Chicago Marathon Race Recap
Marathon #14. Wild. I never thought I’d be “that runner” running marathons year after year.
I originally entered the Chicago Marathon for 2020, but we all know how that year turned out. So I deferred to 2021 hoping the next year would resume to “normalcy”. As luck would have it my best friend entered the lottery for 2021 and also got in! We had run one marathon together (MCM 2019) but this would be the first marathon we could enjoy together! (If you know anything about the swim that was included in MCM 2019 then you understand this statement)
We arrived in Chicago on Thursday (three days before race day), using this race as an excuse to take a race-cation. I had been to Chicago a few times for work and one time for fun but there was still so much to see. Our first stop was a short Uber ride to Oak Park to explore Frank Lloyd Wrights home. Naturally we had to stop for food beforehand and there was a Giordano's two blocks from the house. Two birds one stone! Now this is still Covid but we didn’t expect the dining room to be closed still but the pizza was just as good on a street bench as it would have been inside. Jess had the standard Chicago deep dish and gave it a thumbs up. I had the gluten free option which honestly wasn’t terrible! Maybe it was because it was in squares and not slices? FLW house? Go see it. We made it a point to get some education in every day and this was worth the extra time from ORD to downtown.
After the walking tour we hopped on the L train to head to downtown. I highly recommend the L going from the airport to downtown. $5 and a straight shot to most parts of the city. We were staying at the Sheraton Grand on the Riverwalk, just a short walk from the train stop. I won’t bore you with the sight seeing details over the next two days but here are the highlights:
Sushi at Hot Woks Cool Sushi (would eat again!)
Do-rite Donuts - If you are GF you MUST try these. I couldn’t believe they were GF.
Field Museum - Go say hi to Sue the T-rex!
Wildberry Pancakes - no reservations, but we only waited 20 mins or so for a table on Saturday morning.
Willis Tower Skydeck
Architecture River Cruise - great way to spend the day before the marathon OFF our feet. It’s a great place to take a nap too.
Eataly & Labriola for dinner
Ok let’s get to marathon specific details.
The expo.
The expo was held at McCormick Place. It was walkable from our hotel but it’s vital to keep the steps to a minimum the days before a marathon. We went on Friday right when it opened. Vaccine or Covid test required. Masks the entire time in the expo. The wait to get in wasn’t too bad, I heard on Saturday the lines were 1-2 hours long just to get in. We waited maybe 20 mins?
This was our first expo in almost 2 years! WOW forgot how much energy expos bring! Bib pick up was a breeze and very well organized. My only complaint is that there were too many clothing brands selling branded gear. I didn’t want to buy what I saw first but I also didn’t want to have to remember what I like and were I liked it. Thankfully I stumbled upon an Under Armor sweatshirt that grabbed my attention. Sold. We moved onto the White Claw and Goose Island Beer Co samplings and headed out.
Race Morning
Alarms went off at 5:30AM. I think I slept OK the night before, but honestly my sleeping had been way off all week so I felt ok given circumstances. Jess and I had two different start times, mine was 7:30AM and hers was 8:00AM. I like to get there right on time and she prefers to get there as early as possible so the staggered start time worked out perfectly! After getting some coffee and applying anti-chaffing balm we made our way to the starting corral. It was pretty easy to walk in the morning, following all the other zombie runners towards Millennium Park. From our hotel it was a 10-15 minute walk.
We entered at our designated gate. Quick security check. Oddly enough they were making everyone dump their liquids from their water bottles, however they didn’t ask anyone to open their gear check bags (which is where my bottle was). I must have missed that in the pre-race email. Making our way through the crowds we had some difficulty finding gear check. We finally gave in and asked someone. We joked that from an aerial view the layout probably made sense, but on the ground we felt clueless. Bags checked and now to find porto potties.
The lines for the porto potties was a disaster. We must have stood in line for 20 mins and they barely moved. There was a runner in front of us who still had her gear check bag. We encouraged her to go drop her stuff and we’d hold her spot. Had she waited she would have missed gear check for sure. I ended up bailing on the potty because it was getting to close to my start time and there was no way I would make it. From past experience I know that if I have to pee I can probably hold it. (Nashville marathon I held it until mile 20) Probably not good for my pelvic floor but what can you do. I got to my corral with 3 minutes to spare. Right on time.
Ready, set RUN!
I was in Wave 1 Corral E. The last corral of the first wave. I figured we would have some waiting time but didn’t expect it to be 20 minutes worth. My only concern for race day was getting done by noon in order to beat the impending heat they were forecasting. The race officials had already raised the race alert from green to yellow and were expecting to raise it to red during the race. I know I don’t do well with humidity, so my plan was to get it done fast (well fast-ish) My goal time at the start was a 4:05-4:10 race. Not hard but an even pace I could have fun and enjoy the race with. The gun goes off!
Miles 1-5: This sucks. I don’t feel good. I felt sick already. I had no idea why I didn’t feel good, but I felt off. I tried to take a gel thinking more caffeine would help. Drank some Nuun Endurance. Nope. Ok then, so this is how the race is going to go.
