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October 9, 2007
chi town report
I like to obsess.
I find it comforting. I have obsessed about the weather since early last week. Like my obsessing will change the outcome or I’ll be more prepared. Thursday night when we checked into our hotel, I turned on the weather channel. It was on again as soon as I woke up. If there was a weather station on the radio I would have had blaring in the car.
I knew it was going to be hot. I knew it was going to be humid. I knew it was going to be sunny. I knew all of this, yet I truly believed I could still pull out a 4.30. I would just be more sweaty than normal when I finished.
Knowing it’s going to be hot and actually running in the heat are two very different things.
When we turned off the TV at 11pm on Saturday night, it was 76 degrees in downtown Chicago. At 5.30am it was 75. It had dropped one whole degree overnight. I wonder if I should bring my gloves?
At the start, before the national anthem and the helicopters positioned themselves overhead, they told us of the extra services provided due to the heat. Extra medical tents, more water and Gatorade at every waterstop, drop out tents and buses on the course, misters and sponges at mile 20. I remember thinking, sponges at mile 20, that will be something to look forward too, cause that’s when I will be feeling the heat. I won’t be needing them early on. No not me. I’ve run 99 days in a row. I am made of heat resistant stuff.
Now, although I actually thought a 4.30 was possible, I knew I would have to start out slow. So, plan A (version 48.6) was to start out at an 11 min/mile pace, then at 5k, start to pick it up, by 10k I would be feeling great and take off like a rocket!
The gun went off, only 35,000 of the 45,000 registered crossed the start line. There are obviously 10,000 smarter people than me in the world, that didn’t even bother to show up. My pace felt really comfortable. Just after the first mile I looked around and everyone was dripping with sweat. I thought, wow, these people really sweat. Then I glanced down at my shirt. It was soaked. I ran my hand over my face, the sweat was streaming down my face. Oh my god, I’m one of these sweaty people!
At mile 3 I was exactly where I wanted to be with my pace. My legs were feeling great. Nothing hurt. I was breathing comfortably. I was hot but not really feeling too bad.
Time to kick it up a notch. I figured I would drop it down to 10.30 min/mile.
I picked up my pace. I definitely felt the difference. I knew I was working. This mile was harder than the last. Mile 4 was just over my goal at 10.34, the next mile will be better. It wasn’t. It was a lot more effort to keep pace.
I know I can do this. I know I can do this. I know I can do this.
It was somewhere just before 5 that I began to notice how many people were walking. Not one or two, at least 10 or more. As I got to mile 5 I saw the time on my watch. My slowest mile yet! This is the hardest I’ve worked since the start, and I am going slower?
I looked around and found D, just behind me. He had the same, ‘this sucks’ look on his face to.
It wasn’t going to be a 4.30 day.
We decided to slow it down and walk through the next waterstop. I thought we’d never get there. I begin to wonder if they forgot to set it up. It appeared just before mile 6. There were turned over tables, thousands and thousands of cups on the ground. They had run out of Gatorade. Everyone was grabbing 3 or 4 cups of water drinking them or pouring them over their heads, not thinking they would run out completely. The thought never crossed my mind.
When we eventually started running again, we had spent at least a minute or two strolling through the waterstop, I decided to just take it easy, run to each waterstop and take my time walking through them. It seemed like a realistic goal. However, over the next two miles, I took 2 or 3 walking breaks. Mile 7 and I have to walk? It seemed crazy. Nothing hurt, I just felt like the life was being sucked out of me.
Then came mile 8, boy town. The energy from the spectators and volunteers was amazing. I perked up. They were dancing and singing. I was feeling better. As we headed along a shady residential street, we got sprayed with hoses and waterguns. People were bringing water and cups out of their homes to help us out.
** I really can not say enough wonderful things about the people of Chicago. They truly support their marathon. They were incredible.**
I think the shade and being hosed down really helped during these couple of miles. If I could of just run mile 8 and 9, 13 times, I might have had a hope of finishing. I started to believe it wasn’t that hot out. Then we hung a right and all that changed. It was hot, sunny and no more shade. It was 88 degrees. By mile 10 I was walking again. I just kept thinking I am walking now, I still have 16 miles to go.
I think that’s when I made the decision, although I probably made it early than that, but it was about mile 10.5 that I committed to it.
I wanted to get off the course. Given semi-normal conditions, I know I can do a 4.30. I would of stuck it out to finish under 5 hours. But now, looking at my watch, I had at least 3 more hours of this. If I felt like crap now, what would I feel like at 18 or 22? It was getting hotter, and the second half had very little shade.
So I decided to run to the half, then get off the course.
By the time I made it back to the finish line, you could see the effects of the heat. There were runners lying on the grass. Ambulance sirens constantly filled the air. Stories of what people saw and experienced out there. Then rumors that they had closed the course.
I have heard, read and watched numerous options on the organization and shutting down the marathon. I agree with their decision both to start and end it. I might feel differently if I was at mile 23, feeling good and told to stop running. I don’t think it was badly organized. Yes, they shouldn’t have run out of water/Gatorade, I agree, but on the other hand, me and thousands like me, shouldn't have taken 3-4 cups at a time.
We may all, runners and organizers, have underestimated the power of mother-nature and the marathon.
