Dear RAM Racing,
I have been an active member of the running community in Chicago for just about a decade now. I have done a number of 5 and 10Ks, put on by all sorts of organizations. I have completed 11 half marathons all over the city and beyond, and run in the Chicago Marathon 5 times (finished 3 times).
I love the Bucktown 5K. It's a race that some friends introduced me to, and it's now one that always has a place on my racing calendar. I love that I can drive from the NW suburbs, park at Cumberland, hop on the blue line to Damen, and walk to the store for packet pickup and then straight to the race. It's fabulous. And you do give the best goodie bags in the city, no one's denying that.
But... I do have some issues. First off, you took my favorite race in Illinois (North Shore Half) and... ruined it. I was hesitant about using "ruined." It's such a strong word. But that's what you did. You took what was a "neighborhood" half marathon and destroyed it. We have to take SHUTTLE BUSES to the start line??? You used to be able to park at Target and walk there! Much less hassle. Plus, my bus driver got lost. Luckily I got there early! Sheesh! Then you sold out to Hammer and served HEED grossness. And the finish line? Don't even get me started. Masses of people trying to fit through an itty bitty hole in the fence? I love my flip flops, but they weren't worth waiting for. I didn't even see the food- the line was so long and I was frustrated from trying to get the flip flops. So I hopped on the bus and left. Disaster. Don't worry about me- I'll be at 13.1 Chicago next year.
That's not even my main issue. We need to discuss the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K. I did this race last year, after my mom was handed a card at the Chicago Marathon. I thought, "Oh that sounds like fun! Plus you get a fleece jacket! Score!" I signed up with a friend, and it WAS fun. We drove to the race, got stuck in traffic on Montrose, and amazingly found a parking spot right on the street, less than a half mile from the start. When I read the details for this year's race, I was totally there. Looked the same and everything. So I signed up again. Right now, 3 days before the race, I think it was a mistake.
#1- Stop increasing the participant cap. Just stop it. Not everyone who wants to run the race NEEDS to be able to run it. There's a reason why NYCM, Houston, and Boston are so popular- they are hard to get into, and people covet their entrance. If some lazy bum didn't sign up far enough in advance, TFB! 12,000 people on the lakefront path may not sound like a lot, but it is. Last year (cap: 5,000) I was zooming around really slow people at the end, and it was annoying. I'm dreading Sunday. I wanted to PR, but that's probably out of the question. If you don't have a wave start, that number of people is just ridiculous.
#2- Expo. Since you bill this race as the "perfect post-marathon race," don't you think most people are kind of Expo'd out? I know I am. The LAST thing I want to do on Halloween is schlep over to the UIC Pavilion when the blue line is closed for construction. Thank God for Naperville. (Although I did wait for OVER AN HOUR in that crazy line.)
#3- PARKING. What a pain in the rear. As I understand it, you were allowed to park in the Montrose Harbor lot last year. And all of the other lots, for that matter. And they are huge. So as of right now I can a) take public transportation, b) ride my bicycle, or c) park at LP Zoo or Navy Pier for the regular rate and be shuttle bused over to the site? No thank you. But then again, I could have another travel advisory email in my inbox as we speak.
I understand that you're in it to make money. I get it, honestly I do. But take a page out of Fleet Feet's book- at least finalize your plans months in advance and act like you care about the runners in the race. Finally, I'm going to give you a piece of advice someone once told me... if you have a good experience, maybe you tell 2 or 3 people. But when you have a bad experience, you tell 10+ people. Well I'm telling the Internet... take that whichever way you choose.
I'll be there on Sunday, because I already paid and picked up my packet. But I won't be back. Goodbye Hot Chocolate 15K, you will be missed.
Respectfully,
Maureen
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
I Finally Have a Plan! A 2010 Race Calendar
Not only do I have a plan, but I had some time to sit down and think about training programs, and race focus, etc. I even came up with some goals!
2010 Goals:
-Run 10 half marathons
-Run 2 full marathons
-Log 1010 miles
-Break 1:45 in the half marathon
-Break 4:15 in the full marathon
-Set new 5 & 10K PRs
-Register for the 2011 Goofy Challenge
2010 Races:
1.23.2010 - InStep Icebreaker Indoor Half Marathon (Milwaukee, WI) - I already registered for this race. Never done an indoor one, so it might be kind of fun. Plus, I need some kind of motivator to get me through the long Chicago winters! Should be fun for the bf and the parentals to watch.
