Chicago Marathon Report
(Since blogger is being weird, pictures are linked in red, sorry its so long)
Wells kids, I can officially say that I have completed a marathon. Sunday, the alarm went off at 5:45am and for once I didn't hit snooze. I actually got up and was ready to go. I did dread putting on the purple singlet, because I hate the color purple because it is the K-State. But trust me, I will never think of the color purple in the same way again after today's race. I actually really wasn't nervous but was more excited to actually get the whole event over with. We got to grant park and it was pretty freakin cold outside. Thank god i layered. But it was all pretty exciting. We finally made our way to the start line and we ended up lining up with the 5 hour pace group. Even though i said i wasn't going to, I lined up with barb. See, we tended to fight about our pace a little to much. I just didn't want to be bored waiting to cross. It ended up taken us 18 minutes to cross the start line and I was so freakin glad to start, especially since i was stupid enough to rip off my tear away pants while waiting. I was so freakin cold. Once i finally did see the start line I turned to barb and asked her, "What is the success rate of people who trained with TNT to actually finish the race?" She laughed and we went on our way.
After the first half mile barb gave me a big kiss and sent me on my way. I was pretty excited. The miles in the loop went really well. I thought I was keeping a consistent pace, and I just kept saying to myself "don't get swept, don't get swept." Shortly i decided, all that training is going to be over soon so why not soak as much of the excitement in. So I did. I got to see the city in a much different life. At Lasalle and Superior, I ran into my in-laws all decked out with signs and screaming for everyone running by. That really felt awesome, and all i could think about was how amazing of in-laws I have and how lucky i am. Next, I ran into Angie, one of barbs co-workers, who gave us matching his/hers gloves for the race. It was funny because at the point I really needed to see someone. Angie, let me just say, I love the gloves and you rock. Let me just say, I hate it while running when I can see a much further mile marker. Once I was passing North and Lasalle, almost to mile 5, I looked to the left and saw mile 10.5. I was more than a little pissed.
One thing, I did do a lot of before the race was hydrate myself and that lead to a lot of problems later. See like many of you know, when you drink a lot, its gotta come out. I had to go since I started the race. But I didn't want to wait at the porta-potties, so when I got to Stockton drive where are big park was, I had the same idea like many others to use the trees. It was an experience. At one point there was me at one tree and 2 women on both sides of me. A little weird but very interesting that people just don't care.
It was funny watching the spectators freeze there butts off while I was overheating. But they were all troopers for coming out there. Around mile 7 and 8, especially while turning onto Addison, the wind got really freakin bad. It also was getting a little misty outside. But that all really didn't matter anymore when I got into boystown which was really freakin funny. The spectators out there really raise the confidence level up to a whole other level. I had a blast over there. That is where I started running with one of my fellow TNT members Sean, who throughout the season was having the same IT band problems. We ran for a little bit together, but he ended up falling back a little. He ended up kicking some ass.
All was going amazing with the race for the first 11.5 miles. My body felt great, I was very infident, and I was running the whole thing, except for water stops which I walked. I ran into a bunch of KU fans, and I really enjoyed running in the old hood (Old town). But at about mile 11.3, I felt my IT band. So I stopped and stretched, and that honestly made it feel worse. Luckily, at Wells and Superior, my in-laws were stationed. I definitely needed to see a familiar face at this point. I saw them, and they started cheering, and I hobbled up to them in great demand for the biofreeze and tylenol. Since, it was so cold and now that my gloves had a lot of biofreeze on them, I had to tear the package open with my teeth. But it was worth it. Like I said, my in-laws are the best and I am very lucky.
Picture 1
After the first half mile barb gave me a big kiss and sent me on my way. I was pretty excited. The miles in the loop went really well. I thought I was keeping a consistent pace, and I just kept saying to myself "don't get swept, don't get swept." Shortly i decided, all that training is going to be over soon so why not soak as much of the excitement in. So I did. I got to see the city in a much different life. At Lasalle and Superior, I ran into my in-laws all decked out with signs and screaming for everyone running by. That really felt awesome, and all i could think about was how amazing of in-laws I have and how lucky i am. Next, I ran into Angie, one of barbs co-workers, who gave us matching his/hers gloves for the race. It was funny because at the point I really needed to see someone. Angie, let me just say, I love the gloves and you rock. Let me just say, I hate it while running when I can see a much further mile marker. Once I was passing North and Lasalle, almost to mile 5, I looked to the left and saw mile 10.5. I was more than a little pissed.