Posted by Ali at October 9, 2007 6:13 PM
Comments
Congrats on the perseverance. You know, most people think that DNF means "Did Not Finish". In those conditions, I prefer to think of it as "Did Nothing Foolish". You'll live to run many more days and marathons. You should be quite proud!
Posted by: Greg at October 9, 2007 7:27 PM
Sometimes the finish line isn't where you think. The finish line is putting it all out there and knowing when to push harder and when to call it a day.
Congrats on 100!!
Posted by: Amanda at October 9, 2007 7:47 PM
Hat off to you for making the right decision. I know from my recent experience that it is not easy to run in the heat. It can take a big bite out of you. You have many more to look forward! Keep it up!
Posted by: Ted at October 9, 2007 8:46 PM
13 miles in 88 degree weather is a feat of it's own especially when it is your 100th run!
Enjoy the cold front coming through tonight!
Cheers
Posted by: ff_jef at October 9, 2007 9:08 PM
Ali, I was watching and hoping that it was a wise decision to stop and nothing more. I was so worried! It was heartbreaking to watch it unfold. I'm so glad you are okay and in good spirits. You did awesome, both in running and deciding enough.
Congrats.
Posted by: Nancy at October 9, 2007 9:56 PM
Congrats on the race and the 100 days! That is absolutely amazing!!!
Posted by: Jes at October 9, 2007 9:57 PM
Ali - I'm glad you listened to your body. You get a gold star for being a smart runner. :)
Posted by: Allison at October 9, 2007 10:03 PM
Good choice. Is there another race in a month or two ? A bit of a shame to do all that training for no result.
Posted by: Ewen at October 10, 2007 7:05 AM
'knowing' so many folks that were there (I actually only really KNOW one of you)...I just almost come to tears with the stories I am reading/hearing.
When I kept seeing your avg pace just at about 11:50, THATS when I KNEW it was bad. I made myself worry about all of you out there. Being from Texas, and even Jess from Florida, we train in crap like that all the time but we KNOW it, and we prepare for it, with our own fluids, our routes go by water fountains, or our running groups support us all along the way.
Yes it CAN be done in heat like that, but ONLY IF its supported as it should have been.
I am glad you're ok, and I hope that we hear of another marathon SOON...
Posted by: JustJunebug at October 10, 2007 9:07 AM
Good for you for being sensible. Your training has been far, far from wasted, and having lived through this, you've become an even smarter runner!
Posted by: warren at October 10, 2007 9:35 AM
Wow! I'm so glad that you listened to your body and knew what to do. This Texas heat has given me a beating and I train in it all the time. I can't imagine how someone who lives in the North Pole (ie. Canada) would deal with it . . . it's hard on everyone and you were very smart!!!
You're still my marathon hero! and my 100 days hero too!
Posted by: Susan at October 10, 2007 10:00 AM
Wow, Ali - first off congratulations on #100. Your story from the marathon is amazing. I can't imagine what I would have done if I would have been out there, but it sounds like you did the best possible thing by dropping out. Way to go on your smart choice. You are an amazing runner and I can't wait to hear about what is next for you.
Posted by: Leana at October 10, 2007 10:43 AM
Sounds like you made a good decision. Congratulations on 100 runs. You have great perseverence to have kept it up! Thanks for the report. Now I guess this answers the question of what to do after 100 runs - you still have to go run a full :)
Glad you are safe.
Posted by: Andria at October 10, 2007 12:25 PM
congrats on making 100.
congrats on running a half in brutal conditions.
congrats on knowing when to safe it for another day.
Oct. 7, 2007 will be a day you'll remember far more than any other marathon. I hope you got the medal, because I think you deserve it.
Posted by: Pat at October 10, 2007 12:25 PM
you made a wise decision! 100 runs in a row beats a marathon on a crappy day anytime! I'm proud of you.
Posted by: Deene at October 10, 2007 12:50 PM
way to go 100 day runner! Sure was a tough day out there...
Posted by: Jessica at October 10, 2007 1:04 PM
congrats on the 100! I would take that over completing the death run anytime.
Posted by: Wingedfeet at October 10, 2007 1:49 PM
I am so proud of you! You made the decision early and before you could experience any negative consequences. That is a very hard thing to do (for most runners).
The greater accomplishment here is run #100. THAT took more perservance and dedication than running a little ole marathon.
Congrats! Recover this week and take the time to enjoy everything you have accomplished this year.
Posted by: Tea at October 10, 2007 2:06 PM
a very wise move ali, it was ridiculous out there. you did the right thing. we will have another chance. we will. i know it.
Posted by: brent at October 10, 2007 9:12 PM
As a back of packer who didn't see any race-supported water/gatorade until mile 10, you honestly can't sit there and blame yourself and the other runners for grabbing multiple cups. You did what you had to do. You took the steps necessary to keep yourself cool. If I were up there, I would've been grabbing them as well without thinking twice. It's what runners do...they were simply ill-prepared.
We all signed up for this marathon with the understanding that we'd be receiving the necessary fual and resources on the course (although I ran with a fuel belt because I don't do well in heat and wanted to have water available at all times). When the marathon failed us, the city of Chicago truly came to the rescue. THAT was the beauty of Sunday.
You've got that 4:30 in you...and I can't wait to read the race report where you grab it!
Posted by: Running Jayhawk at October 11, 2007 2:55 PM