sack77
Cool Runner |
 posted Oct-08-2007 11:19 PM
  
First of all, I'm not sure how many of you can remember enough details to post detailed Marathon race reports. Most of the day is a blur, so I apologize for the lack of details.A little background, I started training in January for the Lincoln marathon (May 07) while stationed in Iraq. This was to be my first marathon, my previous long race being the Army 10 miler in Oct of 06, which was actually a satellite race in Iraq. In the past I've done quite a few 10ks, always wanted to do a 1/2 or full marathon, but never made the time to train for it. Unfortunately our unit got extended and instead of being home in April, our return home was pushed to July. I decided to keep training and thought that Chicago would be a good race for a first timer. I logged most of my training miles in Iraq, but kept on pace pretty well once I returned home the last week in June. I ended up with a small ankle problem about 6 weeks ago, and ended up really cutting back my mileage until the race as I was nervous about making it worse. I probably would have decided not to run Chicago, and rescheduled when I was healthy, but I had already raised over 2000 dollars for the Fisher House (a charity that provides housing to family members of injured Servicemen and women) and felt like I needed to at least try and see how I would do. On to the race, as everyone knows by now there were record highs in Chicago. I was complaining to everyone all week long about how unfavorable the forecast was. The temps, plus my somewhat sore ankle, plus my shortened training schedule, really had me nervous. I had originally planned on a sub 4 hour goal, but with 3 things working against me I changed my goal to 4:30, figuring I had run all of my long runs at around 10 minute miles and that would be doable. I held the pace okay until about the 8 mile mark. It was hot enough out that by the third water stop, I was stopping to get both gatorade and water. By the time I restarted, the 4:30 pacers were far enough away that didn't bother trying to catch them. I saw my wife for the first time at mile 12 which was a big pick me up, and was feeling decent. My ankle was sore by this time but not terrible. I felt if it didn't get any worse I would be able to finish. By mile 18 I was working pretty hard to stay close to 10 minute miles. Prior mentioned ankle had caused me to cut both of my planned 20 milers short. The farthest I had been was 18 miles, so I was expecting this section to be tough. The only thing that kept me going was that my wife was around mile marker 20, so I thought if I could get that far, I could gut out the last 10k. Sure enough, I sucked it up and once I met my wife at mile 20.5 I knew I would finish. Shortly after was when I first heard that the race was "cancelled." I thought it was a joke at first, but upon getting to the next aid station they were telling everyone to stop running. I considered it briefly, but I was only 4 miles form the finish and didn't want to walk at this point. I don't know if I will ever do another one, and didn't want to have my first marathon cut short. After training since January, I was determined to finish. Plus, compared to the 120 degree weather I ran in while in Iraq, the 88 didn't probably have as much impact on me as others. The next few miles were a blur, I considered walking a few times but decided to stick it out. I finished at 4:49 and change, not quite what I had set out to do but good considering the circumstances. I didn't walk, with the exception of at the water stations to make sure I stayed hydrated. I will say that at the time I went through, all but the first station had both water and gatorade. All in all, it was a long tough day but I'm glad I did it. A little sore today, but proud to have finished on a difficult day.
IP: Logged |
