Minneapolis-Star-Tribune-runningkellometers

For those of you that aren't from the Chicago area (or perhaps have been living under a rock), the Chicago Marathon was this past weekend. I DVRed the race and recently finished watching the coverage. Seeing the course and all the people running it, it brought back some strong emotions. (I may or may not have shed some tears.) I have a lot of history with this race over the years, both spectating and attempting to run it.

Helping my cousin cross the finish line 2009

Marathon Expo 2011

Running with Maggie in 2012

My history with the marathon is a long and bumpy one. I also had plans to run the Illinois Marathon in 2013, but my little nugget decided to exist so I put my marathon plans on hold. (Totally worth it, obviously.) Every October I get the itch to run the Chicago Marathon. This year was no different and I'm thinking that 2014 might be the year I cross the finish line. I plan on doing things very differently than the first time around (I plan on hiring Coach Britt again.) I'm hoping that the extra motivation of little Patsy will help me with that extra push to break through the wall and cross the finish line! Registration will open in February or March and there are rumors that the registration system might be changing, but we'll see how it goes. If it is meant to be, it is meant to be.


This year, I did get the chance to meet up with some amazing Oiselle teammates that were in town for the race from both Illinois and all over the U.S.! They were all happy to meet Patsy and were very accommodating. It was so nice to actually meet people that I've been following on Twitter and Instagram in real life! Also, I had no idea we had so many local team members (the team recently expanded, including more team members in IL). The wheels are already turning to plan another local Oiselle event. I am excited! Stay tuned!

As some of you may know, my first marathon experience was no cake walk. (Well, I don't know if anyone's marathon existence has been "easy.") After watching my friends train through this past summer and run the Chicago Marathon, I gotta admit I was a little jealous. I know that it was the right decision for me to sit it out (because of the exam I was taking in early December). I was still able to go downtown, spectate and even run part of the race with my friends without worrying about the entire 26.2 distance.

Anyways, the point of this trip down memory lane is that I made a decision while I was studying. I wanted to try running another marathon. I had taken a year off and that made the desire that much greater. Using last year as a guide, I decided to run the Illinois Marathon. I was going to keep it a secret from most of my family and friends and run the race for me. But then, I told a few people about my secret (it was too hard for me to keep that big of a secret from my running friends). I trained through the winter last year... What would make this year any different? I could do my training just like last year and be ready to go by the end of April.


Well, the return of "normal" Chicago winter temperatures is what's different. My heart and lungs feel like they're working double time when the temps are in the single digits (and the "feels like" temp is in the negative double digits). And the fact that someone left our group at work and we all have to pick up some slack until a new employee is hired (aka a fair share of late nights at the office).

A marathon is a huge deal. It is a big commitment both physically and mentally. I thought I was there and ready, but instead I've decided to sit this spring out. I'm already dying of boredom at the mere idea of doing any of my runs on the treadmill.

The thing about marathons that is so wonderful is that they'll always be there for you, when you're ready for them. There are so many of them and they're everywhere. It looks like spring 2013 isn't the time for me, but that doesn't meant that fall 2013, spring 2014, or fall 2014 will have the same answer...

Have you ever committed to a race and then decided not to do it? I waited to register for the Illinois Marathon so this decision doesn't leave me with an unwanted bib. Although, I am disappointed I won't get the chance to meet Kathrine Switzer at the expo.

After my super running weekend, I rested on Monday but decided to go for some miles during my lunch break on Tuesday. My evenings are filled with studies so I don't really have time for much in the evenings.

I took this quick photo along the Chicago River before heading back to the office. My pace was a bit quick, but I'm enjoying the chance to go a little quicker now that the weather is nicer! It seems so much easier! :) I said it before and I'll say it again. I am LOVING these fall temperatures!! :)

This weekend my husband and I are going to visit my grandparents where we don't get good cell phone reception. It should be a fun weekend and I hope to get in some good studying time! The lake that they live on is really hilly 5 mile loop. I'm hoping to go around it once in preparation for the Zooma Great Lakes half marathon that I'll be running next weekend!

As you may know, I'm a huge fan of Asics and have been for years. The Kayano brand has gotten me through a full marathon training cycle without pain.