One thing, I did do a lot of before the race was hydrate myself and that lead to a lot of problems later. See like many of you know, when you drink a lot, its gotta come out. I had to go since I started the race. But I didn't want to wait at the porta-potties, so when I got to Stockton drive where are big park was, I had the same idea like many others to use the trees. It was an experience. At one point there was me at one tree and 2 women on both sides of me. A little weird but very interesting that people just don't care.
It was funny watching the spectators freeze there butts off while I was overheating. But they were all troopers for coming out there. Around mile 7 and 8, especially while turning onto Addison, the wind got really freakin bad. It also was getting a little misty outside. But that all really didn't matter anymore when I got into boystown which was really freakin funny. The spectators out there really raise the confidence level up to a whole other level. I had a blast over there. That is where I started running with one of my fellow TNT members Sean, who throughout the season was having the same IT band problems. We ran for a little bit together, but he ended up falling back a little. He ended up kicking some ass.
All was going amazing with the race for the first 11.5 miles. My body felt great, I was very infident, and I was running the whole thing, except for water stops which I walked. I ran into a bunch of KU fans, and I really enjoyed running in the old hood (Old town). But at about mile 11.3, I felt my IT band. So I stopped and stretched, and that honestly made it feel worse. Luckily, at Wells and Superior, my in-laws were stationed. I definitely needed to see a familiar face at this point. I saw them, and they started cheering, and I hobbled up to them in great demand for the biofreeze and tylenol. Since, it was so cold and now that my gloves had a lot of biofreeze on them, I had to tear the package open with my teeth. But it was worth it. Like I said, my in-laws are the best and I am very lucky.
Picture 1
Once, I left them, I bucked it up and went forward. I continued to run in the middle of the road and after a while I really didn't feel the pain anymore. At this point, my times started to slowly increase. Mile 15 started the trouble with my right it band/ knee. I started feeling it slowly coming on, so I started to take it easy and scarf down a bag of sport beans. Once, I got to mile 16, I stopped at the porta-potties behind a woman who was getting pissed about this other guy taking so long. So I thought she would be fast. Well, Oh no she wasn't. It seemed like she took forever. By this time, I was pretty down on myself. My times were slipping, and my legs were getting worse. All was going pretty down hill until I saw my friend Chris at the corner of halsted and Harrison waiting for me. Oh shit, she was definitely needed. She jumped in with me and ran/ walked with me for awhile. She got my mind off how many miles I had left and got me really pumped to continue. At one point we ran by a guy who was giving away shots of tequila. Thank god she convinced me not to. That's what a life long friend is made of. She really kicks some major ass. She ran with me for a little less than a mile, and then I sent her back to go find barb. THANKS CHRIS!!!.
Even though, my splits don't really show it, that's when things started to get so much better. The spectators in the Pilsen area, miles 19 & 20 were amazing. I loved how they all come out in support of the runners, and how many of them were playing music, singing, dancing, etc. This area was really freakin cool. But one of the things that has helped me get through this was seeing some familiar faces. I was so excited and pumped to ran into dawn working a water station. That quick encounter, made a world of difference. The whole Pilsen area helped keep my spirits high, when my body started to slowly breakdown.
The 21 mile marker had a sign that said the final five. I was really excited but getting really tired. Luckily a little after that I heard a lady scream, Mike come here, so I did and she handed me a a little debbie devil square cakes. She told me to eat it all, and kick some ass. Those little cakes were amazing. Those little cakes took me all the way to my in-laws who went way beyond and Taylor. I quickly sprayed my legs down with biofreeze and went on my way. Since, I did begin to struggle a lot, Taylor ran/ walked with me for awhile. Honestly, i was in pretty bad shape. We talked, she cheered, she told people to "cheer for mike", "go mike". It was awesome. Holy shit, I owe this girl big time. This lady was a rock star. She had the energy of 10 kids on crack. It was great. What an amazing friend.
Picture 3
Picture 5
Sadly, I wanted to keep her longer, but I sent her back to find barb. THANK YOU TA!!!!!!!
The worst part of the last couple miles, were the mile markers that said Final 5. At mile 22, I got really confused because it said final 5, but i thought I had only 4 left. I tried counting on my fingers, but that really didn't work out to well, because at this point addition/ subtraction was not my strong suite. This same problem ended up happening at every single mile marker that said final five. I thought I kept going back to mile 21, which really pissed me off. Why the hell would you put final five on every single sign. At one point, I even asked the people running near me, and they were as confused as I was.
Well, the last final 4 miles ended up going pretty slow and all started to run together. Once I got to Michigan Ave., my left foot started killing me. That street was way to freakin long. But I realized that it will all be over soon and that I had almost actually done it. Once I got to the final mile, at the best speed I could, I bit my lip and just tried to enjoy myself. Which I did, and I enjoyed the final mile. Even though getting up the hill on Roosevelt really sucked on my body, it mentally was amazing. And that last final turn onto Columbus rocked. I tried to raise my arms in victory but I really couldn't because they hurt to much. But I crossed the finish line at 5:36:07 which is 5:16:57 since I crossed the start. I had actually finished the chicago marathon. 22 weeks of training and its done.
