Hello! How’s your Monday going?
Mine was a little bumpy at the start but turned out great! (I’m ignoring the whole ‘tax payment’ situation all together.) Recently I received a few voicemails from Edison that my power might be off for a few hours today for maintenance, but totally forgot.
Randomly mid-morning everything turned off – even my internet.
So, I had to mess around with Vegas and put on a bunch of makeup while waiting for it to come back up.
After my random antics it still wasn’t up so I decided to head to Starbucks to work for the morning. Boom.
Thankfully by the time I worked a bit and ran some errands (read: donate platelets for money to cover my tax bill) it was back up!
And just as I was about to start this blog post I got an email with some good news…
I GOT INTO THE CHICAGO MARATHON!!!
The Chicago Marathon has become so popular the race organizers made it a lottery this year. This means you had to put your name in the pile and runners were notified today if they got in or not.
I almost didn’t put in for it because I had this feeling I would get in – and hadn’t really planned on doing it in my brain.
But I knew I had to go for it. Chicago is one of the best marathons in the US – heck, it’s one of the best in the world!!
Top 5 Marathons in the World
When you hear people say it’s one of the “Big 5 Marathons” or “Top 5 Marathons” they are usually talking about…
- New York City Marathon
- Boston Marathon
- London Marathon
- Chicago Marathon
- Berlin Marathon
These are some of the biggest, most well-known, prestigious and celebrated marathons in the world.
I’ve done the New York City Marathon, so I have one to cross off that list. I still need to qualify to run Boston. Now I’m in for Chicago! All I need at this point is to find a way across the world to Berlin and London 
Back to biz… The reason I was writing this post is because RER will be down from 7pm PST to about 9pm PST TODAY (Monday). We are doing a lot of updates to RunEatRepeat.com and I’m hoping it’s a smooth transition. Thanks for your patience!
Question: Anyone else running Chicago?
Anyone way to eat deep dish pizza with me tonight to celebrate??
This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Best wishes!
Exactly where are your contact details though?
At some point in time, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say that you’ve run the 5 best marathons in the world?
I’m running Chicago too!!! This will be my very first marathon. I’m glad its one of “the big 5”! Congrats to you as well:)
My daughter and I were chosen in the lottery for Chicago as well! It’s gonna be fun!
Yay!! I’ll be there! Hopefully a little closer to October a group of bloggers can organize a shake out run or dessert meet up (or both) while we’re all in the same city!
Love the new blog design 🙂
Congratulations on getting in to Chicago!
Congratulations! I’m guessing you’ve seen “Spirit of the Marathon”? It’s my son’s favorite movie. Next time we watch it, I will think of your good fortune and smile!
Fantastic news!
Hi Monica,
the marathons you mentioned are awesome and there are a few other ones who are really great: Honolulu Marathon, Paris Marathon, Stockholm Marathon, Dubai Marathon
I got picked in the lottery as well!! I am so excited for my first trip to Chicago. 🙂
oh congratulations! I hope you go to Potbelly and get the most amazing chocolate mini cookies while you are here!
Congratulations on getting to run Chicago. Deep dish pizza in California is crappy compared to REAL deep dish pizza in Chicago. I grew up in Chicago (in the city, not the burbs). While you are in Chicago, I would recommend: Gino’s, Edwardo’s, Uno’s or Lou Malnatti’s deep dish pizza. Leona’s has great thin crust.
I ran Chicago in 2010 as a 40th bday present to myself.
I’m doing Chi for the first time this year! And congrats on getting in!
Congrats!!!! I registered for the lottery figuring if I get in great if not no worries.
I totally forgot that yesterday was D day, and waiting in my email this am was a little note saying I would be running!!! Woohooo!!! Super excited and I hope I don’t die. LOL
YAY!! Congrats!!
Congratulations!!
Coming here to say that your blog re-design looks really clean. Then ads started popping up everywhere. It’s a little out of control.
Congrats on getting in. Love the new blog look! Nice and clean and streamlined!
I love the new blog design!!
You will have such a blast at Chicago! It was my first full in 2011 and I will definitely run it again someday. I’m running Berlin this year, and I have a while to go before a BQ of my own, but I will be spectating my husband running Boston this year!
I got in, and I’m super excited! I have a lot of family in the city who haven’t been able to come to my previous marathons to cheer me on, so this one will be extra special!
I’d say we should meet up, but the odds of finding you seem pretty slim 🙂
Congrats! I love Chicago and their pizza (thin and deep-dish, I don’t discriminate!).
The new blog looks fabulous…super sexy! 😉 Nice work.
Congrats! I love Chicago and their pizza (thin and deep-dish, I don’t discriminate!).
The new blog lots fabulous…super sexy! 😉
Don’t forget about the Tokyo marathon! There are six World Majors marathons, which include New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Boston and Tokyo.
That’s so exciting that you got in. I didn’t realize they made it a lottery this year.
