Chicago Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Oh my. Where to start... this was a classic example of doing all sorts of things you shouldn't do and yet still coming out ahead, remarkably enough. First- didn't have my normal gels. Stupid mistake. And then, brought one less than I needed. Oh, and let's not forget that I all-out raced a 5k yesterday. And, an overly ambitious race-day strategy.

This run was the antithesis of the half mary I did a few weeks ago - that one was easy - I always felt in control and managed it very well. This race... not so much.

Okay - my race strategy - find the 1:50 pace group and hang on for dear life. I really needed a 1:53 pace group -- and I KNEW this -- but thought that I might be able to stay with this group. My plan was to - if nothing else - ride with them for 10k and then figure out what to do from there. Um, yea. Didn't work. Kept up with them for about 2.5 miles and then just couldn't anymore. We had a slow first mile due to crowds, and the pace guy seemed to want to make it all up in miles 2 and 3. Just couldn't do it. So - I settled into my own race pace, and thought that things were going swimmingly (ironic, for those of you who know how well -- or poorly! -- I swim).

Got to about the halfway point - am moving along pretty well at this point -- right at about 56:00 -- and am pretty pleased. Figure I can keep this pace for another couple of miles and then kick it in, maybe catch up with the 1:50 pace group. Again... um, yea. Not gonna happen.

Then... BOOM. at about 7.5 miles, I seriously could have just laid down at the side of the road and napped. It totally felt like mile 18 of the marathon I ran. The gels that I had, while they didn't mess up my stomach, just did absolutely nothing for me. I kept looking forward to the 3 Gatorade stops, knowing that was the only thing that would pull me through.

In all honesty, I ran miles 7.5 through about 10 with my eyes mostly shut -- I must have looked like I was either in major pain or ready to pass out. I have no idea how I kept up a decent pace. Kind of disassociated myself from my body and made my feet move, though they didn't want to.

At mile 10, I just kept thinking... only a 5k left. And I know I'm still on pace to break my previous half mary best, as long as I can just keep going forward. Mile 10 took forever. Mile 11 just a little longer. Mile 12 FINALLY showed up and then I could taste the end. And started pushing a little.

In the end, this time beat my previous best by about 2:15. Not quite the 1:50 I had envisioned, but I'm pretty pleased.

Okay, this is easy. Use gels that actually HELP. Actually TAPER. Have a realistic game plan going in.

This race HURT. Took more mental fortitude than I'm used to giving out, but I'm pleased that I was able to when I needed it most.

Got my medal, water and gatorade. Then picked up my backpack and got some food. Didn't hang around much after that - didn't come out with anyone and mostly just felt like going home by that time.


Stupidity. :)


I enjoy this race. The crowds are pretty good except when you're out on Lake Shore Drive. The post-race food leaves a little to be desired, but I suppose with the number of people they have racing, it's hard to feed everyone. It's well organized, and the route is pretty cool.