Miles 6.2: So far I was feeling icky but the race around me was great. The crowds were insane from the start. I recalled passing mile 1 where I was supposed to see my mom and Jessi’s mom- no dice they missed me. No big deal, I’ll see them at mile 3.1. I passed 3.1 where I watched them look for me but they didn’t see me. Oh well. I’ll see them at 13.1. That felt so far away. I remember hitting the 10K mark and thinking shit, I still have 30K more to go. We were heading into the northern part of the course and I was afraid the crowd support would dwindle. I was pleasantly surprised that the crowds were out in full force.
Mile 10: My first bad thought. I thought about DNF’ing. I didn’t HAVE to do this. I could stop. I don’t need to be here. Yes that’s how bad I was feeling. I was feeling pukey and nauseas. Little did I know this nausea would follow me until the finish. We were rounding the Zoo and making our way back South when I saw a group of nuns with a sign that said “High Five from a sister so you don’t get a blister” Made me laugh. I decided to keep running. Popped a gel and said let’s go.
Mile 12: Athlete spotting! I have a current athlete who had deferred her race to 2022 but she was out spectating. Wild part is I’ve never met her in person so I didn’t know who I was looking for! This “where’s waldo” gave me something to do for a mile and I was so excited when she spotted me! Brought me so much joy!
Mile 13.1: Mom spotting! Half way (well not really). I was just about to cross the half marathon line when I saw my mom and Jessi’s mom. I stopped to chat. First thing I said to my mom “I feel terrible, I need to puke” She responded with “well go over there and puke and get back out there” Very typical of my mom. I didn’t puke. Took some photos and headed back out.
Mile 13.2-18: No clue. I spaced out here. I know we ran the West Loop but honestly I have zero recollection. I know I ran but It’s almost like I took a nap and my legs kept going. This isn’t atypical for me, happens a lot on training runs where my body just knows what to do. Good thing? Maybe but when I “woke up” at 18 I knew I had to finish
Mile 20: Oh we got this. 10K to go. Or so I thought. At this point I could still finish within my goal time but was starting to feel worse. I switched gears to have fun vs running to the finish. The difference of 10 mins would not break me or define me. I would rather finish 10 mins later than push it and feel even sicker than I was feeling. I took out my phone and took photos and video (something I rarely do while racing). I’m so glad I did, now I have memories of the dynamic neighborhoods of Chicago. The drag queens dancing on stage, the latinos dancing, neighbors cheering on total strangers. The energy was contagious.
Mile 24: This is when shit hit the fan. Physically I felt fine (well as fine as you can for a marathon) I had a slight pull in my calf but nothing I couldn’t manage. I couldn’t run for more than 5 minutes without the real urge to puke. At this point of the race bodies had been dropping all around me. People sitting on the curb and not getting up. Runners cramping and tripping. I had not seen that many runners needing on course medical since the Savannah Marathon (which stopped the race and declared it too hot to proceed). My only goal was to stay upright and not let a medic pull me if they saw me puking.
Mile 25.5: Who put a hill here? Coming up from the south via Michigan Ave heading towards Millennium Park. Someone decided it was grand to put in a hill right before you turn left to the finish line. To make it better there are photographers there to capture your death stares. OK I exaggerate, it wasn’t THAT bad but it wasn’t pleasant. I had successfully not thrown up and I wasn’t about to now. Turning left and seeing the skyline against the finish line. Victory.
Miles 26.2: Fuck I just ran another marathon. I love this. I have that thought every time I cross the finish line. Even typing this now I am getting goosebumps remembering that feeling. There is nothing like it.
Post Marathon
The finisher shoot was really well organized. Usually I feel like cattle being pushed through and like I never have enough hands. The sponsor (some grocery store?) was kind enough to include bags for runners to gather post race snacks and fuel. Goose Island Beer Co was slinging cans of beer and water bottles were plenty. I was lucky enough to bump into a friend while getting my gear check bag. He had run his first marathon and it was sheer luck that we were standing next to each other. I’ll never forget his face when I asked him how the race was “humbling” is all he replied. Ha so true, the marathon is not something to be messed with.
After collecting Jessi and all of our things we located our moms (after some yelling, my mom’s dead cell phone and frustration) to make our way back to the hotel. Note: I recommend having a post race plan to reconnect with family. And please for the love of God do not crowd the gate where runners are coming out of the finisher shoot. One of my top pet peeves. Back up and I promise your athlete will find you.
Walking back to the hotel was pretty painless but my stomach hated me. I would have waves of nausea and would need to stop to put my hands on my knees every couple of blocks. We stopped at a CVS to get Coca Cola and Lays Potato Chips (IYKYK) sugar and salt = happy runner. My mom was curious about my selection and then she saw the guy behind us in line getting the exact same thing. See mom, it’s a runner thing.
We finished the night with showers and a walk to Navy Pier to take pictures and ride the ferris wheel. I highly recommend the ferris wheel to see the race course from above!
Final Thoughts
This was marathon #14 and I’d do it again. The energy from the crowds is like nothing I have experienced. Chicago places #3 in my favorites (Berlin #1 and MCM #2). Do not come expecting perfect fall weather, it looks like this race is trending to be on the warm side. I would have thought my DC summer running would have helped but alas midwest heat and humidity hit differently. 10/10 recommend
Fueling Strategy: Nuun Endurance as needed. Honeybee Stingers - unflavored - miles 5, 12, 20, 22 , half banana at 19 & 24.
Music: I had a headphone in but didn’t have anything playing. You didn’t need it. The course was enough!
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline
Outfit: Lululemon biker shorts, Athleta sports bra