GR Marathon, 10/2011, Kayano 17s

I recently purchased a pair of Brooks Adrenaline and I have really liked running in them. However, when I switch back to my old Asics, it just feels like the glass slipper. I was looking on Twitter yesterday and saw an article that a new version of the Kayano is to be released in November. I am super excited to test them out, even though I'm not really in the market for a new pair of shoes. When the day comes for me to run another marathon, I just wouldn't trust any other shoe.

Do you have shoe loyalty as well? Have you ever gotten really excited about a new shoe version coming out?

Wow. This past weekend was pretty much a runnerd's dream so it will take me a few days to talk about everything that happened! First, I'd like to talk about spectating the Chicago Marathon.

I headed downtown bright and early because I wanted to see the elites run by. One of my running group friends, Diane, carpooled with me as we parked and walked to our designated spot: Mile 17. After watching some of the speedy wheelchair racers go by, it was time for the elite men. Diane had never spectated a marathon before so I told her she was in for a treat! The first pack sped past us in a blink and Diane grabbed a quick pic (better than mine).

Not too far behind was the elite I was most excited about seeing, Dathan Ritzenhein!
I absolutely love this photo. Dathan looks like he is literally FLYING. He ended up finishing 9th overall in a very tough field and shaved 2 minutes off his previous PR, finishing in 2:07!! This interview video from Flotrack is great. Dathan talks about some of the mistakes he made (even elites make mistakes) and how he struggled with the "Roosevelt Hill" (just like the rest of us)!

After the elite men went by, it was time for the elite women!

After the elites, we had some down time before our first group of friends came by. We decided to make the most and take some more photos!

Diane and I at mile 17

My general store was quite the site.

Diane was meeting her friend Jeni at the halfway point so she hung out as long as she could at mile 17 before making the walk to mile 13 (due to logistics of the course, this walk was actually less than a mile). Due to the wave start, my friend Kate S. passed Maggie so I walked to try and run with Kate! I walked to try and meet her but with the wave of runners and spectators, I totally missed her and a bunch of our friends that she was running with. I was so upset!!!! :( I was so worried looking for Kate (and obsessively checking my phone for the next update) that I almost missed Maggie! Thankfully, she spotted me in my bright FNRC shirt and we were on our way! Maggie was running this at her own pace and just enjoying the scenery. (You can read her full recap here.) I took a lot of pics but this one is my personal favorite.

I ran with Maggie from mile 16-23. It was nice to sing along to Gangham Style (complete with the dance) as well as cheer for the runners while they were running. People looked at me as if I was crazy and that I had too much energy! That was why I was there! To help boost the energy of those that didn't have it anymore. :) I hopped out at mile 23, knowing that Maggie could finish this race at ease (and she totally did). Next up, I hopped in with Amanda and ran with her until they pulled me off the course.

I think Amanda was smiling much more here, at mile 24 than when I left her at 25.5. Either way, I'm glad I was able to help her reach her goal! Amanda got a shiny new PR and finished under her ultimate goal time as well. You can check out her race recap here.

Afterwards, I walked to the Congress Hotel to congratulate all my Yankee Runner friends. The FNRC was pretty split up after the race so it was hard to get together.

Either way, I had an absolute blast out there cheering for all my pals along the way! I'm surprised I still have a voice, to be completely honest. It was a great day and this only fuels my desire to get out there and give the Chicago Marathon another attempt. We have some unfinished business! (To read about my Chicago Marathon experience the first time around, you can check out my post here.)

CONGRATULATIONS to all the finishers, whether you PRed, completed your first marathon, or just crossed the finish line with a smile on your face. You are all awesome and I hope to join you out there again some day! :)

I knew I would be excited for my friends running the marathon this year, but I didn't think I'd be this excited... A chill remains in the air. Banners are up throughout the town. Street closure warning signs are posted. Plans for the expo are coordinated. Marathon fever in the city of Chicago is in full swing and I'm soaking it all in. I have to admit, it is really nice to be on the spectating/support side of things. (My previous marathon regret has passed with all the studying I've been doing these last few weeks.) This time of year always gets me excited! I have to admit, I fully plan on wearing my GR Marathon tee to casual Friday.