4.11.2010 - GO! St Louis Half Marathon (St Louis, MO) - Knocking another state off the list! I've never actually been to St Louis, so it'll be a fun weekend getaway. At first I wanted to do the full here, but then I remembered- I don't like to run super-long distances on the treadmill!
5.1.2010 - Wisconsin Marathon (Kenosha, WI) - I did the half in this race last year, and really have a lot of good things to say about it. Fast, flat course. I feel like the race directors actually read the surveys, and actually care about the participants. And of course, who doesn't like post-race beer and brats?!
5.16.2010 - Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I looked into this race last year, but decided on the Soldier Field 10 Mile instead. I keep seeing the tech shirts EVERYWHERE and they are awesome! Definitely thinking about this one... (especially since the price is right!)
6.13.2010 - 13.1 Chicago (Chicago, IL) - I was trying to decide between this one and the North Shore Half. It came down to: 1) I've done the NS Half 3 times before, 2) 13.1 Chicago serves Gatorade and not HEED, and 3) I obtained a coupon code for 13.1 Chicago at the marathon expo and saved a bunch of money. SOLD!
July 2010 - Frontier Days Stampede Run 10K (Arlington Heights, IL) - My hometown race was a pleasant surprise last year. It's cheap (because it's not timed), but you get a lot for your money. I'm expecting hot weather, but that's ok. I loved this race and will do it again and again.
July 2010 - Fleet Feet Women's Festival 10K (Chicago, IL) - Another race I had a lot of fun doing. It was a little crowded at the start, but otherwise it was a great race. I LOVE the shirts they gave away, and will do the race again basically for that reason.
8.1.2010 - Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - Definitely one of the best races I did last year. I can't say enough good things about it. And I was one of the first people to register for it! Soo exciting!
9.6.2010 - Oak Brook Half Marathon (Oak Brook, IL) - I loved the change of scenery and the trails we ran on. I set a PR on this hilly course, which was just crazy! But I loved it and can't wait to go back. (Of course, if I can convince the bf to go to Virginia Beach, we'll be going there instead!)
9.12.2010 - Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I got a half price entry, plus this is the course that owns my PR! How can I not go back there and challenge it?!
10.3.2010 - Bucktown 5K (Chicago, IL) - A pre-marathon favorite, it's the only 5K that I actually like to do. (Pretty much because the goody bags always ROCK!)
10.10.2010 - Chicago Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I had such a blast doing Chicago this past year. Maybe because I trained for it, maybe because I have a ton more race experience now, but I loved every part of it. I wasn't going to do it in 2010, but I couldn't resist a race close to home on 10.10.10. A lot of people that I've met on RW are targeting Chicago for next year, and I would love to run it with them as teammates. When registration opens on 2/1, I'll be ready and waiting!
10.31.2010 - Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC) - I got a guaranteed entry into this race at the Chicago Marathon expo, and signed up right away. I am SO excited, and it's over a year away. I've never been to DC before, so this is definitely one of the most exciting things I will do next year. I can't wait to pass all of the sites! It's going to be so hard for me to save my vacation time for a whole year, but it'll totally be worth it.
I'll definitely do at least another half in November or December, just haven't picked one out yet. Might be RnR San Antonio, since the bf has never been there but always wanted to go.
2010 Goals:
-Run 10 half marathons
-Run 2 full marathons
-Log 1010 miles
-Break 1:45 in the half marathon
-Break 4:15 in the full marathon
-Set new 5 & 10K PRs
-Register for the 2011 Goofy Challenge
2010 Races:
1.23.2010 - InStep Icebreaker Indoor Half Marathon (Milwaukee, WI) - I already registered for this race. Never done an indoor one, so it might be kind of fun. Plus, I need some kind of motivator to get me through the long Chicago winters! Should be fun for the bf and the parentals to watch.
4.11.2010 - GO! St Louis Half Marathon (St Louis, MO) - Knocking another state off the list! I've never actually been to St Louis, so it'll be a fun weekend getaway. At first I wanted to do the full here, but then I remembered- I don't like to run super-long distances on the treadmill!
