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Victory
So it finally happened after 4 years of training and racing a new PR for me in the marathon. Sunday was the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and though the conditions were not ideal, I was able to do something that has been long in the making a new PR. I finished up in 2:26:21, almost a min and a half faster than I had run before. Sunday morning as I walked to the tent to put my stuff down to warm up, I knew that it was finally my day. From the time I walked out of the tent to warm up till the finish line all I could do was think positive and dream big with a huge smile on my face. I put on the ipod and zoned out as I got ready to race and focused on the big goal ahead of me that morning. Once we got to the starting line it was time to go. I missed the first mile some how and thought man I feel like I am walking here, but lets just go with it and see what 2 miles bring. 10:49 as I crossed the 2 mile mark yikes wow that’s not what I had planned I was suppose to be 11:04, so I slowed it down and regrouped over the next few miles. The whole time telling myself its ok we can do this, but we can not have those fast miles any more. Over the next few miles I started hitting pace and rolling right along, and made the turn back towards the city at mile 7 feeling good. The next 6 miles were still in the city before we headed west, and I knew these would be important ones, but at the same time you need to make sure the crowd does get you going to fast. Half way 1:12:15 a few seconds fast but were feeling good now it time to get serious. Over the next 2 miles the group I was with fell a part and there I was alone for the next 11-12 miles. As we came through 15 miles things were looking good and people were now coming back to me fast, this is where the race begins. So I started to dig down and see how many people I could pick off each mile, well lets say that was a great idea, because from 15 on there ended up only being 2 people to pass me over those next 11 miles. As I hit mile 20 still I pace I knew that it was going to happen today. When I crossed the highway and hit mile 23 one of my buddies was there yelling to me to dig deep and keep going a mile latter I saw him again and he said there is 10 people you can catch over the next 2 miles go get them. I got 9 out of 10 not bad I thought as I crossed the finish line in 2:26:21. Though the 2nd half was slower for me and more importantly the last 4 miles I lost a minute and I would still run the race the same way. Some things that made the difference for me was 1. a pre run of the course a month before, 2. fluids and mean lots of fluids, 3. a positive attitude. I had mention in a previous blog before how important it is to view the course beforehand, and it paid off on Sunday, just to know where I was and what was to come ahead kept me moving. Fluids, another huge part of a great race, it wasn’t idea race temps but if you took in fluids you were able to do great. I don’t think there was more than 2 water stops along the course that I didn’t take in any fluids and that even includes taking eater and dumping it over my head. Lastly having a positive attitude the whole time help me achieve my goal by never getting down on myself. In the end it was a great day and a great way to end a training block. I look forward to the next 2 weeks of down time before I start back up again. To everyone else out there dream big have fun and go for it.
Michigan, United States
Running, Athletes/Active Lifestyle
Marathon Runner
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