Yes, it is lime green and may be a bit much but I don't care. I am a member of the "finisher" club and I will be wearing my shirt with pride. :) When walking to work this morning and remembering the course, I got a little choked up. I guess this will always be an emotional time for me, until I'm able to tackle and finish the Chicago Marathon. In the mean time, I'm suuuper pumped to cheer on my running friends as they tackle this beast of a distance!

Do you ever get emotional thinking about a certain race? If you live in Chicago, are you sporting your marathon gear this week?

My guest bedroom has been completely taken over by running gear. Outfits and necessities are laid out for both Saturday and Sunday.

Thankfully the guest bedroom is rarely used so I can lay out all my running stuff and not feel guilty about it! :)

So, my strategy for the 5k on Saturday is to take the first mile easy-ish, and get progressively faster so my last mile is faster than my first (this rarely happens for me, so that is what I'm going to work towards). Pepper and Toph may be there to cheer us on! Yahooo!!!

I'm getting really excited about the Chicago Marathon this year. And I'm NOT running it. I think this is the most excited I've ever been about a marathon! :) So many of my friends are running the Marathon this year and I'm happy that I'm going to be able to support them! I started the Chicago Marathon last year but was a DNF. This race and I have some unfinished business. I know I will once again attempt the Chicago Marathon, but this is not that year.

The runner tracker is set and I should be receiving text alerts on race day. They only let me track 3 people so I had to make those choices wisely. I know there is a runner update on the website that can be used, so I'll be using that probably more.

On race day, I plan on hanging out at mile 17, near the mile marker, until I see Maggie run by, when I'll be joining her for a few miles of the race! If you're starting in an earlier corral and in the first wave, look for me on the east side of the street. I'll be wearing my FN Run Club shirt! (It also has "Running Kellometers" on the back.)

With Maggie and Julie on their 20 miler, wearing my FN Run Club shirt

If you see me out there, say hi! I plan on having a lot of stuff in the pockets of my shorts to help aid runners along the way. If you need something, ask! I already have my outfit and a lot of the items laid out. How am I going to fit all of it in my shorts? That has yet to be determined...

Thankfully my shorts have a lot of pockets in them. The particular shorts I will be wearing are very unflattering, but when it comes to race support it is definitely time to chose function over fashion. If you're part of wave 2, I might still see you at mile 17, but I might also end up at mile 23 (on the South side of the street, by the overpass near the El tracks). I'm not a fan of this wave start as it makes spectating and running with different people quite difficult.

I've been so excited about spectating and laying out my helping outfit, I haven't really been focusing on the 5k I'm running the day before! I don't think I'll PR as I haven't been as dedicated to my running while studying, but I think it will be fun regardless! I'm still going to give it my all, and I plan on pushing outside my comfort zone (which I sometimes have a difficult time doing).

Are you running the Chicago Marathon? Are you spectating the Chicago Marathon? If you're spectating, where will you be?

I'm a little upset. I had this great post all typed out and then my phone froze up. I saw it was saved as a "local draft" but didn't think anything of it. When I had to turn off and turn back on my phone, this "local draft" was gone. FWP for sure.

ANYWAYS... Last night I met up with my favorite group of Thursday night runners. My legs were a little tight from Tuesday's double header so I took it easy and slow. I also only did 3 miles which was also nice.

L to R: Me, Maggie, Joe, Kathy, Becky, Julie, Jill, Amanda, Kim, Becky

It is now September. We get it Mother Nature. Fall hasn't officially started yet. You keep reminding us with your ridiculously humid and hot days and evenings. Evenings are not supposed to be in the 80s. Seriously. Thankfully the temps are supposed to cool down soon. But I have a feeling they'll be right back up there before September is over. We have seen temperatures in the high 70s in October (ahem, Chicago Marathon 2011)...

A few weeks ago I created a "90s Alternative" station on Pandora. I haven't liked a single song or added to the station. It continues to play music from my youth and teenage years and I absolutely LOVE IT. Here are a few gems that came on recently.

