Horn went off.....and we didnt, at least not for quite a while....
It took about 18 minutes after the horn for us to reach the start line and start to run.
First couple of miles included another "stop" which took about 4 minutes to get through the line. I'd say that during the first 10 miles or so, there was a lot of dodging people and trying to find a clear lane to run in, which at times didnt really exist so you had to just wait until an lane cleared. Wasnt great for the pace time, but what else do you expect with 35,000 of your newest closest friends!
It started to finally clear up at about the 1/2 way point, running became a little easier, not quite so many people to dodge. At about mile 8, I had hooked up with a young kid named Andrew who stated he was going to try to run about a 3:40 pace (which is somewhat closer to what I was hoping to run) so we agreed to run together for a while. I managed to stay with him until about mile 13 but lost his pace when I slowed at a water station and he didnt.
The middle miles, 8-20 felt really good and my best times where in those ranges. I was feeling really good and had managed to keep good nutrition and hydration. I realized I probably was too far back in the pack to make any of my goal times so I decided just to enjoy the rest of the run and soak up the atmosphere.
At mile 20, there was a group of people with a mural of a wall and a chalk outline of a person going through it and they were playing The Wall by Pink Floyd. That is just a small idea of the wonderful support the people of Chicago give this race. I don't think I remember any stretch of the run where the sides where not lined with people who where cheering. It was awesome and so very motiviational. It was just great!
I passed mile 22 and entered new territory (longest run to this point had been 22). I really started to feel tired between 22-23-24 miles. I started to feel the aches in the ankles, knees and hips and really started to feel the blister that had started back around mile 8. But I realize only a couple of miles left to go to finish.
I hit the 25th mile and got blasted by the wind (at least I realized it was windy for the first time today). I thought it was going to knock me over. The last mile seemed a long time coming and then we came around a corner and there was an overpass at the 800m to go sign. Took some effort to get to the top of that but you could see the finish line from the top of the overpass. Came down around the last corner to the 400m straight away to the finish line saw that I could still make it under 4 hours and amazingly enough, I wasnt too tired not to "sprint" those last 400 meters.
Though I didnt get the time I was hoping for, I did manage to run the whole thing including water stations so I am satisfied with that portion of the run.

Not sure being the first marathon. I think I would try to get a little closer to the pace group that I want to stay with. I think I spent a lot of energy early in the race just getting around people and I was never able to catch up with the 3:40 pace group and it negatively impacted the last couple of miles.

Crossed the finish line, got a warming blanket and some more water and gatorade and some food (apple, bannana, protien bar, bagel) and went to the gear tent and got into some dry clothes. Went to the area that CindyK and I agreed to meet at and waited for her (didnt get to see her cross the line :(
We met up, walked slowly back to our hotel where the car was and then off to STARBUCKS :)
Drove back to Racine and had dinner but didnt have much of an appetite.


Inexperience at running this distance. Guess I'll have to run a few more to get better. Wait, wasn't I saying there "ain't no way in h*ll I'm gonna do this again" just about 8 hours ago.........


This is an awesome event! Everything from the volunteers, to the race staff, to the citizens of Chicago were great! I would highly recommend this race to anyone who wants to do a marathon. Next year its going to be on 10/7/07.
The only critisism that I have for the race is the check-in, packet pickup process and expo. Those are held at a site different than the race so if you don't know the city and some of the different venues, you may not realize that. Its not really well documented in the paperwork that its at a completely different site and that it is actually miles away from the race site.