5.1.2010 - Wisconsin Marathon (Kenosha, WI) - I did the half in this race last year, and really have a lot of good things to say about it. Fast, flat course. I feel like the race directors actually read the surveys, and actually care about the participants. And of course, who doesn't like post-race beer and brats?!
5.16.2010 - Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I looked into this race last year, but decided on the Soldier Field 10 Mile instead. I keep seeing the tech shirts EVERYWHERE and they are awesome! Definitely thinking about this one... (especially since the price is right!)
6.13.2010 - 13.1 Chicago (Chicago, IL) - I was trying to decide between this one and the North Shore Half. It came down to: 1) I've done the NS Half 3 times before, 2) 13.1 Chicago serves Gatorade and not HEED, and 3) I obtained a coupon code for 13.1 Chicago at the marathon expo and saved a bunch of money. SOLD!
July 2010 - Frontier Days Stampede Run 10K (Arlington Heights, IL) - My hometown race was a pleasant surprise last year. It's cheap (because it's not timed), but you get a lot for your money. I'm expecting hot weather, but that's ok. I loved this race and will do it again and again.
July 2010 - Fleet Feet Women's Festival 10K (Chicago, IL) - Another race I had a lot of fun doing. It was a little crowded at the start, but otherwise it was a great race. I LOVE the shirts they gave away, and will do the race again basically for that reason.
8.1.2010 - Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - Definitely one of the best races I did last year. I can't say enough good things about it. And I was one of the first people to register for it! Soo exciting!
9.6.2010 - Oak Brook Half Marathon (Oak Brook, IL) - I loved the change of scenery and the trails we ran on. I set a PR on this hilly course, which was just crazy! But I loved it and can't wait to go back. (Of course, if I can convince the bf to go to Virginia Beach, we'll be going there instead!)
9.12.2010 - Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I got a half price entry, plus this is the course that owns my PR! How can I not go back there and challenge it?!
10.3.2010 - Bucktown 5K (Chicago, IL) - A pre-marathon favorite, it's the only 5K that I actually like to do. (Pretty much because the goody bags always ROCK!)
10.10.2010 - Chicago Marathon (Chicago, IL) - I had such a blast doing Chicago this past year. Maybe because I trained for it, maybe because I have a ton more race experience now, but I loved every part of it. I wasn't going to do it in 2010, but I couldn't resist a race close to home on 10.10.10. A lot of people that I've met on RW are targeting Chicago for next year, and I would love to run it with them as teammates. When registration opens on 2/1, I'll be ready and waiting!
10.31.2010 - Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC) - I got a guaranteed entry into this race at the Chicago Marathon expo, and signed up right away. I am SO excited, and it's over a year away. I've never been to DC before, so this is definitely one of the most exciting things I will do next year. I can't wait to pass all of the sites! It's going to be so hard for me to save my vacation time for a whole year, but it'll totally be worth it.
I'll definitely do at least another half in November or December, just haven't picked one out yet. Might be RnR San Antonio, since the bf has never been there but always wanted to go.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
I'm Better Than Oprah - Chicago Marathon RR (long one)
Well, I did it. It was so tough- easily one of the hardest races I have ever run. But I didn't quit, and I crossed the finish line with a runner's high that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, I did have to go back to work on Monday morning. LOTS of stretching and walking to break up the day a little bit- I am still a little bit stiff from the race!
I gave a lot of thought to my pre-race carbo dinner, and in the end I decided on pizza and beer. Lots of carbs, and the alcohol helped tremendously to calm the nerves. I went to my favorite thin crust pizza joint (Moretti's), and it was HEAVEN! Perfect meal. Before the race, I ate 3 Eggo waffles and washed it down with lemon lime Gatorade. Standard long run fuel for me.
We took public transportation to the race and arrived at about 7am. I immediately got into the start corral and hung out with the bf, who was on the other side of the fence. For the race, I decided to wear a blue long-sleeved Saucony shirt with long sports bra top underneath. At the last minute I decided on my bright yellow Hawaiian shorts. The shorts have seen better days, but they got me through the hills in Little Rock! I needed them! I also had throwaway gloves and a headband (which I ended up wearing the entire time) and a bright pink Under Armour cap. I was ready to rock.
