LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

benw · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 106

http://www.chicagolandinlinemarathon.com/

Anyone interested? I am considering it at the moment.
Has anyone been to previous ones and can give any feedback on this event? Thanks.

benw · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 106

I'm going for it - registered now for the 10k Inline Criterium on July 25 and Inline Marathon on July 26. If anyone else is coming too, please do let me know. I am probably looking at flying out July 22/23 and returning July 27.

benw · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 106

Originally I signed up for the Chicagoland Inline Marathon so I have something between Le Mans and Goodwood, It worked out well in schedule and get to try out a marathon in the US. Overall it's a pretty good experience. For anyone interested, this one is recommended. This marathon is relatively new, and as I understood this is the first time it's held at this Hoffman Estates location - about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago.

They had 3 levels of races - Pro tour, advance and recreational. In all, there were about 400 participants, probably over 100 in the Pro categories. Chatting with some of the participants, there were quite a few household names in the Pros. The Pro races started separately after completion of the other races, so we had an opportunity to watch the pros in action.

The competitions took place in 3 days - Friday the Pro time trials, Saturday the 10k criterium (and other running and biking events), Sunday the inline marathons. The marathon course was an 8 miles lap (3 lapse) that involved some very good straight runs, rolling hills and decent road surfaces. There's even an (almost) Le Mans style downhill near the end. Police were there to help close up the roads.

The Midwestern folks are very nice people and very welcoming of someone from across the Atlantic. To get to Hoffman Estates, closest airport is Chicago O'Hare. There is no public transit, a rental car is a must. There are a lot of hotels nearby.

My times was okay, least didn't kill myself and had a good time Smile

- 10k race, 18:54, #9 out of 12 in the advance category.
- Marathon 1hr 35min, #45 out of 79 in the advance.

I made a mistake at the start of the marathon by under-tying my boots, resulting in very wobbly ankles/skates - I was worried about aggravating the ankle pains from 10k race the day before. Rookie mistake, I paid for that. I made in a very good pace line at first but had to drop out as twice I nearly fell because of the boots. Ended up stopping into 2nd lap to re-tighten them, and played catch up the rest of the way without a decent pace line to follow.

Lap times: 29:44, 34:34, 31:19.

btw, if you are in downtown Chicago on Friday night, there is a Windy City Inline Skaters meetup group that regularly does a smallish Friday Night Skates (15-30 skaters) - http://www.meetup.com/WindyCityInlineSkaters/ if you are interested.

Fred_Paris · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:37 am Subject:

Sounds like you had a good time Smile

I came across the following picture on speed skate world :

http://peterdoucet.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/2009-07-27-cni.jpg

and the rest of it :

http://speedskateworld.com/2009/07/28/my-pictures-chicagoland-inline-marathon-nroc-pro-inline-tour/

Simon · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 621 Location: Out side edge

That looks cool Ben....nice you went to represnet Smile