LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS:
The race starts at the Foster Avenue beach house in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois.  The park is located on the north side of Chicago, right along the Lake Michigan shoreline. To reach the Foster Avenue beach house, take either Foster Avenue (Hwy. 41) eastbound until you deadend into the park, or use Lake Shore Drive northbound (also Hwy. 41) and exit at Foster Avenue into the park.  There is no southbound exit from Lake Shore Drive onto Foster Avenue. Once you are in the park, look for the large parking lot near the starting line.  Parking options are listed later in this letter.

PACKET PICKUP and RACE DAY REGISTRATION:
There are 2 options:
Race packets will be available on Friday, March 30, from noon to 7 p.m. at Fleet Feet Sports, located at 210 W. North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
On the race day, registration and packet pickup will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the Foster Avenue beach house.
All runners must visibly display their bib number in front, for scorekeeping purposes.

LINCOLN PARK / SAFETY ISSUES:
The Chicago Lakefront 50K will weave through a long, narrow strip of parkland known as Lincoln Park.  The entire shoreline of Chicago is a multi-use park, shared by runners, bikers, bladers, boaters, golfers, fishermen, museum and zoo goers, dog walkers and every other form of leisure, pedestrian traffic.

The park is closed between 11 p.m. and sunrise, during which the parking lots are gated.

On race day, as every day, the park is 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 not be aware that a race is in progress, since we are small in number, compared to the larger 5k and 10k 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.

Part of the event is on the lakefront bike path. Stay to your right, running no more than two abreast, and let bikes pass you on the left. As you cut across the path glance over your shoulder to look for the passing bikes, just as you would if you were changing lanes while driving.

Chicago Lakefront 50K participants are not permitted to run with dogs or strollers.

THE COURSE:
The 50k course will consist of three beautiful 10.3+ mile out-and-backs.  The Start/Finish area begins at Foster Avenue beach and weaves south, approximately 5.17-miles, to the Far South Turnaround near the North Avenue pedestrian overpass.  In-between, the course is comprised of a 78% crushed limestone and cinder path, and 22% paved bike path.  There will be a large race clock at the Start/Finish Turnaround. There will be a stopwatch at the Far South Turnaround.

Here are the distances at each turnaround point:
 

Start	0.0 miles
Far Turnaround	5.2 miles
Start/Finish Turnaround	10.4 miles
Far Turnaround (second time)	15.5 miles
Start/Finish Turnaround	20.7 miles
Far Turnaround (third time)	25.9 miles
Finish	31.0692 (50k)

ATTENTION: FIRST TIME ULTRAMARATHONERS
Ultramarathon courses, especially those using a multiple out-and-back route, DO NOT have splits at each and every mile.

We will have splits at the middle aid station, and at the turnaround points, at each end of the course. (See distances, above)

You will be able to obtain accurate 1-mile splits by using the Park District Running Path mileage markers, which are located every 1/2 mile on the course.  Those markers do not coincide with any mile markers in our race. However, they can serve as guides for accurate pacing.

COURSE MARKINGS:
The course itself will be marked in two ways.  Look for orange arrows on white signs at key locations, especially near forks-in-the-path, merging paths, turns near underpasses and at the turnaround points.  The course will also be marked with ground indicators (directional arrows) to guide you through the turns.  Course marshals on bikes will be randomly monitoring the race between the start/finish area and the far turnaround area, to assist runners all along the course.

AID STATIONS:
There will be 3 Aid Stations on the course.
•  The Start/Finish/Turnaround Aid Station  - Located at the Start/Finish area
•  The Not-Quite-the-Middle Aid Station     - Located near the Waveland Clocktower area
•  The Far Turnaround Aid Station               - Located at the far southern end of the course.

Aid Stations will have water, Gatorade, Coke, cookies, pretzels, potato chips, candy, fruit, first aid supplies and other surprises.  An ambulance will not be stationed on the course. There are four major hospitals located within limping distance of the course, on the other side of Lake Shore Drive.  Bike marshals and aid station volunteers will be able to call 911 for help if necessary.

DROP BAGS:
There will be a tarp near the Start/Finish area to leave drop bags.  These bags will remain there throughout the race. We can not be responsible for lost items, so please do not include anything of value. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity.

