This week I had my third trip to Chicago of 2026. The third time was charming in many ways, but my luck with on-time flights finally ran out.
The sky looks so ominous!
My Third Trip To Chicago
My third trip to Chicago was my longest one—I flew out Monday and got home late Thursday night. I had work events Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but luckily Erica was able to meet me for dinner on Monday. It was nice to catch up and vent about *everything*. Oops, no photo!
Being in Chicago made it easier for me to start Peloton’s new 4 week cross-training plan, which has live classes M-F at 6:30 am ET. Each week has two full body strength and two cardio classes (bike, row, or run) designed to complement each other and progress in intensity over the 4 weeks. Wednesday is a lighter day with a shorter core class.
I had time to do the first class (30 min strength with Katy) before heading to the airport on Monday, and managed to roll out of bed in time to take the Tuesday-Thursday classes live at 5:30 am in Chicago. Friday I was working from home, so I was able to take Andy’s 45 min tread class at 6:30 am before starting the rest of my day. Going forward, I will have to take the classes the next day, except I probably can still do Andy’s class on Fridays. 🤔
The weather in Chicago was almost alarmingly charming with sunshine and temperatures in the 80s in the afternoon, but there were overnight storms with lingering rain showers that caught me on my runs.
Tuesday I headed out at 5:30 am with Andy’s live class, so both the Riverwalk and Millennium Park were still closed. The Lakefront Trail is always open, so I ran along that towards the Field Museum, before heading back along the Riverwalk for a total of about 6 miles.
It didn’t rain constantly, but I got pretty wet.
Thursday I hoped the rain would move out while I did the cross-training strength class in the hotel gym. It wasn’t raining when I started out at 6:15, but I got caught by a brief downpour at Cloudgate.
There were a few runners taking shelter underneath.
It rained off and on during my 3 mile run, but luckily had stopped by the time I was walking back to the hotel with my post-run Starbucks. 😉
My airport luck ran out on Thursday, when my flight was delayed bit-by-bit from 2:00 pm to 6:18 pm. They said O’Hare was limiting inbound flights, so our plane was stuck in Minneapolis. I was 4th on the standby list for a 4 pm flight that took 3 standby passengers. ~sigh~ At least I was able to get some work done with walking breaks between terminals each time there was a gate change.
As far as I know my next trip to Chicago will be in October. Hopefully it will be clear skies and on-time flights for my fourth trip!
Weekly Run Down
Sunday we had a special church service at 10, so I had plenty of time to take Scooby out for a run. The weather was amazing—mid 50s—and I enjoyed all the spring flowers. 
Doesn’t Scooby look charming?
Here’s a snapshot of the Peloton classes I took Monday-Saturday, focused on the cross-training plan. I did a short ride before Katy’s strength class on Monday and stacked a second 30 min run with Andy’s 30 min class on Tuesday. Wednesday’s cross-training class was just a 10 min core class which I did in my hotel room before heading to the gym for a short tread walk and upper body strength class. Thursday I went out for a run after taking Katy’s strength class in the hotel gym.
Oops, I need to delete one of those Thursday runs—
Garmin and Peloton are double-counting.
Funny story about that Friday tread class. The cross-training classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday were 30 min, so I assumed Friday’s class also was 30 min. I was over 15 min in when I noticed the timer showed 27 min left, and it hit me that it was a 45 min class! It was a tough one, so I opted for a lighter schedule on Saturday, starting with a long walk with Scooby.
My knee hasn’t really bothered me this week, but it did have me modifying a treadmill walk—I had to dial the speed back. I have an ortho appointment next week and hope she can give me some advice that doesn’t involve sitting out the Lawyers Have Heart race in May. 😕
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
Would you adjust your schedule for a workout program? My work schedule is flexible, but I’m afraid of how much worse traffic could be at 7:30 vs. 7:10.
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Yes, i would adjust my schedule if I had a choice to fit in my workout! but probably not so if it lengthened my commute(its already about 45 min). I’m glad your knee is feeling okay. You seem to be traveling a decent amount lately – too bad about the rain!
glad to hear your knee was feeling ok this week.
Sorry abut all the rain. We had that too and I had to constantly rearrange things.
Sometimes I can and often cannot.
NYC on your schedule? I’m there 3x in June.
Sadly, no NYC on my schedule for now. I’ve got Detroit in June, and probably Boston ….
Perfect timing… running past Cloudgate and getting rained on! 😄 At least it didn’t rain when you got your Starbucks.
But that slow-motion delay on Thursday afternoon…so draining. And then being 4th on standby when they had 3 seats… argh!
All the best with the ortho appointment this week!
Thanks!
I was pretty resigned at that point — but it was a bummer!
Well, I guess it’s bound to happen if you travel frequently- glad you made it home eventually! The weather in Chicago definitely has a little something for everyone, doesn’t it?
Sounds like a good week- glad your knee is feeling okay. Seems like if anything were drastically wrong you wouldn’t be feeling good on those runs? Anyway fingers crossed.
Yes, Scooby looks very handsome with those flowers in the background!
The weather last week was just wild! Glad you were able to get home. Also glad you got to see Erica! I need to see her, lol
Fingers crossed for good news on the knee. I predict: physical therapy, lol
Here’s hoping you get a decent diagnosis on your knee injury and it can be fixed with PT.
You missed some nice weather here in Virginia while you were gone, but it was a bit warmer than I’d like for this time of year. We could use some of the midwest’s rain!
Good luck with your knee! I hope you get some good news.
How annoying about the flight delay – that kind of bit-by-bit delay is so frustrating, especially if you have to move from one gate to another. Good for you that you don’t have to go to Chicago for a while!
I totally plan my schedule around my workouts. But that’s because I work from home and have a flexible schedule most of the time.
I hope the knee appointment goes well. Maybe a knee sleeve would be enough to support/protect it for the race?
Such pretty flowers – a great background for a Scooby pic!
So much rain! Glad to hear the knee is feeling okay at the moment. Hoping you get good news/answer at your appointment. Ironically, all of my aches and weird niggles have been MIA since the finish line yesterday. It’s like the long run(s) actually improve my condition, LOL
I would do just about anything to avoid bad traffic. Sitting in traffic is is so frustrating.
Flight delays are also incredibly frustrating.
Scooby is the most handsome boy. Look at him being so dapper with that little head tilt.
And I guess if you are going to get caught in the rain, getting caught under the Cloudgate isn’t the worst place in the world.
Too funny that you had run weather Sunday — I ended up indoors just a few miles away with the rain
I think you should come to NY more — easier travel logistics than Chicago
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