2007 Chicago Marathon Report

I sure feel funny writing this now, almost a year after the race. I've run Chicago every year since 2003. In past years, I've started thinking about my marathon report even before the marathon starts. I usually start outlining my comments while I'm running the race.

In past years, I've taken the day after the marathon off and woken up the next day, eager to go online and tell my story, read about the experiences of others and wallow in all the glorious memories of a mission accomplished. After last years race though, I couldn't find the words. There sure wasn't any reason to celebrate. I finished. I guess that is something, but it was such a disappointment and an almost fitting end to a lackluster marathon preparation.

Anyone who follows marathons knows at least a little about the 2007 Chicago Marathon disaster. It was hot - almost 90. The race was called off early as race officials and support staff became overwhelmed with medical emergencies. Runners in the thick of the pack and beyond were met with water stops with no water. Many were not allowed to finish the course and were directed back to Grant Park early. There were calls for the resignation of the race director. Many runners were outraged, most were disappointed.

In 2006 I had my best marathon ever - a PR of 3:53:06. I worked real hard for it, getting my average run distance up over 10 miles and pushing my weekly mileage above 50 mpw. I arrived at the starting line ready to run and brimming with confidence.

But the race and heavy training left me beat, sore and full of all kinds of aches and pains that wouldn't let go. A month after the race I ran a half marathon on a rainy, miserable day. It was a stupid idea. I almost had my first DNF. I never should have attempted it. My feet hurt, my hips hurt. I over did it. It took months before I felt like running again.

I had a hard time preparing for 2007. I put in the miles, but not nearly what I needed. Instead of my usual several 20 mile runs to prepare, I convinced myself that I could get by with a few 16 to 17 milers. I knew before the race that a PR would be impossible. If race day conditions were perfect, I might break 4 hours. I was OK with that. I wanted to run. I decided to go easy and enjoy the experience and really try to absorb the experience this time.

In the days before the race, it became obvious that race day conditions would be far from ideal. It was going to be hot. I was nervous, but I knew I wouldn't be pushing it. I decided to run a pace that would insure a finish at least a little faster than my first and slowest marathon from 2003 - 4:17:30.

It was in the 70's at race start. I was lucky enough to be able to line up in one of the faster starting corrals, based on my 2006 race finishing time. As we went through the first half dozen miles, I was able to maintain my planned pace. Starting before the open corral is such an advantage. There is room to run. It feels like a local race with none of the bumping and fear of tripping over another runner that you get further back.

As we reached the northernmost point of the course near Wrigley Field, the doubts started to set in. I knew I wouldn't be able to maintain the pace I was on. I decided to start taking 30 second walk breaks every mile.

After a few more miles, I decided that walk breaks at the water stops would be nice too. Then I decided that 30 seconds wasn't enough of a walk break and I should start taking a minute. It became obvious that this was going to be a real tough one. I didn't have anything to prove. I needed to survive this race and finish without hurting myself.

I wasn't alone. The runners around me were silent, focused on the tough mission ahead. One of my several distinct memories of Chicago 2007 came at one of the water stops near the half way mark:

I took the cup of water I was offered and shuffled ahead with my head down, trying to regroup for another go at some more running. I looked up and realized that everyone, EVERYONE, was in the same mode as me - walking, regrouping, in "survival mode."

As I reached each mile marker, I'd hit the lap button on my watch and laugh. I was "running" 10 to 12 minute miles. In years past, I was always looking at 8:45s, 8:35s, etc. This wasn't a race. It was a death march. I plodded on. My walk breaks got longer. "Just get to the finish line and get this over with" I kept thinking.

At 21 miles, a lady standing behind one of the water stop tables announced on a bullhorn that the race had been canceled. "What the he..?" It couldn't be! She told us that we could keep walking to the finish. When we came to the next timing mat the clock was off. There were no beeps as we crossed the mat. "We aren't even going to get a finishing time?" It couldn't be!

Helicopters circled overhead. "ALL RUNNERS. STOP RUNNING. WALK TO THE FINISH." they announced from above. As I've told many - past 20 miles your body is screaming at you to stop running and start walking. When you have people in official positions ordering you to walk, at that point it is real easy to say "OK, I can do that!"

My hope of a 4 hour finish had vanished in the first few miles. By 10 miles I knew that this was probably going to be my slowest marathon ever. As the last few miles went by and the 5 hour mark approached, I couldn't muster up the strength or willpower to push it. I ran some - just to get it over faster. I crossed the line in 5:01:19. I survived.

I read it somewhere here from another Chicago 2007 survivor. As the years go by, all your race memories will blur together. You won't be able to pinpoint exactly which race certain events happened, but you will remember the 2007 Chicago Marathon and all the gory details. I know I'll never forget it.

