Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

Had two issues about mile 22 or so..1st issue was my right calf cramped up again..but it got soo bad that my foot began to cramp up as well. The second issue was my stomach..I think I wasn't quite use to all the power gel..stomach cramps at mile 20..I started walking at mile 23 but I'm proud of myself for fighting through the 2 issues, I think 2 years ago I would have just walked it in....

Not sure, I thought I had run a perfect race for me up until Mile 22 or so...Maybe do more long runs with Powergel or Gu or something. I have to find a way to keep my calves from cramping.

Waited for my training partners at the Buckingham Fountain? I couldn't wait too long as I asked a nice lady to watch our stuff, we put all our stuff in one bag...I really had to go potty..Pretty much stayed in the potty the entire afternoon..Went to the Big Downtown Restaurant and ordered Ham and bean soup and the Diablo burger..hope it was good because I couldn't eat a bite..I was in the restroom the entire time..ran (OK, limped to CVS across the street)..got some pepto and Immonia AD. Guess where the pharmacy was? On the second floor..ouch..the poor lady behind the counter, asked me if I was OK and that I should get someting to eat.....OK...went back to the restaurant and stared at the food..couldn't eat anything...the cab ride to the loft was no fun..4 guys in a cab after a marathon...can you say squeeze and moan and groan...the taxi cab driver thought it was hilarious when we all got out of the cab..he couldn't believe all the sounds we were making getting out of the cab..


Calf cramps and stomach issues.


Crowd was wonderful as usual...I am disappointed that I did not qualify for Boston but I'm proud to say I finished even with the 2 issues. I caught the pace group about Mile 12 like I planned and eased up to the point pretty well. Didn't like staying behind the group because at the water stops it was a terrible mess, so I got slightly ahead of them at about Mile 14 or 15 and was pully away.....maybe that was a mistake, anyway, I was on a 3:20 pace until Mile 22 or so..I think I can do this Boston thing. The weather conditions were not perfect but they weren't tooo terribly bad. The last 3 miles were brutal though because they were straight into the wind. I still hate that bridge going into the finish area..but hey it is a great course and event...I hope this was entertaining..I have to chuckle myself at some of things that happened...As usual the fans were awesome!!Thanks everyone who was cheering!! Elvis was pretty cool and the most important thing I remembered Chinatown this time...I was smiling when I went through Chinatown because the last 2 times I didn't remember going through Chinatown.