We were warned about hot weather before the start of the event, a bit worrying because I haven't had a chance to run in such conditions (blame the UK weather). Didn't sleep much the night before, maybe because of the above, or the jet lag coming from China, or the fact that I simply hadn't trained enough?
The day itself was something of a blur, so here's a short timeline of events (as much as I can remember). In-race photos can be found here:
http://www.marathonfoto.com/order_my_photos.cfm?RaceOID=12852010M1&LastName=YU&BibNumber=42938&Language=en&spMAILINGID=35700937&spUserID=NjMyMjc2MzQwMAS2&spJOBID=84209757&spREPORTID=ODQyMDk3NTcS1&BFI=l82rbvayrj&Frames=true&Flash=true&FlashVersion=10&Height=900&Width=1440&Index2Home=true
The race route:
http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400Min/uploadedFiles/Chicago_Marathon/Runner_Information/10_CM_Map_FINAL.pdf
5am: Alarm goes off, though unnecessary to be honest, as been awake since 3
5.30: showered, gear-checked, still dozy, down to hostel canteen for a bagel breakfast with fellow runners. Reminded me of Darwin '09
6.30: Followed most hostel runners to the start line. Luckily it was only 2 blocks away
Anxious/scared 6.45: sorted out all the gear check stuff, the sun's about to rise, chatting to fellow runners. Quite excited
7.15: Caught short just as start gun's about to go. Damn long queues, almost as bad as the Shanghai Expo
7.30: Starting gun
7.35: Caught up with the masses, still filing their ways through to the start line. At least the toilet excursion didn't cost me too much time
7.53: Finally got to the start. Masses of people, great atmosphere for an early Sunday morning. The sun fully up, but still relatively cool
Mile 1: really crowded, so difficult to achieve consistent pace, but not a bad start
Mile 2: Dropped 2 of the 4 energy gels due to some argy-bargy. A setback, but not a massive one I hoped (well...)
Mile 6: A small breeze, nice and cool as the route winds through the Loop and then a park. Feeling good, and still amazed by the local support
Mile 9: Running through the Old Town, felt a bit like Italy/Greece to me. Overtook the Eiffel Tower and Wolverine. Getting a bit warm but still feeling ok
Mile 13.1: - Feeling the legs a bit, Sun fully up & heat starts to bite. See some people struggling big-time.
M15: Fatigue and heat through the suburbs, starts to hurt
M17: The Wall, struggling on
M19: Info board says '87F'. What's that in C
M21: Sun really beating down now, cramp setting in, stop first time
M22: Stomach complaining, no more Gatorade pls
M23: Passing Chinatown, patriotism carry me through?
M24: Finally some shade
M24.5: Photographers perch. Smile
M25: Earphones starting to hurt
M25.2: 1 to go, pace up, forget pain
M25.5: Overtaking some, overtaken others. Everybody hurts
M26: Momentum and crowd - only sources of energy needed now
M26.1: Can see the line, somehow manages to break into sprint
M26.2: Shower and a bed please, no I don't want beer
Overall time was something over 5hrs, which I kind of expected because of a lack of proper training and diet, although in hindsight it wasn't too bad an effort as more than 2,000 didn't make it. It was a little disappointing, but now I'm more determined and confident to some extent. Definitely will do it again, although probably not this year.
Marathons are hard, but enjoyable, and doing one allows you to look deep inside. It teaches so many things about yourself, like mental toughness, physical shape, perspective on life... therapeutic in a way.
In short, if you can physically run one, please do. But don't do it with jet lag
Day after the night beforeTraining routes whilst in China:
http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=53EF8525-B149-7F27-4FFF364ACDD1D492
http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=34EB97A6-E109-6D06-E1EE6A2C8C23304C
