Tales From The Windy City

No PB, but what a race and what a city!

Our first thoughts as we approached Chicago in a taxi was that it was a bit smelly. I soon realised though that we were accompanied in the traffic by a cattle wagon. That was perhaps my only negative thought about the whole city during the trip.

It wasn’t long before the Chicago skyline appeared on the horizon and the view was fantastic. We eventually arrived at the hotel (basic but adequate would be the best description) and after getting ourselves sorted headed out for dinner and a couple of drinks. We were in bed reasonably early (about 10pm-ish) our bodies struggling with Chicago time (BST -6hrs) hoping for a good nights sleep. I was awake at 3am though, and didn’t really sleep again until Mrs p also opened her eyes having not slept much better than me, at about 5am. We watched TV for a while then had another short snooze. The night two before the race is the one when you should aim to get your best sleep… oh well! This is just one of the downsides of travelling abroad to race, all of which are outweighed by the overall plus points.

   

Saturday was expo day and after a hearty breakfast, we headed towards ‘Nike Town’ and the free shuttle bus. I realised, thankfully before getting on the bus, that I had left my registration documents in the hotel room. So, leaving Mrs p in the morning sunshine, I walked back to the hotel, then back again before getting on the bus… not ideal additional walking the day before the race! The bus was great. It was just like being in a Simpson’s episode as we all piled onto the yellow ‘School’ Bus. I was dying to call out. “Hey Otto” to the bus driver, but managed to restrain myself!

The expo was really good, I picked up some new Saucony Racing shoes (Mr Subversive Runner, I now also have orange shoes!) at a much cheaper price than in the UK, as well as some new Saucony road shoes for a mere $56 (about £34). The official Nike kit was a bit of a disappointment though. I had already seen the top I wanted on line, however when I tried it on, I discovered it wasn’t designed for those of us that are not quite as far evolved from our primate relatives as others (i.e. having a love of bananas and long arms). The medium fitted ok but the sleeves were too short, the large didn’t fit as well and the sleeves were still too short, and the x-large had long enough sleeves but you could have fitted two of me in it! There were also no free bananas! I had to get something though and settled on a thicker training top which ridiculously cost me the same as my new racing shoes. I love it though now that I have got over the initial frustrations! Ironically, the free Nike top that came in the goody bag is, although classed as medium, pretty damn big. Oh for the love of consistency!

Most of my spending money already gone, we headed back into town and jumped on an open topped bus for a tour of the city… gotta rest those legs! It was a good way to get our bearings and to take a few photos. JK would have been proud of me throughout this trip. Camera always in hand – although not during the race!

above: ‘Soldier Field’ – home of the Chicago Bears American Football Team. They took their name after they initially shared a stadium with the Chicago Cubs Baseball Team, before they moved to their new home.

After the tour (and some food) we had a walk down to the start/finish area to take in some race day preparations, then (after coffee) headed off to find some buckets of pasta before retiring to the hotel for another very poor nights sleep.

Race Day: The Chicago Marathon 12/10/2008

08:00 26.2 miles 3:17:48

1 6:48 2 6:58 3 6:58 4 6:52 5-6 13:57 7 6:59 8 7:06 9 7:06 10 7:04 11 7:09 12 7:07 13 7:14 14 7:19 15 7:21 16 7:29 17 7:32 18 7:43 19-21 24:13 22 8:15 23 8:57 24 8:39 25 8:41 26.2 10:10  Average 7:34 min/miles

After a breakfast of a banana followed by bread and jam, and a refreshing shower, the first dilemma of the day was footwear. I wanted to wear my new racers but knew that was against all the advice ever given. When did I ever follow advice though, so wearing my new orange Saucony trainers and my Kilbarchan marathon vest (it has my name and Scotland flags on it) I left the hotel with Mrs pacepusher. After a short walk and a ride on the ‘El’ train, we were soon walking towards the start in Grant Park with the masses. There was a real buzz in the air and the early morning hue added dramatic colouring to the skyline. I wasn’t nervous at all, just excited by the whole atmosphere and looking forward to the run. It was going to be hot though… it already was pretty warm at what was only about 7:15 am. 

