Chicago Marathon 2017

Chicago Marathon

Marathon #4, Chicago #3

Time: 6:29:55

Place Gender	19762
Place Age Group	3240
Place Overall	41737
Finish Time	06:29:55

05K	08:44:44AM	00:36:38	36:38	11:48	5.09
10K	09:24:49AM	01:16:43	40:06	12:54	4.65
15K	10:04:09AM	01:56:04	39:21	12:40	4.74
20K	10:53:25AM	02:45:20	49:17	15:52	3.78
HALF	11:06:01AM	02:57:55	12:36	18:28	3.25
25K	11:42:49AM	03:34:44	36:49	15:11	3.95
30K	12:40:03PM	04:31:57	57:14	18:25	3.26
35K	01:38:29PM	05:30:23	58:26	18:49	3.19
40K	02:21:04PM	06:12:59	42:36	13:43	4.38
Finish	02:38:00PM	06:29:55	16:57	12:25	4.83

greeted by the sunrise every saturday

This marathon was a nightmare. This training season was a nightmare. 2017 was a nightmare. 

wading in the lake post 16 mile run

I started having issues breathing while running around December 2016.

 It continued through until the big day when I got really dehydrated and almost passed out.

 I had a chest x-ray in the Spring; whew no lung cancer!

sweaty legs

 But what was it?Post marathon, my doctor thought it was an insane amount of bad bacteria in my gut. 

found some Clocktower runners today

I've taken steps to fix it but I haven't run much in the few months since the marathon to test it out. 

training crosses seasons

2016 was a great running year! I had a marathon PR and a half marathon PR. 

last long run with my crew

I really thought I as on a roll and completely psyched for Chicago 2017.

the whole city gets into the marathon

Then, the breathing thing started. I went to Austin, TX in January 2017 and ran 5 miles around Lady Bird Lake the day I arrived. 

those cyclist are taking up all the lanes!

It was 70 degrees out and I blamed the breathlessness on the weather change. 

Brian in the Cryo tank

Two days later I ran a half marathon and had no breathing issues. Seemingly there was no rhyme or reason to this.

the burn on my arm was healing nicely

Over the summer it got worse. On some longer runs or on super hot days I couldn't drink enough water.

 My thirst was insatiable. I thought it was stress. I found out in January, right after returning from Texas, that I was losing my job. 

It was 5 months later that the company was finally sold and we were all let go. 

During the summer I saw a doctor and registered my complaints but it wasn't until the marathon that I knew I needed some serious tests. 

I got a very expensive stool test that revealed the bacteria issue.

So anyway...

This isn't a retelling of a positive experience so if you don't want to read my whining move along. 

Nikki's birthday fun run

My first year of marathon training I wasn't a group leader but in some respects I acted like Emily's co leader since we really didnt have one and she and I had been co leaders for half marathon training it just happened. 

after the 20 miler

The second year we were official co leaders. There was another run/walk group but they were doing a different pace. 

20 miler

We've also had differences with the other leaders about how run/walk should be done. 

post 20 miler

They tell us our method is wrong but cant explain why. I believe that mixing up the ratio is perfectly fine and does no harm. It actually challenges the body and that's a good thing.

For 2017 I was on my own. No Emily. There were 2 new group leaders. One was very cool and the other snubbed me the entire training season. 

The ironic part was that the cool one had issues with his leg and they frequently adjusted the ratio to accommodate him.

I had two folks that trained with me - both friends. We had a nice little intimate group. 

It was exciting to watch them grow into marathoners and I was lucky to be their group leader for their first marathon.

I walked away from the experience feeling sorry for the other run/walk leaders. 

Life is really hard when you can't accept change and can't be open to another's way of doing something. 

I lost my job just before the training season started. Being unemployed allowed me to get my midweek runs in when ever I wanted but because of my breathing issues runs became harder and I still didn't get in all the midweek miles. 

It's Bart Yasso!!!!!

It's mentally exhausting to be unemployed in addition to know that nearly every time I was going for a run it was going to be a struggle. 

I got Peter Sagal's autograph!!!

One thing that I was able to add to my training was getting in some cross training at the gym. 

My arms and back are disgusting

I envisioned getting ripped and limber but other things got in the way like visiting museums and breweries and oh yeah, looking for a job. 

I made the decision to take a break from running about mid way through the season. Not just because of health reasons but because I am bored with running. I've been running along the lake for 4 years looking at the same scenery. I've run on the same streets for the same time. 

I wanted to drop out and not run the marathon. If it weren't for my training buddies I would have been long gone. It was really hard to get excited for the marathon. And if there's ever a race that one should be completely pumped for, it's a marathon!

A wee bit of excitement crept up on me while getting ready the night before. I watched Spirit of the Marathon, KT taped up and got my flat self ready.

