Message posted by: Andy M.

I would like to start this off by saying the event organizers run a great race.

I went into race with less than optimal training. Since late June I did three runs over 10 miles and one 20 miler on Labor Day weekend. If you are considering a marathon, I strongly recommend against this type of training plan. My pre race goal was to run nice and easy and keep my heart rate below 140 and hopefully have a final time under 4 hours. The forecast early in the week was for cool temperatures’ on race day but as the week progressed, they kept inching up.

Karen and I went down to Chicago Saturday morning and went through packet pick up and then to the hotel. Packet pick up in a race with 45,000 runners was incredibly smooth.

Once at the hotel I could tell Karen was itching to hit the Magnificent Mile. With my iPhone in hand we hit Michigan Avenue. While she shopped I watched the Notre Dame v. Pitt game.

We had dinner that evening with my child hood friend Fr. Jim whose parish in on the near south side. After dinner it was back to the hotel for a little TV and early lights out.

Up at 5 for some light stretching, a few prayers and off to the start.

My traveling secretary aka my sponsor, my publicist, my biggest fan and my wife found a great hotel about a mile from the Grant Park. Given the size of race, she decided not to go to the start and since the race went close to the hotel 3 times in the first half she hoped to see me then.

I did an easy run to the Park and found the entrance to start corral C. I marveled at the logistics to accommodate the number of runners. The time went quickly, they played the national anthem and the wheel chair racers were off, then the elites. By virtue of my seed time, it only took me 5 minutes to reach the start line. For the people at the back of the open corral, it took 35 minutes or longer.

The first 5 miles was pretty tight but we were all moving at roughly the same pace so it was not too bad. The crowds were deafening and I tried to draw as much energy from them as I could. I saw Karen a couple of time before heading up towards Wrigleyville. We headed back into the Loop and I was looking forward to seeing Karen but missed her. She stood on a fire hydrant for over an hour scanning the masses looking for me to no avail.

At the halfway mark I was feeling pretty good but could tell the heat was going to be an issue and decided I was really going to have to pay close attention my fueling the rest of the way.

I was really looking forward to getting to mile 19.5 and not for the obvious reason. That is where the course goes by St. Procopious, Fr. Jim’s church. I was afraid I might not get to see him since I was going to pass by earlier than I thought. However, I found him, still wearing his vestments; grabbed him for a quick hug and a blessing and was off. I think I will need to send him a check for the dry cleaning bill.

I headed into the last 10K with renewed energy, but then the heat really started taking its toll. My heart rate surged into the upper 150’s and my pace slowed. At around 4 miles to go, I was really struggling. I visualized a 4 mile loop I train on which helped a little. We made the turn on the Michigan Avenue and I was happy to see McCormick Place since we had driven from there past Grant Park the day before and I knew what to expect. I saw several runners in the last 2 miles being tended to by EMT’s and could tell I was on the ragged edge. I rounded the 2nd to last turn to find a pretty good pull up to the 26 mile marker. In reality it was probably nothing more than a little rise but it seemed awfully steep at the time. I hit the last corner to the welcome sight of the finish line. I crossed in just under 3:46 and was very happy to be done.

I can’t say enough about the race organization and the army of unbelievable volunteers that made the race possible and the people who line the course from start to finish cheering us on.

I am going to dial it back for a couple of months, resting and healing and them the preparation for Ironman Wisconsin on September 11, 2011 begins in early January.

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