Will I be back? Not this year. I needed the break, but I'm already plotting my return for 2009. I'll be 55. My Boston Marathon qualifying time will be 3:45. Can I do it? Heck I don't know, but I'm gonna try like hell. 2007 didn't break me. I'll be back!

A Single Step

An old Chinese proverb says "A journey of a thousand miles began with a single step." As I start my quest to get back into marathon shape and qualify for the Boston Marathon, that thought goes through my head repeatedly.

I'm over a year away from my goal. I need to concentrate right now on getting back into the habit of regular, consistent running. I'm 2 for 2 now. I ran August 31, had an intentional day off on September 1st, and ran a nice, easy 3.4 mile run today.

The key word at this stage needs to be EASY. As I increase my miles, speed will naturally come. Right now, 10:30 to 11 minute miles are fine. I have no problem walking occasionally. At least I'm out there and getting some exercise.

While out running, I thought about what I need to do to reach my goal with the fewest amount of aches and pains. Mostly easy running will help. I need to find routes that allow me to run on grass for a higher percentage of the run. I always plan rest days and hard/easy weeks - very important to injury prevention.

I need to do better about stretching after runs. I also should start incorporating some easy weight lifting workouts to keep muscle groups balanced.

Make it a habit. Make it a habit. Make it a habit.

Advice for new runners

When you first start running, you'll soon be amazed at how great you feel. You'll be thrilled at how you are soon able to run faster and farther than you had ever dreamed. If you are competitive at all, you'll soon be setting goals for races at longer distances - half and full marathons, etc.

Stop!

When you start running, changes start occurring in your body very quickly. Your muscles start getting stronger, new microscopic blood paths start developing. Your heart and lungs quickly adapt to your new, healthy habit and you feel great, almost invincible.

Your bones, ligaments and tendons take much longer to adapt and that is where breakdown occurs. Plantar Fasciitis, shin splints, stress fractures - these are the results of new runners taking on too much, too quickly.

So take your time. Move up to the point where you can run 20 or so miles a week and then hold it for a few months. Race sparingly. Every race does not need to be a PR. Run some for fun. Help pace a slower runner. Getting to your best running condition possible takes several years, not a few months.

I know, you're saying it won't happen to you. It will. It happened to me and every over zealous runner I've ever met. Give it time and make your new running lifestyle something you can enjoy continuously, not only when you are not injured.

The Every Other Day, Hard/Easy Week Myth

From time to time I see postings on running web sites, usually by beginners, that go something like this:

I've been running every other day, so that gives me a nice easy week, hard week pattern by running 3 days one week and 4 days the next.

Horse Feathers!

I'll agree that, looking at the calendar, you are indeed, running 3 days one week and 4 days the next. But are you really alternating easy / hard weeks? NO! What does your body see?

Hard, easy, hard, easy, hard, easy, hard, easy, hard, easy. Day after day after day after day.

Is there ever a period of several days where your body gets a rest? No. Even if you rest every other day, your body needs a spell of less work every once in while for a period longer than a day.

If you insist on running every other day, then every other week try walking one of those workouts, or ride a bike. You need to give your body a rest, or at least a spell of easier workouts that lasts longer than a day.

Boston or Bust!

When I first started running back in the early 1980's, Bill Rodgers was my running idol. Boston Billy won the Boston Marathon 4 times. I was a newbie runner, running lots of 10Ks and dreaming of running one at sub-40 minutes. But a marathon??? That was for the crazies and the elites like Bill.

In 2002, after years of short-lived returns to running, I finally started running consistently. I built my miles, started entering races, and set my sites on the goal of running the Chicago Marathon.

I did it! Not just in 2003, but again in '04, '05, '06, and 2007. The last one, in 2007, was the year of the heat, the shortened marathon and for me, the culmination of a mediocre year of training.

My PR marathon in 2006 left me beat, worn out, and in pain for months. My feet hurt, my hips hurt. It is hard to explain. I worked very hard for my 3:53 marathon PR, but I sure did not like how it left me. In spite of the heat and humidity in 2007, I knew, deep down, that my poor performance was in large part my own fault. I had trained poorly. I needed to train smarter. Not just to get faster, but to get to the next race feeling great and to avoid the aches and pains of my PR training year.

When our neighbors told us that their daughter's wedding was the Saturday of Chicago Marathon weekend this year, it gave me a good excuse to take this year off from marathoning. I needed the break to heal, get some motivation back, and hit it hard in 2009.

The motivation has been hard to come by, but I'm feeling much better. I have 13 months to get back to running consistently, get into the best shape of my life, and qualify for the Boston Marathon by running Chicago in 3 hours 45 minutes or better.

Can I do it? I think I can. I know with the right, consistent training, I'll be able to. It won't be easy, but it is my goal. Boston or Bust!