This is really a race report, but a DNF, so I don't think the blog will let me list it as a race report. Sorry if anyone here in blogdome was waiting for my report; I am almost unable to use Fast Running Blog from my Ipad because it just isn't supported by the system I guess. I am finally home now, so I can catch you up! I believe I mentioned previously in the blog that the marathon did not place me in my seeded corral and that they would not fix the mistake when I called them. I panicked briefly, then decided that it was no big deal; I would just go ahead and run the race I knew I could run starting in the open start. When I got to the expo on Friday evening, I went straight to the Nike Pace thing and tried to sign up for the 3:40 pace group. My plan was to hold onto that pace (8:24/mile) until mile 20, then decide whether or not I could speed up slightly and try to finish in about 3:37. Well, guess what? There is no 3:40 pace group in the open start! For the open start, pace groups started at 4:00 or 4:25. So, they gave me the 3:40 paper to pin to my back and suggested that I arrive early, get in front of the open start area, and try to catch up to the 3:40 pacer when the race started. Another setback, but I decided that it was in fact the only reasonable thing to do. I still was confident that 3:40 was within my reach. On race morning, I woke up at 4:30, because that is when room service arrived with my bacon and eggs. I can eat no grains on race morning, and I do best with some fat in my stomach three hours before the start. So bacon an eggs, plus coffee. I crawled back into bed and tried to rest. But by 5:00, my friend Aeron was texting me like mad; she had a plan for "sneaking" into my proper corral. By 6:00, I was convinced, and she showed up at my hotel at 6:30 so we could go to the start together and carry out her plan. Her corral was D, although the corrals are all lumped together once you get beyond the fences and checkpoints separating the corral starters from the open start. There is a separate number, printed on the same material as the bibs, with your race number and the corral designation. This extra number is for your bag check, and its slightly smaller than the actual bib, but otherwise identical. On our way to the start, we took Aeron's bag check paper, crumpled up my bib on the front of my t shirt, and pinned Aeron's bag check number over the top. To me, it looked like a total paste up job, but at the three checkpoints, we were waved right through! All the officials are looking for is that A,B,C,or D designation, so they glance pretty quickly. I had a near panic moment at the last checkpoint, because it was only a few minutes until start time, and if I got turned back, there was NO WAY I could get all the way back to the open starting area in time. But, we were waved on through. Lots of last minute giggling over this one! As soon as I was in the mass of runners within the corral, Aeron and I separated; she was running a 4:00, and I wanted to push forward until I could at least see the 3:40 pacer. I met another woman who wanted to do the same, so we shouldered our way up as far as we possibly could and waited for the start. The first few miles were difficult, because there are several short tunnel sections, where the Garmin was not accurate. Even so, I achieved decent (not entirely too fast) splits here. My huge problem as a distance runner is that I go out WAY too fast, and I was very determined not to do that today. So, all was good and pace was so good, even though I NEVER achieved this pace in training. I just did it. At one point, the woman that I was running with saw the 3:45 pacer up ahead, and suggested that we catch up. I refused, since my Garmin was telling me that we were exactly on target for 3:40, and I was right. That 3:45 pacer was going WAY to fast. Things were good until about mile 8; legs felt fresh, breathing normal, effort easy (ish). Then there was a rather sharp pain in my right calf. I slowed slightly and waited to see what would happen; by 9 I was limping, and the pain was radiating from high part of my calf up into the hamstring. I pulled over at the aid station and got some ice. End of story. EXCEPT (and there always has to be more to the story, right?) the experience of getting transported back to the start line on a school bus was absolutely hilarious. I think I am the kind of person who immediately resorts to humor when I feel bad, because I just thought the image of all the wounded racers clutching dripping ice bags (heat was now approaching 80 degrees), piling onto a yellow bus hysterical. We stopped twice to pick up more wounded, and ended up with around 50 runners on the bus. It was a little bit like a war zone thing, especially because we had to drive FOREVER all around Chicago to get back to the race start because so many roads were closed from the marathon. Picture the aisles of the bus with tiny rivers of water now, as all the ice has melted. Some of us (the bad kids in the back of the bus, with whom I proudly identify), began to swap race horror stories and sing songs. Finally back at the start/finish area, I went about reconnecting with my husband, who agreed to try to meet me at the finish. We had a back up plan to meet about four blocks away on the steps of the Chicago Art Institute. I don't think we ever would have found each other at the finish; mobs of people, many of the finishers falling down from the heat (now 90), ambulances everywhere, dogs, children, wheelchairs, finishers wandering around with beer, you get the picture. My leg seems reasonably good today (Wednesday). I was able to walk a fair amount yesterday without limping, and am going to ride my bike this afternoon. I hope for the best. The emotional healing will take longer. I felt so prepared, so rested, so calm. I didn't lose weight, sleep, or sanity over this race. I spent hours visualizing and planning my race strategy and goals. And, with the help of my coach, they were reasonable goals. I trusted my training and felt good about my execution of it like never before. I felt strong physically and mentally. But, still, another DNF in a marathon (#$&*@). I had already decided to spend the winter running months on speedwork, with shorter races. I love fast, and the effort of training for the marathon leaves me feeling like I am constantly holding back so I can go the distance. I need a release from that pressure for a bit. Also will be doing more intense workouts on the bike, to prepare for another duathlon in March, and I'm taking a "total immersion" swimming class to prepare for triathlons. I seriously love these multisport things. I don't know how to go about repairing the mental damage from this marathon thing, but April brings Paris, and the marathon there, so we will see what happens! There is also a 5K in Paris, I think. Do you think that is too far to travel for 5K? Thanks, y'all for your support and for reading this (not) race report.
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