I started running October 5th, 2012 so I always try to do a marathon around this time to celebrate. This time it was the Chicago Marathon, my second World major and 17th marathon.
A Goal: 3:55
B Goal: sub 4 hours
C Goal: sub 4:04
B Goal: sub 4 hours
C Goal: sub 4:04
Preconditions: The lingering 100 miler. I know I didn’t fully recover but I could walk fine and ran 1.5 miles on soft track last Tuesday and it felt good. I did expect something to start hurting but was pretty confident that I could make it to 20 miles and then just push through the last 10k. I’m usually nonchalant about marathons but this time I knew so many people running and talking to them about it made me want to do well. My goal was suppose to be easy, sub 4 which is a 4 minute shave off my previous PR. I have done 20 mile runs at marathon pace the day after another long run day so I thought I had it easy.
Breakfast - bagel with peanut butter, banana, clementine, Yerba matte
Starting line - A bit grateful that we found a real bathroom before the race and got some sunrise photos. I ended up a little late to meet QDR at gate 4 but managed to say hi for a bit. Dropped my bag and then went for more sunrise pictures. I decided not to carry my jacket (it folds up really small and could sling around hand). I had to go to bathroom but the lines were huge. I determined that I wasn’t going to make the corral cutoff if I waited in line so I held it in. I went for the 3:55 pace group in my corral. I shivered a bit waiting for our wave to start. I had two bluff like scarves, I used one as a light hat and another to cover my face to help keep warm a bit. On the walk to the start line I lost the 3:55 pace group.
Miles 1 to 6
Immediately as soon I started running I struggled with marathon pace. Okay, I haven’t done a real run in two weeks so maybe I just need a warmup. I saw Jessica and Evelyn at mile 1 which gave a boost! A little afterwards I realize I was getting hot and took off my bluffs and tied them around my wrists. Around mile 2 I started feeling that my quads were off. I didn’t think much of it. At mile 3 the 4 hour pace group caught up. I decided to stick with them. Around mile 6 my quads felt well used. It felt like I was at mile 20 of a marathon. I realized at this point that I was still pretty sore from the 100 miler two weeks ago. All 6 miles felt very crowded.
Immediately as soon I started running I struggled with marathon pace. Okay, I haven’t done a real run in two weeks so maybe I just need a warmup. I saw Jessica and Evelyn at mile 1 which gave a boost! A little afterwards I realize I was getting hot and took off my bluffs and tied them around my wrists. Around mile 2 I started feeling that my quads were off. I didn’t think much of it. At mile 3 the 4 hour pace group caught up. I decided to stick with them. Around mile 6 my quads felt well used. It felt like I was at mile 20 of a marathon. I realized at this point that I was still pretty sore from the 100 miler two weeks ago. All 6 miles felt very crowded.
Mile 6 to 13.1
I always had the 100 miler as an excuse for a bad time but I was determined to not let that be. I chose to keep going at marathon pace. I did start drifting away from the pace group. Around mile 8 a man also running said “go QDR” which lifted my spirits and got me back to the pace group. I struggled however and the race went into tunnel vision model. My only focus was running to keep up. I missed Jessica and Evelyn at mile 12 and I pretty much wasn’t aware of much of my surroundings.
I always had the 100 miler as an excuse for a bad time but I was determined to not let that be. I chose to keep going at marathon pace. I did start drifting away from the pace group. Around mile 8 a man also running said “go QDR” which lifted my spirits and got me back to the pace group. I struggled however and the race went into tunnel vision model. My only focus was running to keep up. I missed Jessica and Evelyn at mile 12 and I pretty much wasn’t aware of much of my surroundings.
Mile 13.1 to 20
The pain of my quads started hurting louder and I started to slow down. I gave up my time goals at this point. I just needed to make it to mile 20, then I could push a 10k. Mile 13-14 was pretty quiet but the crowds were pretty strong for the most part. I passed Around mile 16 I started feeling tremulous pain from the quads. I always thought my shin or a joint would bug but not my muscles. I couldn’t take my mind off it so I just struggled. I decided to take it easy to allow myself to recharge for the last 10k. I started taking Gatorade at the water stations (I usually just carry and use my 16 oz water bottle). I think I saw Julie at mile 16 (the miles are pretty much a blur) which helped give a boost. At mile 18 I started run walking. My run was also more like a limp. I just couldn’t get the pain of the quads out. I tried mediation, focusing on just my breath but wasn’t able to get into a rhythm.
