HAPPY TUESDAY!Â
Sorry friends this may be a longer recap than normal, but there is just so much to tell you all about!!!
Thursday morning I rose bright and early to catch a 5:30am flight off to Chicago! I brought a simple and healthy breakfast from home to take with me on the plane.
I landed in the beautiful windy city around 3:00pm and headed downtown for our first RunWESTIN meeting!
I checked in at the Downtown Sheraton Hotel and was very pleased with the super comfy bed!
There was a nice little workspace to check emails at. I was also blessed to have been gifted unlimited amounts of STARBUCKS while here!
As soon as our first meeting was over, I ordered dinner. I love that their menu has so many “healthier†options. They really believe in building a colorful plate.
Dinner was Potato Crusted Salmon… heavenly.
I hit the hay early and got up at the crack of dawn for a 30 minute run on the riverfront. I also did a little Summer Shred strength workout in their state-of-the-art gym.
For the next three days my outfit pretty much consisted of one of RunWESTIN’s super cute New Balance shirts, shoes and black capris. Did you know that when you stay at a Westin they have a GEAR LENDING program? Westin Hotels & Resorts have a partnership with New Balance that allows guests to rent sneakers, workout tops, socks, shorts and pants at any of the 190 Westin properties for $5. Westin locations also provide running maps of the area for guests to use. Fun little fact!
So if you forget your shoes, shirt, sports bra or socks, they will lend you some for just $5 for your entire stay???? AS A RUNNER, I thought this was genius! They really are the RUNNERS’ CHOICE hotel!
At 8:30am, we all met downstairs for breakfast at the Sheraton, where I enjoyed an egg white veggie omelet and stayed clear of the home fries!
After breakfast, it was on to the Rock and Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon Expo! I love love love EXPOS! I always feel like a kid in a candy store!
Our booth was pretty sweet! Love how clean and stylish it looked.
Here is some of the GEAR LENDING items…
While I was at the expo, I got the chance to work with some fun new friends that Westin hired to help us out for the weekend. We were handing out free pace bracelets to runners as well as telling them about Westin Hotels & Resorts’ VIP Packages that they will be offering starting in September 2013. I loved getting a chance to chat with some pretty accomplish runners!
Runners have some great stories to tell and when you get a chance to listen, your minds will be blown!
After working the booth, I headed over to the Westin Hotel to work at the front desk as the RunWESTIN Concierge. A little taste of what the job would look like (fingers crossed). Welcoming guests comes naturally to me, so this part was just as fun!
The day didn’t end there. I headed back to the Expo for a little EXPO STAGE interview with the other candidates and John Bingham! Such a funny guy. He made the interview a lot of fun.
Then we were off to our hotel to get spruced up for a little VIP Roof Top Party at the Wit Hotel downtown. I can’t remember the last time that I got to get this dressed up! I even wore eye liner!
The BEBE dress was courtesy of my beautiful friend Susie. I was really surprise that my hair was cooperating with all the humidity!
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When we got there the place was packed!
What an amazing view!
The event was put on by the Rock and Roll Marathon corp. They had some amazing appetizers, sushi, grilled tacos, sliders and gourmet mac-n-cheese. I enjoyed mostly sushi and…
I just had to try a slider!
Fun times!
One of the other finalist and I called it a night early as we were still on PST and were about to pass out!
We had a little time to ourselves on Saturday morning so I spent some time reflecting on everything that I am so thankful for. With everything going so fast, sometimes just being still for 5 minutes refreshes my entire soul!
I enjoyed a clean breakfast in the club lounge…
…and then I was on my way again!!! Loved walking down the Magnificent Mile all weekend!
All kinds of fun things to see.
Day 3 was a lot like Day 2… Expo and Front Desk.
When I had a chance to take a break, I enjoyed an Apples n’ Greens from Jamba Juice to keep me moving!
At 5:00pm, we all met up to take the Westin VIP Members on a fun 2 mile run along the lake to loosen up their legs. What I didn’t tell you is that all of this was done on CAMERA! I got a taste of what it would be like to be on a reality TV show!
By the time dinner rolled around, I was SPENT! My feet were ready to be up and I was pretty hungry! I ordered a Shrimp Salad and some Veggie Pot Stickers. The Veggie Pot Stickers were probably not the healthiest choice, but I thought, “What the heck…got to live a littleâ€.
On SUNDAY (my last day) the alarm went off at 3:15am and I shot right out of bed! I was ready for some marathon action!
Even though I wasn’t running it, I was super excited to wish everyone “Good Luckâ€!
Before we headed to the start line, we got to encourage runners at the Westin VIP Grab and Go Breakfast. Lots of wonderful healthy pre-race fuel. Dry cereal, coffee, juice, toast, bananas, peanut butter, oatmeal, fresh fruit and much more!
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At 5:30am, we headed to the start line!
This was a moment to remember! All three RunWESTIN finalist got a chance to give a little last piece of advice to all 20,000 runners on the MAIN STAGE! Talk about thrilling!
After the start of the marathon we headed back to the Westin to congratulate all the VIP runners! It was so encouraging seeing their faces of achievement! We also gave them ice and water for recovery. After the last runner came in, we all parted ways and headed back to the airport.
