Chicago Lakefront 50/50


Thank you for entering the Chicago Lakefront 50/50. Here are some important details about what to expect on the race day. If you have any further questions, please e-mail us at info@chicagoultra.org


Start and Finish Location:
The race starts at the 63rd Street Beach House in Jackson Park  located on the south side of Chicago, along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. 63rd Street Beach is located just South of the Museum of Science and Industry, off Lake Shore Drive. Directions and parking options are presented below.

Directions and Parking
Take Lake Shore Drive
to 63rd Street (Hayes Drive) traffic light and turn into the parking lot East of the Lake Shore Drive (Lake-side). Parking is ample and free.

Packet Pickup and Race Day Registration:
Race packets will be available on Friday, October 31, from noon to 7:00 pm at Fleet Feet Sports, 210 W. North Ave., Chicago.
On the race day, packet pickup will begin at 5:30 am at the 63rd Street Beach House area. Auxiliary lots are across the street.

Chicago Parks / Safety Issues:
The Chicago Lakefront 50K and 50M will weave through a long, narrow strip of parkland known as Jackson Park and Burnham Park. The entire shoreline of Chicago is a multi-use park, shared by runners, bikers, bladers, boaters, golfers, fishermen, museum goers, dog walkers and every other form of leisure, pedestrian traffic (although all these activities are relatively subdued in late October/November).

The park is closed between 11:00 pm and sunrise, during which the parking lots are gated.

On the race day, as every day, the park will be open to the public. Please be aware of this and use common sense and caution when negotiating the various paths throughout the park. The general public will probably be unaware that a race is in progress since we are small in number compared to larger 5K and 10K running races in Chicagoland. Park patrons are generally friendly and cheerful and you can expect them to yield the path if they see you coming. Please run defensively and give a wide berth or verbal warning when passing from behind.

Most of the event will take place on the bike path. Stay to your right, running no more than two abreast, and let bikers pass you on the left. As you cut across the path, please please please glance over your shoulder to look for the passing bikes before making your move.

Course:
Check the maps links on the home page.

Course Markings:
The course will have ground markings (chalked directional arrows) to guide you through turns. Between the starting/finish area and the far north turn-around area, course marshals on bikes will randomly monitor the race and assist runners if necessary.

Aid Stations:

  • Start/Finish/Turnaround aid station - 63rd Street Beach House area.
  • Promontory Point aid Station
  • Not-Quite-in-the-Middle aid station - close to 42nd Street, at the South end of the 39th Street parking lot.
  • Far North 50K Turnaround aid station - near the 31st Street Beach House.
  • Far North 50M Turnaround aid station – On the street the Planetarium is located.

Aid stations will have water, Gatorade, Coke, cookies, pretzels, potato chips, variety of candy, fruits, first aid supplies and other surprises. The Promontory Point aid station may not be fully stocked.

Drop Bags:

  • All runners may leave a drop bag at the Start/Finish line (this may not be necessary if you are fortunate enough to have parked in the very nearby lake-side parking lot).
  • We are not responsible for lost items, so please do not keep anything of value in your drop bags. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity.

Time Limits and Cutoffs:
There will be a cut off time of 2 PM to start the third loop for all races. If you do not think you can make this cut off, please consider the early start option.

Early Start Guidelines:
For early start information contact info@chicagoultra.org.

Awards and T-shirts:

  • Trophies to the overall female and male finishers. The overall winners will receive their trophies as they finish.
  • A medal to all finishers.
  • Hi-tech shirts to all paid participants.

Spectator Locations:
The best spectator viewing areas are located near the aid stations and the turnaround points on the course. Late arriving spectators should be forewarned that there may be limited parking at the Start/Finish area. However, there should be ample free parking at 31st Street. Promontory Point, near 55th Street is another picturesque location on the course. A pedestrian underpass beneath the Lake Shore Drive provides access to the Promontory Point from the Hyde Park area.

Weather:
Fall weather forecasting in Chicago is guesswork at best. We could have temperatures in the 20's at the beginning of the race or temperatures in 60's by noon. More than likely, you should expect a bit of everything in between. Anticipate a variety of temperature fluctuations along with the chance of wind, rain, snow or sleet. Bring a couple of changes of running gear and plenty of warm, dry clothing for the after race. Hopefully, we will have a typical late Fall day of 30-50 degrees.

Results:
Unofficial times will be posted at the finish area during and after the race. Official results will be available on our website.
The names of all official finishers along with their finishing times will be submitted for publication in UltraRunning Magazine.

Post-Race Activities:
A huge pot of Beth Onines' delicious world-famous red beans and rice awaits all runners.  Enjoy!

Lodging:
You will want to drive or cab to the start/finish from wherever you stay. Parking is free and ample.

Ramada Inn
4900 S. Lake Shore Dr.
800-237-4933
Must mention Chicago Lakefront 50/50 for the special rate of 109.00 for a single (1 bed) or double (2 beds) plus tax. Reservation must be made before 10/10/2008 to receive this rate.

A cheaper choice, located downtown is
Hostelling International Chicago
24 E. Congress Parkway
(312) 360-0300

Other reasonably priced hotels/motels in the Near North Side:
 

Days Inn - Gold Coast
1816 N. Clark
(312) 664-3040
www.daysinn.com

Days Inn - Lincoln Park
644 W. Diversey
(773) 525-7010
www.daysinn.com

City Suites Hotel
933 W. Belmont
(773) 404-3400

Comfort Inn - Lincoln Park
601 W. Diversey
(773) 348-2810
www.comfortinn.com

Best Western - Hawthorne Terrace
3434 N. Broadway
(773) 244-3434
www.bestwestern.com

Park Brompton Hotel
528 W. Brompton
(773) 404-3499