Chicago Marathon 2011!!!

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I glanced at my Blackberry an hour ago to find an email informing me that there were only 5,000 spots left for the 2011 Chicago Marathon.

Wha?????

Last year, it sold out at the beginning of April.  It’s not even March yet! 

I’ve been dragging my feet, playing the “Oh, I’ll sign up next week” game since registration opened on February 1st but when I got that email that it was filling up fast, my reaction was to grab my credit card even faster.  No WAY was I going to miss out on the Marathon.  10-10-10 was too amazing of a day, of an experience to not want to be a part of again.

So, it’s official- I am signed up for the 2011 Chicago Marathon!!!

Update: Just got an email from Ryan- he’s signed up too!  Looks like the threat of missing out on 26.2 miles of blood, sweat and tears, glory was enough to get both of us in action!

Chicago Marathon Recap

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, Chicago running, CM10, Fall in Chicago, first marathon, Luna Bell, running, Uncategorized%s Comments

This weekend was sooo my weekend.

First, my Michigan State Spartans beat U of M.  For the third straight time.  This is may also be known as “putting them in their place” or “basing your team on a kid who can’t tie his shoes is a terrible idea/he will never win the Heisman”.

This glorious, 34-17 win gave me a clear conscience to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon and run it, I did.

A record setting 38,131 runners competed in the marathon and 26.2 miles later, I was one of the 36,159 that finished.  Even today, I cannot believe that I ran that far and it’s all over.  It’s almost surreal.

Some highlights:

  • Nearly every inch of the entire course was lined with spectators.   I now know what 1.2 million people look like.
  • Every single one of those spectators were cheering, screaming, sign-holding and smiling.  I now know what being a rock star must feel like.
  • My friends Mike and Lindsay were at miles 6 and 9, Ryan and my Mom were at mile 12, my co-workers were at mile 23, my college roommates saw me cross the finish.  I had people there for me at crucial miles and it made all the difference in the world getting me across that finish line.
  • Every Port-a-Jon I used was relatively clean.  Score.
  • I was served a Dixie Cup of beer at Mile 24.  I dedicated that entire mile to those fine folks.

Here is the method to my madness during the race:  I focused on each individual mile.  Some people told me to break it into sections, some people told me to not look at the mile markers.  But the second my feet hit the start pad, I knew it was going to be a mile by mile race for me.  “Working on 2, working on 2”, “working on 8”, “working on 18”, all the way to “working on 26”.  This really kept me focused on a manageable task (I can run a single mile) and fully present to what I was trying to accomplish.  It worked for me because before I knew it, I was working on 26.

Speaking of Mile 26, this is the only portion of the race with a hill.  The Chicago Marathon is famous for being “fast and flat” but right before you hit 26, there is a decently steep hill.  And I didn’t even mind.  For me, it hammered home that yes, this is a huge deal, yes, even though you’re almost done, you have fought for every step of this run in 80 degree heat.  And yes, once you’re at the top of that hill, .2 miles has never looked so sweet.

When those .2 miles were done, I cried.  Oh boy, did I cry.  I was a marathoner.  I ran 26.2 miles.  Every time I didn’t go out, every beer I didn’t drink, every mile I put in when I just wanted to stay in bed all led to the exact moment I crossed the finish line.  Holy cow.

And then I got to meet up with my cheering section:

And then I got to go home to my cat.  And even though I had to share my bagel with her, I didn’t mind one bit.

Congratulations to all of the 2010 Chicago Marathon runners!  It was long and it was hot but we did it!

Nom Nom Nom

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, chocolate chip waffles, food cravings, ninainthechi, running, The Running Couple, Twitter, Uncategorized%s Comments

If chocolate chip waffles aren’t running food, I don’t want to know what is.

I’m not sure if I’m cut out to have children because the marathon cravings I’ve had the last few days have been so intense that  I can’t imagine what pregnancy cravings are like.  I feel like I’m eating like a college linebacker right now.

