Chicago Marathon 2016: Race Recap

If I could draw any similarities between my first Chicago Marathon and this one, it would be the weather was awfully similar. Very similar. In fact, practically identical. And that would be the only similarity because this time around, everything else was different.

I slept pretty well the night before and I didn’t really have any butterflies like I did during my first marathon. It’s not that I’m already a seasoned veteran at this marathoning stuff and don’t get nervous, it’s more like I didn’t put any pressure on myself to run a certain time, and didn’t place any expectations as to how I want this race to go. Sure I wanted to have a good race, but I know with anything in life, things can go sour and I was out to have a good time no matter what.

Even if I struggled at any point during the race, this marathon was bigger than me. The meaning was bigger than myself. I had nine people I was running in memory of, or in honor of, and they were going to carry me through these miles and I felt that.

Race morning started off early. Verrry early. I woke up at 3:10AM and I wasn’t expecting that. I may have been a bit more happier sleeping a tad longer, but apparently my body was ready to hit the road!

However, I ended up lounging around before getting my gear on. Luckily, my hotel had hot water and coffee available in the lobby so I went down there around 5:20AM to heat up the oatmeal packet I brought with me and I grabbed a small cup of coffee. But after a few bites of oatmeal, I couldn’t get myself to eat the rest of it. I simply wasn’t hungry.

On this morning, I thought of my first marathon here in Chicago. I overdressed for the day. I wore a foam visor I picked up at the expo. I didn’t have a Garmin. I didn’t have fuel. I was a bundle of nerves. My whole body hurt. I ran out of energy. I got blisters. I lost a toenail. It was the last time I wore Saucony.

But somehow, I got through those first 26.2 miles feeling aches and pain over my entire body when I finished, and yet, decided I wanted to do it again, and again, and again… And now here I was, running my 25th marathon.

Making our way to the Congress Hotel, there were loads of people already walking the streets towards Grant Park. Team DetermiNation was gathering at the Congress Hotel and I wanted to meet up with Ellen, whom I met the night before at the team dinner, and I wanted to be in the group photo. I missed both! Actually they took a second photo for the latecomers but still, I wanted to wish Ellen a good luck and take a photo of us in our singlets that we both decided to wear.

And I’m so glad I decided to wear the singlet. The starting weather was chilly which is exactly what I had back in 2000. However, it wasn’t as chilly as that day. I distinctly recall it being in the 40s and on this day, it was more like low 50s. But I should’ve brought a throwaway sweatshirt or trash bag to don before the start because I was cold. But I decided to tough it out. Actually I really had no choice.

Making my way into the last best corral, I noticed someone’s shirt walking in the same direction I was. It was designed with Hot Tamales on it and I remember my Twitter friend Dr. Debster was wearing it! I mean, what would be the chances someone else who wasn’t her, would be wearing it? Right? This was haute couture!

Woohoo! Deb!!! I was super happy I got to meet her! We got to chat and laugh for a little bit and that was really nice. [By the way, I saw her finish time and somewhere along the way, she passed me. How dare she! Just kidding! You go Deb!]

 

When she veered off to use the restroom, I nestled myself in the corral. Standing there, I was cold and kept reminding myself, I’m not going to stand here for long and I’m going to warm up quickly. Uhhh, okay I was wrong on both those accounts.

As more and more people trickled in, I tried to close in so I could get some warmth. I distracted myself by eavesdropping into conversations nearby. I mean, c’mon, how could you not??? One good story I overheard was from the lady talking to a couple of friends. She was telling them how she used to go to the same gym as President Obama before he was President, of course, and said he is “soooo nice.” Her mother had told her she didn’t think he’d become President because “he didn’t have enough experience yet.” Her mother passed away in 2007 and didn’t get to see him become President. I enjoyed hearing her story.

Once we started moving, I found myself meeting up with Deb again. It took us about a half mile to get to the start line and I told Deb, “at this point, looks like we’re doing an ultra today.” Hey, those miles add up and I’ll take ’em! But when that horn sounded and we crossed the start line, we were off like wild banshees!

Right off the bat, I felt great! Amazingly great! Even with only eating half of my oatmeal I felt energetic. At the beginning of the week, I was so physically tired and drained from the previous week’s back-to-back trail runs. A part of me was concerned I wouldn’t have energy for the marathon itself. But I ran everyday the 3 days prior to the marathon and I felt really good. Had I felt lethargic at any point, I would’ve canned the runs, but I honestly felt really good.

In fact, I felt so good I saw my family around mile 2 and expected to see them again around the half-way point but I was running so fast I missed them! Actually they missed me because they didn’t get there in time to see me. Me “running fast” is not something commonly said during these things.

I reminded myself to stay relaxed and to have fun no matter what. I reminded myself of why I’m running this race, and whom I’m running for. While it would’ve certainly been nice to achieve, my goal wasn’t to reach a PR. Sure, I would’ve been happy! Not going to lie. I mean, I felt stronger this go-around and deep down I knew I was capable. But a PR wasn’t at the forefront of my brain. At least not early on.