It took a while for us to find the baggage drop. We were both in seeded corrals having faxed evidence of our past times to the race organisers. I was in start corral A and Mrs p was in C. Once we’d dropped our bags off we had a bit of a walk back to our start areas. Reaching corral C, I said goodbye/good luck to Mrs p and headed towards my start area. Toilets were limited in numbers (my only negative regarding the entire race) but there were a few trees being regularly used by males and females alike.

Just before entering the start Corral I met a guy from the plane that I had got chatting with and had seen again at the Expo. He was running his first marathon, but had been given a place in the top 100 starters (he was hoping for about 2:35!) We wished each other luck, and I entered the start area. He finished in 81st place in 2:37:44 – pretty impressive!

I was pleased to see that a high percentage of runners in Corral A had also chosen to wear racing shoes and that put my mind at rest! I bent down to tie my shoelaces, just as the National Anthem started, and quickly jumped back up to standing… don’t diss the USA anthem folks! It was actually really quite an emotional performance and I was raring to go when it finished. Once I’d tied that shoelace anyway!

Over the next ten minutes before the gun sounded I had some thoughts. They went something like this… I’ve had a good year. I’ve had PB’s in the marathon, the half marathon, twice over 10k and completed the West Highland Way Race. I’d already achieved a 3:10 marathon, be it just over, and achieved qualification for Boston, so what did I really want from this race? Well not a 3:09:59! What benefit would that really give me. I wanted this to be a realy enjoyable race, and if I could achieve a time much closer to 3:00hrs it would be much more enjoyable! I was standing next to the 3:00hr pace group and decided I would just head off with them and see how it went. I had no idea what was in store after a mixed bag of training due to the hip injury, but knew that I had the stamina in my legs. Time would tell.

At the first aid station I grabbed a cup of Gatorade. I made a school boy error though and as I took a swig the liquid went straight in my eye! It stung… badly! The aid stations were incredible. They took up practically an entire block, starting with first aid, then Gatorade, then fruit, then water. There was also a drop out truck at the later stations, and gels. The volunteers at each one were fantasic throughout the race. They were maned by volunteers from local running clubs and schools. They were incredibly supportive and positive from the first station to the last. The gereral public were also doing their bit. People were out with garden hoses to water us down, with extra cups and bottles of water, fruit, sweets, and at mile 23, a guy offered me a full bottle of Gatorade. Sometimes the Americans can come across as incredibly false with their “have a nice day” routines, but this race made me realise that they (in Chicago anyway) are genuinely positive, happy, and above all generous people. New Yorkers arn’t like this, and you wouldn’t see this in London. In both places support was good, but not this good… “Good Job, Chicago!”

After about 3 miles I was feeling really comfortable with the pace and enjoying the atmosphere. I was hanging on to the back of the pace group but not trying to force my way to the head of the pack. At this point however I began to feel the heat. It was only about 8:21am but I could feel myself starting to burn up. I kept going steady though, it still felt like an easy pace, and I had nothing to lose. By about the end of mile seven I started to realise that the weather conditions were not to my liking and that the pace was too much for the heat. I made an effort to ease back, knowing I could still achieve a good PB.

It was by about mile 16 that I realised it was going to be a long way to the finish. The heat was really taking it’s toll and I was drinking more and more water and Gatorade. At this point I remembered my main aim of the race. To enjoy it. And enjoy it I did. Once I had decided to just run it in, I started to enjoy everything around me more. As mentioned previously the crowd and the volunteers were fantastic, but there were other things going on too. Teams of Cheerleaders and acrobatic gymnasts were out to give us some support and encouragement… as was Elvis! I always make an effort to applaud these people for the skills they are displaying. Just after the incredibly noisy Nike cheer station on about 23 miles, there was a group doing an acrobatic display. One Girl was perched high on one leg on the shoulders of at least one other girl. I applauded as I passed and she smiled, catching her eye I gave her a thumbs up and she beamed such a big genuine smile that it was one of the highlights of my run.