CONGRATS!!!! You will do fantastic!!! Hope your day now is better!!
oh look at the fancy new layout. fun stuff!! Congrats on chicago!!
I really like the new blog design! It looks awesome
Hooray!! I ran it last year and LOVED it. I’m pinching myself that I got in the lottery for both Chicago and NYC this year 😀
I got in as well! It will be my second marathon, first being last year’s Nike in SanFran. I can’t wait! Now to find a good training plan to improve upon my time (any suggestions greatly appreciated) 🙂
I will be running the Chicago Marathon, too! I would love to meet up in the Windy City! 🙂
LOVING the blog! So fresh and clean! I would love to run Chicago, totally on the bucket list.
Congrats, but you forgot 1! Tokyo is also one of the World Major Marathons.
Chicago is great, but Berlin is my favourite. Tokyo is so unique it’s incredible. I hope you get to run them all… Good luck in October!
Were you not able to get in automatically since you had a qualifying time? All females with a marathon under 3:45 we’re guaranteed entry.
I didn’t even realize that – my fail!
Yay! Congrats! I am racing in Chicago too!!! That is so cool! I would love to get deep dish pizza with you…..mmmmmm Giordanos is my favorite pizza in the world….if only I wasnt 10 hours away….
Woot woot! I got in, as well. This will be my third round of running it, but my first time as a resident of Chicago! NO TRAVEL FOR ME, YAAAAAAAAAY! 😀
I would love, love, love to meet up with you at some point, either to show you around a bit, meet up for coffee or noms, and definitely for some deep dish afterward.
Your new site looks great! Congrats!
Congrats!! That is awesome! 🙂
Love the new blog design! And congrats on Chicago. I just signed up to run my first marathon in Iceland so I can check run a race abroad off my list. Now I will need to look into Berlin and London!
The new site looks really nice, congrats on that and on the marathon. I’d like to run any of those, although they are all far for me, so it’s quite a challenge (besides running the 26.2..).
I was thinking about running but ended up passing this year, congrats on getting in though!
I live in Chicago and have ran for the past 3 years. This year I will be out of town for a wedding 🙁 I would have loved to run into you! I think the most fun neighborhoods to run through are Boys Town, Pilsen, and China Town. Yay for getting into the race!
Congrats on Chicago! I’m not running it but will be doing St. George in Utah in Octobver.
Running Chicago for charity. Finally convinced the hubs that a destination race is where it’s at.
Congratulations!!!
I got in today too!! I did it last year – you are going to have a blast!!
Congrats on getting in to the Chicago marathon! I can’t wait to read your race recap!
Congratulations! How exciting 🙂 Can’t wait to hear all about it!
After checking my email 38283 times today I was so excited to see that I got into the Chicago marathon, too. Congrats to you! It’ll be my third marathon and first fall marathon so I’m excited/anxious to train in the summer. I’ve been hoping to start a blog of my own after reading yours, and some others, for a few years. I’m thinking my training period may be the perfect time to start and document the process.
Congratulations. I have had a lucky year. I got into the NYC lottery 2013. I’m running Boston for Dana Farber Cancer Center, and I just got into Chicago also. The Hat trick of marathons.
I got in too!!!! I’m stoked!!!
That’s awesome news, congrats!! I have watched friends run it twice, and it is an amazing experience even to watch 🙂
Congrats on getting into Boston!! I’ll be cheering you on since I’m sidelined this marathon season. Excited to be cheering you and the thousands of other runners on.
Awesome! I want to run that someday. My brother got in as well!!
Lou Malnatis ships frozen deep dish pizzas! Any time you want to order some Chicago food to LA I’m there. Ill bring Margs.
Seriously. I’m excited about this possibility.
I would love to do the Chicago Marathon one day!!! I lived there for a year and loved running on the lake front. Since I’m not ready to run a marathon just yet I’ll go on a pizza eating marathon instead. Same thing right?
oooh congratulations! You are a fast runner so you should check off all of those races.
My husband and father-in-law got in. I didn’t enter this year, but have run that marathon twice and LOVE it!
Congrats!!! That is such great news!!!! Makes up for losing electricity today!
Not that I’m qualified to offer tax advice, but look into a SEP-IRA if you don’t have one already.
and congratulations on Chicago!
Congrats on winning the lottery – the marathon lottery, that is 😉 I am running for charity so I was automatically entered. I just hope it’s not freezing cold this October!
I got in, but I’m already doing NYC in November and don’t know if I can exactly afford the trip out to Chicago at this point. Plus my friend I was going to go with didn’t get in so… yeah. Bummer.
congrats! thats awesome 🙂
Congrats! I hear really great things about it!
That is so cool! Doesn’t it almost make you want to do a training run like right now?
Congrats!!!! I’ll be jealous of your pizza!
Congratulations! I will be eating pizza with you virtually.