Rock n Roll Chicago - This is One Heavy Medal

The inaugural Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon is in the books. Yesterday was sunny and in the 60s at the start. As I expected it warmed up pretty quickly. Almost 15,000 started the race. This was a wave start. So were all entered into corrals based on our expected finish times. I was pretty far back in the pack. This was my first wave start. It felt a bit annoying to start and stop thing all the way up to the start line. I was very glad to get going.

The course started in Grant Park and then headed to the Loop. Runners zig zagged through the streets of Chicago. There were folks out cheering us on, and it was nice to see people with signs for their loved ones. I liked this part of the course. Too bad more of it was not in the city.

After Mile 4, the course meanders to the Lakefront Path. I have run on this portion of the path before at the Soldier Field 10 Mile Race, so I knew what to expect. The problem with the path is I think it tends to get too narrow for the number of folks out there.

I felt great the first 5-6 miles. I would say my only complaint at this point was my 5 minute wait for the port-a-potties. It ticked me off that the woman ahead of me "saved" spots in line for her girlfriends. When they stepped ahead of me, I uttered an obscenity. They knew I was not happy about this. After this episode I knew I could make up that time. I am not an elite athlete, so I don't have the speed to make up time like that. So off I went.

Mile 7 was the start of the rolling nature of the course. I felt I used a lot of energy with these "hills." This was also the point of the course where most people were walking a great deal of the time. The path is too narrow for all the people who want to walk with their friends. Some of us are still running out there. I wished these folks would have walked to one side of the path.

By Mile 9 I decided with the heat it was time to go from the 8/1 interval to 6/1 interval. In hindsight I think I should have started this sooner. I was a bit tired after the hills, that and the heat I was feeling more tired. I looked at my timer, a PR was no longer in my sights, but I was figuring I would be happy with 2:52, so off I went.

Mile 11 I was very tired. I don't think I took enough fluids, and I was feeling dehydrated. One volunteer at the aid station resisted giving me a second cup of water. I glared and took it anyway. C'mon two cups of water that aren't even 1/4 full? There was plenty for everyone.

Oh....odd note that I forgot...Mile 6 was what I call the mine field. They had wet sponges for us. Running in Sponge Alley was tricky. All the sponges thrown down made it hard to step. Organizers might want to rethink that move.

Mile 12 I knew the end was in sight, and I did my best to power ahead. By now I was slow. I was taking longer walking breaks. I was thirsty. I pushed on.

When I saw the finish line I stepped it up. My time was in my sights and off I went. I finished the race in 2:52:16. My pace was a touch over 13:00/mile. That is slower than I have been, but I will take it for that day.

The medal they gave could knock out an elephant. It is one heavy medal, but I felt I really earned it. Mark was waiting for me at the end, and I was so glad to see him. I had seen him at Mile 4 before we headed to the lake. At this point I was feeling dizzy, so he made sure I had something to drink and got me to sit down for a while. He looked so happy to see me, and I was so happy to show him my HUGE medal!

Overall I am pleased with the race. I am thinking about what I learned and what I need to do now for the marathon and will go over that soon in another post.

Congrats to Kara Goucher who won the race! I think she is an amazing athlete, and can become our greatest long distance runner.

Charlie