So I had to get up at the earliest time EVER for this race - 4:10am. The alarm clock went off and I was so confused. "What's going on," my body said, "It's sleepy time! Turn that thing off!" Then my brain intervened and said, "Oh that's right, today is Rock n Roll Chicago! Must get up and out the door so that we're not late!"
I made it downtown at around 5:30, which was perfect. I always like arriving to races early so that I can walk around, find where everything is, and still have time to stretch and use the bathroom before the race.
The weather was just about PERFECT! Sunny, clear blue skies, no humidity, and mild temperatues. Perfect May... I mean August... day!
Mile 1: The race started in a wave start, which was a first for me. I was in corral 8 (out of 20+), and got moving about 10 minutes after the gun went off. Thank God for D-tag timing!
We started down Columbus, much the same way the Chicago Marathon begins. There weren't as many people on the Millennium Park bridge cheering us on; but then again, there weren't as many people running the race. The nice thing about the wave start is that you're not throwing elbows at your neighbor to keep pace. Everything is pretty spread out and you have room to settle into your pace and keep going.
The bridge over the Chicago River was a little rough- there were no carpets, and I thought for sure that I would slip or get my foot stuck in the grates. But I didn't, and I finished my first mile in 9:21. Not too shabby!
Mile 2: I'm running without headphones today and it's not too bad so far. I thought I would be a lot more bored than I actually am. But the day's still young, and there's a lot of race to go. I like seeing the sites, and right now we're getting a private tour of the city before it wakes up. The buildings provide shade, and it's nice and cool on the road. Over the river again and past the Chicago Theatre. There's a band playing "Sweet Home Chicago." Gotta love it. I find myself wondering if the bucket boys will manage to worm their way into the race. Sounds like an opportunity...
Mile 3: Just past the 2 mile mark at 19:00. I feel great. The pace isn't killing me at all, although my main goal is going to be finishing without walking and going at a consistent pace. Better to err on the side of caution in the early miles- I can always speed it up later.
As we turn the corner, I see a familiar face in the crowd. It's Jay! I wave excitedly and keep running. I'll see him at the end. Ooh and there's the "Whatcha talkin' 'bout" Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. I don't think locals will EVER call it the Willis Tower. It's been the Sears Tower for my entire life. Not gonna change now.
Mile 4: Good band this mile, I can hear them from a little way away. Right when I get up close, I realize that they are all dressed in PJs. How cute!
My pace is still excellent and I still feel great. Up ahead is the mile marker, and a guy with a cowbell. He's playing a familiar song, rapping his drumstick on the cowbell. It's "My Sharona." Didn't know it was such a popular cowbell song! (And boy I'm a nerd for being able to pick out what song it was!)
There's a spectator on the sidewalk that looks EXACTLY like Ben Stiller. Like, EXACTLY. He's wearing a Cubs hat. Is Ben Stiller a Cubs fan? Probably not, but stranger things have happened!
Mile 5: Now we're moving towards Grant Park again! Yay! That means that we'll soon be headed for the lakefront paths. I'm thinking I don't know if this race would be so pleasant if it were 100+ degrees and super-humid. I'm grateful for our mild summer and grateful that the heat has been kept at bay so that I can try for PRs in every race! I don't like humidity, so it doesn't bother me a bit.
Onto Michigan Ave and we're met with a wall of people! Fans! I saw the best sign ever "Mortuary Ahead, Look Alive." Don't know why that was funny, but it made me laugh. A lot.
Mile 6: We're on the west side of Soldier Field now, and it's almost exactly like the Race to Taste. I can't hear a band, and haven't heard one since Michigan Ave. The "Rock n Roll" part of the Half Marathon so far sucks. It seems like every time we pass the band, they're taking a break or something. Aren't they supposed to be playing songs?! Soo weird.
