I’ve been attending the Blogher conference for more than three years now. The first year, I went to San Diego. The organizers had a “fun run” there along the water. It was incredible. Last year when the conference was held in NYC, I didn’t participate in the run. This year, I decided to do it. I was particularly intrigued that all participants would receive a iFit band. (I thought it would be cool to have yet another gadget!)
Checking in for the Fun Run in Chicago
When I went down to check in, there were dozens of women. The organizers gave out maps and told us to go. There was no start. Not too many people ran together. It just started whenever anyone wanted to go. There were no people directing us where to go. We had to follow a map.
“Ummm, I’m from Texas,” one runner said, “and I don’t know my way around.”
“I’m sorry but we are giving you a map and this is supposed to be a “fun run,”” the Best Buy volunteer said.
Being directionally challenged
Now, if you know me, you know I’m directionally challenged. I can’t read a map so I was at the mercy of others. I either had to keep up or slow down. It was a bit stressful. I wish I had just gone out for the run on my own.
I kept seeing one woman. I guess we were running at a similar pace. She was ahead of me for a while and then I caught up and she was behind me. Toward the end, I tried to engage her in conversation. She was struggling with the run.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“I live in Chicago,” she said.
I decided to stick with her until the end where we all gathered at Best Buy for breakfast. When we finished, I told her the time. She looked disappointed but she was struggling.
After the Race
Later, after I was offered an ice coffee, water, juice and a nice breakfast spread, which I couldn’t eat, I overheard her talking to her friend about how she didn’t go as fast as usual. I laughed to myself. The woman could barely keep up. I never saw anyone sweat that much on a 3 mile run. It’s funny how some runners brag about their time. I always tell everyone I’m a lot slower than I actually am.
All in all the Best Buy folks did a really nice job. I wish they had people on the route directing us, it would have been a lot less stressful. But, we did get to see a magnificent runner’s view of Chicago.