Skip to main content

BTN Big 10K (aka The Race With a Slip 'n Slide)

Runners walking towards the starting line on Solidarity Drive
Even though I'm not a Big Ten graduate (like a good Texan I went to the University of Texas), I've been looking forward to the BTN Big 10K since last year. Partly because it's a well-organized fun race. But mostly because it has a slip 'n slide halfway through the course and last year I foolishly decided not to run off the course and slide on it (because I had my phone in my pocket but also because I was obsessed with getting a good time). Anyway, skipping that slip 'n slide last year was one of my biggest racing regrets so I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. So even though it was only 59 degrees when I hit the course on Saturday morning, I was still determined to hit that slip 'n slide during the race. Fifty-nine degrees is close to perfect for a 10K along the Lakefront Trail, but it's a little chilly for a slip 'n slide, especially when you have to run half the course soaking wet.

For an in-depth review of the race, check out my Newcity review. For info on the slip 'n slide, keep reading here.

My parents were in town this weekend for Brynn's graduation (she's now Dr. Freeman - so when people address us they can automatically know that she's smarter than me. It's a good shorthand) and since I was allowed a +1 for the VIP tent I invited my dad to come with me. We had to wake up at 5 to get to the starting line by 6:45 when the corrals for the 10K closed (and they did close promptly at 6:45). I was seeded in Corral B but had to climb over the fence into Corral D (naughty, naughty) because I didn't get to the starting line til 6:50.

We had trouble finding the VIP tent for a little while but after I found it and we checked in I left my dad with the breakfast table and the 5K runners (the 5K didn't start til 8:30am).

There were a ton of people (12,000 runners overall) and I think that's right at the total amount of people that Solidarity Drive leading up to the Adler Planetarium can handle. Any more would have been madness. The corrals helped keep the course from becoming too crowded (even being two corrals back from my original corral wasn't that big of a deal - I only spent maybe the first mile or so passing people). Corrals were released every 30 seconds so you could still see the end of the corral in front of you when you started.

All Northwestern'd out
Running along the Lakefront was nice, especially with such cool weather. And I'm pretty thankful for the cool weather because when I reached the slip 'n slide at the turnaround there was no one taking the announcers up on the offer of "the coolest part of the course." This meant I got to hit the slip 'n slide at a full sprint and redeem myself from last year. And it was exactly as great as I had anticipated it would be. Conclusion: more races need on-course slip 'n slides.

I was a bit worried about my IT band issue but had decided just to run a little harder anyway and just see what happened. I focused on turning my feet over quicker (taking more strides) and not angling my legs in when I run - two things that my physical therapist pointed out to me as things to work on after a gait analysis. I felt pretty good at the finish line (with a 51:31) and I'm still not injured today so maybe I'm on the mend... we'll see what happens.

After finishing, I got my medal (a sweet, heavy medal), met my dad at the end of the finishing chute and then we went and grabbed the special Northwestern sunglasses (every runner got a pair of sunglasses for the school they were representing).


There was a pretty huge crowd of people at the tailgate party after the race and lots of beer and breakfast. I didn't wait in the breakfast line there but it seemed to be moving pretty quickly. There was a place where you could test your field-goal kicking skills and another where you could do a timed sprint. And then there were probably about 15,000 people partying. Most of them looked to be current students or recent alumni, which gave the race a definite college vibe (on top of the fact that it's obviously a college-themed race to begin with). The race is well-organized but the tailgate party is the clear highlight of this race. I think it would be even more fun if you actually graduated from a Big Ten school since you'd see other people wearing your colors.

I waited in line for my beer before we headed back to the VIP tent for breakfast and then changed clothes after stretching since I was soaked from the slip 'n slide.

My dad and I hung out with other members of the media team before taking off to go to Home Depot and try to get some work done. The good thing about a race that starts at 7am is that you still have the whole day ahead of you after you finish. I think we were out of there by 9. A lot of people were still partying then (a lot of 5K runners hadn't finished yet) and I bet the partiers stayed there for a while.


I definitely recommend this race and I'll be back next year (and looking for the slip 'n slide)!

Comments

  1. I ran the race too and was planning to do the slip n slide but then decided that it was too cold. Maybe next year!

    Here's my race recap: http://www.healthyfitgoddess.com/2013/07/race-recap-btn-big-10k.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I probably would have decided against it if I hadn't regretted skipping the slip 'n slide last year! It made for a slightly chilly second half of the race.

      Delete
  2. Haha, I was wondering when this one would be - sounds awesome. 10K seems like a great distance too - I'm going to try to get one on my list at some point.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice! Stepping up from 5 to 10K. Looking forward to hearing how that goes!

      Delete
  3. So ... was the slip 'n slide cold???? I would have be too chicken in those temps.

    And congratulations to Dr. Freeman!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The slip 'n slide was... refreshing. For a minute. Then it was kind of cold running soaking wet for the rest of the race.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Daily Guide to Chicago Comedy Shows in April 2018

April 1: Character Assassination presents The Roast of Disney Princesses at Laugh Factory The latest entry in the Character Assassination roast show series pits a collection of Disney princesses -played by Chicago comics - against each other. Starring Allison Dunne, Alex Kumin, Sarah Shockey, Gena Gephart, Audrey Jonas, Eunji Kim, Samantha Berkman, Stephanie Weber and Mandee McKelvey. April 2: Comedy Overload Open Mic at Gallery Cabaret A weekly open mic open to all forms of comedy that takes place at a sweet venue in Bucktown. April 3: Shake 'Em Up Comedy Showcase at Shakers on Clark   This free two-hour comedy showcase is hosted by Darrick J and Nate Galloway. Comics get between four and 10 minutes each and the hosts let comedians know a bit needs work by hitting a bell and "shaking 'em up." April 4: Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O'Toole's Really you should be catching this weekly showcase at Timothy O'Toole's e

Life of Pi: The Pi Day Pi K Returns to Fleet Feet Stores Across Chicago

I have run a grand total of ONE time since crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in October of last year. I know, I know, I'm disgusted with me too. So when I got Fleet Feet's notice about the Pi Day "Pi K" Fun Run this coming Monday evening (3.14 - PI DAY, get it?) it seemed like a pretty solid way to get back out on the running trail without getting myself up super early or registering for a timed race where I would embarrass myself. Also, my wife and I ran this race back in 2014 and had a great time. Plus, after an article I wrote for the Tribune about xkcd creator and all-around baller Randall Munroe speaking in Chicago at an Illinois Science Council (ISC) event , I know a little more about the organization behind the Pi Day Pi K and their mission. Quick excerpt from the Trib article: Founded in 2006 by nonscientist Monica Metzler (who also serves as executive director), the ISC was created to help engage adults in science and technology

Chicagoland's First Annual February Fool's Goal Half Marathon/Debacle

A few weeks ago I was looking through the race listings for the month of February and noticed that there are three different races this coming Sunday. All in different cities. As I was trying to decide which one to run I realized that they're all taking place at different times... and then I started thinking... Why not just run all three? I talked to my running homey Antonio and after some discussion about logistics, we realized that based on the timing and location of the races, this would be an insane dash from Chicago to Highland Park to Hoffman Estates to Channahon and back to Chicago, with just enough time to park, get our bibs, run the races and (after carefully stretching, of course) head off to the next one. That's also when we noticed that by a pretty sweet coincidence, the three races just happen to add up to a half marathon.  So, obviously we decided that it had to be done. We registered for all three and created a new race: Chicagoland's First A