Another Life Experience…
Aghh, Chicago Marathon Complete. That’s #6 for me! My final time was 3:38. Not close to my goal and not close to my current best time, 3:26, but a new experience which only makes me a stronger person.
It didn’t turn out to be my best race, but I’m still happy about it. Not sure what it was, but I just never felt that great during the run. I must tell you this is the first race experience where I did not feel good from the start gun. Nonetheless, a decent time and a good lesson for me that I’m not going to have my BEST race every time I run.
I was sick 10 days ago with the flu so maybe I was still not 100% even though I thought I was. I like to think I’m 100% all the time! I don’t even like to admit when I’m sick, now that’s a sickness 
And, I don’t think the mid 80’s weather helped either. Like I’ve said before, you just can’t control conditions on race day.
I knew right away I wasn’t going to have a good race. My body wasn’t feeling like its usual self on race day. By mile 5, I was going to plan B and scratching my original goal to break 3:20. By the way, its always a good idea to have an alternate plan on race day.
However, this was extremely HARD for me to do. For those of you who know me well I’m EXTREMELY competitive with myself and every time I race I expect to hit my best ever! So, having to tell myself Chicago was not going to be my best marathon was very difficult for me.
I still finished in a time good enough to qualify for Boston. I ran Boston 6 years ago and I’m not sure I”ll do it again. IT takes out a lot of excitement when you already know what to expect. But, I have a ton of friends and clients running it this year, so I just might do it.
Chicago was a great learning lesson for me. Honestly, this is the first race when I’ve had to slow down and tell myself to be smart or else worse things might happen. I finished the race in tears because I was so disappointed and had let myself down. This is where I have a problem….being WAY to hard on myself.
I found my brother and mom and then really burst into tears. They both knew exactly why I was upset. My brother quickly told me that I still had a great race and I shouldn’t be upset over something I couldn’t control. He was right, but I was still upset.
I spent the next 2 hours quiet and still frustrated about the race. We stayed around the finish area so I was watching others finish and it was so inspiring. IN fact, I finally had a talk with myself and said: “jill, snap out of it. You just ran a marathon. You can’t always have your best race”
I put a smile on my face and finally decided to change my thoughts about this race. It was actually good for me to experience what I did. I’ve never really had a bad race (I’m not being cocky here, Ive been an athlete all my life and am always well trained and well prepared, its MY JOB)!
Plus, I’m no superhuman, so having this experience reminded me I’m just like anyone else and some days are good and some not! I’m happy that I can now look back at this race and say I learned a lot and fought through not feeling well and finishing the race.
I wish I could tell you more about the course and sights, but I honestly was so focused on my body and trying to feel better (plus many trips to the bathroom), I don’t remember much. I do remember the course being filled with a ton of spectators and runners. That was cool and helped keep me going.
Thanks to everyone who sent me messages! It really makes a huge difference and just like you, I also need the encouragement and inspiration. Thank You!
And, congrats to all of you who have recently or are about to run a marathon. Its an incredible journey and huge accomplishment!
If you have a race experience to share, good or bad, please leave a comment here. I love reading your comments and so do others ?
Posted by admin | in Marathon, Mind Set, Uncategorized | 22 Comments
You’re amazing Jill! The fact that you realize the possibilities that it won’t always be your best day, shows that you are, in fact human. AND, we will always come home, rest, and plan for the next undertaking and set a new goal to strive for.
Thanks for continuing to be an inspiration to us all.
-Michael
I just ran my first FULL marathon yesterday. The Portland Marathon. I felt great and was holding a 4:42 pace up until mile 16 I felt a sharp pain in my knee. I tried to run through it but it forced me to walk. I was sad cause I had to run/walk the last 10 miles of the race. It was also pouring down rain the entire race. At mile 20 my ipod died because of the rain. I really needed it at that point to forget about the pain in my knee. I tried to run the last 10k of the race but got to about mile 23 before my entire right leg started to stiffin up. I stopped to stretch it and walked for a bit. With 1 mile left i refused to walk that last mile and ran, well more like shuffled to the finish line. I felt defeated when i crossed and not as happy as i should have been. I saw my family and gave them hugs and they congratualted me. When we sat at lunch I snapped out of it too and just realized that I ran my first full marathon and I FINISHED and regardless if i was hurt, that is something to be proud of. I finished in 4:48:22.
