Race Report: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K

Once again, the usual crew ran the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K...but I ran the 5K instead of the 15K and Keith was injured so had to stop running the 15K after a little over 5K. Angie and Natallie finished the 15K, John ran the 5K, and Mom and Kayla ran ahead of Gwen and me after walking with us for about a mile. At 38 weeks pregnant, keeping a brisk walk was about all I could do. I'm just glad Gwen stuck with me. It would have been a lot harder to finish on my own!

I really enjoy this race. However, it was a huge difference being in Corral N instead of Corral B or C. It seemed like the start took forever to come! Luckily it wasn't too cold out...and it only rained a little bit. The gear check areas were disasters from the previous nights' rain.

We all met up easily after the finish and it was super easy to get our mugs of chocolate. The walk from the finish line to the finish party area seemed to take forever...but that's probably just because I was already tired from walking the 5K.

If we're still in Chicago next year, hopefully I'll be able to run the 15K again!

Distance: 5K
Time: 49:50
Cost: $44+$6.90 fees=$50.90/person
Pros: Delicious chocolate, quality sweatshirts, plenty of water/chocolate stations along the course, yearly tradition with friends, close to home
Cons: Packet pickup at McCormick Place, crowded course, early start
Would I run it again?: Yes.

39 weeks

Week 39 started off with a great weekend with Mom, Angie, Kayla and Gwen. Once again, the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K weekend was a success! I walked the 5K with Gwen after Mom and Kayla decided they wanted to run. I did it...but it was definitely a struggle. It was well worth the delicious chocolate at the end though!

Me and Mom at the bean

Hot Chocolate crew

On Wednesday, the Cubs won the World Series! Exciting times in Chicago for sure!! John and I even made it out to the victory parade on Friday before our 39 week appointment.

I also had a Chicago Scholars workshop on Wednesday. It was good to see my scholars again! The room was abuzz with excitement over the Cubs game. Thursday, John and I saw Fun Home, the musical. It was a good show!

Our 39 week appointment on Friday was where the excitement began. I measured smaller than I had at my 38 week appointment so the midwife wanted to get an ultrasound. Baby Girl measured small on the ultrasound too, meeting the criteria for intrauterine growth restriction. At that point, Johnna recommended that I be induced that day so Baby Girl could continue growing on the outside instead of the inside. It was pretty shocking news that had me in tears...but Johnna reassured us that everything was fine for the time being. So, the plan was for us to go get a good lunch, get our hospital bag (nope, hadn't packed that yet), and then go to the hospital to be induced.

We ate lunch at the Panera near the hospital, notified our families and my coworkers that Baby Girl was coming, and then walked home. Johnna had actually said that just John should go home to get our stuff but we figured she didn't realize just how close we lived. We packed in record time (and all I forgot was extra socks) and then walked to the hospital. It's a good thing I wasn't actually in labor because there were absolutely no cabs nearby due to the road closures from the Cubs parade. Everyone laughed at me when I suggested I would walk to the hospital but that's exactly what I did.

What's really funny is that on the way to the hospital we saw my running buddy Natallie's husband. He was so excited to see us on our way to have the baby! Small world.

To be continued...