I'm now writing this blog as a CHICAGO MARATHON FINISHER!!!It's still kinda hard to believe. Even the morning of, I really didn't think I'd finish, or even make it much further than halfway.
I had rested for most of the entire week before. I felt pretty decent overall that morning. The weather was phenomenal; cool and sunny. We truly could not have asked for a better day. I still felt terribly unprepared, though, in just about every other way possible. Luckily, I was in the company of an excellent little group of supporters - Matt, Darren, (even Andrew! :) - and all fell in to place quite miraculously.
The first half of the marathon was GREAT. I can't say that enough. It felt absolutely incredible. I didn't feel tired, I just. felt. awesome. Maybe it was the pre-race GU "Chomps" that Darren was kind enough to share with me. Maybe it was the wealth of good vibes from all the other excited runners. Maybe it was simply the fact it was cold enough that I couldn't quite feel my legs for a while... Either way, I can't say a run has ever felt better than those first several miles. I think I will relish the memory of that feeling for a very, very long time.The second half was another story.
I remember passing the 14 mile-marker and feeling acutely aware that every subsequent step was one further than I'd ever run before. I still felt OK, though, so I thought, "Well, let's just see how far I can go!" So I kept running, and after a while we were 16 and 17 miles in! The back half of the course was less than picturesque. The supporters were a little more sparse. But on we ran! At on point I saw a guy with a homemade t-shirt, on the back of which was written "Go Royals!" I sped up to him to compliment his shirt. He said, "If they can do it, I can do this!"
It was not long after this point that a knot started developing in my left calf...
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| Awesome photo credit to Matt! |
I seemed to have overlooked the fact that Chinatown wouldn't show up till mile 21...
My ignorance of the race course probably worked against me in some ways, but I think it was mostly a blessing in disguise. Not knowing what I'd see next, I was eager to keep going. To be honest, throughout the run I rarely knew where I was/through what neighborhood I was running, but there was no mistaking Chinatown. I just felt completely euphoric when I finally saw it and ran under the banner among the throngs of supporters. The euphoria, however, was quickly followed by some serious dread of the miles still remaining, and the steadily increasing pain in my left calf.
I could have cried tears of joy when I heard Matt calling my name as he chased me down on the way out of Chinatown. The bottle of water, the emergency IcyHot and the beaming smile on his awesome, little face were almost too much to even comprehend at that point. He was a total race-saver! I hadn't seen him since the very first mile, and he could not have reappeared at a better time. It was also very encouraging to hear that he'd just seen Darren pass by not too long before me. After the much-needed, quick pit-stop with Matt, I tried to run on, but it got pretty desperate. I started alternating between running and walking, but walking didn't seem to offer a whole lot of relief at that point. When I finally wobbled in to mile 24, the spectators there kept reminding us that we were now a mere 2.2 miles away from that elusive finish-line. So, I ran.
And I ran.
And it was easily the longest 2.2-mile run of my life.
But I ran.
And then I ran across the finish line.
And then I felt probably as bad as I've ever felt (ever) in my entire life.
The most accurate feeling to which I can relate it is some vague memory from childhood. Something about being out shopping or at some kind of all-day event as a small child, and your legs are just spent, and all you want to do is sit down and cry.
I'll be damned if I didn't do just about that.
I at least wasn't like, sobbing uncontrollably or anything. Really, I held it together pretty well through the medal line, through the banana and water lines. I walked and I walked, seemingly forever, until I could find an empty patch of pavement on which to finally just sit down. There were tears, I know, but they may as well have been rain-water for as much as it actually registered with me. Seeing all of us strewn about, clutching our foil heat shields, it felt a little as though we'd just survived some major disaster.
I ate my banana, and stretched a little and eventually, very painfully, I stood up and began walking to the "Runner Reunite" area, way over to what appeared to be the exact opposite corner of Grant Park, to hopefully find everyone under the "M"sign. That I didn't punch anyone in the process was impressive. There were so many people, and every step was more or less excruciating.
In any case, I found my people again, and I was so deliriously happy and disgustingly salty.
In addition to being my first marathon, it may also be my last. But I am so very glad that I tried, and finished it. It was a truly awesome experience.
That being said, very much thanks to Andrew for getting Darren hooked on to this idea in the first place, and for schleping us around town that first day! It was great to see you, and congratulations on a great run!!
Very much thanks to Darren for sharing the idea with me, and for convincing me that I could do it - or that I should at least try! Also, for telling me just before the start that each step was one more closer to the finish-line. That was surprisingly helpful in the thick of things! And congrats to you on finishing, too!! Also - just a big, sincere thank you in general, for encouraging me these past several years to keep up the running and the triathlon-ing and all the other things that I'd never before imagined I could actually do! (And thanks again for the Chomps!!)
And I said it above, but I'm glad to say it again - a big thank you to Matt for the clutch appearance with the water and the IcyHot, and for being just an all around fantastic race-day supporter. I may be a little biased, but I happen to think you're pretty much the best person in the whole world, ever.
A big shout-out to Ms. Kristina, too - thank you again for sharing your marathon-knowledge with me, and for all the encouragement all along the way. I totally get it now. Best of luck to you on qualifying for Bean-town!!!
Lastly, but far from least - thank you, thank you, thank you - each and every one of YOU, for all the encouragement and support. I felt so very well-loved on race-day. Thank you for putting up with all my whining and my "training." Sincerely, you are the best 'Framily' imaginable.
And thank you SO MUCH for all your generosity in supporting my Water.org fundraiser!!
Speaking of...
Again, I cannot thank you enough for supporting the cause!! Unfortunately, we didn't quite meet my total goal of clean water for 1 person per each mile of the marathon. But fret not!
I'M RUNNING THE KANSAS HALF-MARATHON!
Yes, that's right. We've still got 20-some days left on this fundraiser to make up for those last 7-ish miles!
After the success of the first half of the Chicago Marathon, I thought I'd chance it again, here in town this time, with the Kansas Half-Marathon. I can't imagine it will go quite as swimmingly as that day in Chicago, but ya know, how often is it that you find yourself trained enough to run a half-marathon? Might as well go for it. And if it helps complete my fundraiser goal - so much the better!
Whew.
Chicago Marathon: finished.
GO ROYALS!!
Whew.Chicago Marathon: finished.
GO ROYALS!!
The Running Total:
- October: 45.7
- 2014: 326.98
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