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This years Chicago Marathon was quite interesting.  I ran the Chicago back in 2002 and finished with a time of 4:45.10.  I felt like I could have easily run 20-30 minutes faster and I barely trained.  This year, I was going to attack the 26.2 mile beast with a well thought out plan.  Using Hig Higdon’s novice marathon training plan, I trudged through my miles each week and improving on my times on the shorter runs.  This time, however, I failed to factor in the 6 years my body has aged.  Injuries took their toll early on in training and I started developing some knee problems.  I iced them up and passed it off as just normal aches and pains.  Then the Monday before the marathon, I rolled my ankle.  Please note, this is not something I would recommend anyone doing!!  Anywho, here’s my “journal” of the marathon (at least, as best I can remember!):

Saturday, Oct. 11th
Ginny and I pick up my sister in Danvers and we head to Chicago.  We make good time and arrive at the Expo

at around 4:30pm.  We had a hard time finding where we were supposed to actually park, but once we got in, it was easy going. I got a lot of nice goodies (a bunch of Cliff Shots, Jelly Belly’s, etc)

We then went to check into our hotel, which was right near the starting line for the marathon.  We checked in, relaxed a bit and then went to eat.  I chose Giordano’s and ate some TASTY pasta.  We then went back to the hotel where I stretched and tried to relax some more.

Sunday, Oct. 12th
Race Day!  I wake up on time (for once) and take my time stretching and showering.  I get dressed and we head out to take our bags back to our car.  I get to the starting line and realize that I’ve got to go like 5 bazillion blocks down just to get in.  The corral’s filled QUICKLY!  I managed to sneak in somewhere along the middle/back of the field.  Also of note… the

temperature is about 65F.  Gonna be a warm one!

7:58am.  The gun goes off.  I can’t hear it, but people start moving forward.
8:10am.  I reach the starting line.  That was quick!  In 2002, it took me almost 20 minutes to get to the starting line.  I have my plan set in my mind.  I’m going to try for around 9:00 miles (maybe faster), we’ll see how well that goes.

8:12am.  We go under a bridge.  A VERY long bridge.  My Garmin Forerunner 305 loses satellite signal and I have NO clue how fast I’m going.  I try to maintain what I THINK is 9:00 mile pace.  I come out of the tunnel and just keep chugging along.  My watch is all over the place… one time registering a 0.34 mile!  I start to doubt my watch and continue trucking, all the while weaving in and out of people ALREADY walking!  How on EARTH did people who are already walking get that close to the front?!  Also, most of the people walking are wearing ear-buds and can’t hear me saying, “Excuse me… runner on your right…”  I hit mile one at 9:30.  Not bad, but not great.  Just before Mile 2, I hit the first aid/water station.  I follow my plan of walking 15-20 seconds through the water stop and drink some Gatorade and some water.  Good news though, my watch seems to be back on.
Mile 2.  Still feeling good.  averaging about 9:30/mile still.  Again, not great.

Mile 3. Just what I was hoping to avoid.  At the 3 mile marker, my left knee starts to get stiff.  Julie told me that if I have any problems with it, to drop out.  It isn’t worth risking further injury.  I convince myself that it doesn’t hurt THAT bad and continue to run.  I promise myself that if it still hurts after mile 6 or 7, I”ll drop out.

5k. 31.25.  Very NOT GOOD.  I’m averaging about 10/mile.  The heat is already getting to me and it’s just 9:00… I’ve got about 3.5 hours to go (or so I think.)

Mile 5.  Left knee is STILL hurting.  Only now, my left foot that I injured Monday is starting to join in on the fun.  A band is playing off to the side and are covering “Where the Streets Have No Name.”  I feel motivated.  I keep on trucking.

Mile 6. Left knee isn’t hurting anymore.  I don’t know if it’s because it really stopped hurting, or because I became “numb” to the pain.  Either way, I decide to keep going.  Left foot is throbbing right now.  Also, the heat is really getting to me.  I’m at just shy of 10k and I don’t feel so good.

10k. 1:04.24… Still not good, but at least I’m running fairly consistent.  I’ve been walking a little bit more through the water stops in hopes to cool off more.  That’s hurt my overall pace though, but I feel better.  I decide to alter my plan and shoot for 4:20-4:30ish.  I think I can do that.  Besides, last time I ran a 4:45 and barely trained!!!

Mile 7.  WHY AM I DOING THIS TO MYSELF?  It’s not TERRIBLE, but man is it HOT.  I’m getting close to Addison.  The brochure says we’ll see Wrigley.  They lied.  I didn’t see squat.

