Time To Get Serious!

The Chicago Marathon is a week from tomorrow - and we had our final team training run today. Most of the discussion was on logistics - are we going to the expo together? how/when do we meet up? where do we tell our family/friends to be on the course? how do they find us? how do we find them? I realized that there are some things we need to figure out ... and its a good idea to do it now before the day comes and I start to freak out :) I have just spent some time trying to figure out good places for spectators to watch, tips, etc.

Coming to Cheer?
I am not familiar with the Chicago Marathon. I have never watched it, let alone run it! So I surfed around on some websites and blogs to see what people said about good places to watch. If you go to any of these places and they dont turn out ... please dont blame me :)
Suggested Viewing Places

• Chicago Marathon website lists a bunch of places on the route that have popular landmarks and nice scenery. Note: These spots are likely crowded, but can enable you to combine the "Chicago experience" and spectating into one afternoon!
• Old St. Patrick's Church, just past the halfway mark on Adams Street at Des Plaines.
  Free parking, you can walk one block west and one block south to Jackson and Halsted to see the marathoners again, then only about a 1-mile walk to the finish line.
• Mile 8 - "Boys Town" area - male drag cheerleaders, lots of spectators, fun and exciting environment.
• Mile 22 - Chinatown - spectators drumming, and a dancing Chinese dragon

Less Crowded Areas

• Crowds are really thick during the first half of the race, but less crowded through the second half (heading south).
• Miles 14-17: After the half-marathon point, the loop out and back (towards United Center) before entering Little Italy (also known as University Village because of the colleges in the area) tends to be relatively less crowded.

Some General Spectator Tips

• Mile markers are usually very well marked with a huge timing clock preceded or followed by several tables with water and Gatorade cups and volunteers. Position yourself at least 100 feet in front of or 100 feet after the mile marker, because it is often too crowded for your runner to spot you in the crowd.
• Tell the runner what you will be wearing so he/she can look for you!
• Between 23 and 24 is the "International Mile", designated as a cheering point for local consulates and international visitors. Might not be an ideal spot to go?
• Stay away from the finish line - there are throngs of people! Runners need your support before they finish anyway. See your runner as they approach the finish, and when they really need your support ... along the 25th and 26th miles.
• While the CTA is ideal for getting you from one spot to another, everything I have read says to avoid it. There are 1 million + spectators all trying to hop on and off to see loved ones - if you can avoid it and walk instead ... do it!

Anyone else have some tips? Places to go to spectate? Places not to go?