I enjoyed a lovely Quinoa Veggie Bowl and glass of Cab to wind down before my flight took off.
Right when my first flight was about to take off, I got a call from United that my connecting plane in SF to home was cancelled!!!! Hubby wasn’t too happy…lol…
Thank goodness they put me up in a decent hotel room so I wouldn’t have to stay in the airport all night.
I took off this morning at 6:55am and had one last hour flight to HOME!!!
I was greeted with these amazing flowers and dark chocolate from my MAN…
…and when I walked into our house my other man couldn’t keep his paws off me!!!
Someone was a little busy this weekend and put in my much wanted/needed giant white board as an anniversary gift (6 years on Sunday). I will be doing a HOW-TO post on this soon!!! All this for $30! Yup… I’m sure that catch your attention!
And the Best Husband Award goes to…… MATT MCCORMICK!
Well there you have it folks… my weekend in a nut shell! I won’t find out if I got the job for a while and even when I do hear from RunWESTIN, I have to keep it “hush-hush†until mid-August. So patience and prayers appreciated!
I will tell you this, after getting a feel for the job and really getting to experience it for myself, I know that this would be a great fit for me. But God has my path planned for me already so I’m blessed either way!
To be continued…
QUESTIONS:
- What do you think about the Gear Lending program that Westin offers?
- Have you ever been to Chicago?
- What’s your favorite hotel to stay at when running a marathon?
Comments
28 responses to “RunWestin Weekend Recap”
That looks like such a fun experience. You really are perfect for this position, I am sending positivity your way!
Amazing recap! I love that Westin has a Gear Lending program! Genius! It really sets Westin apart from the rest! Sending you lots of good thoughts our way! <3
What a fun, thrilling, and exciting weekend! Love that Westin is so runner friendly, and am always encouraged that ou take the time to refresh when traveling!
I was just in Chicago last month for a conference. I have a lot of family in that area so I go there at least once every other year. I wouldn’t mind living there except I hate snow.
Good luck on the job!
what a trip!! and you look amazing! i am cracking up at the husnbands tweet to united. Um ya, i would have been upset too..
p.s.
the $5 lend for shoes is GENIUS
Love the gear lending program! I would totally use that as I usually forget something.
Your hair also looks fab in all the pictures. Is it naturally curly like that or do you style it?
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thanks girl! No, I wish I curl it:) Plus I don’t wash it everyday so that helps with the volume!
I can tell you had such an amazing time! My fingers are crossed for you to get this job! 🙂
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Glad you had a great time in chicago and working with run westin! It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing experience for you!!! YAY!
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What an exciting, jam-packed trip!! When will you hear about the job?!
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What a great opportunity and it looks like such a great company to work for!! Good luck!! will be pulling for you!
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I love that would lend you all that stuff for $5!! So amazing! I will be praying for you & for Gods Will if this new job is the path for you!!!!
I went to Chicago for HLS a few years back – how were you not there?! It was awesome. Mostly because of the pizza. Let’s hang out soon!
yes please!!!!
luv, luv Chicago…I visit there at least 3 times a year!!!
PS. Good luck with the job!
Wow. What a whirlwind! Great recap Bobbi.
I’m usually too cheap to stay at Westin hotels, but that Gear Lending thing is brilliant. Especially when traveling with family, I tend to forget my running gear and then when I’m inspired by a new locale, don’t have anything so that I can run.
No, I have never been to Chicago but I have a handful of friends there that I would love to go visit.
And since I’ve only done one marathon (LA), I haven’t stayed in a hotel for one… yet.
I hope you end up with the job. Sounds crazy exciting and just about tailor made for you.
Also, where the heck did Matt get such a giant white board? That’s epic.
Thanks NATE! he made it!!!
Well shoot. I’m going to have to hit him up for the how-to on that. Looks awesome.
looks like I will have to get him to do a guest post!
Sounds, and looks, amazing! I lived in the Chicago area for 8 years, and I absolutely love that city. (And miss it so much!). The lending program sounds amazing, although it does creep me out a bit to wear rented sports bras/shoes/socks, i have to admit! But I’m sure they’re very well cleaned ;). Anyway, best of luck and blessings to you with this opportunity! I know you would be sooo wonderful at it, and I also know that God will put you exactly where He wants you :). And Happy Anniversary!!!
What a fun weekend and I totally back the veggie potsticker order!
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I so hope you get the job!
I went to Chicago last October for the marathon – loved it!
Yay…looks like a great time! I love your black dress…it’s so pretty!
I think the gear lending program is awesome! What a great idea!
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What an amazing experience!! Positive thoughts and prayers coming your way!!
thanks girl!
how exciting!!! Great hotel room. Really cool about the Gear lending program. Never knew. but will definitely keep in mind.
So what was the advice you offered to 20K+ people?
haha I guess I should I have posted that! I told them that this was THEIR RACE! Not the person to the right or the left of them. To go out there and have FUN and enjoy every moment!!!
What a fun and healthy weekend in Chicago!!! That rooftop really does have a sweet view-I’ve only been there for happy hour, but I’ve always wanted to go at night!