After 5 months of training, the time came for the trip to Chicago for the marathon on October 9, 2011. Cathy and I drove to Cincinnati and spent the night with Tiffany before leaving for Chicago early Saturday morning. The first thing we did is visit REI for a little shopping before going to our hotel, the Embassy Suites on N. State St. We went to the Chicago Marathon Expo to pick out packets which included our bib and t-shirt. There was plenty of time to browse around the expo. There were companies selling their running accessories as well as charities introducing their organizations. Tiffany was representing "Girls on the Run" and I was representing the "Alzheimer's Association." We met with our groups at the Expo. We enjoyed lots of people watching. After we left the expo, it was time to go back to the hotel and chill for me but Cathy and Tiffany went out on the town.
Saturday morning....race day!! We were working on Central time, helping us a bit. We were up at 5AM. Race time was 7:30. We got dressed for the race, which included my shirt with names of the donor's loved ones on the back and a picture of the Torch Magazine with Charles Conn's picture on the front and my lucky green Lee University hat. We made sure we had everything we needed before we left for Grant Park, the starting line. We took the subway for a couple of stops and walked over to the park. Lots of people watching here. There were serious runners and others dressed like it Halloween. There was a ballerina running next to a serious runner. Too many outfits for me to describe. We arrived in the 12 minute per mile corral and hung out there for more people watching. The sun was beginning to rise over the lake and the sun hitting the skyline was just incredible. As I sat there waiting on the start, I begin to reflect on the training, the folks who graciously donated to the cause, the significance of running with my youngest daughter and the ones I was running for. Most of all, my father-in-law, Charles Conn. He would have so proud of us!! This reflection prepared me for the beginning of the race. I had only done 20 miles at one time and this was 26.2!! I was ready.
Time was drawing near to the beginning of the race. There were probably 40,000 people in front of us and 5,000 behind us. Just a mass of people waiting for the race. After the National Anthem, it was race time. The elite runners were off and running as we slowly walked like cattle to the slaughter toward the start line. Lots of music like "Eye of the Tiger" and "We Are the Champions" to pump us up. We hit the start line almost 18 minutes after the race began. We were off!!
Without trying to describe all 6 hours of racing through the streets of Chicago, I will hit on the highlights. Our biggest first challenge was to not start off too fast. We knew the the temperatures were going into the mid 70s, which is too warm for this. So, a slow beginning was key to our success. We did a good job of going slow and by the time we hit the halfway point, we knew what we had to do to beat 6 hours. I know....I said I didn't have a time goal but IF I had one, it was to be under 6 hours. They allow 6:30, so I didn't want to be last!!
We were told that 1.7 million people lined the streets cheering for the runners. I believe it. The signs were incredible. Some were as simple as "Go Runners" and many others were specific to a runner friend of theirs. "Go (enter your name)" was nice. Just after the 2 mile marker, I saw "I thought you said 2.62!!" I liked "Worst Parade Ever" and "Someday you wont be able to do this. Today is not that day". I wish it had been possible to take pictures of all the signs. There is no way I can remember all of them but most were very creative. There were a few x-rated signs as well as inspirational signs. It was a big time mix just like the people who were cheering.
There was plenty entertainment along the way. My favorite was Elvis. He had a stage about 10 feet high right on the edge of the road and was one of the best I have ever seen. We also saw Lady Gaga. Members of the Moody Bible Church were lined up cheering as Christian music was playing in the background. This was a Sunday morning and it was nice they were out supporting the runners. Through every ethnic neighborhood, there was entertainment. Chinatown was the best. We saw high school cheerleaders and charity clubs cheering as we ran by. I absolutely loved every bit of it. You could not be bored running this marathon.
Cathy made it to mile marker 14 to cheer us on. All along the way, we saw people connecting with their loved ones. The streets were full almost the whole way. Lots of people stuck their hands out for "giving five" along the way. The children were so cute trying to slap hands all along the way. This was a big event for the spectators. The marathon organizers did a great job with handing out water and Gatorade. There were stations every mile. A couple of stations had wet sponges which came in handy in the heat. All along the way, people sprayed water to help us keep cool. That was appreciated as well.
After the half way point, we knew about what our time would be if we walked the rest of the way, so that helped us stay focused on our time. We started off running 2, walking 1 but at about mile 18, we did more run 1, walk 1. We walked miles 23-25 and then ran the rest of the way. We never hit "the wall" using our strategy. It was the best way for us to complete the marathon, which I said all along was my goal. That last mile was amazing. We had left 6 hours earlier from this spot in Grant Park and now, after 26.2 miles through the city of Chicago, we were back at Grant Park. Lots of people cheering and encouraging us to "keep going" and "you're almost there." What a sense of accomplishment to cross the finish line. I had played this in my mind many times as I trained back on the Big Creek Greenway in Cumming. Every time I played it out in my mind, I was emotional. When I crossed the finish line for real, I wasn't emotional at all. I wanted to rest!! My time was 5:54:14. We got our medals and took advantage of some free stuff before meeting Cathy at the "Girls on the Run" table at the Congress Hotel across from Grant Park. I was feeling light-headed again. This happened to me at the Disney Half Marathon. It is a case of my blood pressure going low after stopping my legs, which was pumping blood. I survived!! I just finished the Chicago Marathon!! A goal I had been working toward since May.
Next stop....Chicago Pizza...then back to the room for rest and the trip home on Monday. What an experience!!
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