My friends and I run in Busse Woods all the time and have run the loop and extensions so many times, we probably know it BETTER than the backs of our hands.
That is why many runners in the area choose to run the Chicagoland Spring Marathon and Half Marathon; it is the ultimate home-course advantage.
I had the opportunity to pace the half marathon again this year and the convenience of the race is a great perk. Even though the race starts at 7:05 in the morning, the fact that it is only a 20 minute drive to the start takes some of the stress out of race day.
If you do choose to run the race in the future, I have a couple of recommendations that will help you be successful.
1) Get there a little earlier than you typically do for a race. There is plenty of parking right by the start, but there always seem to be people who have trouble following arrows. I arrived just after 6 a.m and pulled right into the lot. (It is also important to know which lot to pull into beforehand, as there is one for half marathoners and one for marathoners. This info is described in great detail on the race website and in the communications beforehand, which makes it a lot easier to find where you are going.) It also give you plenty of time to walk to the registration area, grab your bib and drop it back off at your car.
2) Run the Busse Woods path beforehand. Knowledge of this course makes the miles go by a lot faster. The marathoners and half marathoners split apart around mile five, so being familiar with the paths, no matter which distance you are doing, can help to give you the confidence you need on race day to get the time you want.
3) Prepare yourself for a couple of uphills towards the end. The course is mostly flat and can be fast, but in the last 5k you need to mentally prepare yourself to get over the footbridge that goes over the expressway and the two small inclines in the last half mile of the course. The last two miles leading up to the finish area are great because it is a straight shot that will allow you to open your stride up at a time when your legs are really feeling tired. It is a great feeling to know that there is only a quarter mile left to the finish once you start the loop around the buildings, but people always seem surprised when they get to the last couple up-and-downs just before the finish.
Anecdotal evidence tells us that the more times you run this race, the better you will do, so get to know the course and put it on your calendar for a potential fast time.