Gems I tell ya! After much thought and deliberation, I've decided on a nice little 5k to run the day before the Chicago Marathon. Since I'm not running it this year, I figure I should have some fun the day before! That means I should probably get back to my speedwork since I have taken a little break from it. I hope to start incorporating some speedwork next week. Maybe even a ladder at the track!? :)

Although I'm not running the Chicago Marathon this year, I plan on heading downtown and running with my various friends along the route. I will probably try to be at a few different places. Once everyone else has their plan figured out, I'll probably adjust my plans to fit theirs. Are you running the Chicago Marathon? I plan on wearing something bright so I can stick out when people are looking for me! I'm looking forward to helping out :)

When it was time to sign up for the Chicago Marathon, I made a conscious effort not to sign up. I knew I had this test to study for and I knew it would be hard to fit in all the training miles in addition to studying while also working full time. With how crazy my work schedule sometimes is, there have been some weeks where I've only been able to run 2 days (instead of the Hal-prescribed 4). It has also been one of the hottest summers on record here in Chicago and I dreaded running for 7 or 8 miles and was happy it wasn't 12 or 13. I wasn't jealous of my friends that were training for the marathon this summer. Not one bit.

Taken after an attempted 7 mile tempo run on July 4th

Now that the temps are cooler and work isn't as busy, my thoughts have changed slightly. The "maybes" start creeping in such as... "Maybe I could have made time for the marathon this year." I quickly snap out of it and realize there was/is no way to do it. But that jealousy I didn't have all summer long is now starting to strangely, slightly appear. The thought of running 15, 18, or 20 miles doesn't sound so bad if temps are in the 50s and 60s in the morning. I know I made the right decision, but that doesn't always help out with the mental game. What I have come to realize over these last two years is how important it is to be in the right frame of mind, mentally, for any race. I let my mind get the best of me during the Chicago Marathon and the RNR Half. This fall and winter I'm going to try to change that. It is my mission!

Have you ever not signed up for a race and regretted it later? How do you get in the game mentally before a race? Do you psych yourself out like I do?

On Sunday morning while my husband and most of my friends were still sleeping, I got up at 4am to finish prepping to host a brunch for the Women's Olympic Marathon. We knew Kara, Shalane, and Desi had worked their butts off and we wanted to see them represent the U.S.! Who was crazy enough to come to my house before the sun rise to drink some booze and cheer for the USA? These ladies!

Back: me, Kate S, Maggie, Amanda C, Amanda W, Susan Front: Sara, Nicole

Thanks to this article on Buzz Feed, I got some great ideas on some things to do for decorations and food.

star cookie cutter + watermelon

"Beers of the World" L to R: Japan, Mexico, Belgium, USA, Ireland

Then other folks brought casseroles, fruit, booze, and other stuff too.

Drinking a mimosa at 5:30am while watching Kara and Shalane lead the pack. #winning

In case you haven't seen the latest issue of Runners World that describes the course, it had tons of turns (110 to be exact) and did the same loop 3 times. Also, we kept checking the weather and temps were in the mid 60s with 85% humidity. That humidity looked like a killer and the athletes out there were soaked with rain and sweat. It looked positively miserable out there and I felt so bad for our ladies. The Internet was a-flutter the days before the race regarding Desi Davila and whether or not she would start.

Spoiler Alert! Desi started but she didn't finish. She is such a strong runner so I can only image her disappointment to not feel 100% on race day. Shalane and Kara gave it all they got and finished 10th and 11th, respectively. Neither athlete put up a PR but Shalane was pretty dang close. With those conditions including the course, that is quite impressive. Even though these women didn't win the gold, they didn't give up without a fight and proudly represented our country. There are tons of photos of Shalane and Kara after their finish, with their arms around each other for support. It is such a moving image and a great demonstration of these women. (I don't want to post and risk copyright infringement stuff. BORING...) These Olympics so far have been so inspiring in so many ways!!

Remember that today is the LAST DAY to enter my Pro Compression raffle! The winner will be chosen tomorrow morning!

This week, the MagMileRunner photo challenge is an interesting one.

Your worst race. Not necessarily your worst race photo, but a photo or representation of your worst race to date. It can be a photo of you before, during or after the race, or if you don’t have one, something that represents the race (maybe your bib, shirt, medal). And an explanation of why it was your worst race. 