PARKING:
There will be ample free parking at the Start/Finish area.  There is a large parking lot adjacent to the Foster Avenue beach house.  Optional parking is located along the street, just past the parking lot.  Parking on the street may even put your vehicle closer to the path than in the parking lot.  (See course map for details.)  All cars will be in close proximity to the path and Start/Finish area.

Free spectator parking is located throughout the park in numerous locations.  Ideal viewing and parking areas are located near the Hill at Montrose, the Clocktower/Middle Aid Station area, and near Diversey Harbor.

Parking near Far South Turnaround Aid Station requires a $10.00 fee in the long and narrow Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot. There are no in-and-out privileges. Hey, the washrooms are free but the parking isn't! There is limited on-street parking in the area but your friends would probably have to walk about a mile to reach the end of the course, making the $10.00 zoo parking fee look more reasonable.

TIME LIMITS AND CUTOFFS:
There will be a 7-hour time limit for the race.  Please notify an aid station volunteer or race official if you intend to drop out of the race.  Volunteers can assist you with transportation back to the Start/Finish area if needed.  You should plan on reaching the last turnaround point at around 5.5 hours to make the 7 hour time limit.

EARLY START OPTION:
· Early start option is available for interested runners up to one hour prior to the official start.
· Runners who choose this option have to report to a designated race official at the registration desk to sign up.
· After the sign-up, runners can start anytime they want.

!!!!!!!! Important Warnings !!!!!!!!
· Early starters are responsible for their own

· time-keeping,
· safety since marking of the course may not be complete, and
· aid since aid stations may not be fully set up.

· Early starters will receive a finisher's medal if they finish the event within 7 hours of the official start.
· Early starters will not receive an official finish time.

WEATHER:
Springtime forecasting in Chicago is guesswork at best.  We could have temperatures in the ’20s at the starting line or temps in the ’70s by noon.  More than likely, you can expect a bit of everything in-between. Anticipate a variety of temperature fluctuations, along with the chance of rain, snow or sleet. Bring a couple changes of running gear and plenty of warm, dry clothing for after the race.  Hopefully, we will have a typical springtime day of 35-55 degrees.  Sunshine optional.

50K AWARDS AND T-SHIRTS:
•  Trophies to overall top finishers, both male and female. Winners receive their trophies as they finish.
•  An attractive medal to all 50k finishers
•  T-shirts to all paid participants

RESULTS:
Unofficial times will be posted at the finish line area, during and after the race.  Official results will be available on our website.
Official results with a race report will be sent to UltraRunning Magazine.

LODGING:
The following motels/hotels are conveniently located near the race course:
1/2 mile west of start:
Chicago Lodge
920 W. Foster Avenue
773-334-5600
$69 (including tax) for 1 bed
Ask for Eugene Rivera and mention "Chicago Lakefront 50k ultra"

2-1/2 miles south of the start  /  1/2 mile off the the course:
Best Western Hawthorne Terrace
3434 N. Broadway
773-244--3434
$90 -$150     http://www.bestwestern.com

City Suites Hotel
933 W. Belmont
773-404 -3400
$114 -$140

Park Brompton Hotel
528 W. Brompton
773-404 -3499
$113 -$140

3-1/2 miles south of the start  /  1/2 mile off the the course:
Comfort Inn Lincoln Park
601 W. Diversey
773-348-2810
$126 -$140  http://www.comfortinn.com

Days Inn Lincoln Park
644 W. Diversey
773-525-7010
$89 -$109  http://www.daysinn.com

Surf Hotel
555 W. Surf
773-528 -8400
$98 -$129

Downtown Chicago:
Hostelling International Chicago
211 E. Congress Parkway        312-360-0300
$27      http://www.hichicago.org

For an extensive listing of other hotels, and pointers for on-line reservation options, you can refer to Yahoo! Chicago lodging info at

http://lodging.yahoo.com/lodging/Illinois/Metropolitan_Areas/Chicago_Metro/Hotels_and_Motels/
 

For those who are interested in the nitty-gritty details of the course:
The starting line is located near a fence by the Foster Avenue beach house. The elevation is 585 feet above sea level. From there, the course heads east on a crushed gravel path that will then meander southward for about a mile and a half. Along the way you will pass beneath 3 different stone bridges, usually with sharp angled turns before and after each bridge.

