My neighbor and I are running a 5K together this Saturday at a forest preserve in Libertyville, a town about 12 miles from where we live. He wanted to run the course before the race, so we plan to run it tonight after we pick up our race registration packets.
All of those stupid details don’t matter. The point is, I woke up at 4:20 and left the house by 5:00 so I could drive to the Libertyville train station instead of my normal train station. Theoretically, I could hop off the train in the evening, pick up my packet and drive right to the forest preserve.
Only, I get to the Libertyville train station this morning and all of the parking spots in the main lot are permit only before 8:30 am with a $500 fine for offenders (WTF?!). I remembered there was another lot so I drove to it and saw that all of the pay slots for parking were boarded up, and a sign was put up telling commuters to drive to ANOTHER TRAIN STATION.
Are you fricking kidding me?! I actually called the police station to ask if there was anywhere I could park and they told me to go to the other train station, which would be back-tracking from where I came, and make me miss the train.
I was so pissed. I didn’t want to park at that other train station and miss my train AND have to back-track YET AGAIN in the evening to get back to Libertyville. I could have asked my neighbor to drive me there after our run, but I left my alternate running outfit (I took the one I plan to wear with me) and some running gear in my car and I wanted it with me and I DIDN’T want to carry it to work.
I just started driving, and called Steven, to bitch a little bit about it (what a great way to wake up, right?!), and asked him if he remembered how to get to the next train station, in Lake Forest. He was nice enough to get out of bed and look up the location for me on the computer. I got off the phone with him and sped my way there. Let me just say, I love my husband and I love my new car. I wouldn’t have made the train without his guidance and that V6. Lake Forest had permit parking AND regular parking (it was $3.00 though – I pay $1.50 at my station).
This really shouldn’t make me so angry, BUT IT DOES. I got up extra freaking early to save myself time in the evening, and all I got was STRESS. Now I have to deal with traffic tonight as I try to get back there.
And how was I supposed to know there was no non-resident parking? It doesn’t say it anywhere on their website! I guess I learned my lesson – do MORE than plan ahead. I thought I was pretty smart getting up early to drive to this station, but I guess what I REALLY need to do is start planning things like this a week in advance so I can call the parking contact and figure out where the HELL I am supposed to park.
Yay, happy day.
You shouldn’t have to call ahead though! What a pain! I am so sorry. I hate when I think I am doing somthing to save myself time and then I end up with a bunch of stress like this. Have fun running though. It is such a beautiful place to run!
You know, I have always said that the parking people in Liberty were pricks. Now you have confirmed it.
I can’t EVEN fathom getting up that early and then being screwed over…you are a champ.
PS I don’t know where Libertyville even is, but they sound like pricks and I should have always said it.
You shouldn’t have to do that much pre-planning. Sounds like the train station dropped the ball. How irritating!
Ugh, public transport can be such a pain to the public they serve!
That sucks. But, I bet you will have a really nice run on Saturday!! It should be far less crowded than Chase and with pretty scenery…I bet it will be exactly the thing to help you out of your funk. 🙂
Now that is a downright pain in the ass. What a bummer! Never would I have thought that not only would you have to map out/run the race course ahead of time, but that you’d have to do the same darn thing for the parking situation. Grrrrr!
Ugh what a frustrating day! Yo know youre committed to running when youre willing to go through all of that lady!
Public transportation is so much fun! That’s weird that there was no pay parking for you.
There used to be a big high school cross country meet in Libertyville that I ran every fall…I wonder if it’s at the same forest preserve!
Oh man…. even though it was rough- it seems like you managed well and it always helps to have a sweetheart at home helping you out!
I hate the parking situation at train stations. And, no, none of their Web sites give details on costs, primary, or secondary parking locations. Pisses me off too. Oh, Geneva is only $1.25 for daily parking. Probably lower because our train fares are ridiculous being so far out here. We’re practically a suburb of Rockford we’re so far out.
tori – That is exactly what it was. I thought I was saving time, but uh… nope! We went to the Old School Forest Preserve on 176 and St. Mary’s. Have you ever been there? It’s really wooded and scenic. We saw 3 deer!
Hotch Potchery – Ha ha ha 🙂 You crack me up. 🙂
sizzle – I thought they did! But I guess it has been like this for awhile and I just didn’t know. 🙁 I told my neighbor about it, and he said the same thing happened to him so the police gave him a temporary pass. They didn’t even offer that to me!
Amy – Yeah, they really can! But… I do love taking the train. I have to admit that!
diane – After we ran the course last night I am really looking forward to tomorrow! It’s very scenic and relaxing. Pretty muddy though… bringing back memories of WIP!
SoMi’s Nilsa – LOL! I DO need to map out and prepare my parking plan, I guess. I sort of assumed it would be easier in the suburbs… never assume…
Scale Warfare – I wish I would have focused on the commitment instead of feeling pissed off! 😉
Susan – That’s cool! Was it at a Forest Preserve? I know there are quite a few in Libertyville!
JavaQueen – Just like your comment on the previous post… you know who you can trust and rely on – your husband!
kapgar – Yay! Someone shares my pain and can make me sound less crazy! My monthly ticket is SUPER expensive – $164.70! But, my work just decided to start paying for it all (they used to pay for $115).
I have been to that station before and parking stinks there. What a PITA
What an ass pain. Not a fun way to start the day off!
Ack! That is so frsutrating. Espeically at 5:00 am.
That really sucks. Shouldn’t take that much planning ahead…
Tony – TOTAL PITA! Man, I wish I would have known then. I guess my neighbor was able to get a temporary pass from the police, but they didn’t even offer it to me when I called!
Jamie – No, it wasn’t. 🙁 I learned from it though.
Cheryl – I know! I was barely awake to start with! Then that happened!
claire – You would think… 😉