More to come about after the finish line soon. It will actually be funny this time, not like this post.
Sadly, I wanted to keep her longer, but I sent her back to find barb. THANK YOU TA!!!!!!!
The worst part of the last couple miles, were the mile markers that said Final 5. At mile 22, I got really confused because it said final 5, but i thought I had only 4 left. I tried counting on my fingers, but that really didn't work out to well, because at this point addition/ subtraction was not my strong suite. This same problem ended up happening at every single mile marker that said final five. I thought I kept going back to mile 21, which really pissed me off. Why the hell would you put final five on every single sign. At one point, I even asked the people running near me, and they were as confused as I was.
Well, the last final 4 miles ended up going pretty slow and all started to run together. Once I got to Michigan Ave., my left foot started killing me. That street was way to freakin long. But I realized that it will all be over soon and that I had almost actually done it. Once I got to the final mile, at the best speed I could, I bit my lip and just tried to enjoy myself. Which I did, and I enjoyed the final mile. Even though getting up the hill on Roosevelt really sucked on my body, it mentally was amazing. And that last final turn onto Columbus rocked. I tried to raise my arms in victory but I really couldn't because they hurt to much. But I crossed the finish line at 5:36:07 which is 5:16:57 since I crossed the start. I had actually finished the chicago marathon. 22 weeks of training and its done.
More to come about after the finish line soon. It will actually be funny this time, not like this post.
My Splits
Mile 1: 10:50
Mile 2: 11:33
Mile 3: 10:20
Mile 4: 10:22
Mile 5: 9:53
Mile 6: 10:59
Mile 7: 10:30
Mile 8: 10:19
Mile 9: 10:53
Mile 10: 10:04
Mile 11: 10:39
Mile 12: 13:31
Mile 13- 10:39
Mile 14- 11:27
Mile 15- 11:40
Mile 16- 15:49
Mile 17- 11:55
Mile 18- 12:20
Mile 19- 12:10
Mile 20- 12:21
Mile 21- 12:22
Mile 22- 13:39
Mile 23- 12:34
Mile 24- 13:21
Mile 25- 14:06
Mile 26.2- 13:31
Mile 1: 10:50
Mile 2: 11:33
Mile 3: 10:20
Mile 4: 10:22
Mile 5: 9:53
Mile 6: 10:59
Mile 7: 10:30
Mile 8: 10:19
Mile 9: 10:53
Mile 10: 10:04
Mile 11: 10:39
Mile 12: 13:31
Mile 13- 10:39
Mile 14- 11:27
Mile 15- 11:40
Mile 16- 15:49
Mile 17- 11:55
Mile 18- 12:20
Mile 19- 12:10
Mile 20- 12:21
Mile 21- 12:22
Mile 22- 13:39
Mile 23- 12:34
Mile 24- 13:21
Mile 25- 14:06
Mile 26.2- 13:31
posted by Theoutofshapeguy at 4:11 PM
14 Comments:
NIce job on the run.
Great job. Way to keep going despite the struggles. It's hard to keep moving when your body is screaming at you to stop. You did awesome and you should be very proud!
GREAT job!!! We're so proud of you!!!!
I'm the same way - I can NOT do math during long runs. I would have had to tear down some of those Final Five signs!!!!
It was great talking to you Sunday! Congrats again!
awesome report dude AND i thought the same thing about the 'Final 5'
Mike that sounds like one gutsy performance, congrats marathoner.
Congratulations! And those "Final Five" signs sound absolutely evil. People aren't in a state to think at the end of a marathon, so don't make them! Evil, evil bitches.
Wow, what a great race report! I was on the edge of my seat (OK, not so much seat as recovery bed) reading your story. Your account more than any other makes me feel like we experienced the exact same race.
Yeah, Pilsen was the best.
Yeah, those "final 5" signs were just wrong. But I was so disoriented that I just assumed I was imagining them.
Next year I'll bet we're each going to take an hour off our time!
Nice job, and I love the photos! Can't wait for the next finish line installment!
Go Team! Nice job on finishing what you started. You are a Marathoner.
great report, love the pics!
You guys were so much fun! Can't wait to visit you again.
WOW! You sped through mile 5. Awesome job!!
Good job!!! Yeah, those final 5 signs pissed me off too! :-)
nice job! Great meeting you afterwards!
Fabulous Job!!!
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