You’ve heard me yammering for days on end about my Bachelor encounter. Finally we are at race day. I was up at 3:30 to make my way downtown, snag a cheap(ish) parking spot and head to the VIP tent where I’d once again meetup with you know who.
Let’s just say, this VIP tent gig has me spoiled: bouncers at the door, food, fuel, full bar, deluxe potties, elites, Kenyans, rarified gear check, The Bachelor…..and then there’s me. I need to get in here more often.
Everything went according to plan. Except for the fact that Mom Nature served up her Chicago special: 80 degrees and rising with ridiculous humidity at 5:30 am.
This called for an executive decision on my part.
Dr. Baldwin planned on a 6:30/mile pace. I hoped for survival: nothing more.
Kids, I hate to disappoint you, but I had to cut him loose. I guess I could have tried to run with Dr. Baldwin and maybe he would have run my pathetic pace. But I just didn’t feel right holding him up. I know I would have run faster than was right for me in these conditions if I were with him. In the event my hip acted up, I knew I’d run through the grinding and injure myself further, jeopardizing my fall marathon if The Bachelor were beside me. Basically I put injury prevention ahead of my desire to run with Dr. Baldwin. Disappointing, I know. But it was for the best.
We walked to the start line with plans to meet up after.
The start was nicely staggered. My Garmin said I ran a 7:03 first mile which is a total lie. Blame the tunnel and tall buildings. Crowds were great as usual
My plan was a very easy pace, walk if the hip acted up and run as much as possible before the sun got over the buildings.
By mile 2 my hip was grinding so I walked. Yep running on my own was the right decision.
By mile 3 my mouth was bone dry. WTH?
At mile 4 I came upon a huge, red Chinese dragon with runners inside, making its way along the course. Surely I could run this faster than a friggin’ dragon right? I later learned that this was the P.F. Chang’s Dragon, and if you beat it to the finish line you’d get a free order of lettuce wraps. Oh the pressure.
I took a salt packet for the first time ever at mile 7.
Once we got onto Michigan Avenue, the course changed from when I ran this race in 2010. We spent a loooong time going South on Michigan Ave. where before we were shuttled onto a bike path. This was SO much better. But it was SO humid.
When races get tough I spend time being thankful:
- I was thankful my hip was no longer squawking.
- Thankful my shoes weren’t wet…yet.
- For the VIP tent…oh how I’d love one of these at home
- For a breeze, however brief
- For the crowds, the volunteers
- That this was not a full marathon
- For being able to run at all
At mile 8 there was a baby pool filled with ice. I so wanted to flop down in it and call it a day but opted to stuff some down my bra instead. Heaven!
I hoarded 3 GUs at the handout point then shortly after, noticed my Fuel Belt pouch had opened and I lost them. Serves me right.
The ‘misters at every water station’ the series doc told us about amounted to three garden hoses (that I saw) on the entire course. Would have loved more mist! See how grumpy I get when I’m hot?
Water stations were every other mile. They had a hard time keeping up with demand. I would have liked to see some every mile, especially late in the race.
Cold sponges were a nice diversion.
At mile 9 we made the turn and were heading back toward the finish. Plenty of race left to slog through though. I was wheeling and dealing with myself and running to the next stop light then walking again. I wish I could blame it on my hip but I can’t. I was completely unhinged mentally.
We went under the tunnel of darkness that is McCormick Place and I badly wanted to be done. We were on Columbus within sight of the finish for an excruciatingly long time. I refused to walk this stretch.
Finally, I finished. In honor of Dr. Baldwin and the rest of the Chocolate Milk Refuel team, I chugged some chocolate milk and it was ice-cold and divine.
RnR did the finish area right:
Ice cold towels, brain-freeze caliber Jamba Juice, popsicles, hujazz bottles of Gatorade, water, food, really all you could want to cool down and refresh.
I made my way back to the VIP tent for my reunion with The Bachelor, who I found shirtless and in good spirits. After retreating to the air-conditioned potties to get out of my swimming, er I mean running gear we chatted and relaxed. I’m quite sure I smelled like a barn. As much as I’d have loved to loll in the VIP tent all morning, it was time to bid the Bachelor good-bye and head to the Chicago Blogger meetup.
It was so much fun to finally meet more of the Chicago Running Bloggers!
Shirt and medal: Shirt again this year I thought was meh. Not wild about white. Design could be so much cooler. Like other RnR medals, the medal part is fine, it’s the craptastic ribbon that baffles me for a $$$ race.