Well, the answer to this one was easy! The Chicago Marathon 2011.

I wasn't properly prepared hydration-wise. I didn't have a proper fueling plan. I let the my mind overwhelm my body while trying to prepare. I didn't have a plan b. Anything other than my time goal was failure. I didn't adjust when things needed adjusting. BUT, I learned so much from the experience. Not only about myself, but about running and life in general. I think I am a different person and a different runner because of it. It is okay to not meet your goals sometimes. It is okay to fall short of everyone and your own expectations. If you finish a marathon, you are not a failure. It took me a long time to realize this and I'm glad I did. :)

To find out more about my marathon experience as a whole, click here. It is also one of my favorite posts, fully discussing all of my lessons learned from my marathon!

Normally when it is raining, I don't mind going out for a run. Yesterday, however, I wasn't feeling it. I decided to hit up the treadmill as I passed the gym on my way home from working late. I knew that if I wanted to get my workout in, that was going to be the only way to do it. When it is raining, do you still run outside or stick it out on the treadmill? 9 times out of 10 I'll run outside, but last night I just knew if I went home, I'd sit and relax to watch the BL finale, eat dinner, and try to postpone my run until the next morning. I was glad to get it done regardless!

My gym is moving locations soon and I'm actually really excited about it. More equipment, larger facilities, I just hope they also have a small little room like this with the baby weights so I can do ab exercises and my core strengthening exercises without stares.

I didn't get the chance to mention that in addition to running part of the Illinois Marathon with Amanda, I also attended my cousin's bridal shower that same night. It took place on a condo building rooftop room and it was a lot of fun. My brother works at a nearby bar so we stopped by his work afterwards and had a fun night out.

enjoying a drink with the bride and some of the fellow bridesmaids

Me and the bride after the shower

I'm still recovering from my lack of sleep over the weekend (10 hours in 2 days), but it was a ton of fun and I got to enjoy doing both things!

Speaking of the Illinois Marathon, I accidentally took a video at one of the miles and it makes me laugh so I thought I would share it with all of you...

Because I haven't posted a photo of my dog in awhile, I thought it was necessary to snap a photo of her last night. She had her front paws crossed and I thought it was just the cutest thing ever. Don't you agree??

Many moons ago, my friend Amanda and I met during marathon training over the summer. We started the Chicago Marathon together and she went on to finish the race! After I had my DNF in Chicago and decided to run in Grand Rapids, Amanda hopped in her convertible and made the 3 hour drive to run the race with me. This past fall when Amanda decided to run the Illinois Marathon, I knew I would be returning the favor! A large group of my running friends (Yankee Runners) were also running the race so I had a lot of folks to cheer on during the race. I had planned on meeting at mile 15 and running the last 10 with Amanda.

The weather for the race had been questionable all week. Predicted thunderstorms, 40% chance of rain... It poured rain the entire time we were heading to Champaign. Once we arrived, the skies cleared. The rain was gone, the sun was covered by clouds, and the gun was about to go off. Once I parked my car, ate my oatmeal, and secured my outfit and additional supplies (banana, Gu, etc), I headed out to mile 15.

I was at the spot pretty early and the 10k folks were walking by (this race had a 10k, half marathon, and full marathon). I got comfortable and sent a text to Amanda letting her know I was here and at mile 15.

After settling in, it was time to wait for the elites to go by. Once I heard sirens, I knew they were close. Bikes and cars leading the way, the first place runner went by in a blur (literally).

I couldn't help myself but cheer really loudly when I saw fast women run by. I mean, girl power, right?! I saw some of my Yankee Runner and FN Running Club friends when I got a text from Amanda. She said she was tired and wanted me to meet her at mile 14 instead of 15. I didn't think that was a good sign.

I saw Amanda at mile 14 and she looked happy to see me. I hopped in, asked her what she needed and tried to bring some pep and energy to race day! Amanda had a rule during her first marathon to smile at every mile. Sooo I tried to take a picture of us smiling at every mile (or at least, tried at every mile)!