After the Montrose underpass, you will be switching to the lakefront bicycle path.  Stay to the right while on the bike path and watch out for those darn bikers.  Notice the knoll that you will climb before zooming down the path along the golf course, paralleling Lake Shore Dr.  This is the highest point on the course, 595 feet in elevation.

At Irving Park Road, the path curves gently to the left between the golf course and a children’s playground.  Up ahead are a series of sharp 90 degree turns to negotiate. On your left is the Waveland Cafe and Clocktower area.  The Not-Quite-the-Middle Aid Station will be located in the vicinity of this area.  Restroom facilities should also be available there.

After a few more 90 degree turns, the path weaves past a Pacific Northwest Indian totem pole and a bird sanctuary area.  You will then cross a narrow road and once again merge onto the gravel path.  You are now exactly half way (2.6 miles) to the turnaround. Lake Shore Drive will be on your right and Belmont Harbor on your left.

At this point, the gravel path and the bike path will be running side by side.  Follow the arrows on the ground and stay to the right, on the gravel path.

As you approach the entrance to Belmont Harbor area, the two paths will split off.  Again, stay to the right and follow the gravel path as it crosses Belmont Avenue and then becomes very narrow for a short distance.  As soon as it widens out you will be making a hard right-hand turn at the Barry Street underpass.  You now have the whole path to yourself. The running path becomes extremely wide and easy to follow.  You will be on this gravel path all the way to the turnaround.

On your left will be a driving range and miniature golf course.  This is also a favorite area for dog walkers, so be aware.  Soon you will be approaching the Diversey Harbor area.  Up ahead a bit, on your left, will be a cement trough with running water.  At the turn of the last century it was part of the lakefront trail which had horse carriage traffic.  This trough is all that remains from that era.  Today, thousands of runners make it a daily stop to hydrate while running in the park.  Feel free to pause to refill your water bottle.

At the next intersection you will angle left and pass beneath Fullerton Avenue.  At this point you are at the lowest elevation on the course, 580 feet.  At times this spot is actually below the level of Lake Michigan.

Up ahead the path weaves along, merging and crossing other paved pedestrian footways.  Again, follow the ground markings and directional arrows.  The rowing lagoon is on your left and world famous Lincoln Park Zoo is on your right.

More importantly, the zoo is free and the Lion House has washrooms.  The Lion House opens at 9.am. on race day.  The restrooms are located at either end of the Lion House, down a flight of stairs. Just run through the main gate and bear left. No pun intended.

As you proceed farther south, you will pass the statue of General Ulysses S. Grant on horseback (to your right, across the parking lot.)  In Chicago there is a statue of Grant in Lincoln Park, and a statue of Lincoln in Grant Park. Go figure!

Just up ahead will be the steel pedestrian bridge which spans Lake Shore Drive. Go beneath the bridge and continue on for a couple hundred more feet until the turnaround point marked on the path.  At this point, you will have reached the Far South Turnaround. You are now 1/6 of the way to the finish line, 5.18-miles.

Also at this point is the Far South Turnaround Aid Station. Volunteers will be there to greet you with food, beverages and encouragement. The downtown Chicago skyline provides a picture-perfect backdrop as you replenish your energy at the Aid Station. You will then be standing in the area of the old city cemetery.  The bodies were removed over a century ago, to avoid contamination of our Lake Michigan drinking water.

Now it’s time to turn around and retrace your footsteps back to the start/finish area and begin your second and third loops.
 

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CHALLENGE?
RETURN TO THE LAKEFRONT THIS FALL!

THE CHICAGO LAKEFRONT 50/50
Date TBA

The race starts and ends at the 63rd Street beach house. You’ll find plenty of parking, another beautiful lakefront course and the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers.  Look for future details on our website, www.chicagoultra.org.

Good luck at the Chicago Lakefront 50K this spring.  We hope to see you again this fall.
 

The Chicago Lakefront 50k  is sponsored and supported by:
Fleet Feet