There are a lot of different ways to refresh and restart, and Fall Break comes at that perfect point where you’re in need of some serious rejuvenation. I’ve tried the vacation approach, the going home idea and just staying here to “get some work done” (which as we all know quickly devolves into sleeping and TV). But this time I tried something completely new, which turned out to be my favorite break of all.
I heard about this special race put on by Men’s Health called Urbanathlon, an 11 mile run interspersed with various obstacles around which runners have to navigate. While jumping over huge wooden hurdles in the sand or army crawling under trucks and cargo nets was pretty badass, the best part of the race was its location along the shoreline of Chicago.
Conditions for race day were excellent — my wave left four minutes past eight in the morning, and it was that perfect time of day when it’s neither too cold nor too warm. I took a cab down Michigan Avenue (the “magnificent mile” for you shopping fanatics), and hopped out at Lower Hutchinson Field.
I was met with a huge festival, complete with live music, grills and what some would claim to be celebrities on the PA system (some Rocco guy from “Top Chef,” I think). I took my place in the second wave, behind the wicked fast people, and became part of an athletic 1600-member mob. I was a little disappointed that there was no gunshot to start the race but took off onto the Chicago streets, anyway.
The course itself was beautiful — our first obstacle was at the tip of Navy Pier, which brought us around the historic area complete with a multitude of boats and that huge Ferris wheel. The clear skies made for a wonderful view across the lake as I ran along the shoreline. Our third obstacle (after the monkey bars and army crawling) was running up the steps of Soldier Field, the home stadium of the Bears. Although the view from the stadium was amazing, it was a little funny to be sprinting up the aisle ways that two days later would be filled with screaming beer vendors and nacho-carrying fans.
About an hour and a half after beginning the race, the loop led me back to the park festival. The Rocco guy encouraged all the racers as we jumped over taxicabs and climbed a rope wall to reach the finish line. Feeling incredibly accomplished (and now knowing that I can leap over the hoods of small cars in a single bound), I left the festival to explore more of the city I’d only seen in passing glances.  
