Date: Sometime in November 2018
CT: "I think we should be done with marathons."
Me: "That's a wonderful idea! Yeah, marathons are too much. Too much training, too hard on our bodies. I'm good with us not doing them anymore."
One week after that conversation, open my email to find "Congratulations! You've been accepted into the Chicago Marathon!" WTF?
Me: "Honey, why did a get a message from the Chicago Marathon?"
CT: "Merry Christmas!"
Here I stand, a little less than a year later. One of forty five thousand other runners, but doubtful that any of them were secretly signed up by their spouse...after coming to a mutual decision with that same spouse, to be done doing marathons! Hey, something has to make you stand out in a group this big, here's my story.
This story begins even further back than our conversation. It really began mid April 2018 where I had attempted to run a Boston qualifying time. I missed the official cutoff time by like two minutes, realistically, it was probably more like five minutes to guarantee entry. While certainly close, after that day I decided that I'd never be able to qualify for Boston. That was my best effort and doubted I could replicate, let alone improve it. In a way, it was the day my Boston dream died. While that sounds depressing, I'm fine with it. While it would be cool to say that I did Boston for the status level it implies, I've got no problem riding on CT's laces (coat-tails) for her experience of doing Boston.
While I didn't qualify for Boston, unknown to me, I did run a qualifying time to guarantee entry into Chicago. Unlike Boston, a normal runner (or anybody) can enter Chicago, the difference is after the elites, the talented people with time qualifiers, the rest of the field is entered into a lotto system. While I could always attempted to enter Chicago this way, there's always the chance I wouldn't get in. Well, my marathon time guaranteed me and CT knew this. Hence, surprise! She entered me. She did know it was on my Bucket List, but this wasn't a list item I had to do, it was only if the opportunity came up and I decided to do it. She took care of that part.
This is my Boston. It's my first BIG marathon, so of course the sheer size and scale of things are vastly different. The experience is a bit overwhelming, but not for that exact reason. Even though found out about this adventure almost a year in advance, trying to book a hotel even back then, prices were already ridiculous. I didn't help myself and do any favors attempting to relieve some of that stress from myself. Three days prior, still hadn't booked a room, because I'm cheap. Debated staying outside of town, taking a train I've never tried before, planned how the logistics of that would play out. Ended up getting super stressed about it to the point didn't even want CT to come with me because worried about attempting new things like this. All the while not knowing how they'd work out, adding the fear of leaving her alone by herself for hours as I ran. Then add the stress of knowing physically I really wasn't as prepared for a marathon as I'd like to be on top of everything else. For the record, I didn't enter this experience how I should have, the majority of this is all my fault, and it tarnished my overall mental state and experience. Hence, for my (what I hope) last big, Bucket List, marathon, I screwed up.
I did end up taking a second mortgage and booking a room a couple blocks from the start. My start time for my wave was 7:30. At 6:20, left the hotel and started my walk to the start. Security is factor, so there wasn't any point for CT to accompany me because she wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the starting line. Figured in my head about a ten minute walk to the gate, thirty minutes to get in the zone, twenty to drop my bag off, and leaving about 10 minutes to get lined up. Small marathon thinking.
6:30, in line for the gate. At 7:00, I wasn't even to the security checkpoint, even more anxiety. I barely starting the climb up the stairs to the checkpoint, but at least began tripping on the absurd amount of plastic bottles and trashed dumped. 7:10, finally to security and finding out the reason of the root cause of so much trash, airline type security concerns over liquids. While, we didn't have to remove our shoes, this "security show" was something else. I was pretty much convinced I was missing the start of my wave and already began texting CT and parents I was missing the start. On a day when I knew it would be difficult to do the whole twenty six point two, I was now in a full sprint to find the bag drop. Unlike every other race that I've done, this event is a campus. I swear it was easily a half mile to the bag drop. I really had planned to make final changes to my gear setup with all my time to spare in my normal chill time before the start. Instead it was practically flinging my gear bag at some poor volunteer as I changed course in full sprint to find the starting corral. So much for a short sleeve shirt and the extra GU. With about 10 minutes to spare, made it to my starting location.
It was cool hearing the elites announced. Had time to text CT and tell her who she'd be able to see. She texted back with a perfect picture showing me where she'd be watching for me, under the iconic Chicago Theater sign. Originally planned not to run with my phone, but in the rush, it's another thing that was forgotten about, but kind of glad I did, simply for this reason. Whooooosh goes the starting gun!
Just a mob of people, interesting smells from being underground, is really all that I remember. Couldn't concentrate on any one part for more than second for fear of getting trampled, so this is what ADD feels like? About a mile and a half in, turned on State Street, instantly could see the Chicago Theater sign and adjusted my path so I'd be as close to as I could. Funny thing, must have run a good mile before I actually reached the sign though, it did stand out though. There she was! I honestly never expected to ever be able to see CT on the course, let alone her being able to spot me in the swarm of people. While still very early in the race, it felt a bit like mission accomplished and eased my mind a bit.
