And after being spoiled with 80-degree highs for part of the week, I couldn't be more psyched for this coming weekend. Not only because of the time off, the promise of nice weather, the opening of the beaches along Lake Michigan and the chance to play outside from now until September, but also because it's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy the holiday without going anywhere. Three years ago it was a Wisconsin cabin, then Costa Rica and then another Wisconsin cabin last year. And while it's great to get away--even if we do have to battle traffic on 90 and 94 to escape the city on the Friday of a holiday weekend--I'm not minding staying at home this year. There's a ton to do in Chicago this weekend from bike rides to runs to hanging out.

Here's my top 10 list for spending a Memorial Day Weekend. Some are specific to Chicago but that doesn't mean you can't find a similar event or activity close to home.

1. Soldier Field 10--I haven't run this race since 2005, but since it first burst onto the running scene it's been a Chicago fave. Not only do you get to run along the Lakefront but the 10 miles finishes on the grass at Soldier Field. What gets better than that? Well, cooler temps, a medal and a post-race festival always helps too.
   
2. Bike the Drive--The Windy City's infamous Lake Shore Drive closes to cars on Sunday morning and floods with cyclists. Recumbents, training-wheeled rides, road bikes, hybrids, Burleys and more take over the four lanes on both sides of the median to ride up and down the road. You'll definitely see more bikes than cars on this Sunday morning regardless of where you're traveling.
   
3. Green City Market--I'm scared to experience this farmer's market touted by Alice Waters as one of the best in the country on a Saturday, but fresh foods of all kinds don't go unnoticed at this market in Lincoln Park. Fresh cheese, fresh baked bread and pastries, made-to-order sandwiches and treats, farm-fresh produce and naturally raised meats are just some of the booths you'll find. And that's speaking from what I've spotted when the market opens on Wednesdays--I'm too busy shopping the market down the street from my house on Saturday.
   
4. Swim in Lake Michigan--So it might be a little too cold for this activity since Lake Michigan is chilly even in August. But with a wetsuit and a little bravery, the open beaches mean that lake swim no longer need to be secret. And it's a great jump start for the triathlon season.
5. Kayak Chicago--Once May hits this fleet of kayaks is out and about touring the Chicago River for architecture tours, night time paddles, fireworks watching at Navy Pier, lessons and more. It's a unique way to see the city and perfect for maxing out the outdoor hours this weekend. Grab and friend and get going.
   
6. Beach Body Boot Camp--While torture and butt-kicking are two words that probably come to mind before fun when thinking about boot camp, you'll want to hit up this class. Core Fitness is offering its Beach Body Boot Camp for free on Monday. Good news is that you can still sleep in and get in a workout that boasts functional movement, tones lean muscle and busts your chops--and it's on the beach, North Ave. at noon to be exact.
   
7. Shopping Sales--Time to revamp your workout wardrobe? Look no further than the annual Memorial Day Sale at Fleet Feet Sports. The sale runs all weekend long--until the store closes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday--and features half-off savings on last-season apparel and 30 percent off select footwear. Or if you're heading to the beach this weekend don't go without a pair of flip flops, especially if they'll only set you back a dollar at Old Navy. Score your size and fave color fast before they sell out on Saturday.
   
8. Long bike ride--Whether you're not ready to engulf yourself with the masses on Lake Shore Drive or you simply want some solitude and long miles, take your bike out for a long spin. Check out mapmyride.com for some routes of varying distances near you. I have some friends talking about riding from Gurnee to Lake Geneva or riding from downtown to Fort Sheridan around here--I've considered riding the Ironman Wisconsin bike course although I think my legs will kill me on those rollers.
   
9. Soaking in the sun--Maybe this isn't the best idea since May also happens to be Skin Cancer Awareness Month (and today is Don't Fry Day), and according to Al Roker's weekend weather report, UV indexes are expected to reach some dangerous levels during the long weekend. But with a little sunscreen lathering or avoiding the rays between primetime, you can still enjoy some chilling in the sun. Remember we all need a little vitamin D and there's nothing better than adding a little color to the skin.
   
10. Beach reads--Relax! It's a holiday weekend. Take a good book or magazine and kick back and read. My stack of must-reads has piled up all winter so stay tuned for some recommendations from my bookshelf for some summertime reading.

All of these activities are making me eager to get outside. I think some people around here have already gotten a jump start on the weekend--I could see the traffic building by noon and am scared to venture to a grocery store with all the BBQ buyers or the highway for bumper-to-bumper cars. But I'm excited to also get in some treats--healthy or not--this weekend. The Protein Bar officially opened shop and there's a new smoothie place--Doc's Juice and Smoothies--to give me a break from my Jamba Juice obsession. Whoo-hoo, gotta love the celebration of summer in Chicago. Photo grabbed from theta_sigma at flickr. Posted by Kate