I had high expectations of myself going into the race. I had been training hard for several months but a lot of it had been on the treadmill. I was hoping for a sub-2 hour finish which meant I had to keep at least a 9:00 min/mile pace. The morning started off well with some light stretching and breakfast. I parked in the building I work in, since it was about a mile from the Start line and I like the cheaper parking. A friend and I that rode together walked the mile to the Start area at a brisk pace and it offered a good opportunity to warm up the muscles.
Once at the Start/Finish area we found the gear check and stashed our belongings. In order to keep from getting hungry during the race, I snacked on a Cliff bar while we stretched near the Start line near the Yacht Club.
I felt really good and loose before the start and was feeling confident in my ability to finish in my goal time. That went down the drain quickly. The horn blew and the race started. I was in Corral C so there was a 10 minute wait until I started. Once I got going, the first mile went by well. I passed the first mile marker in 8:30. I was ahead of my goal pace and was feeling rather well. Around Mile marker 2, which I passed with the same pace, my left knee started acting up again. This has been an ongoing issue now since last September. I was still able to hold my pace for another 2 miles and then I had to stop and readjust my knee sleeve. One of the Race Medics stopped to inquire about my situation. After a brief explanation, he gave me a packet of Biofreeze which helped alleviate some of the pain for a while but at that point my pace was shot. The stopping and going tired me out and I was no longer able to maintain my pace. I spent the rest of the race slowly bleeding time all while tring to push through the swelling in my knee and calf.
I ended up finishing the race in 2:13:21. That is a minute off of my previous PR and well off my goal time. All in all, it was a wonderful race with a great after party with a lot of freebies and a nice post race meal. Another cool perk was that you got to take home a flower of your choice to plan in a garden to commemorate the event. I do think I will be running this race again next year since I want redemption. It is a pretty flat course with only a few inclines and a beautiful view of the lakefront.
This upcoming weekend I have the Soldier Field 10 mile on Saturday. This is one of my favorite races and it will be my 3rd time running it. It runs on almost exactly the same course as the Chicago Spring Half, except it's 3 miles shorter. 2 weeks after that I will be doing my first Ragnar Relay with team Midwest Vikings. 200 miles from Madison, WI to Montrose Beach in Chicago. 6 runners a few volunteers riding in a van over the course of 24 hours. Should make for one fun, smelly adventure!
After the Ragnar Relay, I have a 2 1/2 month hideous since my wife and I will be getting a puppy. In that time I will be resting my knee, rehabbing and strengthening it. With any luck, I will be able to PR at the Chicago Half Marathon in September.
