Dim Sum and Then Some: Race Day Surprise
Dim Sum and Then Some: Race Day Surprise
You can train for the miles. You can plan your pace. You can lay out your race-day gear the night before.
What you can’t plan for? The great outdoors deciding you could use a little swim.
We checked out the Dim Sum and Then Some Run in Chicago, where pouring rain added an unexpected challenge to race day but definitely did NOT wash away the fun.
What Is the Dim Sum Run?
The Dim Sum and Then Some Run takes place every year in late summer in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The event offers both 5K and 10K races, plus a “Kids Dash” for the little runners looking to get in on the action.
And because every good run deserves an even better reward, the post-race celebration includes dim sum, a choice of herbal tea or boba, and PLENTY of snacks.
Even better, the event supports a great cause. Proceeds benefit the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, which provides resources and assistance to immigrant communities in the Chicago area.
Running, dim sum, boba, AND supporting the community? That’s a pretty stacked race-day lineup.
Race Day: A Little Rain Never Hurt Anybody
Okay, maybe it was more than a little rain.
Despite the unexpected weather, race-day spirit could not be dampened (yes, that pun is absolutely intended). The rain was pouring, but volunteers still showed up to set up, cheer everyone on, and keep things moving. Runners were equally committed, arriving hyped and ready to hit the course.
Some performances and pre-race festivities had to be put on hold, but the energy never disappeared. Even as a first-time participant, it was clear this annual event has earned a reputation for being a banger year after year.
And the rain did give us one small gift: perfect running temperatures. It wasn’t too hot or humid, and the cool air made for a great morning workout.
All we had to do was ignore the fact that our shoes were slowly becoming aquariums.
The Course: Hope You Like Waterfront Views
The race started on Argyle Street before heading toward Chicago’s Lakefront Trail, circling the Montrose Beach area, and looping back toward the finish.
On a normal day, it’s an ideal running route: relatively flat, scenic, and lined with beautiful views of Lake Michigan.
This was not a normal day.
The heavy rain left parts of the trail flooded, turning puddles and pockets of standing water into bonus race-day obstacles. Sometimes you went around them. Sometimes you went through them. Eventually, you just accepted your fate.
The weather definitely made the course more challenging, but it also added a sense of adventure. It made crossing the finish line feel like even more of an accomplishment.
We were all in the deep end together. Literally.
Post-Race: The Real Finish Line
After several soggy miles, the finish line was absolutely worth it.
Volunteers, who included some friends of mine, were there cheering us home and handing out medals, water, and snacks as we crossed. By then, the rain had eased up enough to hang out, take pictures, catch up with friends, and, most importantly, collect the true prizes of the morning:
Boba and a box of dim sum.
Hands down, the best way I have ever ended a race.
Despite the gloomy skies, people weren’t rushing to leave. Runners and volunteers stuck around, the post-race festivities continued, and the whole thing felt less like surviving bad weather and more like celebrating the fact that we had all done it together.
Turns out, good company (and goodies) can make you forget about wet socks pretty quickly.
Same Time Next Year?
ABSOLUTELY.
What stood out most wasn’t the rain, the puddles, or even the post-race dim sum. It was how runners and volunteers refused to let circumstances they couldn’t control dictate the experience.
The weather threw everything it had at race day, and the community said, Cool. See you at the finish line.
If the Dim Sum Run is this much fun during a downpour, we can only imagine what the energy is like when the sun actually decides to cooperate.
Have you battled rain, heat, wind, or some other race-day curveball and still made it to the finish? Contact us and share your story! We’d love to hear how you weathered the weather.