Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

OK, I guess the reason I was here was to run this thing. I spent most of the summer training with CARA @ Wheaton. I chose to do the 11:00/mile training group because I'm notorious for getting running injuries. I figured 11's would be easy on the body and get me to the finish line. I had also figured out during my 20 mile training run that starting out at 10:00 or 10:15 would get me to a better time~ the glycogen was going to be gone regardless. So I started out at about 10:15 miles. I wasn't paying attention to the heart rate because I felt great. I knew my form was decent and I was running like a 250 lb gazelle :P

Felt it best to stick to how I trained and walk the aid stations. I took in Gu every hour and went mainly with water at the aid stations. I was feeling like a real rock star up to about mile 12, when we were back in the Loop. I don't know why, but all my thoughts turned negative for some reason. I was feeling pain in my foot, freaking about a stress fracture again. I was aggravated by people suddenly stopping to walk and go talk to their spectators. I was just pissy for some reason? Anyway, at 13.1 I was like "wow, only halfway done?" At that point I realized how the marathon really is as much mental as physical.

So about mile 15 or so the pain started. The craptacular mood was only getting worse, and I figured I'd soldier on mile by mile. I lowered my head a bit as I have been doing all summer. I figure if you need to make your horizon only 8 feet in front of you to reach it, so be it. I soaked up the sun where I could, the music and noise all over the course, and soldiered on. Mile 18 really got hard. My heart rate when I was "jogging" was around 155, and my breathing was labored and shallow. The last 8 miles were like this. I knew I would survive but I was afraid I was getting asthma or something. Irrational stuff, I know. Anyway, I just pushed through the pain, my poopypants attitude, and everything else. When I finally hit the South Loop, I knew I had made it. That is, until that stupid hill on Roosevelt before you turn on Columbus, right before the finish. I could not run it... I walked it :(
However, after the turn I saw the finish and smiled the whole way down. Crossed the finish line and was just glad to be done.

Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. I left it all out there mentally and physically. I can still visualize the entire race in my head. I gave 100% mentally and physically. I felt fulfilled.

Ugh. My least favorite part of the day. I walked back to Charity Village to the ACS tent. It was well over a mile and the wind was whipped up and it was freaking freezing. There seemed like at least 250,000 spectators around, and I was fighting a crowd to get back to charity village. By the time I got to the tent, I didn't feel like socializing with anyone, so I waved to teammmates (apologized later on Facebook), grabbed a 312, and my bag and decided to run back to the Hyatt. Yeah, run. I wasn't feeling like cabbing it because it was going to involve standing and waiting, and I didn't want to do either. I wanted a shower, a bed, and the Bears :) Got a late checkout so I fell asleep for a few hours before heading home. Left the hotel about 6, caught the train back to the 'ville, and I was home at 7:30.


Clearly you get what you train for. I chose to train conservatively to prevent injury. If I do this again I'll definitely train at a faster pace.


I'm glad I did this. The distance really is challenging- both mentally and physically. I'm also happy I chose to take part in the American Cancer Society fundraising. I'd definitely do it again, but I would probably go about raising funds in a different way. Last... I'm happy to close this chapter on life. I am glad it finished better than it started at this time last year.