Here's The Skinny...Chicago 2011

I am going to try to keep this post to the highlights of my day.  Believe me you could write about A LOT of stuff that happens over a 5 hour race and I don't want to bore you.  I will tell you the day started out with a lot of promise.  We were up right at 5:30.  We had breakfast, had some coffee got dropped off pretty close to the start and even watched the sunrise.  There were many people.  ( I think close to 40,000).  We hopped into our coral at 7 am and the race went off at 7:30.

The first 5 K was uneventful.  We were not going very fast but it was really crowded.  We were (I have 2 other friends that I run with.) close together at this point when out of the corner of my eye I saw my friend go down.  Her foot caught on the grate of a bridge and she fell landing right on her knee, shoulder, head etc...She kept going though and at that point we started separating a bit.  I had my head set on and was determined to do my own thing.

At mile 5 I had planned to eat my chews.  I took a couple and shoved them in my belt.  About 2 minutes later I went to grab a few more and I realized they had fallen out.  I stressed for a minute, but I had brought some granola bars so knew that I had something if I needed it.  I also watched people peeing all over the trees and started laughing to myself.  Totally gross, but for a minute realized how lucky men were that they could just pee that way.  Oh well on I went.

Mile 9 was my downfall.  I don't know what happened.  All I remember was feeling a ping in my hip and a pull and then a tightness in my quad.  I stopped for a minute and stretched and then started running again.  It hurt.  It was not hurt like someone stabbing me, it was a weird, intense pressure from my hip to my quad.  I knew at that point I was in a little bit of trouble, but there was no way I was quitting.  I had already bought a Chicago Nike sweatshirt that I needed to wear....on I went.

The next 3 hours dragged on forever.  I will not lie at mile 18 and until 19 I was definitely a little teary eyed.  I wanted to call my husband at one point, but honestly what was I going to say.  I received a text from him saying "Your crazy....but I love you:)"  It was at that point that I realized that my running buddy had to stop at mile 13 and was on the medical van.  She could not put weight on her leg at that point and the MD made her stop.  We are still waiting to see what is going on with it.

Finally at mile 20 something clicked.  I could not run fast, I was still running/walking but it was like I was on a cloud.  (my mother said I was either dehydrated and delirious or on a serious runners high).  I knew that I was going to finish and I was going to enjoy these last 6 miles if it killed me.  I smiled, I high fived people and I chatted with some other skirt girls who were running by.  It was seriously hot at this point, close to 80.  I took ice and stuck it down my shirt and realized I might be a bit chafed in the front, but I kept going.  Finally I saw the finish and it was wait for it.....up a hill.  WTF... there are no hills in all of Chicago, but they have one for the finish.  I ran up it and crossed the line.  I have never been so glad to put a medal around my neck in my entire life.

There were water stops every 1.5 miles up until mile 20.  Where there weren't "marathon" water stops, fitness clubs, churches etc... were giving out full bottles of water.  I am telling you this town LOVES this marathon.  It was like a big party.  I have spectated Boston many times, but Chicago takes the cake!  Every "town" that you went into was so well supported.  At one point when I was in Boys Town and they had Lady Gaga playing and people cheering and hugging etc...I couldn't stop smiling.  Just so fun.  And maybe that is the take away here.  Did my race go as I had planned?  NO WAY!  but in the end I did it.  And that is a lot more than a lot of people can say that they did on Sunday.  Oh and my dad told me not to feel bad.  That 15,000 people finished after me.....gotta love Big Mike.

Happy Wednesday!

Chicago Marathon 2011

If I was not still so tired I would write a long post about the Chicago Marathon.  It took me over 5 1/2 hours.  My hip died at mile 9 and I did the walk/run for the next 17 miles.  It was long, it was hot, but I have to tell you Chicago is one cool city.  They totally get behind their marathon and I loved that.  So, more to come in the next couple of days and maybe even a new plan.
Happy Tuesday!

Important Information

Last night we received important information from the Chicago Marathon peepes about the temps on Sunday.  Looks like it is going to be in the 70's (I saw 80's) so they wanted to give us some advice....This was my favorite:

Plan to adjust your pace for the weather. The increasing temperature will require more of your body’s energy and resources to maintain normal function, so a slower pace than originally planned is recommended in order to get you to the finish line without overheating. Oh crap....there goes my BQ;) Have a super weekend everyone.  I will see you on the flip side.

Kids, Grades and Making Your Mom Crazy

I would write some great running post, but I am tapering for Chicago this weekend and I ran a wonderful 3 uneventful miles today.  My right quad was a bit tight, but I think it is going to be okay:)

What else is going on around here?  Well school is in full swing and the kids have definitely hit that "it is October let's be lazy" that happens here every year.  My 6th grader seems to be cruising through which is making me a bit uneasy.  I keep arguing with my 5th grader, who reminded me that he has nothing less than a 93 on every test this year so "back off!"  (Really...did he just say that?)  My 2nd grader keeps telling me how hard 2nd grade is....(okay then why are you finishing your homework on Monday nights for the entire week?) and my 5 year old still loves school and has no homework.  School is hard, I get it. I also know that I put pressure on my kids to do well.  There are times when my husband (definitely more laid back) tells me to back off and let them figure it out.  My biggest problem I feel like if they don't do well it is a reflection on me.  I know not a great way to be but that is how I am.  I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and there are times when I am looking for that from them.  I am going to practice taking a step back and hope that all goes well.

Chicago is 4 days away...I am having hard time believing it, but am super excited!  Chitown here we come!

The Final Countdown

Yes the final week is here.  While I feel like I have been tapering for Chicago for close to 3 weeks it is hard to believe that it is right around the corner.  I have a few short runs planned for this week and then we hop on the plane Saturday morning.  I am not going to lie I am nervous.  My training was hampered by random injuries, summer training was tough and I have not always felt great about my direction but I know I have it in me to do well.  I have set no huge goal for myself (maybe a little PR goal, but that is okay).  I do know that I am going to have fun, run my heart out and give it my all.

Fingers crossed.....

3TT....I CAN RUN!

1.  This morning I was allowed to hit my treadmill for 5 glorious. flat, slow miles.  It felt so good to get my running sweat on.  Don't get me wrong.  The eliptical is fine and all, but it definitely leaves a lot to be desired.

2.  I wore my new clover RunningSkirt this morning.  I definitely screwed up and ordered it a size to big.  I remember in past they had something on the website about ordering the athletic skirt a size down, but I thought the sizing had changed and there was no sizing info on the site.  I ended up just rolling it down, but now I am freaking out because I ordered the Paisley one in the same size and that is what we are wearing for Chicago.  Trying to figure out if I just need to spend the money on the smaller size or just roll the waste down.  Thoughts??

3.  I lost 2 pounds this week.  No idea how, but I am definitely psyched.  Nutrition is what I am missing right now with my running and I am hoping to get that taken care of after Chicago.  I am hoping to enlist the help of a nutritionist in the Portsmouth area.  I would love for someone just to spell it out for me.  I am definitely better with a plan.

5 Miles to Nowhere

Tomorrow I am allowed to get on my treadmill and run 5 miles.  Slow miles with no incline.  I left my ART therapists office with the biggest smile on my face.  His secretary told me that I looked like I won a million dollars.  I felt like I won a million dollars.  We also talked about my future running, whether I would run another marathon and my plans for 2012.  I don't know what direction I will be taking in the next 12 months, but I know I have big plans.  Stay tuned.....