Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

This was probably one of the more challenging marathons I've run. It wasn't the course, although I was wishing for some hills at a few points. I do think that I do better with some hills because it allows me to use a different set of muscles or my muscles in a different way for awhile. My suspicion is my shoes. I didn't like them from the first, but I didn't want to be a hassle and return them. I should have because I couldn't afford another pair. I hoped I'd just get used to them. (Of course if anyone had told me that they were suffering in their shoes, I'd say "Take them back!") I had run one other marathon in them and was pretty sore for DAYS afterwards, which isn't normal for me.

I'm going back to my old Brooks. I've also decided that in destination marathons, I'm going to run alone. I really love getting to know new people on the route and talking while I run, but neither of my partners were in the mood to talk much. Or maybe they thought I wasn't. It isn't that I don't like running with them, I do! But I think we all felt guilty when we lost each other, but at the same time probably felt relieved when we realized that we were alone. Laura could surge on. Linda could relax into her head where she was dealing with a lot of emotion. I could retreat into my head and really focus on my reason for running.

After I made it through the finish area and got my medal I gave Roy a call. I'm so glad I had my cell phone. It was SO good to hear his voice! As soon as I heard him I started to cry. I told him it was hard and I was in a lot of pain. Pretty soon I could feel my chest tightening. I didn't have my inhaler because I'd had to call in sick Friday and it was in m classroom. I realized I had to stop with the emotion or I'd need the medical tent. I was able to relax and talk to him again to find out where he was. He was over in the 27th Mile area at the letter Z (we'd agreed to meet there) with Jim, Laura and her parents and in-laws and her friend, Karen. Linda wasn't in yet. It was a LONG walk to the 27th mile. So long, in fact, that I think it truly WAS the 27th mile! I stretched and drank some water and inhaled a banana and granola bar on my way.


My legs that were, apparently, made of lead.


Absolutely a wonderful race all the way around. I know they had problems last year, and to be honest I got REALLY tired of hearing podcasters and reading blogs blasting the Chicago Marathon organizers. Mistakes were made that shouldn't have been made, but it got old. This year they appeared to fix it all. Not only was there more than enough water at every stop, but they even had emergency trucks pulling up with MORE water (in bottles) between stops when the Danger Level went from yellow to red. Every water stop (there were 21) had water and gatorade, some first aid options (some more than other), and a flag that indicated the danger level. We started at yellow, "Moderate" and it went up to red, but after mile 20 I noticed it had gone back down as a breeze was coming through and it did cool down a bit.

I don't know if I want to repeat this marathon because it was SO far away, but if I were able to I definitely would. I love Chicago, in fact I love it so much that on Monday we walked ten miles (I mapped it) soaking in the city. I thought this was one of the most well organized races I've been on. The expo was good, the race was great, and the support was out of this world.

And most importantly, my prayers for Todd must have worked. He's been steadily doing better every single day! That alone was worth the pain. But as the man says, "Pain is temporary, victory is forever."