This year I’ll be side-lining it for the Chicago Distance Classic. My wife is running it and I’ll be playing the role of spectator and Gatorade-hander-outer. I’m excited for her (it’s her first half-marathon) but I’m a little nervous for myself having been presented the challenge of doing this rather long run (13.1 miles for those of you keeping track) on my own. Typically I don’t do great on my own. I tend to take more frequent breaks than I normally would and I run a little faster than I should for a distance race.

To keep things fresh, I making Jen drive me to the south side for a one-way run so I can venture into a part of the city I don’t often frequent. My “down-town” friends have been trying to get me south of the museum campus for a while. I’m looking forward to the change from my usual routes which typically keep me in Lincoln Park.

My planned route follows:

1. Start at 71st and South Shore Drive at the South Shore Country Club following South Shore Drive up to 67th Street

2. Enter Jackson Park following Marquette and the South Coast Guard Dr north through the park to Hayes Dr.

3. North over bridge through the Wooded Island

4. Bear northeast to Columbia Drive and connect with the bike path on the east side of Lake Shore Drive heading into Burnham Park

5. From there, you basically follow the bike path the rest of the way staying along the shore as you pass the East Hall of the McCormick Convention Center and staying east of Soldier Field.

6. Following the path through Grant Park past Monroe Harbor crossing the river at Wacker Drive

7. Pass Ohio Street Beach, Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach

8. The “Finish Line” is basically half-way between North Avenue and Fullerton. This is conveniently planned to allow the finisher to jump into the lake at will for a refreshing cool-off and well-deserved Gatorade at the Fullerton Av Snack Shop.