Thank you Jill for this post! You just solidify the fact that I should be very proud of myself and my accomplishment. You are right some days are good and others are bad. I am ready to improve what I did for my next marathon (sometime next year
Jill, you are an inspiration!
Sorry meant a 9:42 pace!! Not 4:42 that would be crazy!
Nice job Jill you ran great. I was there and it was my first marathon so it was a really awesome experience. I’m 17 so younger than most that give a marathon a try. I was really shooting to just finish but I did want to be at about 5 hours. Early in my training I wanted to be at about 4:30 but my training did not go all that well I was sick for 3 weeks and was on vacation for 1. I also pulled my hamstring on my 18 mile run and therefore missed my 20 mile run and a week or more of consistent running. But I figured I had put so much in I was going to run no matter what. I was really not use to running in the heat. But I was on pace to finish under 5 at the half way point but around 20 I got such bad leg cramps I had to stop running and had to walk a lot I did not really know what to do about the cramps because they would start up like a minute after I would start running again which was really frustrating because I was feeling good other than that. I’m just happy I finished although I ended up 5:47 it’s something most people never attempt and it felt so good to cross that finish line. I’m just really sore today but it’s all worth it in the end.
I finished my second marathon, Portland. My goal was 3:30, and I finished at 3:35, I am happy with that. Babe Ruth didn’t hit a home run everytime he got up to bat. I plan to hit the next one out of the park!
My inspirations were my two children and husband, 3 and 5 waiting for me at the finish line! I have lost all the pregnancy weight and then some! Life is good!
Thanks for your inspiration Jill!
Congrats on #6! You still did awesome all things considered. (But I know it’s all relative. I’d kill for your finish time! LOL!) I was so hoping I’d see you out on the course! I hope you’re feeling better today!
Hi Jill,
You are way to hard on yourself. I ran my first marathon yesterday and it was the Chicago Marathon also. It was really hot and I think you were smart to run safe. I saw many people taken away on stretchers. I was hoping to run 4:45 and ended up at 5:33. Not that great, but it was so hot. I felt pretty good until the halfway mark and went downhill from there. I too changed to plan B and that was just to finish and not get hurt. Congrats on the run…. you did really well!!! Thanks for your encouragement.
I know it’s hard to not meet your goal, especially if you are competitive. I just posted something about this today. Cut yourself a break!! All races can’t be the best or you wouldn’t have those days when you really really shine!! 3:38! Still great even if it’s not what you wanted…
Jill, Yesterday was my first Marathon at Chicago and I finished well over my goal. I hit the wall at 17 and couldn’t recover but I vowed to finish. My inspiration is the 60 pounds I lost from a year ago, my wife and 2 daughters. Love the blog!
Chris
I found this entry by searching “I had a bad race” on google. I had the same exact experience as you in Chicago (my 6th Chicago and 8th overall). I started with a goal of 3:20, but just couldn’t do anything all day, even though my training had gone well and there was no reason for me to be so drained at mile 1. I even burst into tears when my friends met me at the finish line. I fully understand the disappointment you must be going through. Its comforting to know that other people went through the same things. Good luck getting back out there, and see you in Boston!
Chicago Marathon smoking hot. I think all the spectators made the heat even hotter but I am not complaining cause the crowd was energizing, the best part of the marathon. I finished half hour over my goal time but survived and not too sore today. What about the Eiffel tower guy? That was crazy.
