I wasn't sure how fast I was going to want to run this race so I started in the corral that had 5:15 and 5:30 pace groups. The 5:30 pace group leaders seemed more organized so I decided to start with them. They were planning a 6/1, run/walk ratio throughout the race. I met a girl named Christy who was doing her first marathon and we decided to run together with the pace group
It was cold right at the start as we went through town and down towards the river. The 6/1 ratio felt easy and by about the 3 mile mark Christy and I were about 1 1/2 minutes ahead of our pace group leaders and right behind the 5:15 group. We decided as long as we didn't get ahead of that group we would be OK. The course was not super hilly, but there were enough small hills and inclines that I knew it would eventually challenge me.
According to the event info there would be aid stations nearly every mile; however from mile 7 through 10 there were no cups available (they ran out), we went 4 miles without any hydration. By mile 11 I was glad to take both water and powerade and from that point on we didn't have any other problems with the aid stations. At the 10 mile mark we were still pretty close to the 5:15 pace group and Christy was running strong. After the half marathoners split off for their finish we picked up 2 gals who had tried to run Chicago, but had been unable to finish. The four of us ran together for 4 to 5 miles, but eventually one of them went ahead and one dropped behind. The hills and leg cramps started getting to me about mile 18 and we slowed to a 5/1 ratio. I took some enduralytes at mile 20 but it didn't really seem to improve my cramping.
Miles 20 to 23 were farily flat and we were keeping a steady 12:30 pace. We had lost the 5:15 group but the 5:30 was still behind us. Our new goal was to finish in under 5:30. I took a beer from the hashers at mile 23; I figured it couldn't hurt. :) The last 2 miles went from me encouraging Christy to her dragging me along. I was battling leg cramps and she was feeling great, but she wouldn't go on ahead and was determined that we were going to finish together. We came down into AutoZone Park for the finish and despite the leg cramps I managed to hang with Christy and we finished at 5:27. I was happy to be done, and very pround of her; a great effort for her first marathon. We had our picture taken with Elvis at the finish line. I waited just a few minutes after we finished and saw my husband finish with a PR of 5:39.

carry a bottle so if aid stations run out of cups I have a container for water, do hill training so hills don't kill my legs

I had 2 finish line workers walk me after the finish line because my leags were cramping so badly, I must have looked pretty bad because they offered me a wheelchair (I declined), after Ed finished we climbed the stairs of the stadium (a nice challenge) to get to the post race food: bagels, fruit, drinks, cookies and hot soup(very yummy); then we walked the 3 blocks back to our hotel


not alot of focused run training, not real speed training, being a slacker, tired legs from 2nd marathon in 4 weeks


this was a fun race, even though the course was a bit harder than I planned on; there is no excuse for running out of cups at the aid stations, other than that the organization was good