Ruta and Danny at the end of Chicago MarathonMy experience for this marathon was quite interesting. As all marathon, they are unique in their own way. At the start, not only did I realize I forgot my water Camel back,... but had no cash to buy water. I like to carry water with me, since I take small sips during the race. So I went to Dunken Donuts to buy 2 water bottles and realized I had no money. But through the kindness of a stranger who overheard me bought me the bottle of water. Very nice of her. Later I realize my MP3 was out of battery power. Ugh.. not only did I have to run for the first time holding a bottle of water but run with no music. My main means of inspiration and motivation. So, it now becomes down to the basics..... just me and the run. It is now a real mental challenge. I was also concern about running a marathon without having ran in 7 weeks. Since July's Leadville, CO Trail marathon, which is the second toughest marathon in the nation... I got burned out and lost my excitement for running.
I bumped into some running friends and ran with them for a bit.... as the mileage kept on coming.. I started to meet more old running friends and then more and more... It was fantastic. I bumped into so many people I know and ran with them and caught up with them. Runners that I have ran in Rome, Honolulu, Phoenix... they were there... running also. This now became a Social Fun run for me.
I took it nice and slow and easy, since I twisted my knee a week before and was also reserving energy for later. By mile 18, I ran into some friends who I ran in Honolulu and we ran together. One of the runners they were running with, was her first Marathon and she struggled a bit. Both the physical and mental pain. I was surprised I felt so good. No pain, no soreness, no wall. So, I stayed with her and got her through the finish line. I knew she could finish it. It was in her to finish. She reached her goal.
It seems that I was meant to run this marathon for the pleasure of it. Even though the marathon was not my best time and it was the slowest, it was more of a great social run for me.
I bumped into some running friends and ran with them for a bit.... as the mileage kept on coming.. I started to meet more old running friends and then more and more... It was fantastic. I bumped into so many people I know and ran with them and caught up with them. Runners that I have ran in Rome, Honolulu, Phoenix... they were there... running also. This now became a Social Fun run for me.
I took it nice and slow and easy, since I twisted my knee a week before and was also reserving energy for later. By mile 18, I ran into some friends who I ran in Honolulu and we ran together. One of the runners they were running with, was her first Marathon and she struggled a bit. Both the physical and mental pain. I was surprised I felt so good. No pain, no soreness, no wall. So, I stayed with her and got her through the finish line. I knew she could finish it. It was in her to finish. She reached her goal.
It seems that I was meant to run this marathon for the pleasure of it. Even though the marathon was not my best time and it was the slowest, it was more of a great social run for me.
Could not have asked for a better weather... good times
