Chicago Marathon - RunMarathon

So, here is where I am supposed to recap 26.2 miles of "running" huh?

Ok, I will do my best. Those of you who know me, know my short term memory is for crap. ;)

Anyway, we got in line around the 5:15 pace group. The plan was to stay near them. We walked 20 minutes to the start line... we started running. I had to pee within 10 seconds of crossing the start line. (DAMNIT!)

So we did the run/walk thing til mile... whateverthatwas... the first porta potties. Peeled off... saw the line. It was several people deep for every potty. Ugh. No choice, though, so we stood in line for 6-8 minutes and peed. We would never see the 5:15 group again. (But I was still aiming for 5:15-5:20) I felt good. Trixie was fun to be around, it wasn't THAT hot yet... everything was dandy.

Passed mile 3.5ish... saw Chris and Kelly and Laura... and Jen and Jon. (Or were they at mile 11?) Gave Chris a kiss, hugged everyone, and took off. We were still pretty much on schedule.

We stopped to pee again (Damnit! I was apparently far too hydrated) around mile 5 ish. (or was that 6?) There, we saw a guy whose eye was totally swollen shut. Looked like he'd inserted a golf ball into his eye socket. The doctors in the med tent were giving him a shot of Benadryl.

When I got out of the porta potty, I was sweating so profusely I'd blinded myself. (The porta potty was like a little blue foul smelling oven!) I couldn't even open my eyes. Went BACK to the med tent to get a paper towel to dry my eyes. I was sweating like a maniac. I turned to Trixie and said... "I'm hot"... she said... "Really? I'm fine!" Or something to that effect.

Anyway, we took off again... run/walking at a decent pace... fairly on time... At mile 11 we saw Chris and Laura... we stopped to collect my hand bottle... (which was a brilliant move, BTW) and Chris filled it up with water, too. So this took a little time... I believe I kissed him again... and shortly thereafter we stopped to pet a dog.

At some point... the 5:30 group came upon us... I said to Trixie... "Look! We caught the 5:30 group!" And she said... "No, they caught us!" At that point, I was still feeling pretty good, so we started running around the 5:30's.

We passed the halfway mark... feeling great! Would have been completely on schedule if not for our several stops. Running time was actually ahead of schedule... but I do understand this is a race, and I can't edit out all of my peeing, kissing and dog petting.

So now we are near the United Center... I was fading fading fading. Trixie suggests we stop at a local park and swing on the swings. I almost took her up on it... but I was still thinking we'd be able to come in around 5:35-5:40... so I declined.

(Note to self... more long runs... even if they take a long time... I need them mentally...)

Anyway, we passed the area where the race was cancelled last year... and I realized we never made it to mile 17. We were around mile 16.5 when we were thwarted last year.

So here we were... mile 17 ish or so... and I still hadn't cried! Or hyperventilated... or called myself a loser. Trixie is like a little magic fairy in a silver skirt.

Anyway, by this time, I was already 2 miles past my longest run in preparation for this thing. And I could feel it. The remaining miles would need to be pulled out of my A$$.

Tried a 1/1 walk/run combo... that worked alright for a little while. We became absorbed by the 5:45 pace group, and they were running with this plan. I was having a hard time keeping up... and I don't like running with a group. I turned to Trixie and said... "Let's do our own thing. I don't want to stay with them." This was the one point in the race when I sorta did feel like a loser. I don't know what mile this was... I think about 19-20?

We got away from the 5:45's. And I felt better. It was about this time when I decided to just move forward as quickly as I could... and run when I could... and concentrate on not hating myself or my lack of running ability.

And we did. We ran some, we walked some, we stopped to pet more dogs.

Trixie skipped up ahead doing her "soul clap" and shouting "Yay me! Yay me!" I tried to follow her lead, but could neither skip nor raise my arms over my head. (!!!)

We saw Chris and Laura again around mile 21 ish... I stopped for him to squirt me down with sunscreen... although it was pretty much a moot point by then. 21 miles into a 26 mile excursion. It didn't hurt and it probably helped me from getting even more sun.

Around mile 23 ish some old guy admonished Trixie for being too happy. Yes, that's right. She got yelled at for enjoying herself during a marathon. We laughed. We posed for pictures. We found Energizer Bunny ears and put them on. My goals were out the window, but DAMNITALL I was going to have fun.

Around mile 24.5-25 I hear "Whizzzz!" and there was akabak (Amanda) standing there, outside her building. Apparently tracking was RIGHT ON... she said she'd been following along online and she knew it was getting time for us to pass in front of her house... and there we were. I gave her a big hug, chatted for a second or two, and then forged forward, ready to finish this thing.

I dragged my sorry self across the finish line with a smile on my face. I finally was able to feel the full marathon distance.

Whoop Whoop!

I've been very conservative with my run training due to my left knee. It's prematurely arthritic, it's been operated upon, it's missing most of it's cartilage. It creaks, it hurts, it swells, it's just not right. That's why I do the run/walk. Trying to minimize the pounding and keep myself healthy through IMWI next year.

Conservative run training left me with a long run of only about 15 miles this year. I had several runs in the range of 12-14 miles... but nothing longer than 15. I paced myself very well for the first half of the race. But after that... it was like jumping off a cliff.

The next time I do a marathon, I'm going to be sure to have a long run of 18-20 miles. Just so I can get past that halfway mark and practice the endurance/pacing aspect of the later miles.

Cross the finish line, get our finisher photo, respond to text messages... (Tracking was right ON! People knew exactly when I finished... immediately!)

Went to the finisher's gear tent... bought matching shirts for myself and Trixie.


As indicated above. I need a leg transplant.


LOADS of aid stations. It was awesome. Plenty of water. Plenty of Gatorade. Plenty of everything. Hoooray for the Chicago Marathon 2008. One of my favorite events, ever! Thanks for coming out, Trix!

It was hot out there... And there's no shade on the second half of the course! FYI...

Photos are located here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/photo-thumbnail...