With about a mile and half to go, I was feeling pretty pleased with the world. The sun was out, the sky was blue, the hip had been fine and a medal was to be mine (he he, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!). Then I heard a familiar shout “go Neal, you’re looking good”, I turned to the woman laughing and said, “no I’m not!”. She looked genuinely hurt and I felt bad, but the couple along side her understood my humour. I apologise to this woman, and should you ever come across this blog, thank you for your support. Her face was just more evidence of the genuine nature of the support and help that was shown throughout the race. 

There was a big climb at the end of mile 26 (walking it over the remainder of the week it was nothing, but on tired legs…), then a straight line to the finish. I passed loads of people over the final stretch feeling good that I’d made it after all the previous weeks of problems with my hip, and crossed the line happy. At this point I’d like to thank Julie and Christine at Achilles Heel. They will probably never read this, so by way of thanks I’d like to recommend that every single one of my readers in the Glasgow area go to one of them for a massage (if you don’t already) and tell them who recommended you to them and why!

Through the finish line I was presented with my medal and removed my chip. I was then offered a cold towel (which I took and placed on my head) and a space blanket (which I didn’t take… it was 30 degrees by this point!) There was then water and Gatorade, bananas which I obviously took, and bagels. Then I got given a bag of ice which felt amazing on the back of my neck. Could this get any better? Could they have anything else up their sleeves to make this race far, far beyond my expectations? Yes. Oh YES indeed! …welcome to the world of post race free beer!

Beer in hand, I headed off to get my bag and get changed. After the beer was half drunk, so was I, but no way was that glass half empty. I had been totally sucked in by the American attitude. My glass was half full, and my time was a good one (my third fastest marathon time, I finished 1159th out of 33,250 starters. I was the 33rd GBR entrant, the 2nd placed Neal/Neil from GBR, and the first placed pacepusher!), it was not a disaster because it wasn’t a PB. I have no regrets and am delighted to have my fourth medal of the five World Marathon Majors. Just Boston to go… bring it on!

Two things to point out… No, I’m not holding hands with the guy in the photo above right, and the photo of me running over the orange/red mat has a spoiler. The shirtless guy behind me has chosen to right NADS across his chest. No that’s not his name, it’s just one of the oldest gags in the marathon runners bag. If you don’t get the joke, shout “Go Neal”, then replace my name with his!

The post race area and it’s dramatic backdrop.

Waiting in the finish area for Mrs p, I lay in the sun drinking more free beer and kept an eye on the big screen for Mrs p finishing. Believe me, by this time the heat was far better designed for sitting in the sun and drinking beer, rather than running a marathon. When I met up with Mrs p I congratulated her on managing to finish in that heat before I even asked what her time was. Last year the Chicago Marathon was stopped on 19 miles due to the heat. They had a second random hot day this year, but they were far better prepared. They clearly learnt their lesson.

That evening we celebrated with cocktails/beer on the 96th floor of the Hancock Tower (John Hancock Centre), about 1,100ft in the air. The views were fabulous, the one below shows the north view along the shore of Lake Michigan.

The remainder of the week saw us eating and drinking plenty, walking even more, going to museums/galleries, visiting a blues club, watching Dirty Dancing and Wicked at the theatre, and erm… oh yeh, shopping!

  

above: Two young girls admire the reflections in the elliptical sculpture entitled, ‘The Bean’. The Sears Tower towers above other nearby structures. The giant guitar outside the HardRock Cafe.

 

Since returning to Glasgow, I have been for a massage at Achilles Heel, run 5 miles (22/10/08) and 4 miles (23/10/08) without a watch, and been generally jet lagged!