Random thoughts on the race.

With Con & Nell, Oct. 13, 2019

This will be unpleasant.

The large band-aids (nipple protectors) fell off around mile ten. Like, both of them, within a quarter mile of each other, just started sliding down my torso. The lesson here, trim chest hair no less than a week to five days beforehand. (Trim too close to the run and you will be a miserable, itchy madman.)

These shoes. I reported an unhappy toenail incident when I ran the twenty mile, my first long run with these shoes. Well, I think I may have killed most of the toenails on my right foot. It's too early to tell but they are all very tender and bruised. Ditto a few on the left foot. Hate to be a hater, but I think it's the shoes. The soles are just a little too soft, not enough support.

Seriously. These shoes trashed all my toenails.

Spent the week answering people's queries about the race. "How did it go?" I feel like an idiot when I answer, "it was hard."  Of course it was hard, it's a marathon! But this was harder. I wanted to enjoy it more. Memories of previous races I don't recall the pain. Perhaps that is what I will be left with for Chicago.

It truly was a beautiful day.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Duration: 28:43
Pace: 8:49
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 64°
Climate: perfect
Mood: not bad

Since the race I have been eating. Eating everything. No abandon. Not exactly true, I have been avoiding sweets. But fats, I'm all over that. Okay, a week. You had a week. It's time to exhibit traditional restraint. I think I can manage that.

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 170 lbs. (+2.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

Okay, I love running again.

2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

This is Chicago.

Saturday evening we hooked up Chris's cousin and her husband and hung around Wrigleyville. Had a beer at the Cubby Bear, then massive carboloading at Happy Camper. Pita and hummus was the order of the evening and I fairly stuffed myself.

Official Time: 4:05:18
Avg. Pace: 9:22

Personal Best: 3:42:07 (Twin Cities 2015)

Not my best day. It feels wrong to be self-critical. But this was hard. Very, very hard. Like, New York City hard. The last two races, while not a walk in the park, were full of positive energy. I felt good, even when I was stiff and wanting to stop.

It all comes down to training. NYC I did my best, but I had no idea what I was in store for. It's not just about building muscle and endurance, you are putting chemicals into your muscles throughout training that make it possible to go long distances.

My first half was under two hours. But by mile twenty I was sore. Not spent, not like New York where my stomach hurt and I was dehydrated and under nourished. Quite the opposite, I feel I consumed too much water, too many energy snacks. I just crapped out. I wanted to walk. I wanted to quit.

And yet! Four hours and five minutes? That's great! Really, it is. I set a goal for myself -- four hours -- which was arbitrary. I wasn't out to break any records, knew I couldn't. I may even have kept up but I stopped to pee twice. I haven't needed a bathroom break the last two marathons. I timed it just right then, never needing to stop.

The Chicago is big, 45,000 runners. That's well more than Cleveland and the Twin Cities combined. And it was a beautiful day, just perfect, in spite of my fears. Glorious. I was dressed appropriately, with long sleeves, gloves (which I eventually ditched) a beanie (also hit the curb) and a billed hat. I haven't worn sunglasses for a marathon and didn't start today. Shorts were also called for and I was never uncomfortably chilly.

And there were live bands and lots and lots of loud music, and enormous crowds! My knowledge of Chicago neighborhoods is not impressive, but I was particularly touched by the excitement in the Mexican neighborhoods, and the Greek neighborhood, and Chinatown, and that part of town where they had stages and stages of dancing drag queens.

What marked this city as different from the few other races, or specifically New York where there are also enormous crowds, is how narrow the streets are compared to NYC, so the crowds were deafening, and pushing into the street. I felt like I did a lot more jostling for position, and all the time than I have ever had to do before.

In spite of the stiffness and pain (my sciatica, oy) I was pretty fierce on the inclines. That's a thing I do. And I did rally very late in the game, in the last mile, to keep my chin up and make a good showing. Crossing the finish line, I thought, well. I did that.

Once I made my way through the gauntlet of drinks and snacks and apples (oh GOD, that apple was the best thing I ever ate) and getting warm clothes on, I met up with Chris and Allie, and also my mother-in-Law Connie and her sister Nell, who were visiting this weekend. We all found a table at Rudy's Bar and Grille and I ate and relaxed and was so grateful to have crossed that particular finish line.

I will never forget, though, shortly after the race was concluded, and this wonderful volunteer gave me my medal. I looked at the inscription and at the bottom it reads I AM A MARATHONER.

I started to cry. Because whatever else you might call me, I certainly am that.

Congratulations to all those members of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation TEAM CHALLENGE, and thanks to all those who supported my campaign. We did good.

And thanks to Chris and Allie, so much, for their love and support throughout my training and especially for this memorable weekend.

Pre-Marathon Two-Miler

Took a two-mile pre-race run with Allie, up Foster Avenue to Lake Michigan. That was a very good idea, not just because that's the thing you're supposed to do, but I have gotten really freaked out about the weather.

Allie keeps saying how perfect the forecast is. Yes, dry is paramount, I would be miserable if it were due to rain, downright maudlin. It would be like saying goodbye to all my toenails. But it's supposed to be in the mid-40s tomorrow, and I would prefer the mid-50s.

And yet, it was the mid-40s  this morning and it felt all right. I have my disposable cold weather sweatsuit, and think I can manage in shorts. The wind will be a challenge, but I just don't want to wear long pants.

We are Team Challenge!

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 19:41
Pace: 9:51
Route: Foster Avenue to Lake Michigan and Back
Temperature: 45°
Climate: sunny & cold
Mood: getting better
Stretches: oh, uh. no.
Water: yes

Met up with all the Team Challenge folks at Bar Louie last night, got to chat up some of the organizers, runners, and supporters, and to enjoy a fine Goose Island IPA. I was hardly the one who had traveled farthest to be here. For several this will be their first marathon, and I was feeding off their excitement.

