Credit: Thomas Sly from Boston, MA, USA, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Short report:

Chicago Marathon, 10/10/04: 3:40:23. 36 seconds faster than I ran Chicago's other marathon, the Lakeshore Marathon, in May. My fastest marathon in two years (since I was injured). 28 minutes faster than last year's Chicago Marathon. Another Boston qualifying time, by 5 minutes. While 13 minutes slower than my PR, I am quite happy with this race!

A little longer report:

I picked up Tri-Dead Dan Brown at 5:15 and we were parked and wandering around by 6 a.m. Eventually he want off to find friends and I struck up a conversation with a 3:10 guy from Indianapolis. We checked gear and warmed up a little before going to the starting pens at about 7:40 a.m.

I could wax long about the wonders of this race: How well organized it is, the runners of all stripes, the gorgeous setting on Chicago's lakefront and through many neighborhoods, the incredible crowd support, great live banks, wonderful volunteers, etc. But I'll save saying much more in the interests of getting to the action and making this not overly long. I will add that if you have not done this race and are looking for "world class," Chicago is your ticket.

The day was beautiful, about 50 degrees at the start. I had a preferred start, so it took me only about 2 minutes to cross the line (we were chip timed, anyway). The crowds of runners were not bad (except for bunching up on the turns and congestion at the water stops). The crowds of spectators were large and enthusiastic, which was great! (Especially the guy cheerleaders in "Boystown" and again down in Bridgeport. A hoot!)

Through mile 12 I ran sub-8 minute miles, which was the plan. I was not overly attentive to my watch or the clocks on the course. I just wanted to "run light" and float the miles, not stressing out but staying tall and striding. I did this. But my times climbed over 7:50 a mile from mile 10 on, which was the per mile time I was trying to average. Clearly, I knew from analyzing my recent long-run times, I was in decent shape but still had not reclaimed the mix of turn-over/stride/push off that had allowed me to run about that pace for 26.2 miles two years ago. So instead I decided to try to again get a Boston time and better my Lakeshore Marathon time of 3:40:59.

Those who have raced long distances know what happens: legs get more wooden, stride shortens, push off lessens. In my case, my legs usually are the limiter, as my heart rate falls off. In my best mile I averaged 154 heart rate.

By mid race I slipped in the 140s and in the back half I was in the mid 130s--despite feeling as though I was working as hard or even harder than at the start.

Miles 14-17 were 8:18-8:42 pace. That was all I could extract from my body. I soldiered on, still not paying much attention to mile splits but pushing, pushing, pushing to avoid a more catastrophic fall off.

Catastrophe was averted, as my miles time continued to climb, but not in into the 10 minute per mile territory that I have seen so often in the past. Except for mile 20 which was 8:47, I ran 18-25 at 9:00-9:50 per mile.

Alarms sounded when the 3:40 pace group came up on me at mile 25. This was a crisis: If I were to beat my Lakeshore time, it was do or die. I latched on to the 3:40 pace leader (who, fortunately, was wildly enthusiastic and encouraging) and dug in. My stride magically lengthened, and by running on my right heel I managed to hold off the cramp that had been threatening through periodic twinges since mile 23, when we turned at U.S. Cellular Field. I stayed with him the entire mile and for most of the sprint in to the finish. Last mile was 8:51 (and probably 8:45 for him).

3:40:23. I was smiling as I crossed the mat under the finish line, got my space blanket and my medal. Mission accomplished!

I need to thank the many spectators whom I knew and saw this year who were cheering me (and others) on: Karl, Sandy, Angie, Judy, Alan, Joe, Mike and others whom I know I missed but were with you--you guys are great! And congrats to fellow old-guy racer Andy, who I talked to at about mile 5 and who has run every Chicago! I have run 11, and have missed a few years since I started.

Imagine running this race every October for more than 25 years!