Mile 15

Mile 17

Mile 19

Mile 20

Mile 22

Mile 24

We saw Erin on the course too, but I didn't think to get a photo. She ran with us for a few feet and gave some words of encouragement. Thanks Erin! :)

Amanda's quads were sore and she didn't end up beating her time from last year. However, she had a lot of injuries this time around (you can read more about them on her blog) and we were both happy that she finished (well, obviously).

Some Yankee Runner friends qualified for Boston while others finished their first marathon. We had a cookout afterwards with tons of burgers, chicken, and snacks (new addiction = sweet potato chips).

L to R: Cy, Jeanne, me, Amanda, Dan, Lynn

It was a fun time to enjoy and celebrate!! Congrats to all of the finishers!!

I enjoyed jumping in for part of the marathon experience without having to go through the pain of completing a full marathon! I enjoyed being able to support Amanda, have fun with it, and read all the fun spectator signs! :)

First things first... have you entered my Road ID Prize Pack raffle yet? Every $3 donation to Open Heart Magic = 1 entry into the raffle. You have until Sunday (March 18) to enter!

This weekend is the start of the half marathon fever I have picked up this year (as of now, I'm signed up for 5). Based on some of the things I've learned from my marathon experience, I have a completely different perspective. I have eluded to my marathon experience several times (and talk about it briefly in the "about me" section), but I thought it was time for the full history.

I signed up to run the Chicago Marathon on the first day of registration in 2011. It was on my bucket list of things to do and I was excited for the experience. I took most of 2010 off of running because I was planning my wedding, buying a house, and didn't make time for other things. I got a Garmin for Christmas 2010 in anticipation and to help keep track of my runs. I gradually built up the mileage during the winter and spring until marathon training officially started in the summer. I trained with the CARA group that met at Yankee Woods in Oak Forest (the Yankee Runners).

We did our long runs on the trails, and when the weather was really really hot, we would meet earlier or adjust the course accordingly to avoid the sun. I ran a lot of those super hot weekday runs on a treadmill to avoid going out into the heat. In the long run, I wasn't letting my body adjust to all temperature conditions. I was so focused on overall performance and the pace of each run, I lost sight of the end goal. I couldn't meet my pace goal if it was hot, so I adjusted so I could maintain my desired pace... instead of working with the different elements that could be a factor on race day.


I had my mind on the prize of 4:30. I mean, if Oprah ran that time, I could beat it... Right? I ran my 20 miler very strong. I was spot-on my 4:30 goal.

But the weather for my 20 miler was gorgeous. I started running at 6:00am so the sun was barely out. We ran on the trails and in the shade. I had my normal amount of Gu and not too much Gatorade. Also, I did an "out and back" to the 5 mile point 2x so I was very familiar with the territory and it mentally helped to break things up. Because of the strength on my 20 miler, I had every reason to believe that the marathon wouldn't be any different. I wear my 20 miler shirt with PRIDE!

However, that was not the case. On October 9, 2011, temperatures were in the high 60's before the sun rose. The advise was to slow the pace to account for the heat. "Slowing" my per-mile pace by a few seconds (10:15-10:30 minute miles) wasn't enough and I was already struggling by mile 6. We were still on the "fun" part of the course and I could barely keep up. At mile 9 I knew I was in deep trouble. I started the race with my friend Amanda and we both had a goal to finish around 4:30 but Amanda was much more focused on finishing, where I was much more focused on 4:30 (for Amanda's full recap, click here!).

Amanda and I at the start of the Chicago Marathon

At mile 10, Amanda had family waiting so I stayed with her until we saw her family and then I had to slow down dramatically. I'm now averaging an 11:40 minute pace (probably how I should have started) and my stomach is roaring. I saw my family at mile 11 and tried to crack a smile. I didn't want them to see how much pain I was in, especially considering my cousin and Uncle have run several marathons before. At this point, I still thought I could finish. After mile 12, I knew I was in for a rough rest of the race with nothing but the sun beating down my back. There was barely an ounce of shade until the finish and the temps were now in the mid to high 70s.