Great post Jill. Same result here. I was shooting for 3:20 and wound up making peace with plan B goal of 3:30 as the course turned south the sun and increasing temps were going to take a chunk out of everyone. I wound up 3:29 with which will qualify me for Boston in 2012. The truth is the heat and general climatic conditions were a bigger deal than I anticipated. I live and Central Tex and my morning summer training runs are typically in the 80s; I figured that 70s in Chicago would be no biggee; but we don’t run our stretch marathon goal paces for 20 some miles in training do we, and that lack of cool air is a killer. I took water at every stop, was totally hydrated the week before and in Chicago and I was still dehydrated at the end and coated in salt. I think everyone outside of the elites wound up having to recalibrate goals and it was a smart thing to do. I saw quite a few people getting treated by medics over the last 10K and I was very happy to simply be on my feet as I crossed the line. This was actually the first time I felt a bit wobbly as I made it through the finishers area. Congrats on another great race and thanks for sharing your ideas with your readers. You should be proud of your efforts and be grateful for the ability to cover 26.2 miles. It’s still simply a major, major accomplishment, and something only a sliver of a sliver of society will ever choose to work toward, let alone experience. I for one will bask in the glow of another marathon in the books for about a week, then get back in the gym, and maybe start to work on some becoming a better swimmer, before trying to make my big aerobic base and seeing if I can set a PR at a local 5K next month. Congrats again!
This was my first full marathon and I had no idea what to expect. I finished in 4:38 and couldn’t be happier. I was actually on pace to finish closer to 4:15, 4:20 but ended up walking a bunch after mile 21. Chicago was great, my twin 5 year olds boys had a lot of firsts in a big city, the crowd was great -it as a blast and I’m barely sore today.
Now that I know what to expect – look out Flying Pig in Cincy – 4:15 it is! Love reading your posts – have several of your quotes up on my mirror. 1st place for crowd signs in Chicago – “It’s not sweat, that’s your fat cells crying!” Ha!
I know what it’s like to miss your marathon goal – hard! I can’t help but think that having the flu had something to do with it. Great finishing time!
Hey, it is not always going to be your day. I just finished Twin Cities with no expectations and running 1 day a week. Sub 3:30 and the knowledge that this is much faster than most people could ever dream of running. Nice when perspective sets in and you can look at the accomplishment instead of the result.
You should hold your head up with a smile and know that others look to you for inspiration and dream of the day they can do as well as you have.
Jill,
You did a good job under the circumstances…You motivate a lot of people..
and help people be healthier…
Add some chiropractic in your life and see what those results will bring..
Dr. Sheppard
From what I understand, the weather at Chicago was not even close to ideal! Lots of friends are telling me that they were lucky just to finish. I was fortunate enough to run the previous week in New Hampshire where the weather was perfect. Rode that perfect weather to a 3:19:19 BQ.
Glad to hear that you ran smart at Chicago. I think one of the hardest things to do as marathon runners is reminding ourselves to slow down.
Hope to see you in Boston!
-Luau
Wow! You are an inspiration! I am training from my first marathon right now and listening to my body has been difficult. I’m a time junkie and sometime push through when I should slow down…thanks for sharing your experience!
Jill,
This blog is amazing. I’m feeling SO much better about my first time marathon in Chicago after reading these postings. I feel heroic to have only been 6:05 off my “stretch” goal time (BQ in 2012). I thought that the summer heat in training would make me immune to the same heat on race day…wrong. I hit a wall somewhere between 22-24 and saw my times get slower and slower and just knew that it wasn’t going to happen. In some respects, a blessing…no reason to run another…can go back to happy halfs! I did re-evaluate my stretch goal time at the half point and did slow down as they recommended when the race was put on yellow alert. Running within yourself…being smart…leads to future races. Pushing it leads to injury. I actually reminded myself of some running friends who dream of doing a marathon but have had injuries prevent them from lining up at the start. Be proud, be inspired and have fun PLAYING with your friends this weekend.
Jill, congrats… 3:38 is awesome time. I will be happy to accomplish my first in 5 hrs.
Jill, Well done. Thanks for your blog, I find it another source of inspiration for those days when I don’t want to get out of bed at 5.30 am. i would love to do the Chicago marathon. I live on the west coast so it’s a bit of a hike. maybe i could run there!