Monday, October 14, 2013

Chicago Weekend Activities

Posted by CheapRunnerMichelle
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That's right for all ya'll USA peeps that don't know today is our Canadian Thanksgiving. I truly have so much to be thankful for, and trust me when I say that I really try each and every day not to take any of my blessings for granted.

....well HE (Mike) has done it....he has officially completed (and let's be honest...he killed it) marathon finisher!!!

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Mike will have a complete recap for ya'll tomorrow, so I won't spill any if the beans today.

Our journey this weekend started out Thursday night. When we come to Chicago we actually drive - it takes about just over 6 hours. We decided that instead of making the whole drive on Friday, that we would leave Thursday night and stop in Michigan City Indiana, so that Friday morning we could get up, do the last hour of the drive and have time to enjoy the expo before it got super crazy.

Our Friday morning started with being able to check something off my birthday bucket list

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Glad I visited...but I think I'm good now.

Then Mike scored the deal of the century...we stopped at Meijer's before we hit the road and Mike scored some new kicks for $32

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When we arrived in Chicago we were lucky enough to be able to check in right away, so we were able to get unpacked and settled in!...then it was off to Nike town to check out all of their marathon merchandise, and catch the shuttle to the expo.

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As Mike told you last week we were all looking forward to attending the Chicago expo...and it definitely did not disappoint. It was HUGE. But because we were there early enough on Friday, we were able to move around quite easily and visit each and every booth. I had heard that at the large expo's like this that Brooks’ display is unreal...and well it was...it had mechanical runners on-top of it's display.

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We scored lots of samples...and even found the oh-so-talked-about-bloggers-favorite...watermelon Nuun.

We forwent lunch on Friday, so needless to say it was no surprise that we inhaled all of this on Friday night:

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Saturday brought on some shopping ;) before our Pinkberry date. We had connected with Katie prior to heading to Chicago, so we had made plans to meet her for some #musthavebloggerfroyo and some of her other Facebook and blogger friends joined in as well!

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She really is just as nice and friendly in person - and we had a great time getting to know her, and her friend Amanda! (Both of who were running the marathon as well). After awhile we were starting to wear out our welcome in the small Pinkberry space so we had to part ways....but let's just go ahead and file this under #greatlifedecisions

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Saturday night brought on the pre-race carb loading, and we enjoyed a super delish dinner at Maggiano's. Let's file this one under #bloggerfail...it must not have happened 'cause we didn't take a pic of it.

After we tucked Mike and the kids into bed on Saturday night...being the party animals that we are (not) Rhoda and I headed out for a drink at Howl at the Moon..

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Not sure this was big enough...what do you think?!?

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Sunday morning Mike and I were up bright and early for morning race day prep

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(That's all ya get on the marathon for today)

Last night Rhoda was super nice and offered to watch the kids for us, and Mike and I headed out of a celebratory drink... It was the perfect way to end the craziness that our life has been these last 3 weeks!

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What's your favourite way to celebrate an achievement?

What was something you did this weekend?

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful weekend for y'all!!!
    Can't wait to hear all about the marathon from Mike!

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  2. Congrats Mike!!!! 3:15 for a first marathon!?!?! Amazing!

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  3. You certainly can't go wrong in Chicago!

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  4. Why do I have to live so far away from all the fun?? Those kicks are schweet.

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  5. katie @ fromicecreamtomarathonOctober 17, 2013 at 3:05 PM

    It was SO nice meeting you guys! I can't wait to do it again! Goodness gracious, I look like a GIANT next to you girls!! Oh well, I'm used to it. ;)

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  6. There are these little things called airplanes that can bring you to Chicago :)

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  7. Ditto!!!
    ...no - I think that you were just wearing really high heels ;)

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