Considering I wasn't going to participate at all two months ago, then decided I would try to walk with Erin C. as much as I could before I failed to keep up the minimum pace (15:00 min/mile), I'm thrilled that I not only finished, but finished faster than I thought that I could.
Started out the day dark and early. I couldn't choke down much for breakfast, but managed to eat a banana and a couple swallows of coffee. I was surprised how nervous I was considering I wasn't "racing"! We headed on out to the starting corrals after a quick group picture and dropped off out stuff at gear check. I needed to visit the port-o-lets already (poor planning on my part, I thought we were going to stop at a coffee shop on the way...oops). The lines were crazy long, even crazier slow. We waited a long while, then most of the group decided to give up and go on to the starting corral. FINALLY made it to the bathroom at 7:25 (race started at 7:30), then ran to the corral and found the gang. That was luck!
As we passed through the corral to the start line, there were tons of spectators, several photographers, and way too many gatorade bottles full of what I don't think was gatorade... Oh, well, high five the spectators, ham it up for the photogs, and try not to think about the mystery liquid!
Erin C. and I started out with an easy run for the first 3 or so miles, then walked most of the next 23 miles. Sometimes we'd pick it up to an easy run for a quarter to a half mile, but mostly we walked. I had a huge lift each time we spotted the IRC cheerleaders--Rick, Jon, Kenya, and Corey are FANTASTIC!!! You couldn't help but smile and get energized when you'd see them!
I think we were at about the 6 mile point when I saw that the race alert flags had gone from green to yellow. By the time we were 10 miles in, the flags were red. Yikes. It was definitely hot and folks were hurting. At that point I was so glad that my game plan had been to walk, because at least I had a chance of hanging onto my goal (finish in under 6:30:00). If I'd been running, I don't think I would have been any faster. We saw folks being removed in stretchers at almost every aid station. Scary stuff.
Erin C and I saw Erin Hazler at about mile 18, she was having cramps so I gave her a salt tablet and then we went on at the water stop. Shortly after, Erin C. went on ahead when I needed a pit-stop. At about the 23 mile marker, someone came up behind me and grabbed my left hand. Hazler was back!! :) We stuck together and finished together, which was total awesomeness (anything that she's involved in is awesome by its very definition).
Summary: I loved the course, loved the spectators, awesome race support in the way of water/wet towel at the finish, the weather was absolutely horrid. The people of Chicago were incredible though--for the rest of the weekend, we were fielding congratulations and well wishes from complete strangers. I felt like a rockstar. :)
