Choosing Chicago
When I started planning out my races for 2024, the Chicago Marathon was not on my calendar. I had decided I was ready to focus primarily on eventually qualifying for the Boston Marathon which meant more experience at the distance and a focus on getting faster and stronger at running again. In April I ran the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon -- which was marath

on #3 for me (#4 if you count the marathon at the end of Ironman Arizona) -- and it was my first open marathon since 2018. You can read that race report separately if you haven't yet, but long story short, the race went badly, and I also stopped at mile 16 to help a fellow runner which then resulted in me walking more than running the last 9 miles. That marathon ended with a gut wrenching time of 4:56, and huge dose of self doubt.
Maybe I need to find a different goal.
Maybe this ship has sailed.
I am over 40 now, maybe I need to accept that.
After some time to nurse my wounds ,and also physically recover (I was actually pretty beat up from that marathon!) -- I asked my friend Kristan who is also an incredibly experienced athlete and coach for guidance to reach my goals, and asked her to be brutally honest with me. She told me I needed to stop being dramatic, that it wasn't time to set aside my running shoes, and that I just needed some differences in my training, and also she told me find an EXPERIENCE marathon for the fall. One where a time goal wouldn't be the focus WHAT?! That was almost impossible for me to comprehend, but I started researching and decided to give it a go.
After talking with her, my husband on travel possibilities, and looking at options, I decided I really wanted to do the Chicago Marathon for this. A World Major, it would have all the makings to be a good experience. Huge crowds, expo, elite runners in attendance. Fall in the Midwest is familar territory to me being from Indiana and the course is flat, so I wouldn't have to run down a mountain. The problem was the timing -- the drawing had taken place so there were no more bibs available. I searched charities,and almost all were full already. Thankfully, Kristan connected me with Imerman Angels, a smaller charity focused on cancer support, and they had one bib that was available. I scooped it up after talking with the director and feeling good about supporting the cause.
Race Weekend

I arrived in Chicago on Thursday, and was picked up from the airport from my dear friend Amber. My college bestie, we never see each other often enough, but it is ALWAYS like no time has passed. I spent Thursday afternoon and evening with her and her kids, taking them to soccer practice and then having dinner with her and her husband. We got to catch up and it felt like old times. I saw their beautiful new home they built in River Forest. I am so appreciative for their hospitality. Friday morning they dropped me off at my next stop-- my frend Jon's house in Lakeview. Jon was a fraternity brother of Jerrys in college, and he is also an avid triathlete and was running the marathon. He and his wife Jenni were kind enough to let me stay the next 3 nights in their home, feed me, let me love on their dogs and helping me navigate a big city. Jon and I headed to the race expo on Friday and met Kristan there.

We went through packet pickup, and Jon headed to work. Kristan and I stayed at the expo for FOUR hours! I think we should get a medal for that. The expo was huge and we took our time checking everything out and even partaking in a 20 minute stretch session with physical therapists. After the expo, I got to experience Kristan's race walking through downtown Chicago as we walked to get lunch haha. About 30k steps later, I finally found my way back to the train to Jon's house.
Saturday, we headed into the city at 6am for the Chicago 5k, which I ran with Kristan as our shakeout run. It was fun and about ten thousand people running. We didn't race it but enjoyed running with the excitement of the city. After the 5k, we walked to meet an Instagram running influencer that we both follow, and another 20k steps later I went back to Jon's house -- finding my way on the train alone! I have never been more proud. haha! I took a short nap and then headed BACK into the city (alone on the train again!) I met with Kristan and few ladies from Smashfest Queen that i had not met before. WE talked for about an hour just chatting about racing before Kristan was my guest for the Imerman Angels pasta dinner at the Congress Hotel. We listened to some inspiring stories while there, then I headed back to Jon's house by 7pm so we could go to bed early for race day!

I had planned for this race to not chase a time. On my garmin I turned off auto-lap and pace on my watch and just had time and heart rate visible, as well as cadence and ran without music. I wanted to fully be able to stay present in the experience.
Race Day
My alarm went off at 4:30am. I got up, got dressed and had a cup of coffee to get things "moving". Went upstairs and said good morning to Jon who was already up and ready to go, too. I hate a mini bagel with PB grudgingly, and was successful at using the restroom before we left. We took an uber from his house downtown to the Congress hotel. The weather was not as cool as I was hoping. I acutally didn't even really need my throw away clothes at all. I said goodbye to Jon, who was in the first wave as a much faster runner. We checked in our gear at the special Imerman Angels gear check which was really nice, stood in line to pee and then headed to corrals at 6:45am. Kristan and I sat down on the ground to wait. It was a long wait .... the race started at 7:30am... we didn't stand up until 8am! Unfortunately, this meant I had to pee again but there was no way out. I had to hold it. By the time we got to the start line it was 8:30! I had to pee SO badly, and I started running in so much pain because of it and there was no bathrooms to be seen. Ugh. I finally ran off course to squat and pee in the most private area I could find... not ideal, but there wasn't a real bathroom for over two miles. This is my only complaint about the entire race.

