This was my first half marathon--maybe a little bit crazy of me to run my first ever half in Chicago in January, but I did, and the experience couldn't have been better. Admittedly, this year it was pretty warm, but the organization was still phenomenal. Being able to hang out in the United Center until just a few minutes before gun time made a huge difference. Even if this wasn't a cold-weather race, it would have been great just for the comfort (real bathrooms!).

I don't enjoy running on the southern portion of the Lakefront Trail as much as on the North Side (North Sider here), but it's still a great place to run.