Around mile 4, I could see a group of runners ahead of me waving to their right. I looked up ahead and in that direction, but I couldn’t see who they were waving to. When I got up to where they were, I looked over to my right and yet, I didn’t see anything. It wasn’t until I looked up and saw a row of elderly ladies sitting near the window waving down to us. It was so beautifully touching. It was the first time during the race I felt the tears well up. I touched my back bib and I said all of their names in my head knowing none of them will reach that age because cancer took them all too soon. I wiped my eyes, put on my sunglasses, and kept running.

It was in all these moments, I felt relaxed and happy and grateful to be out here running the streets of Chicago! I honestly didn’t take many photos because I wanted to absorb the atmosphere and be present. I wanted to take in the sights and sounds and cheers from people along the route. And it was all so amazing!

I couldn’t resist taking a photo with some firemen from the CFD!

Later on, I would come across some people I recognized from the tv show “Chicago Fire” and I actually yelled out to them, “Oh my god, I love you guys!” I must say, that was pretty cool. I couldn’t pass up a photo of them!

I also couldn’t pass up my photo with mile 22! If you ever happen to be running with me during a marathon, just know, I WILL stop to take a photo with mile 22. It’s the best number ever!

Energy-wise I was still feeling really good throughout. Probably the most amazing thing from this race is this, I only consumed CarboPro and water! Yep. I started with a couple of scoops in my handheld and had one refill with a few scoops of it around mile 12 and that was it. I even carried some Hüma Chia Energy Gels with me but I didn’t consume any of them. However, somewhere around mile 16 my stomach felt a little odd so what I did was add more water to my handheld bottle because I figured it was too concentrated. It helped. I also took one caffeinated salt pill around mile 15 or 16. The other amazingness that happened was I didn’t get any blisters, nor bruise any toenails!

Somewhere along the course, my Garmin became “off” with the mile markers. By 0.62 miles to be exact. And I know based on post-race comments from other people, I wasn’t the only one. How could this be? Chicago is a World Marathon Major and I would think, they’d need to have the utmost accuracy when marking the course. Word on the street is Garmins tend to be “off” due to the GPS being distorted from the tall buildings interfering with the signal.

Thinking I was running beyond the mileage, I even did my best to follow along the dashed “blue line” which represents the most accurate and shortest route to the finish, meaning exactly 26.2 miles. But then again, I wasn’t completely on these blue lines the whole time. In fact, early on, I was on the other side of the street entirely so maybe I did just so happen to complete 27 miles today.

Towards the end of the race, these blue lines kept me focused. The last few miles, my energy started to wane and my feet started to hurt from pounding the pavement. In a sense, these blue lines were hypnotic.

However, by the time I reached mile 24, something hit me — this is going to be over soon. And so I slowed down and walked more.

I wasn’t ready for this to be over with.

I was already on point to reach a PR so it became not so much a question of whether I would get a PR, but more like, how much of a PR would I have? In these moments, I didn’t care. I wasn’t ready for this race, this Chicago Marathon, to be over with just yet.

Early on I had a feeling a PR was within reach. Even before going into this marathon, I had a feeling I would chop off a few minutes from my previous best time simply because I know I’m a stronger runner. And I knew I would chop off a good hour from my first Chicago Marathon time which is huge for me! But whenever I found myself focusing on a PR, I would touch my back bib with my names. Periodically throughout the race, I would touch my back bib and say their names in my head. They pushed me and inspired me, and when I found myself dealing with sore feet towards the end of the race, I remembered, they are the reasons I was running Chicago for the American Cancer Society in the first place. I was running for them!

That really made a difference in how I felt throughout the whole race, and I truly can’t say enough how grateful I am for people who supported me.

Now, while this was one great race, I will offer up one critique of it. I’ll say the most annoying and frustrating thing that would happen is when people would run across the street right in front of you, nearly tripping you! I cannot tell you how many times this happened to me and I was beginning to get pissed off at it! At one point, someone with a bike cut in front of me and if I didn’t quickly hold up, I would’ve ran directly into the back tire and considering someone is running right in back of me, they would’ve collided as well. Honestly, people crossing the street had to be the most annoying aspect to this race and something I can honestly say, I don’t miss in trail races.

Before I knew it, I was less than a mile away from the finish line and then something dawned on me – I missed Soldier Field! We were supposed to run by it, right? I know I saw it in 2000. I also missed Comiskey Park where the White Sox play, but I know it’s not called Comiskey anymore. Well, I believe it was called Comiskey back in 2000 and I know we ran right by it back then. Oh well, I think I was paying attention to the dashed blue lines and totally missed them.

One last hill and then I made the final left turn and saw it. The finish line.

It was a beautiful sight and the emotions got to me. But crossing that finish line felt absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wait to get my medal from this darling young lady. She, and all the volunteers were so wonderful!  The support throughout this entire race was magnificent and appreciated so much!!

As I walked along slowly getting water, a banana, an apple and other goodies, I couldn’t help but want to run Chicago again! I honestly didn’t appreciate the flatness of this race the first time I ran it but I can see why people love it. And I do!

I also can’t end this post without saying thank you to the American Cancer Society and Team DetermiNation! This has been a wonderful experience and I’m grateful I got to be a part of it. If anyone wants to run for a charity, I recommend this one. The support and guidance has been tremendous!

It was just an absolute remarkable day and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Thank you Chicago!

Thank you for reading!