The pain of my quads started hurting louder and I started to slow down. I gave up my time goals at this point. I just needed to make it to mile 20, then I could push a 10k. Mile 13-14 was pretty quiet but the crowds were pretty strong for the most part. I passed Around mile 16 I started feeling tremulous pain from the quads. I always thought my shin or a joint would bug but not my muscles. I couldn’t take my mind off it so I just struggled. I decided to take it easy to allow myself to recharge for the last 10k. I started taking Gatorade at the water stations (I usually just carry and use my 16 oz water bottle). I think I saw Julie at mile 16 (the miles are pretty much a blur) which helped give a boost. At mile 18 I started run walking. My run was also more like a limp. I just couldn’t get the pain of the quads out. I tried mediation, focusing on just my breath but wasn’t able to get into a rhythm.
Mile 20 to 26.2
Usually in a marathon mile 16 to 20 are the toughest and then I get a second wind at mile 20 till about mile 22. Then it’s a bit of a struggle till 24 and then I try to finish strong. I did get a small boost at mile 20 but missed Jessica and Evelyn again. Boost was short lived and I went back to run limp walking. I saw Julie again...mile 22? I’m pretty sure at this point my face was showing a lot of pain which I don’t like showing others but it’s still nice to see people! I got into a bit of a mediation groove, starting with focus on breath and then eventually focusing on nothing. Just looking ahead and moving. That last about a mile. I gained another boost getting close to the 5k mark but short lived again. Even though I was almost done I couldn’t get my body moving. I hated my brain for sending me the pain, I had energy but the pain was so much I couldn’t get myself to run at a decent pace. I wasn’t upset at not making a PR, I was upset because I felt like I could give more but couldn’t mentally overcome the pain of the quads. I started being able to pick it up a bit at mile 24. It helped being able to see far down and knowing you were pretty close. At the 40k mark I was able to get into a normal running pace and started passing. Lucky it wasn’t too crowded, I found it easy to pass. I got into a sprint the last 200 meters.
Usually in a marathon mile 16 to 20 are the toughest and then I get a second wind at mile 20 till about mile 22. Then it’s a bit of a struggle till 24 and then I try to finish strong. I did get a small boost at mile 20 but missed Jessica and Evelyn again. Boost was short lived and I went back to run limp walking. I saw Julie again...mile 22? I’m pretty sure at this point my face was showing a lot of pain which I don’t like showing others but it’s still nice to see people! I got into a bit of a mediation groove, starting with focus on breath and then eventually focusing on nothing. Just looking ahead and moving. That last about a mile. I gained another boost getting close to the 5k mark but short lived again. Even though I was almost done I couldn’t get my body moving. I hated my brain for sending me the pain, I had energy but the pain was so much I couldn’t get myself to run at a decent pace. I wasn’t upset at not making a PR, I was upset because I felt like I could give more but couldn’t mentally overcome the pain of the quads. I started being able to pick it up a bit at mile 24. It helped being able to see far down and knowing you were pretty close. At the 40k mark I was able to get into a normal running pace and started passing. Lucky it wasn’t too crowded, I found it easy to pass. I got into a sprint the last 200 meters.
Afterwards I struggled with walking. I would walk a few steps and then stop to take a break. I sat down for a few minutes before getting politely kicked out. I got some ice but it didn’t help much. There was a lack of vegan recovery food options so I didn’t get much in food other than some fruit. I did pack recovery food in my drop bag just in case. Close to bag drop I talked with another runner who struggled with the marathon. He wasn’t able to train for it and suffered. After getting my bag I saw that the changing porter potties were gone so I used a regular porter potty. After changing I felt my spirits and energy come back. I met Jordan for a bit and then headed to the reunion area.
Looking back now, I knew I wasn’t fully recovered. I just didn’t know how bad. Your body is pretty good at hiding pain and my foam roller stretching didn’t reveal anything besides the general stiffness. I guess I should have dialed the pace back. I been PRing with almost every race this year and it may have gotten to my head a bit. Time for a long recovery and then get back to it (I imagine a younger version of me would have signed up for a marathon in a month to try again but I’m happy with my performance overall this year). I’ll focus on adventures for a bit before making a come back in the Houston marathon in January!
Course wise, this was my easiest marathon of the year but my quad pains make it mentally the toughest. The crowds and volunteers were simply amazing! In love with the people of Chicago!
