Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

I was practically high from excitement at the start of this marathon. This was my first one, and to be honest it is something that I never really thought I would do in life. If my friend Dawn had not suggested it, I probably would not have ever attempted it. I have been plagued with chronic shin splints in spite of all my efforts, for my entire running life. Whenever I would start packing on the mileage, they just shut me down. I had accepted my fate of 5K, 8K, 10K, and tri's. That was fine wth me. But surprisingly, they had gotten much better the past few years, so when Dawn suggested we try this...I thought, well, why not give it a shot? I was honest with her about the fact that when all was said and done, I might not be physically capable of running, but at the very least I would go to Chicago with her and cheer for her, so we decided to commit to it. The training went unbelievably well, so when I took off at the start of this race, I had every expectation of successfully completing it. And seriously, the first 10 miles literally FLEW by, in spite of the fact that I was intentionally holding myself to a slow pace. I did not want to make the mistake of going too fast. I did not care about my time, I just wanted to finish feeling good. My 5K was 38:39, my 10K was 1:16:29, so obviously I was going slowly, but those mile markers just kept ticking by so quickly! I was having a blast. At mile 8, my left IT band started rubbing. This concerned me, because I have had issues in the past, including in training, but that was whenever I reached milestone mileages, and it always subsided nicely. I was a tad concerned, but it seemed to stay very minor, then subside. I was pretty good until just after the halfway point, then seemingly out of nowhere, my IT problem flared back up, this time with a vengence. And on both sides. I knew this was bad. Also, my hip flexors in the front, all of a sudden seemed to both shorten up on me, like I couldn't take full strides. That was completely new. I never had that happen. By mile 16, my left achilles started to tighten up, AND, the arch of my right foot kept feeling on the verge of a cramp. What the hell? I have never had ANY of these problems like this, this severely for the IT and never any of the other issues. I kept taking longer and longer walk breaks through the water stations, and then I would attempt to run again until the pain became too much. Every time I tried to resume running, the pain intensified to a new level. By mile 20, my legs were doing these kinds of mini spasms where it felt like they wanted to go out from under me. Not muscle spasms, but as if I had pinched nerves? This detrioration was unexpected and very, very disheartening. I finally had to accept the fact that this was not going to be the race I had hoped for, and that if I did not stop trying to run, eventually I was going to be unable even to walk. The pain was incredible, but I could not, would not accept being unable to finish. So if walking is what I had to do to reach the finish line, then so be it. Every step beyond 20 miles was just sheer force of will. Not only to keep walking, but to try to keep a positive attitude in spite of what had happened. It was sad to think that I had the energy level to run this race all the way to the end (I wasn't even that TIRED), but my body betrayed me. So I had to work to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I had to work to keep my head right. I did not want to deprive myself of a good experience with a bad attitude. I had to draw on all my positive self talk skills, and I think I did a pretty good job.
As soon as I stopped running all together, I could no longer generate enough body heat to keep warm, and the wind was fierce, and I am sure the temperature had dropped from the start...although that might just be my opinion, I don't know if it did or not, but I know the wind did pick up. Eventually, both of my hands were like blocks of ice at the ends of my arms. The cell phone in my pocket rang (my husband letting me know where they were located at the finish line) and I could not unzip my coat pocket in time to answer it. Then I had to try to call him back, with my totally numb fingers. It was a wholly unpleasant experience. But I told him I was stuggling, and he told me he knew I could do it, and that made me feel good.
The last leg of the race, before you turn the corner and come face to face with the finish line, was ever so slightly up hill topping a bridge. To me it seemed like a mountain. And when I turned that corner, and saw the finish line about 500 meters away, it was ALL I could do not to burst into tears. NOT because of my outrageously slow time, and NOT because of my pain, but because I DID IT. I did not give up, I did not quit, I reached my goal and I was getting ready to cross the finish line of a marathon. Me! The way my husband was yelling and cheering for me, you'd think I was getting ready to be the first 42 year old white chick to be the overall winner of the Chicago marathon! And the crowds in the bleachers were cheering like I was a rock star. AND, I cannot believe it, but I wasn't even LAST! I don't know how I managed it, but I ran (if you can call it that) the last 100 meters and crossed that finish line with my arms raised and a big smile on my face! And when they put my medal on me, my joy was complete!
My friend Dawn who had walked the whole thing intentionally (she can walk FAST) finished in 6:24.....so I has (slowly, painfully) made my way back to the corner, to cheer for her. I was so incredibly proud of her, this was her first marathon, too, and she just looked so happy! Her husband ran down to meet her at the finishers exit, so she and her husband got to the fountain at Grant park before my husband and I got there (I was walking VERY slowly!!), and when we arrived I saw that they had a bottle of champagne and two glasses. The husbands had gotten that so that Dawn and I could toast our success! People in the park were smiling and clapping as they walked past and saw us popping the cork! Gotta love those husbands!

In analyzing this race and trying to learn from it, I think perhaps I did not train hard enough. I intentionally picked a very low mileage plan, because I thought I had to baby my legs in order to even make it to the start line. But I don't think it was the best choice for me. I think I could have benefitted from more weekly mileage, and more than 1-20 mile longest run. I think it will just take a little more concentrated effort for me, to find that plan that is hard enough, but where I don't get injured. Because of my physical make up, I guess it's just going to be more of a tricky balancing act for me than I realized. I'm not sure I can just pick a plan off the shelf and have it be perfect for me as is. I might have to really get to know myself even better as a runner and push the boundaries of what I THINK I'm capable of, to find out what I am ACTUALLY capable of doing when it comes to training at this level. I'm really looking forward to doing that.

The walk back to the hotel was warm down enough for me! Then some Ibuprofen, some stretching, elevating my legs, and getting a leg massage from the worlds most supportive husband.



Pure, unadulterated, excruciating, pain. :)


In spite of the time, and in spite of the pain, I consider this one of the best times I have ever had, and a total success. I am excited to do another one and already have a preliminary list of potential race choices. After all, with a 6 hour finish time, I have GREAT PR POTENTIAL !!