Mile 1: I started about 10 minutes after the elites did. It was a long, slow walk to the start line that did nothing to calm my nerves. My stomach was doing somersaults. Once I started running I felt much better. I started slow but not too slow. My legs were rested and I felt fantastic.
Mile 2: The crowd support on this area of the course is fantastic! So far, we have crossed the Chicago River twice, and just seeing the people on the bridge going nuts for us is so much fun. Going down State St, passing the Chicago Theatre and Macy's. We turn just before my favorite building in the entire city- the Harold Washington Library. It's a big red building with huge iron gargoyles at the top. I LOVE it!
Mile 3: I'm running down LaSalle, passing the State of Illinois Building, when this guy runs by me and says, "Nice shorts! Too bad you didn't bring warm weather." I reply, "It's the power of positive thinking."
A note about the shorts: When I ran my first Chicago Marathon in 2003, I wore black shorts and an orange singlet, no hat. I did the same thing the following year, except my shirt was red. My dad was so frustrated at having missed me at several points on the course that he bought me bright yellow, multi-colored, obnoxious Hawaiian shorts for 2005. This is the first time the shorts have finished the full marathon.
Mile 4: My time for the 5K was a little slower than I would have liked (sorry Runopolis!), but I was still running the race the way I wanted to. One of my affirmations on the day- Run YOUR Race! Passed by Rock n Roll McDonalds and could practically taste the Chicken McNuggets. Sigh.
Mile 5: Still doing great, but oh God, I have never seen THIS many people run into the park to pee. And they clearly have no shame. That is one part of my running where I am kind of a wuss- I usually plan my running routes so that I am within a mile or two of my house in case the need arises. No bushes for this gal!
Mile 6: We've passed by the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of my other favorite places in the city. And let me tell you, that breeze off the lake is brutal. I'm freezing and I'm going to have windburn. A small price to pay!
Mile 7: Running right alongside Lake Shore Drive is awesome! There are tons of people out on the course cheering for us and holding up signs. My personal favorite is a giant cutout of Zac Efron wearing last year's bib number and medal. Why, I have no clue, but it's amusing all the same.
Mile 8: Still running a fast pace, but confident in my ability to maintain it. It's time for Boys Town, and the male cheerleaders and other characters who line the course. I can't help but smile as I take some Gatorade from a volunteer.
Mile 9: I thought about my mom and dad, who couldn't be at the race, as they are out of town. I am cruising down Clark Street, and I pass the place where they met. They met at a bar called Friar Tuck's (which is now a gay bar) on St Patrick's Day, and have been married for 35 years. I hope I have a good race report to pass along!
Mile 10: I am still feeling tremendous, and well on my way to a 2:10 half. I wanted to be pretty consistent and run 2 2:15 halfs, but I have gone out a little too fast and will definitely be right around 2:10. But I feel great, (the Elvis impersonator might have something to do with that!) so I'm going to go with it!
Mile 11, 12, 13: Back into downtown, and the cheers coming from people on the streets are awesome. Not awesome: crowd control. I've never had so many spectators try to run in front of me. It's HORRIBLE! I get to the halfway point at around 2:06, and I still feel great.
Mile 14: I GOT TRIPPED! Luckily I didn't fall down, but it was enough to knock the wind out of me and scare me half to death. And it happened right at the aid station where I had to drop out in 2005. My eyes fill with tears, but I shake it off. KEEP GOING, I tell myself.
Mile 15: We pass the United Center, and I am reminded of the AWESOME game by the Blackhawks on Saturday night. I had to stay up past my bedtime to ensure their victory! Damn it is cold out here!
Mile 16: My head is starting to break down. It keeps telling me that I can't do it, that I should just stop now. I'm tired and my feet hurt. But I push the voice aside and keep going. I see the bf and give him a HUGE hug. He asks, "Do you need anything?" I reply, "A ride home." This wasn't even the lowest point.
Mile 17, 18: Turns out all I needed was some FOOD! I inhaled a PowerGel (tangerine, yum!) while walking through the aid station. My body hurts, but it's single digits from here on out. I glance at my right wrist, where "I WILL FINISH" was written this morning. It's faded, but the message remains. I keep going.
Mile 19, 20, 21: I start to take it one mile at a time. "Just make it to 19," "Just make it to 20," "Just make it to 21." And you know what, I do. Although the universe didn't want me to, as I slipped on a banana peel at one of the aid stations and nearly broke my neck. I looked like a cartoon!