Final Words: Dr. Andy Baldwin wants you to know that he’s ‘just a normal guy’. I don’t run across people as accomplished as he is every day but I can tell you that’s he’s easy-going, personable and was so much fun to hangout with. Special thanks to Chocolate Milk Refuel for a fabulous weekend!
Next Up: Rock n Roll Denver!
I had the EXACT same cotton mouth feeling at mile 3! What’s up with that? Disappointed I didn’t get to meet up with the Chicago bloggers after the race.
Great job getting through it! It was a tough one for sure! I really didn’t like how dark it was in McCormick Place, that was my least favorite part.
I’m glad you got to enjoy a chocolate milk! I don’t like chocolate, but Mike definitely had one 🙂
80 degrees at 5:30!!!!!! Other than that it sounds like you had a fabulous time!!! 6:30 pace.. in my dreams. 🙂
Congrats on finishing despite the conditions! Sounds like a great experience. Lovin’ your tank in the first pic. 🙂
Such a great write up Marcia! Sounds like the conditions were brutal out there, but you are right… Dr. Baldwin was worth the pain! 🙂
I need a VIP tent.
Congrats, Marcia! Garmins + tall buildings = drive me bonkers every.single.day (I live downtown) There are days when my first mile to the lake is in the 5 minute range. HA!
Sounds like you ran a smart race. Nice work!
Way to run your own race! Man, he’s cute, but I would have done the same thing!
Aren’t cold sponges THE BEST in a hot race?! I did a half last year and got one at mile 10. I ran much faster after that (or at least I felt like I did).
Um, maybe I’m missing something, but I’m NOT seeing pictures of shirtless Dr. Baldwin. Surely, you forgot?!!?
You know how I feel about this race – you did great and ran smart in horrible conditions. And I think I need me a VIP tent and I’d like it much better. Congrats!
That was a hot one! I give you credit just for running it! I would have probably plopped into the pool and been done! GREAT JOB and it looks like you really enjoyed the day in spite of the heat.
I loved Dr. Andy! That’s a great picture with him 😉
Great job! Glad to see you let Mr Perfect run his own race …or rather you ran yours! Running a 1/2 in Virginia at the end of August – I hope they have cold sponges, they sound fabulous!
I’d love a saxophone on a race medal!
I just read Jamie’s recap too, sounds like a hot, challenging race. I agree that the shirt is lacking something… but congrats on another half down, and the opportunity to connect with other bloggers, and of course, Dr Andy!
Good job getting through it on a hot day. I hate it when you can see the end forever. I am signed up for a R+R half in August but not positive I’m doing it yet.
Smart race! Great job.
As much as I would have wanted to crazy him down;)
I’m not sure I can run one 6:30 mile so alas I’d have to cut him lose also. Sounds like you had a fabulous experience though.
I agree on the “meh” with that shirt. I’ve run three RNRs, and one of the shirts was just horrible. The other two I liked.
Way to work it through the heat. I think I now know that I hate running in the heat. It only took two years to figure that out.
And shirtless bachelors and VIP tents: it must have been a really hard weekend.:)
What a cool experience, Marcia! Too bad the conditions were so icky! I’ve had a few of those “slogs” and they are NO FUN! Glad you kept going 🙂
How does the saying go? If you love something set it free … It was right for you to let Dr Baldwin go. Parting is such sweet sorrow but the reunions make it worth it.
80 degrees at 5:30 a.m.?!?! Good grief that’s just torture! Great job for getting through it!
Ahhh, my fave way to enjoy a race – virtually by reading. Love the minute by minute account with the full revelations! You are making me thirsty just reading!
Girl, if you bring that nasty heat with you to Denver for the RnR, I am not going to run any more half marathons with you. Ever.
🙂
Woot woot!! You rock and nice job! Um – where is the picture with no shirt!?
I think all summer races should end with popsicles.
Good for you for being smart! The VIP tent sounds amazing, how does one worm their way into one of those?
WELL Done. Being smart always pays off. As for the tent —- sweeeeeet.
Way to finish a tough race! That VIP area sounds just fabulous!
What a craptastic ribbon! So disappointing!
Very smart decision-making, between the hip and the heat. Ugh…I felt for you guys that day…it was so hot. Bleh.
Great job running your own race through yucky conditions! Heat and humidity are the worst! Although seeing that cutie at the end had to be some motivation to keep going(and shirtless nonetheless…nice!).
Nice job listening to your body so you wouldn’t jeopardize your fall marathon.
Sounds like you had one heck of a race, but it also sounds like lots and lots of fun!