Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

I almost didn't make it to the start line. The day before my daughter asks if we can go to the pool. I figure sure, I can go relax in the hot tub. Well it turns into a wrestling match with the kids and I am a jungle gym. A couple hours after we get home my neck starts to feel stiff and it keeps getting worse. After a couple more hours, I am lying on the floor screaming in pain and I can't get up. The pain had radiated from my next through my right shoulder and was heading down my back. I was able to get a hold of my chiro and make an emergency visit. Anne had to drive me to his office and it was 9:00PM. He said the L3 and L5 were out of whack and that he found it disturbing that L3 was as bad as it was. He adjusted me and reassured me that he saw no reason why I should not be able to run tomorrow. WHAT A RELIEF!.

So, about the race. I took 2 ibuprofens, 1 gel, 2 scoops perpetuem, 3 endurolytes, 1 diet pepsi, and a bottle of gatorade before the start. My usual setup. It was very crowded pretty much the whole race. We were getting blocked all over the place. I think this was a good thing becuase it kept me in check. I ran with Scott F. pretty much the whole way and he would get excited with the crowds and I would have to tell him to slow down. I knew it was hot out and I could be in trouble later if we ran like last year. So we tried to keep pace at 9min/mi but were losing ground somewhere. We were never able to pick it back up. It doesn't matter though, because I felt strong the whole race. We were passing people like crazy. There were a lot of people walking out there, especially after Chinatown. This is Scott's 4th marathon and my 3rd so I think we are becoming a little wiser about the distance. Just keep moving! I knew that running was less painful than walking, both emotionally and physically. It was cool to be able to run this course at speed this year. Last year I walked most of the second half and that sucked. The only time I walked was through the water stations and a little through circle campus when my left hamstring started to cramp. There was only about 3 miles left, so I took 4 endurolytes and 3 cups of gatorade and it when away. That was the only cramping I had. My nutrition was 3 endurolytes, 2 gels per hour, with all the gatorade I could stomach.

At the finish line my whole system kinda shut down. I had maybe 4 people ask me if I was OK. I had to just keep walking. I was feeling extremely stiff and was a bit worried I would start cramping. I got a bag of ice, which was a total lifesaver. I put it on my shoulders and my head. I carried it all the way back to the trainstation. I got an apple and slowly ate it, got out of the sun and started to feel a little more normal. I think I might have gotten a little overheated.

Don't do ANYTHING the day before.

Walk walk walk


heat, crowded conditions


Wholely cats, the crowd was amazing. It was like 3 deep most of the course. It was such an awesome experience. I did not come close to PR'ing this race, but I did not care. It felt really good just to be out there racing. God bless AMERICA! :)