Chicago Athlete on the Highway: Starved Rock Nation

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 sort out the hills of the state park. It’s a tough occasion, however one that’s well worth the expertise.

Ottawa, Illinois, is simply over an hour away from Chicago and an especially simple drive. You are feeling like you’re in a totally completely different state, though you may have simply traveled a brief method. After you permit the suburbs, you enter into stared rock nation, which is lined with cornfields and rural growth.

We arrived on Friday and went straight to packet pickup, which is held within the Knights of Columbus constructing in downtown Ottawa. This can be a good probability to drive via the realm and see the entire charming eating places and retailers that make up the group.

After grabbing my packet, we headed to Utica, Illinois, which is simply outdoors of the state park. This small group 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’ canine, 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 Courtroom Road Pub, which had an inside-outside really feel with giant home windows within the entrance that open, and an considerable menu of choices. We had been all hungry and I wanted a fundamental, acquainted meal for the reason that marathon was the subsequent morning.

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

The rooms are giant and plush with comfortable mattresses and clear, spacious bogs. Plus, free breakfast is included with all stays. The breakfast is each cold and warm and has all kinds of choices for friends. As a touring, lively household, it’s each price and time environment friendly to have a breakfast on the resort that’s included within the value of the keep. It’s additionally necessary for my household that we’ve got wholesome choices to help the various actions which might be 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. In case you are a half marathon fan, that is one to not be missed. You get the expertise of the state park and may 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 option 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 occasions. One explicit hill was practically one mile lengthy. Going up.

Miles six via twenty had been fairly stacked with elevation modifications. It was a grueling battle with my legs and the solar, which was relentless. There gave the impression to be not one single cloud within the sky. Regardless of the powerful circumstances, 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 understood for. Then at mile 20 after we’ve got 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, nevertheless it was fairly powerful given the heated circumstances, and miles I had simply packed on. I believe this was the hardest a part of the race for me. As soon as we acquired 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 price each step. The surroundings was lovely and the race logistics had been dialed in. The small occasion is straightforward for runners to park and stroll proper as much as the beginning line. The course is extremely nicely marked, and all runners obtained 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 resort for a nicely wanted bathe and clothes change. We then went to The Lone Buffalo the place all runners obtained a free 26.2 brew, which the brewery makes every year for the races.

We hit a few of the downtown retailers and significantly preferred Déjà Vu and Prairie Fox Books.

After exploring the downtown space, we went again to the resort to take a dip within the pool. There’s nothing like a calming 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 nicely maintained. (That is uncommon these days and really appreciated!). Thanks to the resort 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 resort is so necessary post-race to adequately stretch earlier than touring residence. This exercise room had two treadmills and a load of kit for weightlifting and stretching.

After the refresh, we headed to the state park to do some mountaineering. We unintentionally 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 got 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 realm colleges and it was candy to see the entire 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 advocate this as an finish to your spring marathon season. The Starved Rock Marathon  is small and charming. It’s nicely run and presents a difficult, but rewarding expertise. You are feeling as if you may have left and entered an entire new world. The Fairfield Inn and suites in Ottawa is actually a house away from residence, with, clear, spacious rooms. The free breakfast is an unbelievable perk, with numerous wholesome choices. The pool and exercise room are important for runners post-race to assist loosen up.

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