Chicago Athlete on the Road: Starved Rock Country

On Mom’s Day weekend, my household and I traveled to Ottawa, Illinois for the Starved Rock Marathon. This annual occasion is held every year on the second Saturday in Could and permits runners to deal with the hills of the state park. It’s a tough occasion, however one that’s definitely worth the expertise.

Ottawa, Illinois, is simply over an hour away from Chicago and a particularly straightforward drive. You are feeling like you might be in a very completely different state, regardless that you might have simply traveled a brief method. After you permit the suburbs, you enter into stared rock nation, which is lined with cornfields and rural improvement.

We arrived on Friday and went straight to packet pickup, which is held within the Knights of Columbus constructing in downtown Ottawa. It is a good likelihood to drive via the world and see all the charming eating places and outlets that make up the neighborhood.

After grabbing my packet, we headed to Utica, Illinois, which is simply exterior of the state park. This small neighborhood has a block of breweries and eating places for guests to get pleasure from.

There’s additionally a museum and some historic websites to go to. Our favourite was an ice cream store known as one thing and Bruce and Ollies. Themed after the house owners’ canines, pups are welcomed and inspired. This family-owned gem is nestled inside The Bickerman Constructing and serves a pleasant array of choices, together with Capannari’s ice cream, Starved Rock espresso blends, August Hill wine, craft beers, and extra.

We then went to dinner on the Court Street Pub, which had an inside-outside really feel with giant home windows within the entrance that open, and an ample menu of choices. We had been all hungry and I wanted a fundamental, acquainted meal because the marathon was the following morning.

Following dinner, we checked into my absolute favourite place to remain in Ottawa, The Fairfield Inn & Suites. The lodge is simply 8 minutes from the downtown space and shares a car parking zone with a Starbucks and Culver’s. It’s one minute from the native Walmart and proper off the freeway. Past the placement being very best, the lodge is heat and welcoming, and a real house away from house.

The rooms are giant and plush with comfortable mattresses and clear, spacious loos. Plus, free breakfast is included with all stays. The breakfast is each cold and hot and has all kinds of choices for company. As a touring, energetic household, it’s each price and time environment friendly to have a breakfast on the lodge that’s included within the value of the keep. It’s additionally necessary for my household that we’ve wholesome choices to assist the numerous actions which are deliberate via the weekend.

After a fast unpack, we cuddled in for the evening and I slept like a rock, earlier than my alarm woke me as much as run the rock!

I walked over to Starbucks and grabbed a espresso earlier than driving the 8 minutes to downtown Ottawa, the place the beginning line for the marathon and 5K is. The half marathon runners get bussed into Starved Rock State Park and run again into downtown Ottawa. If you’re a half marathon fan, that is one to not be missed. You get the expertise of the state park and might benefit from the hills earlier than your legs are too fatigued.

The marathon and 5K runners started proper at 7 AM and ran via downtown Ottawa and the residential areas surrounding it. We then made our approach to the state park. We started seeing the half marathon runners trekking again in the other way of us proper round mile eight of our journey into the state park. Miles one via six had been comparatively flat, however then the elevation started. We had hills all through the state park and the areas surrounding the state park, which had been fairly intense at instances. One specific hill was practically one mile lengthy. Going up.

Miles six via twenty had been fairly stacked with elevation adjustments. It was a grueling battle with my legs and the solar, which was relentless. There appeared to be not one single cloud within the sky. Regardless of the powerful situations, the course was lovely.

We ran via the state park, out of the park alongside a rustic highway after which again into the state park the place we wove via a number of rock formations that the park is thought for. Then at mile 20 after we’ve exited the park, we made our method again into downtown Ottawa.

Miles 20 via 24 had been on a cloudless, nation Highway. It’s flat, however it was fairly powerful given the heated situations, and miles I had simply packed on. I feel this was the hardest a part of the race for me. As soon as we obtained to mile 24, we had been again within the downtown space and the tip felt close to.

We completed by crossing a bridge and circling again to the end line in downtown Ottawa. The end line was stocked with post-race goodies and hydration for runners to get pleasure from.

It was a tricky run, however value each step. The surroundings was lovely and the race logistics had been dialed in. The small occasion is simple for runners to park and stroll proper as much as the beginning line. The course is extremely properly marked, and all runners acquired a T-shirt and cotton bag, in addition to a medal on the end.

After I completed my 26.2, I headed again to the lodge for a properly wanted bathe and clothes change. We then went to The Lone Buffalo the place all runners acquired a free 26.2 brew, which the brewery makes every year for the races.

We hit among the downtown outlets and significantly favored Déjà Vu and Prairie Fox Books.

After exploring the downtown space, we went again to the lodge to take a dip within the pool. There’s nothing like a soothing swim, following a tough exercise. The water actually massages your muscle tissue and the cooling temperatures really feel good on swollen joints and ft. The pool and pool space on the Fairfield Inn is clear and properly maintained. (That is uncommon these days and really appreciated!). Thanks to the lodge for offering clear, dry towels within the pool space and a spotless pool flooring.

I additionally went into the exercise room to make use of the froth curler and mats to stretch. Having a health space in a lodge is so necessary post-race to adequately stretch earlier than touring house. This exercise room had two treadmills and a load of apparatus for weightlifting and stretching.

After the refresh, we headed to the state park to do some mountain climbing. We by chance parked in an space that required us to climb 180 stairs to get to the strolling path. We started by strolling down the steps. That was the simple half. The youngsters skipped rocks and we explored the paths that make up this unbelievable treasure that we’ve so near Chicago. The state park is actually magnificent. After our exploration, we tackled the steps and made our method again to our automobile.

Promenade was taking place for the world colleges and it was candy to see all the excessive schoolers dressed to the nines taking photos in and across the park. We grabbed a fast dinner and fell asleep shortly after our heads hit the pillows.

I’d extremely suggest this as an finish to your spring marathon season. The Starved Rock Marathon  is small and charming. It’s properly run and gives a difficult, but rewarding expertise. You are feeling as if you might have left and entered a complete new world. The Fairfield Inn and suites in Ottawa is actually a house away from house, with, clear, spacious rooms. The free breakfast is an unbelievable perk, with plenty of wholesome choices. The pool and exercise room are important for runners post-race to assist chill out.

Schedule this run-cation for Could, 2025 and be part of me at The Fairfield Inn for an unbelievable race weekend!