The number of people, is a bit mind boggling and that's really what I'll walk away from this experience with. With almost any race I've ever done, at a certain point, the people around you becomes constant. Whether it's a PR type pace, the same person you are chasing at mile thirteen is the same one at twenty six, generally. Or if it's a struggle kind of race, that guy you just passed at the water stop, he's going to be passing you when you die out and need a break, and for the remaining miles it's that same pattern back and forth. Today, never see the same person for more than a couple minutes. It's a odd feeling to constantly be passed the entire time. Granted, I knew I wasn't going to blow the doors off with a PR, but also knew I wasn't going to put down my worst time (at least I hoped not). Mentally, it did mess with me some. Not that I was planning on carrying on a conversation, but it felt odd to never have the same people around for periods of time, organized chaos.
Somewhere around mile nine, seeing a full SWAT platoon with an arsenal of weapons and their armor personal vehicle made a bit of an impression. They weren't out cheering, they were clearly there to be deployed if some event happened. While a saw a small taste of that spectating CT's Boston experience, this was a reminder that all of us really are good targets.
The halfway point brought us back almost to where we started before sending us out west of the city. Tried not to check my pace based on my watch the whole time. In the early miles it reads screwy anyway. Coming up to the timing mat, it was almost as if somebody knew, because my favorite song comes blaring from the sound system, the energy of the crowd seeming to cheer even more, could feel my body itching to pick up the pace. Won't say it didn't for a bit in this section, pace was right about where I predicted I'd be. Did have to fight a bit with myself because with the adrenaline surge, I really wanted to run a bit harder. I did talk myself out of it knowing the hardest miles were coming and I wasn't prepared to push more and I'd be lucky to maintain this pace.
Mile eighteen was the tipping point. Somewhere in these miles, legs started their tell tale signs of fatigue. This is where I'd normally take that second GU, if I had it. Instead, at a water stop took Gatorade's version of an energy packet. Normally, I'd never mess with something I hadn't done before, but without something knowing how I was feeling and how many miles were left, felt I better try something. Ugh! Hard to say if the results would have been worse, but a half mile after, my stomach did about a 180. This was somewhere in the little Italy section. From here on any fun part of the run was over.
In the early twenties, it was Chinatown. My head wasn't in the game at all during this section. While the crowd support was amazing throughout, I actually thought Chinatown showed more support than the Italian section. Not that it matters or could I base it off anything specific or even if my perception is correct, it did strike me as interesting. Somewhere in here, the pain creeping in combined with lack of sugar or that energy packet messing with me, I started struggling mentally. Took a few breaks in this section to text CT and my parents. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to do a great time, mixing in everything, was feeling very defeated in these miles. Had plenty of time to chat with CT and find out where she was for the final stretch.
My expectations had built up the final mile to be this great view of the Chicago skyline. Instead, I was running down this dark and windy stretch. It was a bit of a blessing and a curse, tricked into thinking the skyline would be coming into view any second, it was motivation to keep going. When I caught sight of CT and realized how close the finish line was, it was a bit of disappointment of where was my view? Though, I was more than happy to be done crossing the line.
Smaller races will always be my favorite for this reason alone, the finish isn't like this. A few minutes after crossing, it really is like herding cattle. My calves started cramping up something awful. I found an out of the way spot to stop and sit to begin to massage my legs, no sooner did I send CT the text my legs were cramping up pretty bad and it would take me some time to get to her, a volunteer came yelling at me that I had to keep moving. "F*ck You!" I wanted to respond in my big city voice. I didn't, I sucked it up and hobbled another half mile to finally escape the finish chute. Finding another place to finally stop and sit for a minute, my legs were on fire, my stomach felt as if puking was possible, and on top of that, had feelings that a bathroom rush could also happen at any time, meanwhile knowing there wasn't a chance I could rush anywhere quickly. CT of course wanted to see me, I wasn't even sure how to get outside the secure zone yet or even where to tell her to meet me. Finally, decided on back to the hotel. I did get the legs moving enough to get to the gear check, got my bag, before needing to sit again for a while. At this point, I didn't even think I could get back to the hotel. Couldn't have CT come get me. Sure glad I wasn't in "bad shape". No idea how long it took me, but eventually my cramping eased up enough and I made the trek back to the hotel to call it a day. This goes down as feeling the worst after a marathon.
I'm glad I did it. I'm also glad it's done. I'm not sure there's a scenario where I would have had this amazing experience that lasts me a lifetime. That's partially my fault for letting my head put expectations on myself, instead of coming into this whole experience treating it as just for fun. If nothing else, glad I'm finally retired from marathons!