Mile 22: Longest mile of the day. I needed to make a pit stop at the aid station. It worked wonders, as I'm back to my old self and ready to rock!
Mile 23: I can see US Cellular Field, a jumbotron, and a crowd of people. I cannot feel my right baby toe. Uh oh. I keep moving, and then I feel a squish. Oh man... it would appear that a blister I didn't even know I had just popped. I should get it checked out, but I won't. If I stop, I won't start again. So I keep going.
Mile 24, 25: We're onto Michigan Ave now, and beautiful downtown Chicago looms in the distance. I stop at the next aid station and wolf down my gel. A man on the loudspeaker says, "Chicago is proud of you! You have 2.2 to go!" I delve into my old training mantra, which is, "You can do anything for 2.2 miles." And so I speed up. I count the blocks to pass the time. They seem to be whizzing by. I'm passing people left and right, for some of the fastest miles of the day. My quads are shot, but I am actually going to do this.
Mile 26: The crowd is unbelievable. I feel motivation from everywhere. I turn the corner onto Roosevelt, see Soldier Field, and really, that hill doesn't seem like anything. At this point, I will do anything. Like my About Me used to say, I will finish, even if I have to crawl.
Mile 26.2: I turn into Grant Park and see the finish line. I break into a sprint, desperate to beat 4:30. I cross the finish line, elated. Tired, with tears of joy welling up in my eyes. I did it. Final time: 4:28:09.
Thank you for reading... I hope you enjoyed reading about the race as much as I enjoyed running it. I love Chicago, but I am ready for a new destination. Next challenge: beat P. Diddy!
I gave a lot of thought to my pre-race carbo dinner, and in the end I decided on pizza and beer. Lots of carbs, and the alcohol helped tremendously to calm the nerves. I went to my favorite thin crust pizza joint (Moretti's), and it was HEAVEN! Perfect meal. Before the race, I ate 3 Eggo waffles and washed it down with lemon lime Gatorade. Standard long run fuel for me.
We took public transportation to the race and arrived at about 7am. I immediately got into the start corral and hung out with the bf, who was on the other side of the fence. For the race, I decided to wear a blue long-sleeved Saucony shirt with long sports bra top underneath. At the last minute I decided on my bright yellow Hawaiian shorts. The shorts have seen better days, but they got me through the hills in Little Rock! I needed them! I also had throwaway gloves and a headband (which I ended up wearing the entire time) and a bright pink Under Armour cap. I was ready to rock.
Mile 1: I started about 10 minutes after the elites did. It was a long, slow walk to the start line that did nothing to calm my nerves. My stomach was doing somersaults. Once I started running I felt much better. I started slow but not too slow. My legs were rested and I felt fantastic.
Mile 2: The crowd support on this area of the course is fantastic! So far, we have crossed the Chicago River twice, and just seeing the people on the bridge going nuts for us is so much fun. Going down State St, passing the Chicago Theatre and Macy's. We turn just before my favorite building in the entire city- the Harold Washington Library. It's a big red building with huge iron gargoyles at the top. I LOVE it!
Mile 3: I'm running down LaSalle, passing the State of Illinois Building, when this guy runs by me and says, "Nice shorts! Too bad you didn't bring warm weather." I reply, "It's the power of positive thinking."
A note about the shorts: When I ran my first Chicago Marathon in 2003, I wore black shorts and an orange singlet, no hat. I did the same thing the following year, except my shirt was red. My dad was so frustrated at having missed me at several points on the course that he bought me bright yellow, multi-colored, obnoxious Hawaiian shorts for 2005. This is the first time the shorts have finished the full marathon.
Mile 4: My time for the 5K was a little slower than I would have liked (sorry Runopolis!), but I was still running the race the way I wanted to. One of my affirmations on the day- Run YOUR Race! Passed by Rock n Roll McDonalds and could practically taste the Chicken McNuggets. Sigh.
Mile 5: Still doing great, but oh God, I have never seen THIS many people run into the park to pee. And they clearly have no shame. That is one part of my running where I am kind of a wuss- I usually plan my running routes so that I am within a mile or two of my house in case the need arises. No bushes for this gal!
