Chicago Complete! 1 Down, 4 to Go!

The first marathon in my #5x5for55 marathon challenge for charity is complete! I finished the Chicago Marathon this past Sunday, Oct. 11, in 3:01:21.

The weather was warm and sunny for a marathon but I held it together and put in a solid effort. Very happy with the results, despite finishing just outside my sub-3 hour goal. But that also meant I missed out on a free pair of Puma running shoes :(

The Culligan water refill stations were amazing! The water came out fast and cold. I used all four stations on the course and they only took a few seconds each. This is the type of impact that Racing for Sustainability helps make happen. Highly recommended!

Another effort supported by RFS was the Zero Waste Stations in Grant Park and elsewhere. Volunteers collected and sorted all organic waste, recycling, and trash to minimize overall waste. The Chicago Marathon takes sustainability seriously!

After the race, I shared celebratory drinks with my wife, Charrissa, our good friends Steph and Jeff who lived in Chicago for many years, and my dear friend Matthew from grad school.

We finished off the day with the perfect post-race dinner at Pequod's Pizza! So, so good! And so filling that even with help from the chippies, we couldn't quite finish the pie.