Parking garage to lakefront paths. I'm at around 55:00 at this point, and I'm craning my neck to the east, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elite runners. No dice. I reach mile 6 under 60:00. Much better than the 10K I ran a couple of weeks ago! ;)
Mile 7 & 8: We're going in the tunnel/service entrance to McCormick Place's Lakeside Center (the east building). I swear, this is the darkest tunnel I've ever been in. You almost need a headlamp to see where you're going. It wouldn't surprise me if I fell in a hole. I'm not even going to look at my feet, because I might bump into someone in front of me. I'm not fooling around when I say that this is the darkest tunnel ever.
Starting on the lakefront paths, the very path from the Soldier Field 10 Mile. It's so peaceful out here. Sure, they're are cars whizzing by on Lake Shore Dr., but I'm able to tune them out, focus on my pace, and continue to run my race.
Yay, sponges! I squeeze it out on top of my head. Feels good, but now I have goosebumps!
Mile 9: We pass 35th street, and I know that the turnaround is near. I can see people in front of me on the other side of the path. The elites have passed, the super-fast have passed, and now it's people that are more my speed passing through.
Reach the turnaround and run on some rocky gravel. That kinda sucked. Now my shoes are all dusty. Bummer!
Still can see people on the other side of the path, but this time we're the passers. They are eagerly anticipating the turnaround. Yikes, there are a lot of them. I definitely will see people all the way back to Soldier Field. I'm realizing right now how many people are in this race!
Mile 10: I made a bargain with myself. I'm still pretty far ahead of my 10:00/mile pace, but I don't want to keep pushing the pace to the point where I'm exhausted and I have to walk. So far, the only time I've walked is when I'm drinking Cytomax and water (I can't run and drink at the same time... I spill). And I haven't needed to stop and use the bathroom! Double awesome!
Ok, back to the bargain. I told myself that if I did this mile at "recovery pace," then I can go as fast as I like for the rest of the race, provided that I run the entire time. Sounds like a plan to me! I finish this mile in 9:58 (ok.... close enough) and now it's time to turn it up!
Mile 11: I can't wait for my Garmin to arrive. Like, CANNOT wait. I think it's not only going to be my new toy and my new obsession, but a really critical training tool. I need to learn how to judge my pace, and not use the "by feel" method. I need to remember that my theme for this year's training is "No Excuses." The Garmin is essential to my success. Stupid amazon hasn't shipped it yet, and I ordered it on Thursday. Grr.
Back to the race. I'm doing some pickups throughout this mile. The path is narrowing, but now by too much. It's absolutely gorgrous outside, and the city looks so pretty. From my vantage point right now, I can see boats on the lake, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, museums, and the Prudential building. (If it's still called that... it could be the Kraft Mac n Cheese Tower for all I know).
I've encountered so many helpful spectators, pointing out how long it is until the mile marker. This one is no exception. The girl clapping for us on the side of the path lets us know that the mile marker is only about 200 yards ahead. Sweet!
Mile 12: And here it is, just where she said it would be. Now the path is super narrow, which sucks. Both sides of the path and covered with low-hanging tree branches. To run in the grass is to risk decapitation.
I would kill to run in the grass right about now. For this entire mile, I was stuck by people who would just stop suddenly in front of me and start walking. Walking?! There's a half mile to go! RUN!!!!
So I'm weaving around and around people. There's a girl behind me from Chicago Endurance Sports. I've heard her name called by different team members throughout the race. Her name is Erin, and she must be a newb. Someone from her team who already finished has come to pace her through to the end. She tells her what to expect for the remainder of the race. I listen in. Maybe it's better to run without headphones? (Jury's still out on this one).
I turn the corner and...
Mile 13: I can see the finish line from here! Woo hoo! I get to the mile marker in 2:07:00 and sprint ahead to the finish. I have to run around 2 people who have decided to walk to the finish line (drrr... that makes me so mad! FINISH IT!), but I make it, and my PR is intact.
Mile 13.1: New PR: 2:07:28. And I couldn't be happier!
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