The 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was not my best marathon performance, but it absolutely was an incredible experience! This was my third marathon, so there was some familiarity on what the process is like from preparing for the event, arriving and packet pickup, and all things leading up to race day.

I arrived into Chicago Midway International and caught the Orange Line Subway into Downtown Chicago to check into my hotel late afternoon on Saturday, checked into the hotel, dropped my bags, then made my way to the expo. I caught a cab and cut across town towards the Convention Center which is next to Soldier Field. We got stuck in traffic about 2 miles away from the Expo, so I paid the cab and had a spontaneous shakeout run to the convention center.

Upon arriving to the health & fitness expo it was amazing to be welcomed by so many signs, people, and personalities. The energy was exciting and you could feel the anticipation from other runners smiling with their family and friends. Security was very present, but the process to pick up your bib number was super smooth, and the Nike tech-tee was incredible! Super soft material, but ran a little small for my big mass.

Pro: The expo was HUGE and there were a ton of vendors with the latest and greatest things for runners of all shapes and paces. Even arriving just a few hours before closing the energy was electric!

Con: They ran out of all the official race swag. It's not really a con as much as my own fault for arriving just before closing.

Note to self: if you do decide to run this marathon, go on Friday to get all the sweet swag and partake in all the social meetups!

I couldn't sleep the night before the race. I was filled with anticipation, mostly because I had watched "The Spirit of the Marathon" no lie like 50 times! (If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you watch it!) So the morning of the race came. I had to catch the Subway at 4:45am I believe (It's freakin early) in order to get to the starting line corrals.

I have to say that the race management, security, and logistics of the race were amazing! It was so well organized - hey it is a World Major Marathon - so it better be!

Upon arriving at the starting line, I entered at my designated zone. There was tight security and a ton of volunteers coordinating and directing runners to where they needed to be. There was a sea of port-a-potty stalls in every zone - the lines were 5-6 deep but went super fast; which is great when there are 45,000+ runners all converging in one place early in the cold Chicago morning.

The starting line is on Miracle Mile, and once the race began the vibe was SO electric, the views absolutely beautiful! It felt as though we were running on a current of cheers and celebration, taking in the architecture and anticipation of a flat-fast course. No joke the crowd was loud and non-stop for the first 4-6 miles. Aid stations were well staffed and served both water and Gatorade. There were first aid stations (medics) every 5-6 miles or so. I stopped to get IBU at mile 18 or 19 and they documented my name and bib number, then put a mark on my bib. The medics were both friendly and helpful.

I was hoping to PR this race, but around mile 22 I got major cramps in both my calves and that went out the window. So I hobbled through the next three miles and started to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. As you get closer to the finish line, the crowds begin to appear and the cheers get louder and louder. You have to cross a bridge (that's uphill) just before you make the final left turn downhill towards the finish line. Once you see it, it's a flat out sprint full of pure joy! Cross the finish line- you did it! It's an absolutely incredible race experience! I highly recommend this be on your bucket list of marathons to run!