In keeping with the “10” theme, I decided to post a note describing my top 10 emotions during the Chicago Marathon 2010.
10
Sleepy…
Riding a bike down Michigan Ave. at 4:00 am is pretty amazing, I mean, there is no one on the streets..a few cars but nobody walking around, what a cool experience. It was a great start to a great day. However, as the morning progressed I wanted to lie down and close my eyes. Waking up at 3:30 in the morning is really early.
9
Apprehensive…
As the morning wore on and it was already 65 degrees I couldn’t help but think of Chi Marathon 2007 and what a miserable experience that was in the heat. What would today be like??
8
Excitement…
We got to the start corrals with the thousands of people squished around us who were gearing up for the same experience, it is exhilarating! You definitely can’t have personal space issues and be in this crowd. The music was blaring and the dude who sang the national anthem was amazing. The race starts and the masses move forward…ever so slowly, then you’re off!! (25 minutes after the gun goes off)
7
Sorrow…
I get very emotional during the marathon, partly because of the immensity of the race and partly my bodies reaction when I run. As I would pass people who were running for ill family members or kids with cancer, I would get so choked up. When I saw the guy who was running in full fireman’s gear on behalf of Make-A-Wish I almost lost it. What a sap I am.
Plus, looking around at the thousands of runners, I’m wondering how many are lost among them, I’m sure there are hundreds and I’m saddened by the mass of humanity that has rejected Christ and are lost…so sad. I silently pray for them all.
6
Joy…
Pure joy as the sun is coming up and I am running through the most beautiful city in the world and I see God’s creation and goodness around me and I’m still physically able to participate in this event, wow! JOY is definitely how I feel!
5
Thankful…
As we get to mile 4 & 11 we see family and friends who came to support us. We are truly blessed. (I only wished I could have seen Dan there but I am still thankful because I knew he was praying for me).
Also, thankful for Candace who jumped in and ran 6 miles of the race with me especially because the section out to the United Center and by Malcolm X College sucks!
Thankful that the Lord blessed my daughters with two wonderful young men, both were so helpful to their wives and to me!
Thankful that Madeline had a great attitude even though I made her get up at 3:30 a.m. and volunteer at Grant Park.
4
Annoyance…
Unfortunately I felt this emotion on several occasions… I sometimes wish I could write a runner’s book of etiquette, which I may do one day. But seriously, when the course is super crowded and walkers or run/walkers stop right in front of me. Argh I want to just TAKE THEM OUT! Along with that, there are those who eject their snot-rockets and fluggeys right in front of me (gross) and the guys who sweat so bad there body fluid is spraying me as I run by or they move over just as I’m passing by and their sweaty arm touches mine..(Double gross). Then there are the people in the crowd who step onto the course and I have to swerve around them. Okay, enough venting!
3
Guilt…
Although Danielle and I had an agreement that this year if one of us had issues, me with the porta-potty and her with the pukes, we would feel free to separate and finish on our own. I still felt like a jerk of a mom when Danielle started vomiting at mile 11 and I left her in the care of her husband. (Her body rejects fluids in the heat, poor thing).
2
Frustration…
I was right on target to get a PR even in the heat and after I crossed 94 by Cellular Field I hit the WALL. Not a real wall, that would have been funny, but the proverbial runner’s wall that no matter how much your mind wants you to run faster you body will not cooperate. My feet were killing me and my legs were like jello. The heat had taken its toll. I willed myself to keep going. Those last three miles seemed like an eternity.
1
Pure RELIEF…
Crossing the finish line is always an emotional experience but I was so relieved to cross over and get that medal placed around my neck. It was over! Whew! Then as I got my bag from gear check, got my phone and called Danielle. I didn’t know where she was; did she have to drop out? Was she in an ER somewhere? Was she still out there running and puking? She answered her phone in tears, yes she was still running, she couldn’t hold anything down, she was miserable but she was okay. Joseph stayed with her the last 15 miles of the race. (What a guy!) She finished… oh, was I RELEIVED!!
So marathon #6 is in the books, it was a great day and although the weather was not ideal, we made it through.
4 months of training, capped off by an amazing day at the 2010 Chicago Marathon. Now I just recover and get ready to run a half marathon with my girls on Halloween. I'm glad I've got three weeks to recover.
The future, well I'm registering for New York City Marathon 2011, hopefully I'll get in for next November's race. As of today, I don't plan on running Chicago 2011.
