As you may already know, I ran a 3:01 at Chicago last weekend. It was still an awesome weekend, so here is the recap!
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| On public transit to get my packet! Rocking Brooks and CW-X! |
We flew to Chicago on Thursday evening. Nate and I stopped at Walgreen’s for some Allergy/Decongestant medication the minute we arrived. I was SO stuffy. I don’t think I’ve ever reacted so much to the fall, but I’ve been stuffy for 2+ weeks during the MN harvest. I should probably get myself tested. Anyone else have allergies? Is getting tested worth it?
We didn’t end up buying anything because the pharmacy wasn’t open and I thought the allergy + decongestant was the better option (vs. just the allergy meds). Turns out, though, Chicago must not have the same allergens in the air as MSP. After 24 hrs in Chicago I was breathing pretty much normally. YEAH! No allergy/decongestant meds needed!
Fast forward to the next morning. Nate and I slept in, did a 4 mile shake out run (I felt awesome!) and then made our way to the Expo. Wow! I have never been to something so large and so organized! I picked up my bib and then sat on the floor while Nate and his family loaded up on samples :).
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| At the Expo! 186! I tried to figure out how that (186) would equal 2:42, but couldn’t, despite any mathematical tricks. |
Nate and I hung around the apartment until our cheer crew arrived Friday evening. Seriously, who is lucky enough to have a packed SUV, complete with SIX bikes, come down to cheer? I am one lucky girl!
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| Wow. |
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| Breakfast the morning of. Claire is the best (right). She had the assistant coach’s “no stress” role down pat. She danced at the breakfast table and in the elevator. Also note her awesome smile! I may need to hire her as official assistant coach/cheerleader from now on. |
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| Before I entered the gates, my herd put on their costumes :). I couldn’t have asked for a better send off! |
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| Kieran and I before the start. This girl has POTENTIAL! Watch for the name! 🙂 |
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| Craig-man, looking oh-so-serious. He was most likely the navigator for the “herd”, so I’m sure this is when he was contemplating their next course-spot. Check out the googly-eyes on his costume – they offset his seriousness :). |
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| After getting in trouble for thanks for trying to cross Grand Avenue, Craig asked if they could lock their bikes up and just “cheer”. The cop responded with something like, “Oh, I WILL lock YOU up!”. Cool enough altercation to make it into the Chicago Tribune :). Note Nate trying to make good of the situation with hand gestures and Claire trying to sneak away :0 |
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| Early in the race. Smiling even then! |
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| Realizing I was not (at all) on pace for the OTQ. I was still within striking distance of my 2:42 through mile 9, but then things fell apart & I kept slowing and slowing. There were only 3 miles where I scowled and pressed the pace. After that (after recognizing it wasn’t going to happen), I vowed to have fun and smile. Because if you’re not going to run a PR, you might as well have fun, right? 🙂 |
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| This solidifies the fact that I have AWESOME friends and the BEST cheer crew 🙂 |
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| Can I just say that Claire is so cute she even makes this Mad Cow Costume look decent? 🙂 |
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| I kept a smile on my face the entire way. Because, let’s be honest, if you’re going to run ~20 minutes slower than your goal pace, you might as well enjoy it, right? |
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| Despite my finish time, I will say that Chicago is a freakishly FAST course. There were a few more turns than I was expecting, but still… TOTALLY flat! Love! |
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| THE ABSOLUTE BEST CHEER CREW! Seriously. |
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| The most awkward photo. Let’s not try this again, k? |
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| With SS, one of my athletes. She is just a JOY to coach – love her! We’re working together for a huge PR at Boston :). Like her Sparkle skirt? Or “grape race” nail polish? 🙂 |
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| Deep Dish Chicago Pizza! And a Diet Coke :). I loved it until it hit my stomach… and then I realized I’m not used to this much or this type of food! Like the sunglasses? Nate picked up a few free pairs at the Expo. |
I am enjoying the down week. I’m sleeping in, eating whatever I feel like (frozen pizza tonight! Yikes!! Don’t tell Rasa!), and only running if I feel like.
I’m still mystified by my finish time, but I’m not allowing myself to beat myself up about it. I have a lot of reflecting and reviewing to do this week. Any thoughts/suggestions/comments appreciated.
I have a fun running -related meeting scheduled for Friday, so I’l have to keep you hanging until then :). A likely life-plan blog post between now and then, but there could be major changes Friday. Stay tuned!
.JPG)
