Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon Recap!

I can finally stop saying I never did a race. I think this race sets the bar high (as it should with its cost!). Bottom line up front.

Pros: Course, music, pre and post race food and drink, organization, volunteers, course extras like cold sponges, and a lot of fun people!

This is not me

Cons: Only con of the race was the Humanity Vitality Cheer Squad screen at mile 10. When I crossed there, they weren't showing the messages yet which sucked. Thankfully I heard that they were working for +Maggie Wolff and Xaarlin at Pain is nothing and they got my messages! yay!

Lessons Learned: Double tape nipples. Put bib on shorts next time so I can shed my shirt. Don't eat so much random ish after the race, stomach still trying to digest it. Get my race fuel strategy on track, and don't sip gatorade too often, I started getting a drinking cramp.


Do it again? Yes, although heat was getting to me a bit.

Now to my journey!

Woke up at 3am, I was still full from eating so much pizza for dinner. I started with my coffee, but added some sugar and milk to try to top off my energy stores. I watched part of Equilibrium and talked to my friend in NY who hadn't gone to bed yet.

4am: More coffee, gotta make sure no junk is left in the trunk.

5am: Get moving out to the El.

My attempt at the foot selfie

Most of the people getting on the train were going to the race, which was pretty fun.

5:45am - Get to the race area. I knew the +Chicago Running Bloggers  meetup was starting, but I needed to use the facilities and get my bib and stuff on. Sad I missed meeting some people that comment on my blog for the first time (Running with the Sunrise and This Hobbit Runs).

6:10am: Get to my corral.

I recalled Annabelle @ Fluency's Folly's would be a pace leader for 1:45 time and would be at Corral 4. So I did what all good stalkers do and just went up and talked to her.

After a brief chat and no luck in finding Xaarlin or  Sarah who would be in that group, I went to my corral.

I lined up at the end of the corral with the intention of going with the 1:30 group. Social observation, I think I was the only guy there that was near 180lbs.

The first mile was a bit tight, people kept getting in front of me and I couldn't get my normal stride going without stepping on someone. I started losing the pace group until the path widened and I went way out to the side. My first 5k I was hitting sub 7s pretty easy. I passed the pace group (which I won't do next time), and went on my way.

I saw Erin @ Loop Looks around that point with a sign by the  route and got a cheerful wave!

I didn't know it was her until after I waved, and immediately waved again.

As mentioned in prior posts, I intended on going 5-7 miles then decide to go faster, slower, or maintain. Well, I was sipping on my handheld bottle a little too often and felt I was on the verge of a rough cramp, and was feeling a bit hot (and to be honest, my legs were Hanson Marathon tired), so I decided to just enjoy the rest of the run at an easier pace.  You'll see below where I made the decision, and had fun for the rest of the race. It was hard to accept people passing me that I had a good leg on, but in the end, I got the corral time I needed:

Slowing down let me get lots of high fives from bystanders and enjoy the views. The pace group caught up again, I hung with them a little bit, but checked my ego at the curb and just let them go on their way.

The music was cool on the run, although I caught a few of them chilling, um jam people!

Miles 7 to 9 the heat was getting to me a bit and I took a few more steps off. I was a tiny bit worried I would go too slow, but reminded myself I had a strong first half and just stay healthy. I saw a few people in corral 1 have to step off the race and recover on the sidewalk here.

Looping near Chinatown to go east was when the course got really fun. The drummers in Chinatown got some life back into me, and then we went through some people hosing us down and misters. The station with the ice cold sponges was a god send and I screamed out - SWEET ICEY NECTAR OF THE GODS!

The coolest part of the race was going through the tunnel about 2 miles away from the finish line. The inside was all cool flashing lights with DJs and high fives. I would do a half marathon in this, plus it was cooler. It reminded me of this:

 People started going hard here, but at this point I had no reason to other than saying I finished what, 30-60 seconds faster? As long as I was under 1:37, I was good.

Not so fun part of the race for me, I didn't apply my nipple tape good on my right side, and man did that chafe. I was holding down my shirt for half my run and would only take it off my chest for the photographers.

I jogged to the finish line, got my drink, medal, and cold wet towel, then went back to the finish line to try to see some bloggers finish. I capture Anabelle, Sarah, and Xaarlin, but then the medical tent told us to go way back so they have easier access. I went on my way and caught up to Annabelle again.

Annabelle

Guy in white blocked Xaarlin for most of the shots(See behind him)

Sara Crossing with a smile

Post race stuff: They had TONS of food and drinks, I couldn't handle it all (TWSS). I was a bit of a glutton and my stomach paid the price. I only found Annabelle and Maggie and we got these pics:

Good times!
Back to training!