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It was hot!
It was hot out there, hotter than I expected it to be really. I met a couple of friends by Millennium Park, to take a shuttle down to the start/ finish at the South Shore Cultural Center. It was humid, so I was drinking Gatorade Endurance Pro and water on the way. I wasn't freaking out, but was antsy...general pre-race nerves really.
Once we got to the start and checked our gear, we waited an hour for the start. After a quick bathroom break we headed to the corrals. One of my old high school friends found me and we wished each other luck! I was in corral K; 13.1 Chicago uses a wave start, using corrals A through O. I started about 20 minutes after corral A began the race.
I felt alright despite the heat, I paced the first mile at 10:45. A little faster but still in my wheel house. I wanted to pace my miles at 11:00, which seemed OK. I figured I'd start there, feel it out and see how it went. I ended up running with two of the friends I knew, we were the same speed. Mark, actually was a bit faster and took off around mile 5. Danielle was running her second half, and is running for the AHA this year. Every once in a while we chatted, and we were moving well.
By mile 3, as we made our way past the Museum of Science and Industry I knew that keeping that pace was going to take work, but I felt OK. Though I wasn't controlling my breathing the best. We hit the lakefront path and it sunk in that there wouldn't be much shade. I slowed for the aid stations, which were about every mile and a half or two miles...with plenty to drink really.
Saw one of the folks I knew around mile 6 maybe, he was on his way back already...on pace for a sub 2 hour 1/2. The mile 6 aid station had ice cold drinks, SO awesome. I hit the turn around at mile 7 and was offered a cold towel. Um, yes please!
Hitting mile 8 I was feeling it, my legs were tired, I was tired. And my stomach was cramping. I followed Beth's advice, and laid off the shot blox and drank more. I didn't panic, I just ran. At the mile 9 marker I saw a course volunteer speed up in a 4 wheeler and pulled the black flag. He told us the race was done, and we should walk to the shuttle waiting ahead for us. I was a little surprised the race was stopped. I didn't think it was any hotter than the Soldier Field 10 Mile last year, or the Chicago Marathon!
A quick note about the alert system. Each mile marker had flags hanging. Green, yellow, red and black. The problem...they weren't securely fastened and were susceptible to the wind. Some flags rolled up and others were wrong. It led to confusion. I had no idea the race was even at a red flag status! I heard it from our friend who was on pace for the sub 2 1/2 when we got back to the finish. They may want to work on that.
We kept running, figuring we'd run to the shuttle. We eased up a little but kept moving. We ran to mile 10...assuming there would be a shuttle. No shuttle.
At this point we decided to walk to where ever the shuttle was. I was feeling frustrated. I was on pace for a PR, or at least a shot at it. But I was really feeling it at this point. Everything that had started at mile 8, the tired and heavy legs, the cramping, was there. My frustration really wasn't about the race being black flagged. It was being told a couple of times to keep walking and that there was a shuttle just up ahead for us. We saw shuttles going back farther up the course to pick up people, but nothing from miles 10-13.
We started chatting with other runners. Some knew the race was black flagged, others had no clue. Hitting mile 12 and still not seeing a shuttle, we knew we were walking the rest of the way.
Now, the aid stations while I passed, remained open. All the aid stations had plenty of fluids for folks. Mile 10(?) we were offered full gallons of water...great for people near me who wanted it, but I was ahead of a lot of people. I heard ambulance sirens, and saw one runner along the side with help, but she looked OK. I'm hoping she was.
And here we were walking to a non existent shuttle, the race was over, yet the photographers were still snapping pics. Really? Most of the results won't count, and I don't know how many people will want pics from the event, I don't know that I want mine.
Danielle and I on the shuttle back to MIllennium Park...yes the medal tastes good, and it spins.
I will say as we crossed the "finish", we were given medals, food and water. Officials and volunteers took care of those who gutted it out and "finished". I crossed the line in under 3 hours feeling like I had unfinished business. I emailed Coach Jen and we chatted. We're taking away the fact I was running pretty well in the heat and on pace for a shot at PR at mile 10. I was able to control what I could control and didn't panic. I'm happy with that.
A big thank you to the race organizers, volunteers and medical professionals who were out there yesterday. Thank you for making our safety the priority. Yes I wish things had gone differently, but am glad I'm safe. I'm grateful.
More later.
05 Jun, 2011
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Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/cubicle-dad/2011/06/131-chicagomy-10-mile-experience.html
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