1) My race started out very hectic as we had to RUN to 1) Find the assigned corrals and 2) Make it to the corrals as everything involved in the Chicago marathon is unnecessarily spaced out from the expo to the start and onto the finish.
2) I started with the 3:20 pace group and hoped to hold on for a while and maybe fall back if I wasn't feeling it. Well apparently this meant starting at a 7:20 min/mile pace. FYI- if you're doing a 3:20, this is a 7:37 min/mile split. Not only that but we were wall to wall with people through the whole race. Being so packed in meant you couldn't cut tangents, you were elbowed and shoved in every direction and it was impossible to navigate an aid station.
4) ... This is when the vomiting began! I was so full and couldn't actually take in any liquids. My body began to reject them and I vomited from mile 16 to 26... I'm pretty sure I should get some kind of award for that!
5) And then it got hot and Stephanie got very dehydrated! I got a little of every kind of bad running visitor from Chills and goosebumps, to chest pains, to serious kidney pain. I continued to vomit anything I ate or drank and my insides started feeling like they were on fire. So many lessons learned in this race people!
I've never been SO happy to see a finish line approaching... that is until we made a turn and had to go uphill on the last .2.... seriously? I've never been so uncomfortable running in my life.
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Ok now that all the complaints are out I feel better! Onward and upward! Definitely a tough race and a struggle for most runners from what I can tell. It was fun being part of SUCH a huge race, but I think I'll stick to the middle-sized (1000-15000 ppl) races.
Not a horrible time considering the above, but I have to admit I was more than a little disappointed. I have a ton of races in a row coming up and it's going to get harder and harder to get a PR until I get a week or 2 of a break... you know, in December.
I'm still not feeling 100% but my body better get in line soon cause we have a race in 5 days!!!
Will you be running to Canada??? Cause I will! Detroit this weekend for my (ICKKKKK) neighbor to the north-state marathon. I WILL be wearing my Ohio State gear....!!!!!!!
Happy (and healthy) Racing!
Stephanie
"Run to Win" -Meb
I know it's all relative but for what it's worth, I would kill for your bad day time! LOL! Way to push through a tough race girl! I applaud everyone who braved the conditions, it was an inferno out there! I wish there were someway I could meet you this coming weekend but we'll already be in Grand Rapids when you get into town. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat job and time for all that you went through. Chicago was my first marathon~ much harder than I expected. Keep up the great work. What you are doing is so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWay to post a baller time under those circumstances, I would have walked off the course after vomitting more than twice, you are truly a trooper!
ReplyDeleteAnd as the redhead said, I would kill for your "bad day time"- you did awesome!!!
Oh NOO! I am "guilty" of taking immodium before a big race and I've never had that dehydration problem... still good to know and be mindful of. Congrats on the sub-4 with PLENTY to spare and state 41! Hope you're feeling better.
ReplyDeleteOK seriously you were vomitting and overheating and still pulled out a 3:43?? My hero!
ReplyDeleteBad ass time for a "bad" race. I also have some issues with 3:20 pace groups. In my last marathon the guy started out at 7:08 miles. Really, dude? I'm running with you to run a smart race, not a stupid too-fast one! My fault for not dropping him immediately...but STILL, get the pace right, pace leader!
ReplyDeleteomg, girl...that's horrible! Sorry about your ordeal (I know some who take Imodium in a race, but maybe it was the heat that got ya for the double whammy). I had to bail on Chicago this year and am now glad I did with that heat - ick! Guess you never know what you're thrown but I heard it was bad. Congrats on such a great time with some miserable stomach issues!!!
ReplyDeleteholy cow. i can't even imagine...and HUGE PROPS for 3:43 with all that going on. I have no idea how you did it. Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteYou did amazing considering the conditions. I struggled out there as well. Blech. Congrats on pushing through!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with the finish while dealing with all of the craziness that was going on for 26.2 miles.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I will be running to Canada this weekend (only doing the 1/2 though). There are four of us heading to Detroit from Cleveland! Planning to have dinner at Pizza Papalis in Greektown. Looking forward to it! One of the girls in our group is walking the 1/2 so I am thinking there is a very good chance I could see you finishing the marathon!
Wow! The way you kept going...even with the vomiting and all! Great job!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! You are one tough cookie! I'm pretty sure most people would have given up from all the vomiting and dehydration too...way to go! Awesome perseverance!
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy about the immodium! I've never ran a race without it! I wonder if I'm just used to it? In any case, great job! Wear your Buckeye gear proudly in that state up north!! I'll be running through the OSU campus on Sunday. Can't wait!
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