13.1 Chicago [half] Marathon Giveaway
Along with many other Chicago bloggers, I was offered a personal free entry and ONE free entry to give away for the 13.1 Chicago [half] Marathon® on June 9th. That happens to be my mom’s birthday, and if my mom taught me one thing in life, it’s “say yes to free.” Sorry Mom! Won’t be home for your birthday this year! Instead, I will be running a half marathon in Chicago with 4,999 other runners, many of them bloggers (it seems).
This is actually a really cool opportunity for me (and you!) to run in the beautiful city of Chicago, and it sounds like this course is going to be neat-o (from here):
The Allstate Life Insurance℠ Chicago 13.1 Marathon® starts and finishes at the Historic South Shore Cultural Center (SSCC) on Chicago’s south side. The SSCC offers beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline and has hosted many notable events, including the wedding reception of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The 13.1 mile course takes you along the Lake front Path past La Rabida Hospital. After passing the hospital, you will run through Jackson Park, home of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, the Osaka Japanese Garden, a strolling garden on Wooden Island. You will then pass the Museum of Science & Industry, the only original building remaining from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and one of the largest science museums in the world. You will then head back to the Lakefront Path to almost 35th Street before heading back south, past the 63rd Street Beach House and finishing at the SSCC. This course is 13.1 miles of perfect Windy City experience.
This race is actually the fourth stop on a eight-city tour across the states. Sign me up for that (for free, too!):
13.1 Marathon®, America’s Half Marathon Series, is the series of half marathons serving some ofAmerica’s top running communities with a stand-alone half marathon for locals to embrace and visitors to experience. The series kicked off the 2012 calendar in Los Angeles with Los Angeles 13.1 Marathon® (January 15) and will follow in beautiful Miami Beach (March 4), New York City (March 24), Chicago (June 9), Boston (September 26), Atlanta (October 7), Dallas (October 26) and Ft. Lauderdale(November 11).
Here are the details for the where and when. Maybe there will be an expo the day before too:
7 a.m., Saturday, June 9 South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60649
I am excited about this race. It will be my first half marathon in Chicago, and if it is not as hot as last year, I may even try to PR. Maybe. Either way, the medal is frickin’ schweet (I imagine it will say Chicago on it):
Other items of note:
- Gender specific tech shirts (wish I would have read that before I ordered a M)
- 20 party stations along the course
- Bash with live entertainment and refreshments at the end
- Walker friendly course – 3.5 hr time limit (that’s 16 min mile pace)
- Free shuttle service to start
13.1 Chicago [half] Marathon Giveaway Rules
- One reader will receive one (1) free entry to the 13.1 Chicago [half] Marathon® on June 9th in Chicago, IL, USA.
- Required to enter the giveaway: tell me why you would like to run this race.
- This giveaway is open until 5:00 PM CST on Sunday April 1. I will use random.org to select the winner. I will announce the winner on Monday April 2.
- This giveaway is open to all readers. It’s just up to you to get to the race.
Themocracy
I would like this to get my butt back into running. The medal is really cool.
Don’t include me in the giveaway, but I would LOVE to run this race! I’d come visit you and run with you during the race. 😉 I am unable to make it to Chicago on such short notice though and have my first ‘real’ triathlon the week before.
I’d love to do this race – I’ve never done a race in Chicago. And I’d love the chance to see you again and hang out!!
I’d love to win this entry! The Chicago 13.1 was my first half marathon, back in 2010. This years race also happens to be a week before my wedding – how much more awesome can it get?!?
Less than a year ago I had never run more than 6 miles, and now I have two halfs and a marathon under my belt, and I can’t seem to slow down!
I would love to win this entry because I’ve been going back and forth between registering for the 13.1 and the Chicago half (which was my first-ever half), and I can only afford one this year. If I had a chance to do both, I would be so thrilled.
Ok, enter me in the drawing! If I win, it means I was meant to come to Chicago and run (walk?) a half.
Neverrrrmind. I have a wedding that day in DC. That wedding, sheesh. I wanted to do the mini-marathon in Central Park that day.
Yay! I’ll be there too! This will be the first race that we are going to both be running in, how exciting!
I’ve never run a half-marathon before but it’s one of my goals for this year. I grew up in eastern Iowa and we’d go to Chicago all the time (it’s only about a 2 and a half hour drive from my parent’s home). I’d love my first half-marathon to be in Chicago 🙂
I would like to run the 13.1 race because I need to redeem myself from a poor showing at the event a few years back. Went out too fast and it got hot. Excuses, excuses…
I want to run this race because, like you, free is my favorite price point. I’ll bring vegan banana muffins, if that sweetens the deal.
I would love to run this – half marathons are my favorite race distance and I don’t sign up for Chicago ones because they tend to be so expensive! If I do get in, I’m happy to order whatever size shirt you would have ordered if you’d known they were gender specific (M would be my size). 🙂
I’m looking for a half before July so this would be great!
Wow, I’m now kicking myself for not doing the LA half- that IS a great medal!
I’m not entering in the giveaway, by the way, but maybe next year?!?! 🙂
See you there!!! 🙂
i’m already registered!! yeahhh hope we can meet up!!
I would like to run this race because I signed up for the Chicago Half on September 9th and I want to take part in the Windy City Challenge!
I really want to run this race!! I am signed up for the Chicago Half in September and would love to do this half marathon and complete the Windy City Challenge!
I would love to run the Chicago Half Marathon with you!! Since I didnt get to run the fall in 2010, this would be an awesome opportunity!! It would be so much fun to see you in your hometown for a chance. Thanks for doing this giveaway!
The medal is awesome! Good luck & thanks for stopping by the blog again 🙂 You’re so good at being a consistent blogger! I need to be better. Maybe with more training I will have more to write about! Happy running!
Nice giveaway! I would love to run this race – I’ve been focusing the 1/2 marathon this season to get me back into shape after my pregnancy, and it would be great to add this to the race schedule!
I would love to join you on this race! 2012 is my year for getting back into the running groove and what better way then to join runners on a beautiful run along the South side of a wonderful city.
I would love to run this half! For LOTS of reasons! I’ve never been to Chicago, and there are so many peeps up there that I’d love to meet–You and Ms. Bobbi being right there at the top of that list! PICK MEEEEEE!!!!!!
I visited Chicago about two years ago when I was not an avid runner and fell in love with this city! I would love to be able to participate in this half marathon now that I’m running again and be able to see more of this gorgeous runner-friendly city!
My husband is running it and I want to join him in it! We’re a running couple, you see. 😀