The plan is to meet up at the Congress Plaza Hotel tomorrow morning at 6:30, a warm place to gather before heading into the elements. This is a welcome invitation, as so many marathons I have attended require hours of standing around outside in the cold until the start.

It was pretty brisk out last night, but Chris, Allie and I still did a little walk around that neighborhood after the meet-up in search of dessert, and I found Gordo's which makes hand-dipped ice cream bars. Perfect!

We closed the evening seeing The Infinite Wrench, which is literally one block from where we are staying. It's always fascinating to me to share the Neo-Futurists with new people. It has been some time.

Interlude

CLE in CHI

We are in Chicago. And by we I mean Chris, Allie and I. We began this journey together and we will finish it together, I on the course, and they showing support.

We decided upon the train. Chris had never taken Amtrak! I am not certain, but I believe I have not taken a train since before we had living children. I wondered if it was the same, or if cutbacks had made it unpleasant.

Rest assured, it's the same. Wide seats, and plenty of them. Years of legroom. We boarded at three in the morning, and I stayed awake for a short while, writing, looking out into the darkness. And while coach is not the most comfortable place to sleep, sleep I did.

It's very relaxing taking the train. No one rushes about, it is a very not-tense way to travel. And quite possibly the cheapest. I keep waiting for the airline industry to collapse, but it won't. The government will continue to prop up planes, and Amtrak will go the way of the streetcar and the stagecoach.

Chicago was raining was when we arrived at Union Station, and we had a choice; take our car to Andersonville and drop off our things first, or to head straight for the Expo.

We chose the latter. I am quite used to carrying my bags with me through crowded spaces, and we successfully got our packets (Chris calls it the $200 T-shirt) and I was able to get a new glasses strap and some yummy, yummy gels.

We are staying at the apartment of Chris's best friend Ben. It's a beautiful place, and a real Chicago townhouse, with a wood pantry off the kitchen, cabinets in the short halls between rooms. It is a gift to be able to stay at a place like this, on a weekend like this.

Apart from a bagel just before the train arrived, however, we had not had anything to eat. "Breakfast" was at 1:00 PM (CT) at Pauline's Breakfast which was just exactly what was necessary, in sustenance and decor.

A little later there's a reception for members of TEAM CHALLENGE, and our apartment is literally a five minute walk from the Neo-Futurists ... so guess what we're doing tonight?

Can't wait until the weekend comes!

On average, a dozen people read this blog. Unless I post something on social media, between ten and twenty people read each individual post. That's enough to assume they are all bots. No offense to those one or two of you who may be human.

You may have noticed I have had nothing to say for about a week. That is because my mother was in the hospital, I won't go into details, she's fine now, really. Fine and at home, which is good.

But I have never wanted to run a marathon less than I want to run Chicago on Sunday. I haven't had nor taken the opportunity to train properly. My long runs have been painful, and I'm not better prepared now than I was three weeks ago.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 34:32
Pace: 8:37
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 62°
Climate: cool. nice.
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

That, and I am depressed. Unfocused. Stressed out.

There is good news. I had an allergy test yesterday, and I am not allergic to seafood. I am allergic to the histamines that can develop in seafood that has been sitting around for a few days, so. Maybe no more raw seafood, no more sushi.

Tomorrow I meet with a new doctor, which I hope is a fruitful relationship. I need a physical. I am concerned about my sugar intake. Yesterday I wrote a play about it.

The weather in Chicago this week should be ideal. Dry, cool. Fifty degrees. I will be prepared for that.

That's it. That's all I got.

What's That Lyric?
Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) - XTC

Gonna use my legs.

Distance: 8 miles
Duration: 1:11:59
Pace: 9:00
Route: Forest Hill-Lakewview Cemetery Run
Temperature: 67°
Climate: nice
Mood: better
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

Baseline: 179.5 lbs.
Today: 167.5 lbs. (+1.5)
Goal: 160 lbs.

What's That Lyric?
Brass In Pocket - The Pretenders

Don't run away and let me down.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 26:33
Pace: 8:50
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 46°
Climate: cool & sunny
Mood: not good
Stretches: yes
Water: not enough

What's That Lyric?
Save It For Later - The Beat

Wish we could turn back time.

It was a hard-earned lesson, but I it was made clear to me at a very early age that it is not necessary for me to let everyone in the neighborhood know our family's personal business. My mother also impressed upon me that it was never appropriate to judge or comment upon other families on their business.

In short, I was taught to mind my own business. I was never very good at it, but that's what mom would have preferred.

So I will not comment her health, or how her issues are affecting my ability to train for this race. Let me just make clear this is the case, it is trying, and mind your own business.

Distance: 6 miles
Duration: 50:08
Pace: 8:21
Route: Forest Hill-Cain Park Loop
Temperature: 56°
Climate: overcast, some light rain
Mood: bad
Stretches: yes
Water: yes

It's not that this is hard, it's that its not happening. I am hoping for a miracle next week. This has become a terrible time to be attempting another marathon. I used to get up early to run, but I can't because I need my sleep. I would run in the evening, but I can't because everyone has schoolwork to accomplish and I am needed to keep the house in order.

There's no time, and when there is time, I feel guilty for having taken time. I hate this. I cannot remember the last time I was happy.

I cannot remember the last time I was happy. That's very depressing, isn't it?

What's That Lyric?
Stressed Out - Twenty-One Pilots

We're running in our last race.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 36:06
Pace: 9:01
Route: Forest Hill Loop
Temperature: 73°
Climate: overcast & mega sweaty
Mood: all right
Stretches: yes
Water: yes, not enough

What's That Lyric?
I'll Be You - The Replacements