Fort2Base Race Report

This was an early day. Since it was a point to point race we had to be AT the navy base no later than 6:15 for the LAST shuttle bus to Fort Sheridan. I got up and moving at 4.

I got to Great Lakes Naval Base by 5:30. I should say I got to the cluster that was gridlock traffic just outside the base. And I sat there, in the darkness, crawling for an hour, watching the shuttle buses pass in the opposite direction.

Security was taking longer than expected. I totally get that. They’d hold a bus right? There were a billion people behind me…

Finally I enter the base and park. I’m told they’re loading the last shuttle so my first run of the day commences.

I’m among the final five people to board. I plunk down next to a guy, obviously military. We get to talking, he is ex-army, currently a cop and one of the nicest guys.

We ride to Fort Sheridan as the sun is rising. We arrive and somehow the bus driver has no clue where to let us off. So we pile out and have at least a half mile on foot. Run #2. En route, I saw a construction porta-pottie and figure it’s gotta be less crowded than any at the starting line. I was right.

I hear the anthem in the distance. I’m going to miss the start of the race. But I’ve got a chip, it won’t matter. I sprint to the start and cameras are poised at the elites in front. I cut in front of all of them to line up. There’s a small matter of gear check then I line up well behind the 10:00 pacer. Cannot believe I made it!

We are off.
My goals: Long slow distance. I’ve got four more miles to run after this to make my mileage goal.
9:30? 10:00? Find a comfortable, sustainable pace my hip will like for the marathon in 3 weeks. I didn’t look at my Garmin though. No pace monkey pressure today. But no walking either. Today I vow to run strong.

All course marshalls are military men and women. So cool.
We wind around Fort Sheridan then head North on a bike path. I’m completely boxed in and that’s ok. Not racing today. After about 3 miles, I settle into deep, meditative reflection on the events of 9/11.
I run in prayer for the souls we lost and gratitude to those who keep our country safe.

This is so weird, but at mile 5 or so, I noticed a familiar clean smell but couldn’t place it. Then my bus partner came up from behind and passed. Ha! I smelled him! I totally thought he was well ahead.

At mile 8 we re-enter the naval base and I can hear the crowds at the finish. But there are still 3.5 miles to go. I want to be done. We circle around and I try to keep my head in this. It’s only 11.5. I did 20 last week. This should be a cake walk. But it’s not. A lady at packet pickup told me there’s a monster hill at 8. There was an overpass but nothing big at all, even by my flatlander standards.
We loop around then suddenly we’re screaming down a long, precipitous hill. Legs are too tired for this kind of nonsense so late in the game. I run down now we’re along the lake. Many are walking. I found my bus partner again, this time walking. Oh how I’d love to. But I don’t. I urged him on to no avail.

What comes down must go up. I suspect the hill at 8 is really at 10 and it is. A troop of naval officers is standing at the base cheering us on. More are stationed along the hill. It’s a steep, ugly winding monster, especially so late in the race. By the time I scale it, I’ve got nothing and I badly want to walk and regroup. But there’s less than a mile to go. I’ve got too much invested. So I plod along, turn the corner and finally see the finish looming.