Mile 8-12.  I’m getting really warm, but the music blasting along the streets… the fans cheering, the adrenaline… I feel motivated!  I’m going to kick this marathon’s butt!  I’ve weakened a bit on my plan to run 4:20-4:30, but I’m still feeling pumped.  It’s all mental though.  I CAN DO THIS.

OH HEY!  There’s Ginny and my sister!!!  NOW I’m pumped!!!  I wave to them and keep on chugging to mile 13!

Mile 13.  I’m still feeling alright!  I’ve had to go potty since Mile 10, but nothing too bad.  It must be all the water and Gatorade I’ve been chugging at the aid stations.  The lines to the port-a-potties are TOO long and I decide to wait a little longer.

13.1.  I’m HALFWAY DONE!  I cross the halfway point at 2:24.  I do the quick math and realize, CRAP, that’s a 4:48 marathon and I’m only getting more and more tired.  I’m really starting to feel defeated.  Where did that motivation go that was there 10 minutes ago!?

Mile 14.  I have to stop.  Bladder feels like it’s going to rupture if I go any longer without going potty.  The line isn’t long, but while standing, my left knee stiffens up.  CRAP!  After using the porta potty, I walk gingerly over to the aid station and get a bag of ice for my knee.  I ice up for a few minutes and take off.  I am going to finish this sucker!

Mile 16.  I just want this thing to be over.  I realize that I’ve run 16 miles… but I have 10.2 left!!!  SHOOT ME NOW!

Mile 18-20.  I feel like ALL of my energy has been zapped from me.  I don’t remember sweating for the last 20-25 minutes… that can’t be good.  I stay longer at the aid stations getting more water and dumping it on myself.  Muscles that never hurt during training are hurting now.  My gluts and quads feel like they’re on fire.  My left foot is so stinking sore that I have to stop and adjust my shoe a few times.  Also, with all this dumping water on myself and the people with hoses spraying us down on the sides… my shoes are really wet.  I think I’m developing a nasty blister in my right foot.  Every time I step, it feels like liquid is being squished forward.  That can’t be good!  At mile 20, I finally text Ginny.  “Mile 20… Feel like death.”

Mile 21.  I walked most of that last mile.  I text GInny one more time.  “So HOT!”

Mile 22.  YAY… We’re running through desolate wasteland in the dead heat!  I feel like I should be in MadMax or something.  Where is Mel!?!?  I honestly feel like dropping out.  At the aid station, I

overhear one of the workers saying that the bus won’t be able to leave and take the DNF’ers to the finish area until AFTER the marathon… that could be a few HOURS!  I decide to keep chugging away.  I wish I had one of those dorky umbrella hats.  WHERE IS THE SHADE!?

Mile 23.  Finally, a LITTLE shade.  Not much though.  There’s going to be banana’s at the next aid station.  I can’t wait!!!

Mile 23.5.  NO BANANA’S!  I’m SO not happy!

Mile 24.  I’ve completely abandoned any “strategy” of running.  I am now putting bits of “running” in between my long periods of walking.  I just want this day to be over.  I want to be curled up and sleeping.  I want to not be SO FREAKING HOT!!!!!!!!  On the bright side, only 1.2 miles left after this one!

Mile 25. I’ve got this mile left and mile 26 left.  I’m going to run the rest of this.  It’s only 1.2 miles!

Mile 25.1.  WRONG.  I continue to walk.  Jogging every once in a while.  The sun is so bright.  I can tell I’m going to have a nice burn when I’m done.

Mile 26. There’s Ginny and my sister again!  I’ve “run” 26 miles, but now I feel motivated again!  I decide… I can’t walk to the finish line, so I take off.

Mile 26.2.  I’M DONE!  I wonder why I ever decided to run this stupid thing in the first place.  I vow NEVER to run another marathon for as long as I shall live.  I finally meet up with Ginny and my sister and make them PROMISE me that if I ever get stupid again and decide to run a marathon… to SMACK me and tell me “NO!”

My time was 5:39.19.  It was discouraging to say the least.  I was almost one hour SLOWER than my first marathon.  I understand that the heat had a LOT to do with it, but man, that was one of the worst running experiences of my life.

It’s now Wednesday and my left knee is still sore.  It’s bruised quite a bit and a little swollen.  I’ve taken two ice baths and that’s helped with the muscles.  I can walk much better than I did this time last marathon.  I can’t say I won’t run another marathon again, but I don’t know about Chicago.  I want to do one in NICE COLD weather.