In other news, I met the most darling couple from Fort Worth, Texas who are in town for the Chicago Marathon.  We got chatting about the race and I learned that Husband Lee has run a few before, Wife Isis is taking on her first and they had tons of great tips, stories and were just so gosh darn nice.  It turns out that they have a blog called therunningcouple.com and have been blogging about the running and training they have done together.  If there ever was a team (or a “teamie” as Ryan and I call it when we are particularly proud of ourselves for doing something good together), Lee and Isis are it.  They absolutely fueled my excitement for the Chicago Marathon and I am so excited to get reading their blog for more inspiration and advice!  In addition to their killer blog, you can follow them on Twitter: @runningcouple.    I’m @ninainthechi on Twitter, just in case you’re not following my musings yet.

High Five of the Day: The incredibly nice people who spoke with me at ADT today.  All I was trying to do was change a battery but they took me seriously, as if I were dealing with a matter of national security.  I totally didn’t expect that from an 800 number.  Way to go, customer service.

Just Like a Good Bra…

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I’m talking about support, people.

To say I am blessed to have supportive people in my life is an understatement.  I am even luckier to know that I do as these people are also very expressive.  But this week, the support I have been getting from people I love, people I like and people I don’t even know has been overwhelming.  Overwhelmingly AWESOME, that is!

My best friend is in Paris this week so she sent a card because she’ll be mid-air during my run.  My Dad, writer of the best emails of all time, sent me a Papa G classic that made me (and several co-workers) cry at work yesterday.  Mama G is coming into town to be at the finish line.  There have been emails and calls from friends, friend’s parents, acquaintances, readers, friends of friends, all with advice, their own running stories or well wishes.

I’m getting more excited than nervous now and I attribute that to the amazing support I’ve been shown recently.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

4 days!

Marathogging???

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Title: my lame attempt at combining the words “marathon” and “blogging”.

I apologize for the million posts about the marathon but with 10.10.10 being T-minus 6 days away, I have a pretty one-track mind right now.

Today, I met the bloggette behind Vegan by Valerie.  Formerly ChicagoMarathonVal.com, Valerie has shifted the focus of her weblog to her passion for veganism while still blogging frequently about training for her 4th marathon.  Simply hearing that the 2010 Chicago Marathon will be her 4th was impeccably good news for me- someone I have actually met has run one of these AND still thought it was a good idea to keep running.  Helped quell my anxiety a bit.

Since she was super sweet, I checked out her blog when I got home tonight.  She must have known about my recent obsession with jicama because her latest post was a recipe for Jicama and Carrot Slaw with Mango Dressing and Avocado!  Delightful.  I really like how her blog blends vegan love with running, yoga and overall healthy living.  Especially loving on her post “Just Run”.

I’ve had my blog for a little over a year now and I am just becoming aware of what a community blogging is.  And how many wildly creative, and might I add hilarious, titles there are out there!  I totally regret not calling my blog “Seriously, You’re Taking My Bagels?!?” or “Save The Date For Cupcakes“.  And, I totally, definitely regret that my table doesn’t look like this everyday:

I mean, shut the front door SaveTheDateForCupcakes– now I want Gummi Worm Shooters and Mini Caramel Candied Pears Infused with Peach Honey Sticks at my Halloween party!  Simply gorgeous.

A quick Google search for Chicago Marathon Bloggers came up with about 307,000 results (or at least that’s what Google could muster in .19 seconds).  There’s a kid w ho has run 17 Marathons, a guy who compiled selected blog posts from last year’s race, one who wrote a funny and really true post about being a Jekyll and Hyde runner.  Super inspiring, powerful stuff- why didn’t I think to read this stuff during my training, when I needed all the inspiration and motivation I could get?  You live and you learn, I guess.

Moral of the story: there is a blog for every topic under the sun and when one is taking on running 26.2 miles, one might consider reading one of said marathon blogs.  Ahem, Nina.

In other news, the Go Go Green 5k is coming up on October 23rd.  It’s an eco-friendly race designed to raise awareness about our urban ecosystem.  Recycling, running, Lincoln Park…what’s not to love?

It is truly, without a doubt, go lace up your shoes right this second, fall running season.

