SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2008

Race Report: Chicago Marathon, 2008

I didn't bother to put in the paperwork for my preferred start corral this year. I learned last year that starting at the very front of the open start works just as well as being in the last preferred corral. It took us just 4 minutes to get over the start line and I had running room from the beginning.

My coach, Jim Spivey, fired the starting gun for the race. Someone on the Chicago 2016 Olympic organizing committee had the idea last week that it would be good to have an Olympian start the race, so Jim was recruited at the last minute. I cracked up at track Thursday night when I approached the start/finish line after doing a lap and Jim while timing me was practicing with his arm up pulling the trigger and shooting straight into the air. When I commented on it, he said, "Don't want to shoot any runners!" I told him I would not be able to see him do that, and I was right. He was approximately 200 yards ahead of me at the start; back where I was we could barely hear the pistol.

My running strategy was to make this a low key race and just run by feel. (I already have a Boston time for next spring.) I started out fine – 8:35 pace for the first five miles or so. (1 minute added in mile five for a visit to my favorite tree in Lincoln Park.) The day was gorgeous early, and we ran a lot of the first half of the race in shade. I and others were feeling great. The running Elvises (Elvi?), gay cheerleaders, bands and encouraging crowds made it fun.

By mile 8 my not-forced pace started to slip a bit, but I stayed under 9 minutes until near the half mark. I crossed 13.1 at about 1:57, 8:56 pace, 3:54 marathon pace.

Then the wheels came off – calves started twinging and tightening, cramps ready to seize me. I altered my stride and turnover, changed sides of the road, took more salt tablets, drank Gatorade Endurance, did about everything I could think of (short of stopping) to hold off the cramps. My tactics helped. I slowed much but kept running until the mile 20 water stop.

That's when the posted conditions in the new course warning system turned "red" and we were asked to slow down. Someone said a thermometer showed 85 degrees. Well, it did not feel nearly as hot as last year, the humidity was lower and there was a breeze. But in my challenged state I viewed a "red alert" and "slow down" as an excuse to walk the water stop! So I did…and when I tried to run thereafter the cramping was much worse and I HAD to walk through the back end of Pilsen and the start of Chinatown. (At least that's an interesting place to slow down and take in – Mariachi bands and Chinese dragons!)

After that I could run again, but even slower and I walked every stop. Starting running again each time was a contest between cramping and figuring how to run to hold off the cramps.

I made a special point to encourage anyone walking who looked like he or she was cramping, knowing how much the encouragement of others meant to me at that point.

Going north on Michigan Avenue on the long stretch to Grant Park took a long time and some struggle. I was very ready to finish the race when we turned on to Columbus and the finish line came into view. Crossing the finish line (at a very slow 4:42) was never so much of a relief! And the free cup of Goose Island 312 beer sure tasted great!

Two observations:

First, I run much better in cooler weather. (Duh!) In the past 12 months I have had two poor hot weather races (Chicago and Chicago), one mediocre warm weather race (Ironman Canada) and two good cool weather races (Indy and Boston).

Second, training properly for the marathon really does make a difference. I say my fitness is good enough that I can run a marathon just about any given day. True, but my training for this race was a few longer runs before Ironman Canada in August, the 26.2 at Ironman, a month without long runs, a 12 miler three weeks ago and a 20 miler two weeks ago. I can use my strained Achilles as an excuse as to why I limited my long runs, but the effect of the lack of long runs can't be denied.

The good news is the Achilles was silent the entire day and feels fine this morning. Shortening my stride worked!

More good news is that running Chicago was indeed exciting and fun (ignoring the pain, which was not THAT bad). I live near a beautiful city and the marathon is a wonderful way to see it. Furthermore, the race volunteers and fans are spectacular. And the runners were from all over the globe, interesting to talk to and run with.

Try it someday. You'll like it.