Flying solo at about mile 12

At the halfway point, I started to walk. My stomach couldn't handle the mixture of water, Gu, and Gatorade and it got the best of me. I threw up and saw all my hydration preparation for the entire day flash before my eyes. Tears started to come but I just started walking. I thought if I kept moving, I might still finish. At mile 15, there was a medical tent. I stopped and said that I threw up and I wasn't sure if I should continue. The nurse touched my arm and realized I didn't have a bead of sweat on me. I was sat down and an IV was hooked up almost immediately. The throwing up continued as the IV was administered and I saw my marathon goal of finishing slipping farther and farther away with each minute. I knew once the IV was in that I wasn't finishing the Chicago Marathon. I was diagnosed with "mild heat exhaustion" and only made it to mile 15. After an ambulance ride to the finish line, I met up with all my running group friends and pretty much had a breakdown. Lots of tears and lots of disappointment. I didn't finish what I had trained since January to do. It was my one running goal for the year and I felt like a complete failure. Everyone told me that I did the right thing in stopping when I did as things could have been much worse.


A DNF for my first marathon wasn't good enough. I had put in the training, the hours, the effort. I was going to finish a damn marathon if my life depended on it. Thankfully, the Grand Rapids Marathon was that following Sunday (October 16, 2011). I signed up on Monday and was back in the saddle. I still had my eye on the 4:30 prize and knew I could achieve it. I treated that training week like a "taper" and started my 2nd marathon with the hope of finishing. I felt great for the first several miles.
My husband and his family was there cheering me on, the scenery was beautiful, and it was a gorgeous day for a marathon.

My cheering squad (even Pepper came too)! My SIL made everyone custom shirts!

The temp was not too hot and not too cold. You would have thought that I learned from some of my mistakes in Chicago.


If you've run a long distance or read an issue of Runners World magazine, this is pretty common information. If you're Gu-ing this mile, don't take Gatorade. Take water instead. DUH. I didn't have a schedule. I was Gu-ing and Gatorading at different times, depending on what I felt like. I am a planner.

Amanda and I looking and feeling great at about mile 17. Yes, Amanda drove all the way from Chicago to run with me and cheer me on!

Why did I not plan this out? Mile 18 comes along and my stomach starts to roar again. "No!" I said to myself (probably out loud). "You are not throwing up. That is final!" My stomach had other plans and at mile 19 up came the Gu, Gatorade, and water all over again. The idea of a 4:30 finish was gone, but the idea of a FINISH was still there. Come hell or high water, I was finishing this damn marathon if it was the last thing I did. After I threw up, there was a guy that came up behind me. He said "It's okay. Just have some water. You're almost done!" That brought a big smile to my face. Someone else understood. Someone else was as crazy as me. It was exactly what I needed to hear! I tried to run/walk to the finish.. that is until I started throwing up more. Amanda stayed with me from about mile 21/22 until the very end. She held my extra clothes, a cup full of gummy bears, whatever I needed. She told people coming over to try to help me that I was fine and she was staying with me. (I refused to be taken off the course!!!!) At mile 25, I turned to Amanda and said: "If you ever hear me say I want to do another marathon again...YOU REMIND OF THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW!!" (This was said as I was puking for the 5th time of the day). We smile and laugh about it now. (See Lesson 5). I guess the million dollar question at this point is... did I finish?

The final stretch!

Hell yes I did! Look at the size of that smile! With Amanda and one of my little cousins at my side, I crossed the finish line! I was so happy to be done and vowed to never do another marathon again! I finished in 5:28 (ahem, beating Katie Holmes' time of 5:29, thank you very much).


I think another thing that slipped me up during the planning of the race was the timing. Normally I would get up 1 hour before I needed to start running, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, and drive over to the trail. On the day of the marathon, I had to get up extra early, get to the race, etc. In the year leading up to the Marathon, I didn't complete any other races of a distance longer than an 8k. I think if I had completed a half marathon or something (coinciding with my training schedule of course), I think I would have been better prepared for what the morning would have been like... how early (or late) I should eat, etc. Or even gotten up earlier during the week of a training run just to get my body used to being up earlier than I need to!


I always said that I was a "one and done" marathoner. I just can't accept this finish as my only race. I've learned so much about myself and about running to have this experience be my only marathon experience. My next marathon goal: finish without throwing up. I think that is a good goal to work towards and I think it is achievable in time. Date of said marathon: TBD :)