Race Recap: Chicago Half Marathon 2010

Sunday was finally the day of my first half marathon! I didn't come in under my goal time but I wasn't too much over either. No matter my time I'm very proud that I did it and ran it all except maybe a quarter of a mile.

finisher's photo

I woke up at 5am and got dressed and ready and enjoyed a bagel thin with peanut butter and banana for breakfast. It was really early for me so I didn't finish the entire thing...it was too much! Then at 5:45am my mom and I headed out the door to catch the bus to start. By 6:05 there was no bus and nothing was in sight so we hopped in a cab with some other runners and split the fare. Thank goodness we got in the cab when we did because getting there was a nightmare. They closed all the streets 20 minutes before stated so we had to go all around to get there. We finally got there and I had just barely enough time to meet my friends, use the bathroom, and get to the start.

me and mary, practically matching, pre-race

I knew the second we started it was not going to be an easy run for me. My stomach was not feeling good and I was already tired. By the time we finaly came across some bathrooms, after mile 3, I had to stop so we jumped over the barrier and ran into the restrooms. Of course nothing happened, so out we went, jumping back over the barrier and started running again. The next time we came across a bathroom was at an Aid station a little after mile 5 and my stomach was hurting and cramping so we stopped and waited in line. I kneaded my stomach to help get things going along but again nothing. So again I ran out, grabbed a cup of water, used some GU, and got back on the road.

somewhere near the end. i look like i'm in pain.

I started to feel a bit better around mile 7 because I knew the turn around was coming up and once we turned around it was only about 4 miles left. Except my energy was so low that the 11min/mile pace I was running felt like a 9min/mile. I made my friend go ahead and told her I'd be fine on my own for the last 4 miles. She left me with some words of encouragement and I kept on going at a pace I could maintain. I somehow completely forgot my Garmin so I had no clue what my pace was like until I could see the clocks at each mile. I knew I was going slower than I wanted but I knew going faster wasn't an option unless I wanted to burn out. I think that I started too fast, but again, I really don't know since Mary had the Garmin, not me.

pay attention to the course, otherwise you'll have to leap out of the way of a traffic cone.

I ran the entire race, walking thru aid stations, until mile 10. I took 4 short walk breaks and one quick stretch break. I didn't want to stop or slow down but I really felt I needed just a small break so for my 4 walk breaks I walked only 2 lampposts(which were nearly right next to each other at this time) and my stretch break was for a small cramp I started to get in my left leg. Around mile 11 I got a small second wind and for a bit I was passing people, it felt good but then I felt like vomiting so I took one of those little walk breaks. I got a cup of water at the last aid station and told myself this was it, it's all running, there is no point in walking at this point. I ended up walking once I think in the last 1.5 miles but then I saw the 12 mile marker and said I better pick it up and finish strong.

eating some GU

I pulled the last of my GU out of my pocket and swallowed the rest of it and looked forward and just ran. 3/4 of a mile to go. 1/2 a mile to go. 1/4 mile to go. I saw the last turn. I saw my friend's sign. I rounded the corner. I saw my mom and my friend who immediately started cheering me on. I kept running and saw the finish line. I so badly wanted to run faster but I just couldn't get my legs to go faster. I eyed the clock and picked a time and told myself to get across the line before and I was right on time. Then came the water, banana, granola bar, cookie, and medal! I was done! I ate my cookie, took my finisher's photo, and met up with my friends. Mary came in 9 minutes before me and I felt a little bad because had we not stopped to use the bathroom, for my sake, she would have finished under our goal of 2:10. And if I hadn't been slowing her down the majority of the race.

post-race with medals!

Overall, I'm not sad or disappointed that I didn't finish of my goal of 2:10; I came in at 2:22. I'm incredibly proud of myself for doing a half marathon and finishing in a pretty decent time. I know I had an off morning, why, not sure, but I know I ate foods that I rarely eat the day before. That probably had something to do with my stomach issues. I just signed up for a 15k in 7 weeks and I'm aiming for 1:35. I learned a lot from my first half marathon and I'll take these lessons and apply them to future races.

crossing the finish line!

*re-posted from my old blog, dated September 15, 2010