Chicago Marathon - Run

I was wearing a compression t-shirt, 2 technical t-shirts, a throwaway sweater, running hat, running gloves, and shorts. In hindsight, the 2nd technical shirt was probably overkill. It was chilly, but warmer than i expected.

Being in corral F, I started right at 8am. I shed my sweater, and threw it to the side with the masses of other disgarded apparel.
This is my 4th Chicago Marathon (04, 10-12), and living in the city for the past 4 years, I know the course resonably well. My goal was to try and run a 4hr race, or roughly a 9min/mile.

My shirt was bright orange, and I had ironed "PAUL" across my chest in big, black letters. Having the crowd shout your name for 4 hours is amazing. I really love this race.
I was careful in the first few miles not to get swept up in the furore, and go out too fast. I kept a pretty consistent pace, and thoroughly enjoyed the first 14-15 miles.

I knew where my friends were going to be at various points on the route, It made my day every time I saw a familiar face. I'd run by, give them a smile, a high-5, and be on my way.

Around mile 10, a guy runs alongside me, and tells me that he's never NOT going to put his name on his shirt for future marathons, and that, just for today, he wished his name was Paul. Gave me a chuckle. We ran together and chatted for a couple miles, but I could tell his pace was slightly faster than I wanted to run, so we shook hands and I let him run ahead. Nice guy, and the conversation really distracted me from the effort for a good 20 minutes. Thank you, random man, thank you.

From mile 14-19, you sort of run through the doldrums of the course. Crowd is sparse (with a couple of exceptions), area is random. I knew this going into it, and I knew this was the portion of the run where I'd need to really focus on keeping a good pace, and not stopping. I knew once I stopped to stretch, rest, whatever...it would be really hard to get going again.

Around mile 16, I started to get a little sore, particularly in my toes. I had some blister issues in the month leading up to the marathon, and I was getting worried that it was coming back. I decided to ignore it, unless it got unbareable, at which point I'd get some vaseline at an aid station to lube up my feet. In the end, I didn't need to do anything, but man, my dogs were barking.

After mile 19, I was starting to struggle. I was still roughly on my goal pace, but I'd already resigned myself to knowing that I couldn't keep this pace going for another 7 miles. I kept my head down and just powered through, knowing that somewhere between mile 21-22, a big group of friends were tailgating in Chinatown. I just wanted to keep running until i saw them, then I'd stop for a minute, and run/walk the rest.
Also, at this point, my right knee started nagging me. I'd had pain in it about a month ago, after the Chicago Tri, so it wasn't exactly unexpected, but it unwelcome nonetheless. I wasn't about to drop out, so I gave myself an internal "suck it up" speech, and tried to amend my gait a little to prevent it from worsening.

Chinatown - mile 21.5
Saw all my friends, including the newly engaged Chez, whose fiance was also running. Great to see all the friendly faces, especially at a point in the race where I really needed it.

The last 5 miles were just brutal. Again, the crowd thins out, and it lacks some of the atmosphere you experience earlier in the course. I ran/walked to the best of my failing body's ability.
Turning up the hill on Roosevelt, I knew the finish was moments away. I walked up the hill a little, then decided to pound some asphalt. I put down the hammer and just ran as fast as I could to the finish.
DONE!!! I was in a lot of pain, but I was finished.

Not much. Just train more, and do more tempo runs/intervals to improve my overall pace.

I'd have preferred to do more long run leading into it, but with the knee and blister issues, I did the best I could.

Having only managed to run through mile 11 in 2010, and mile 14 last year, I was super happy to keep it going through mile 21. Go me!

Grabbed a bottle of water, and 2 bags of chips.
I was meeting all my friends (runners and spectators alike) at a bar later, so I just immediately left and went home.

Did some stretching while waiting for the el.


Lack of speed training.
Lack of stamina. But like I said above, I was very happy to have made it through 21 miles before taking my first walk break.


I love this race.
So long as I live in Chicago, I'll probably keep doing this marathon.

Even though I'm in pain right now, I know that will subside soon enough, and the memory of the amazing crowds will have me registering again come February.