The crowds at Chicago were by far, the best I have ever seen. 2 millon people filled the streets. Cheering, dancing, playing music. It was absolutely incredible. If you are reading this, and you were there, THANK YOU!. Even when they were cheering for others around me, it was exciting. The other thing about Chicago that i loved, was running thorugh all of the different neighborhoods. It was so fun to see! Boystown had the stage with the drag queens, Chinatown, Old Town, Lincoln Park.... every single one was fun and exciting.
I kept an eye on my heart rate and kept it below 140bpm for the first half of the race. It would go up a bit when I danced and cheered. :). I took my gels as planned, and walked a few steps every time I grabbed water from an aid station. After the halfway mark, I started looking for my friend Amber, she had told me she would be between mile 14-15. Atlast, I saw her! I was so excited. When you've been running 2 hours alone, it is an incredible mental boost to see a friendly face and someone you love. I ran over to the side, hugged her, kissed her daughter and went on my way. She popped up again at mile 17, on the other side of that loop which was a surprise and great boost for me.

The stretch between mile 18-20 was the most "boring" . It was the quietest. Which is funny because of all the marathons I've done, Chicago was by far the most exciting and had the most crowd support, but when it has been so loud, those 2 quieter miles feel QUIET. People around me also started to struggle. I was still feeling good at this time and I looked at my watch and my heart rate was still between 140-145bpm. I encouraged those struggling.
Once at mile 20, I was SO happy because I had somehow missed the mile 19 mile marker. Woohoo!!! 10k to go!!! I knew I could let my heart rate creep into low zone 3 at this point so I stopped checking so much and picked up my effort a bit. I remembered that Kristan and Jon had both told me that once you get to mile 24, you then run 2 miles up Michigan Ave to Roosevelt before climbing "Mt Roosevelt" to the finish. I was focused on this once we took that turn on Michigan Ave!! I yelled out at people around me... "Only 2 miles up Michigan ave, we got this!!!" I think I was an annoying person, lol.

I was feeling stronger as as the finish neared. I started seeing the crowds pick up again, and saw Roosevelt in sight. "I DID IT!" I thought. "I did it, I feel good, my legs are pretty good, like I could keep running!" I took the turn on Roosevelt and SPRINTED up the "hill" and down the other side... saw the finish line and that is the first and only time my watch told me to slow down because of my heart rate. haha! I FINISHED! I crossed the finish line with a big smile and had more energy than I have ever had at the end of any long course race. I stopped my watch -- having no clue what my final time was.
4:24. (My watch says I ran 27.7 miles.... I don't think that is all correct, though I likely ran more than 26.2 because of the tangents and crowd dodging). This is 2 minutes faster than Marathon #1, and 32 minutes faster than that April marathon! Although, still 45 minutes off my PR, I am very happy with my execution of this EXPERIENCE race. I had FUN! I let my time goal pressure GO. I enjoyed the crowds. I enjoyed the fact that I CAN RUN A MARATHON! Not just one but TWO MARATHONS IN A YEAR! I am stinkin' PROUD OF MYSELF!! :)
Takaway
Do yourself a favor and do at least one race in your lifetime if you are an endurance athlete for the EXPERIENCE. It reminds you WHY you do this.
What is next
Next up for me is Indian Wells 70.3 in December (yes I care about my time for this one) and Mesa Marathon in February (yes chasing time at this one, too.)
Thank you
Thank you so much to The Clark Family for your hospitality while I was in town. Thank you to Josh and Amber for the same. Thank you Amber for coming to see me on the course. Thank you Kristan for helping me prepare mentally and physically for this race and for showing me the ropes of Chicago.
Thank you to my husband, kids and my parents for your unwavering support at all of my crazy endurance training and events.
Thank you to everyone in my training groups, both in San Diego and Indiana who all play a part.

Thank you Chicago! You'll forever be in my heart.
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