Kelly
Organizers of the Soldier Field 10 boast that this race as “Goal Line Glory.”
After 10 weeks of preparation, I would have to agree that it was exactly that! I have never been athletic, nor have I ever excelled at an athletic feat. I’m notorious for starting a new fitness regimen just to give up a few week later because the desired results were not instantaneous.
I started preparation for this event with the mind set that I wanted to conquer the journey rather than the typical magic number of pounds to drop. I wanted to do this for my mental health instead of the physical aspect. I was finally able to finish something big and felt really good about it!
I overcame a couple injuries while getting ready for the race. First, I strained my left hamstring around week 3, but ignored it and kept running on it for 3 more days before listening to advice and skipping a couple short, midweek runs to allow the muscle to heal. My right ankle was sore for weeks after as a result. Secondly, the second toe on my right foot bruised around week 5. I don’t know what I did. The toe healed – so I thought- but the toenail fell off during my 11 mile run on week 8. I stopped the run at 7 miles to care for my foot before causing new injuries. (see, I learned not to push it…!)
Miles was concerned, saying “Mom, oh no! Your toe is broken. Are you going to buy a new one?”Saturday, May 28, 2011, a damp 50 degree morning (great for running, not spectating!)
5:20am – up to eat a little breakfast
6:10am – family is heading out the door to drive to race site
6:45am – parked in the South lot of Soldier Field
7:00am – lined up in my corral waiting for the race to start. My cheering section walked down the race path so that they could watch me run by the 1 mile marker!
7:15am – veterans honored, taps played, Soldier Field American Flags given to select veterans and veteran charities, and National Anthem.
7:30am – race start for the seeded (fast people) corrals. (There were 15,000 registered runners for this event)
Nearly a half hour later, my group was able to start running! The anticipation was making my stomach turn. Luckily, as soon as I started running, I felt fine :)
Mile 1 – usually a tough mile for me to get my mind clear for the long run, but seemed to fly by! I saw my cheering section and had to hold back the tears…. there was a lot more running to do and I needed the emotion/adrenaline for the run! Love, love, loved seeing them!!
Miles 2-3: Easy… nearly forgot that I was running. Still in a huge pack of people, but its a cool feeling and I don’t care. People are sporadically lined along the path and are cheering. We also run along LakeShore Drive. People are honking… Again with the tears – why am I wasting emotion on people cheering – just run already!
Miles 4-5: Getting really annoyed with the pack of people. I planned to run the first couple miles a little slow so that I would have energy to finish the race. BUT – being in the 10 minute mile group, there are a ton of walkers and people running shoulder to shoulder with their friends. I wanted to go faster, but was fighting to get space. I often left the paved path to pass people in the grass. I did stop at a water table to drink a little something a little past the 5 miles marker.
Miles 6-7: New found energy – why not?! I’m passed the half way-point! I giggle at the long lines at the port-a-johns and guys “watering” the trees and immediately make the executive decision that I will NOT be stopping to relieve myself anytime soon. At mile 7, I grabbed another beverage – this time it was some yellow gatorade stuff. Nasty!
Mile 8: Belly is angry. No more gatorade! I’m sure I slowed a bit. I started looking at some of the optional signs people were wearing on their backs. Some were running for “autism speaks,” “in loving memory of”, “for gay rights”, or “for lady power.” What would I run for…? If I put a sign on my back, what would I want it to say? Infertility…. No doubt in my mind! Again… tears start flowing! Stop it – I’m already tired and need to conserve energy. Time to focus on breathing and posture a little more – find a high energy song on the ipod!
Mile 9: Yeah.. final hydration stand! I need water to cleanse myself of that gatorade! It worked. Walkers are getting on my last nerve and energy dwindles until I can finally see Soldier Field!! Kid runners from the day’s hut-hut run were lining the last mile cheering us on… You guessed it! I cried again. The last half mile was great. I wanted to sprint. My stride lengthened again, but people were still in my way. I decided the finish line wasn’t going anywhere. My fear of falling on my face while on the jumbo-tron scared me. I waited my turn and took in the atmosphere. I was running in the tunnel leading to the field!!! I found a clearing in the group so that family would find it easier to spot me and completed the final 50 yards to the finish line!!
Finish line – yes.. of course I cried! I got a water and found the family!! Can you believe I actually completed that?!?! Had I not been there, I wouldn’t believe it!
Official race time is 1:44:48 for 10 miles (10:29/mile pace)... however my nike+ [and other runners w/ GPS] said the race was long.... my nike+ said that I ran 10.74 miles in 1:45 (9:46/mile pace)
However it doesn't matter to me! I finished the race!!! That's all that REALLY matters :)
I loved the experience and couldn’t have done it without all of the support I was given from friends and family. Thanks so much to those who were there as I trained, there as I raced, and those who gave encouragement from a distance!
Nathan and Miles – THANKS!!! You sacrificed your Saturdays to work with my long runs, and you gave up the evenings for my early morning runs! You encouraged me and held me accountable to my training plan with incredible sensitivity. I fed off your excitement when I really wanted to slack off! You’re amazing! I love you!
Next time….. I will work on speed! I hope to get a little faster, so that I can stay ahead of the bulk of the walkers! My road rage has translated to the running path as well …….
To those who are curious – I only lost 4 pounds, but likely lost several inches (I wasn’t keeping track). However, the confidence, clarity, and emotional strength cannot be quantified!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
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