The expo got me excited too! Zuzana and I went the second it opened on Friday. I got to meet Bart Yasso - one of my running heroes.

A few nights before the marathon I went to a taping of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Peter Sagal, the host, is an avid runner. He even writes for Runner's World Magazine. After the show the cast and guests made themselves available for autographs. I got him to wish me good luck with his signature!

I belong to the Chicago Area Runner's Association who had a large meeting room rented for us. It's great having access to toilets, any last minute supplies one may have forgotten and food. It's also easier to find your friends before the race too!

Zuzana and I finagled our way into corral G so we had to say goodbye to our other run/walk friends before entering the security gates. 

With this being my 3rd Chicago and 4th marathon I wrote up a little guide for the people in my group. One tip was to bring a throw away shirt or jacket because the start of the race was going to be freezing. Not this year! We walked over in exactly what we planned on running in: shorts and a tank top. This wasn't a good sign!

Zuzana decided to run with me. I usually run races alone and zone out in my music but it was her first marathon and she really likes the social support so I went with it. Little did I know I was really going to need HER for the support!

The time went by as we chatted and looked for our people scattered along the route. Chris popped up here and there. We found out Ashley was going to be on Sheridan before Addison. My first person to watch out for!

Next was Zuzana's husband, sister, and niece. We were on a walk but had to run for their camera. This was where I started to lose steam. It was only 10 miles or so in. We stopped for photos and then for the port-a-potties shortly after. This was my second toilet stop. Things were beginning to get messed up. I wont go into the details but I made 5 toilet stops during the race and the last two nothing happened... I'll leave it at that.

Beth was waiting for us in Old Town with a pickle!  I used all these opportunities to take a longer break than I should have. I'm sorry I dragged Zuzana down with me. I told her she could take off on me whenever. We reached the half way mark in 3 hours. That meant a 6 hour finish - not good. 

Around mile 16 Zuzana's cheering crew was waiting. While holding onto the railing I got lightheaded and nearly fell over. A half mile down Emily was waiting for the second time. She knew something was wrong with me. 

As we walked away I told Zuzana I was going to walk for awhile and I started to cry. I wanted to scream out, "this year sucks!!!!!" Instead I kept saying aloud that I was going to make it.

I decided that if I still wasn't feeling good by the next aid station I was going to stop. I was absolutely spent and no where near the end. I didn't want to quit but the toll of losing my job and all that frustration plus the challenges of the training season all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and die. 

I started feeling better just before mile 18 and we resumed regular run/walk intervals. My parents were waiting around mile 18.5. Zuzana took off which gave me a sense of relief. I was really dragging her down.

My step dad hopefully joking said that the car was right down the block if I wanted to go home. Then my mom yells out, "she's not a quitter!" Or something to that effect. She gave me a bottle of smart water and fig newtons and I was on my way. 

Right before China town I snagged another pickle from Beth and saw Brian's girlfriend and Emily. Then I was on my own until the bitter end.

They added a third wave this year. I'm guessing because there were more slower runners. When I was feeling good I ran into a sea of these people ALL WALKING! I couldn't maneuver around them easily. 

The same as last year my cordless head phones died before the end. Good thing I pack a wired pair in my bra! I dont know how people run without music. I use it as a distraction and to tune out all the cheering. It gets super annoying toward the end when everything hurts and I just want it to be over. 

My friend Rich is a super volunteer with the marathon. He gets access to the finish line to assist with the elites. I had no idea he'd be waiting for me to cross the finish line. It was such a shocker and made me tear up. 

He put my medal around my neck and we slowly walked toward the beer. I definitely should not have had any beer. I was feeling dehydrated again. I gulped the bottle of finish line water, my beet, and then ran out of water that was left in my running bottle. 

We scurried over to the Palmer House to meet everyone. Ernest was already finished and showered the bum! He runs with Clocktower Runners who rented a room at the Palmer House and they all got to use the shower. I'm rethinking CARA for the next Chicago Marathon I run just for shower access alone.

I found everyone and lowered myself to the floor. Emily had a napkin full of goodies for me and Rich got me a protein drink. 

After Zuzana and I cleaned up we all headed to the Bad Apple. It's becoming a tradition. 

The very next day I threw on the quarter zip stupidly expensive Chicago marathon top and headed to Fleet Feet in Old Town to get in the very long 2 hour medal engraving line.

I had never seen such a long line for medal engraving so it never occurred to me to get there long before they opened. Luckily we had each other to keep busy recapping our experience. 

The time flew by and then we went to celebrate some more at Lou Malnotti's a few blocks away. The walking sucks but it's so good for the body after a marathon. It's also fun walking around town in proudly displaying my medal around my neck getting "congratulations" from people.

On Tuesday I got a pedicure and a massage and Wednesday I started a contract job. The fun was over.