Chicago Marathon

Sunday 10/12 5:45 am -The team meets coach in the lobby of the Swiss Hotel in Chicago. We are all super excited to start the race. He lets us know that it is already hot. He also tells us that this is not the day to run fortime because the course conditions will be too hot. Says we should just concentrate on finishing the race. None of us seem too discouraged-though I know at least a couple of people who have planned times. Personally, I am thinking that it will still be possible to do a sub five if I stick to my plan-which I have been thinking about for weeks. The reason I think I can stick to my plan is because the times for my splits are pretty long compared to my training runs. Little do I know, the marathon gods are laughing at me, and once again coach Al is right. Coach Al leads the team cheer, shout outs, a moment of silence and at about 6:05 am, we leave the lobby.
~6 am-8:25 am - We are all off to the TNT charity tent and then to the start line. We are all dressed in shorts/tnt tanks-. Even though it is dark-it is warm and we don't need jackets or arm warmers. The start area is about 1/2 mile from the hotel. When we arrive, there are few people there, except for the volunteers who are sleeping on the pavement. It's me, Tim, Roseanne, Sam, Ken, Yvette and Sam representing the East Bay. We pass the corral, head to the TNT tent, mingle, get our photos taken... head back to the start line. By the time we line up in the start line, it is around 7 am. We all notice a guy (we think it is a guy) dressed as a banana and hope that he doesn't beat us. We sing happy bday to two runners nears us, who are running their first marathons on their birthdays. Somehow, time passes fairly quickly and the line moves, and the start happens. I never saw the banana again, but don't know if I beat him or not :0)
Start of Chicago Marathon 2008!
Seriously! It is a blur. I lined up in the 11:00 corral. Sam and Yvette took off ahead of me and by the time we crossed the first bridge, I could not see them or the banana any more. I tried to concentrate on running 12 minute miles. There was a water/gatorade stop at every mile and from the first one until the last, I took one H2O and dumped it on my head and drank one each of water.gatorade. Basically, it was hot then, but not too bad. And of course, I was feeling well. I hit the bathrooms twice before the halfway point. Boystown was mile 8 and it was great-cheerleaders-peppy music. I was doing fine, but worried about the heat in the back of my mind. The crowds were just wonderful and there was plenty of cheering and a great atmosphere.
Mile 7 -Coach Al is cheering on the sideline. I run over and give him a big hug and he tells me to get off the canted surface and run in the middle of the road. I love him!
13.1-I was on pace for a sub 5 marathon. I was also thinking-"I don't think I am going to get any faster in this heat, so I was prepared to do a 5:15. I was still dumping water on my head, giving an occasional high five to the crowd, and feeling all right.
At some point between 13 and 14 miles, the race announced that the alert level was high due to heat and that runners needed to slow down accordingly. I was thinking that I was hot, but that I still felt ok at the pace I was going, which was around a 12.
14-20- Sam and I ran together between approximately this mile and mile 20. We ran by a bank and the temperature said 32 degrees celsius (ay caramba!) Also, at this point, I had to pee again and even though I am obviously not an elite runner, I was seriously thinking of peeing on myself. I figured if I ran off the course again to hit a port a potty, mentally I would not get back on the course. Thus, my marathon addled brain really considered the alternate option. In an effort to make Sam laugh, I told her I would pee on myself, but I was afraid she wouldn't look at me the same. I don't think she thought I was amusing.
Approximately 20.5 , I tried to open my last GU and my motor skills were shot. I could only get this small hole in the top, so I was sucking the Gu through this tiny dot of a hole and it wasn't working. So, I handed my spitty GU to a guy next to me and asked him to open it for me and told him "it's a little wet". Nice guy that he was-he touched it and opened it for me.
Mile 21-24- I plugged along on my own and cursed the sun out loud to no one in particular. My only thought was that I was burning up and I had to get off that damn course. I also saw Coach Al and Kerri at mile 21. They were so kind to tell me that I looked good. I am pretty sure I looked a little raggedy. As it turned out, Coach Al had an accident on the course on his bike and his face needed stitches, but he stayed on the course until he saw everyone and then went to the hospital. I was so delusional that I did not notice the huge bandage on his face when I saw him.
And, around this same time, a TNT coach from the Florida chapter ran up to me and asked how I was doing. I told him I was fine and he said, you have about a 10k to go, your form looks good. He asked me if I needed anything and gave me a jolly rancher. He asked me to suck on the jolly rancher until the finish line and then spit it out. Even though my mind was not completely working (see notes on miles 14-20), I wondered how this little jolly rancher would last for 5-6 more miles.
Mile 24 -The jolly rancher is gone :0(
Mile 24-26.2 : I was toast! I was running, but I could not pick up the pace and I think I was getting slower, which was not in my game plan. At about 25 you run around this corner and there is a huge screen showing the runners going to the last part of the course. I was thinking what a sight I must be-gatorade dribbling down my chin, hat soaked, pony tail had all kinds of sweat in it. But, I honestly didn't care at that point. I think when you get to the point that you are willing to pee on yourself, all your vanity is gone. Finally, I round a corner and see the finish line. I was never happier-couldn't go faster, but never happier and finished in 5:26:32 and got my medal and picture.