Mile 6: We've passed by the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of my other favorite places in the city. And let me tell you, that breeze off the lake is brutal. I'm freezing and I'm going to have windburn. A small price to pay!
Mile 7: Running right alongside Lake Shore Drive is awesome! There are tons of people out on the course cheering for us and holding up signs. My personal favorite is a giant cutout of Zac Efron wearing last year's bib number and medal. Why, I have no clue, but it's amusing all the same.
Mile 8: Still running a fast pace, but confident in my ability to maintain it. It's time for Boys Town, and the male cheerleaders and other characters who line the course. I can't help but smile as I take some Gatorade from a volunteer.
Mile 9: I thought about my mom and dad, who couldn't be at the race, as they are out of town. I am cruising down Clark Street, and I pass the place where they met. They met at a bar called Friar Tuck's (which is now a gay bar) on St Patrick's Day, and have been married for 35 years. I hope I have a good race report to pass along!
Mile 10: I am still feeling tremendous, and well on my way to a 2:10 half. I wanted to be pretty consistent and run 2 2:15 halfs, but I have gone out a little too fast and will definitely be right around 2:10. But I feel great, (the Elvis impersonator might have something to do with that!) so I'm going to go with it!
Mile 11, 12, 13: Back into downtown, and the cheers coming from people on the streets are awesome. Not awesome: crowd control. I've never had so many spectators try to run in front of me. It's HORRIBLE! I get to the halfway point at around 2:06, and I still feel great.
Mile 14: I GOT TRIPPED! Luckily I didn't fall down, but it was enough to knock the wind out of me and scare me half to death. And it happened right at the aid station where I had to drop out in 2005. My eyes fill with tears, but I shake it off. KEEP GOING, I tell myself.
Mile 15: We pass the United Center, and I am reminded of the AWESOME game by the Blackhawks on Saturday night. I had to stay up past my bedtime to ensure their victory! Damn it is cold out here!
Mile 16: My head is starting to break down. It keeps telling me that I can't do it, that I should just stop now. I'm tired and my feet hurt. But I push the voice aside and keep going. I see the bf and give him a HUGE hug. He asks, "Do you need anything?" I reply, "A ride home." This wasn't even the lowest point.
Mile 17, 18: Turns out all I needed was some FOOD! I inhaled a PowerGel (tangerine, yum!) while walking through the aid station. My body hurts, but it's single digits from here on out. I glance at my right wrist, where "I WILL FINISH" was written this morning. It's faded, but the message remains. I keep going.
Mile 19, 20, 21: I start to take it one mile at a time. "Just make it to 19," "Just make it to 20," "Just make it to 21." And you know what, I do. Although the universe didn't want me to, as I slipped on a banana peel at one of the aid stations and nearly broke my neck. I looked like a cartoon!
Mile 22: Longest mile of the day. I needed to make a pit stop at the aid station. It worked wonders, as I'm back to my old self and ready to rock!
Mile 23: I can see US Cellular Field, a jumbotron, and a crowd of people. I cannot feel my right baby toe. Uh oh. I keep moving, and then I feel a squish. Oh man... it would appear that a blister I didn't even know I had just popped. I should get it checked out, but I won't. If I stop, I won't start again. So I keep going.
Mile 24, 25: We're onto Michigan Ave now, and beautiful downtown Chicago looms in the distance. I stop at the next aid station and wolf down my gel. A man on the loudspeaker says, "Chicago is proud of you! You have 2.2 to go!" I delve into my old training mantra, which is, "You can do anything for 2.2 miles." And so I speed up. I count the blocks to pass the time. They seem to be whizzing by. I'm passing people left and right, for some of the fastest miles of the day. My quads are shot, but I am actually going to do this.
Mile 26: The crowd is unbelievable. I feel motivation from everywhere. I turn the corner onto Roosevelt, see Soldier Field, and really, that hill doesn't seem like anything. At this point, I will do anything. Like my About Me used to say, I will finish, even if I have to crawl.
Mile 26.2: I turn into Grant Park and see the finish line. I break into a sprint, desperate to beat 4:30. I cross the finish line, elated. Tired, with tears of joy welling up in my eyes. I did it. Final time: 4:28:09.
Thank you for reading... I hope you enjoyed reading about the race as much as I enjoyed running it. I love Chicago, but I am ready for a new destination. Next challenge: beat P. Diddy!
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