So, I trained pretty good with the goal of running a 4:30 and not walking at all; compared to my finish of last year at 5:33 and walking a solid 6 miles of the race. About 3 weeks ago, I injured my back and stopped running. I intended to sell my bib because there was no way I was going to run. So at about 2pm on Saturday afternoon I decided I wanted to run the race. I got home from working the expo, got my stuff ready, and went straight to bed.
When I rolled out of bed my little thermometer linked to outside said ’32.7*’ So I busted out all the Under Armour I could find and suited up. Compared to last years heat, this was a completely different ball game. I road my bike over to Harrison and Michigan around 6:45. I don’t know who the logistics coordinator was for the starting region, but I had to jump two fences just to get into the starting area. I, like Amy, put myself in the 4:30 pace group for starters figuring I
would be happy to finish between 4:30 and 5:00. It was really cool seeing a mirage effect over the 30k people in front of me when I looked at the Aon building directly in front of us from all the body heat being released. Once we got going, I remembered why I loved running last year. The running part sucks, but the fans are amazing! I can’t state that enough.
Taking it easy, I made it just past North Ave. before having to water a local tree, and then I was on my way to Addison. The entire north side went great. The men with parade-like wooden riffles, twirling them to ‘Lady Marmalade’ on Clark St. was quite entertaining. Just after on Wells, I slowly passed an amazing gentleman who was going roughly the same pace as myself who had one leg. He had two of those arm supports that have wrist cuffs and was moving right along with his running partner. That was the most encouraging thing I saw all day. So I made it down to the halfway point and ran a 2:10 half. Still going strong, my main goal was to make it at least past mile 15 where I died last year. I did, and then I saw my first supporter that I contacted at the last minute on Saturday night around mile 16, this was encouraging. Everything went very well, but around mile 18 I started to feel the burn and slowed my pace a bit, but was still moving steadily. In Pillson, some generous supporter gave me an orange slice and it was the most amazing tasting thing I have ever eaten. That gave me enough juice to get to China town where I started to feel some pain in my right arch. I kept going, but finally at mile 22, I started to walk a bit. I walked until a little past mile 23, then ran about to 24, then walked until 25 and ran the last mile. Shortly after I started to walk, the 4:30 pace group pasted me. Then when I started to run at mile 25, the 4:45 group passed me.
I ended up running a 4:53.
I shaved 40 minutes off my time and made it to mile 22 before stopping. Considering I had not run an inch for the 3 weeks prior to the race, I was relatively satisfied. Maybe I can shave another 40+ minutes off next year.
Now its onto swimming season and cycling training!
See you all soon,
Josh
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