I went for my run this morning along the lakeshore. 55 degrees with a slight drizzle - actually very pleasant running weather. But the path was almost deserted. Almost no runners (despite the marathon this weekend) and even very few bike commuters. Normally it is busy, bordering on crowded, on the lakeshore at that time of morning.
Every year I am surprised at how much of a fair-weather city Chicago is. As soon as the weather goes below 60, the city heads inside. So much for hearty mid-westerners.
I’d say thats about right. I live in Chi, did a 9-miler this morning on the lakefront and noticed the same thing, and although I really miss the bikini babes on the beach, its a great time of year to run. Despite one run on the treadmill/wk, I never really head inside (below zero gets a little tricky though, but still not too bad).
Yeah, this is the prime time to enjoy the path without the fairweather runners, dog walkers, rollerbladers etc. Perfect if you actually want to run or bike without a complete cluster on the path itself. Not sure why you’re complaining…I love when the Chi marathon training period winds down like this and it’s less packed.
FWIW - I was out there too. Personally, I love running when the temps are int he 50’s/60’s with a light drizzle. And I love the fact that there aren’t many people on the lakefront path (I’ll be running out there all winter - usually in shorts) - it actually bugs me when we get those first few nice days int eh spring and all the “fair weather” runners return.
Rollerbladers with dogs on 15 foot leashesThe big red pedal-driven tourist cartsGroups of walkers who feel the need to walk 6 people widePeople who travel on the wrong side of the path
Won’t see too many of them for a while…
How about when the 4-seater red pedal carts get down towards Ohio St. beach & realize the bank is too steep, so they opt to ‘turn around.’
Then they make a 20 foot radius circle trying to turn it around & keep it from rolling into the lake?
Sure, we can easily turn this into a ‘Strange Denizens of the Chicago Lakefront’ thread, but I had to add it, it’s amongst my favorite sights.
Hey at least the XXX guys are playing with their cross bikes in the grass & have laid off the solo crit breakaways.
My personal favorite is the woman who has the mobile elliptical (http://www.elliptigo.com.au/product/description, I looked it up because I wasn’t sure it was real the first time I saw it).
I am usually less annoyed by the XXX guys than I am by the triathlete (sorry guys) who insist on riding in the aerobars around North Ave Beach.
It not just Chicago. Cooler temperatures and for the most part rain scare the first wave away. Following that it’s freezing rain, then the first good snow fall. I actually like going for groceries when the first snow storm or the really cold -30C sets in as almost nobody goes out for a couple days until they really need to. Personally I really hate the freezing rain and will take rain or snow any day.
We will see how long I survive commuting this year as they moved my office downtown which is really only 5-10 more minutes given the size of Saskatoon. The catch is I have not commuted in the winter for 10 years.