Marathon Update Part 3

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Niketown came out with the 2010 Chicago Marathon gear on Friday.  I don’t love Nike running gear but since they’re sponsoring the marathon and I am running the marathon, I pretty much want all the 10.10.10 I can get.  Loving the incorporation of the Chicago stars.  Good one, Nike folks.

Forecast for 7 days from today is 69 and sunny.  Today is 55, cloudy and windy.  I’d take somewhere in the middle.

1 week!

To iPod or Not To iPod?

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That is the question.

10.10.10 is quickly approaching (11 days!) and during my run this morning, it occurred to me that I need to decide if I want to bring my iPod on my little 26.2 mile run.  They say you should do on race day what you did on training runs.  Well, I’ve done a lot of things.  I’ve run with my iPod, run while watching Oprah, run while talking to Ryan and run just to the tune of city sounds.

Pros of running the marathon with an iPod: I can zone out to my favorite bands and if I hit a wall, a pump-up tune is only a click away.  Cons: I miss out on being fully present to the crowds out to cheer on the runners and all the sounds that come with that.  I could also get too pre-occupied with song changing.

Runners!  Fill me in- which do you prefer on long runs?  iPod or running au naturale?

Marathon Update Part 2

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I did another long run yesterday and it was a success.  Chicago lived up to its name with the wind off the lake forcing me to cut up through Lincoln Park.  I think the site-seeing is what got me through.  Ran through the recently re-opened pond area of the Park, up on Inner Lakeshore, Cubs game just starting at Wrigley, down through the brunch crowds on Armitage…I was just so happy to be out and about on such a beautiful morning, experiencing so many of my favorite parts of the city within a short time frame.  Running is so good for that.

And did I mention that Ryan hits the pavement with me through all of my long runs?  Weeks have been busier than usual lately and it is so nice, even though we do live together, to be able to spend several hours together talking about all the stuff that just doesn’t make it into week night conversation.  News headlines, conversations we’ve had with friends/family, work anecdotes, “did you see what Luna Bell did?” stories…all while getting in mileage.  I am exponentially grateful for Ryan just in general but his support has made this marathon business so much more fun.

I wasn’t even sore today, at all!  I was shocked, I put in quite a few miles.  I think I’m really going to be able to run this marathon.

2 weeks. 2 weeks.

Marathon Update

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In 41 days, I will be in that crowd.  In 41 days, I will be a marathoner.  In 41 days, I will probably be more sore than I have ever been in my life.

I’m running the Chicago Marathon in 41 days and I must confess, I am getting nervous.  The reason I began this post with “I will” statements is because I find that by saying “I will” and “I am” and “I have”, I feel like these 26.2 miles are already in the bag.  And to be honest, I need all the confidence I can get.

Because for me right now, “26.2” rhymes with “Holy Shit”.  When my feet are actually pounding the pavement, I feel like I can run this thing.  I’m out there, I’m doing it, I can muscle my way through the whole shebang.  But in most other waking moments, I have some serious self-doubt.  Like, what am I going to think about for 26.2 miles?  Am I going to like running with people all around me for 4+ hours?  Should I use an iPod?  Should I take Gu or those gummi things?  Well, never mind on that- Gu is all slimy, gooey and gross.  Definitely those gummi cube things.  What if I get tired/hurt/cranky and I’m freaking far from home?

I know, I know, I know- this is why I’m doing long training runs.  Which have all gone well.  But thinking about race day fills me with some butterflies in my tummy.  It was 86 degrees out today so I hit the treadmill to knock out my planned 9 miles.  Ellen was on, thank goodness.  I don’t care about the whole “real runners don’t run on treadmills thing”.  I happen to love treadmills.  And forgetting that I’m running because Ellen DeGeneres is cracking me up.  And positioning a fan so it directly hits me.  The miles were pretty easy today, which was very encouraging.  Chalk it up to Ellen, my endurance or the ideal room temperature…I’ll take what I can get and I needed a shot in the arm of confidence.

So, that’s where I’m at.  Punching out the mileage, trying not to be a huge wimp, thinking positive thoughts.  Basically, every time I go “What was I thinking?!?”, I envision this:

41 days.