The Real Recap of Marathon Missfit's Chicago Marathon

Alright, alright. People are getting restless awaiting the Missfit version of Sunday. Well I'm SOORRR-RRYYY! I'm KINDA tired from running the equivalent from Wrigley to Woodfield Mall. And now you want me to use more energy and type? Ugh, fine. 

Ahem *clears throat*

I FINISHED THE CHICAGO MARATHON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DID IT! ME! Laziest person alive! 26.freakin'2! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Like Christmas morning, but with peanut butter

I woke up early- about 10 minutes before the alarm. But I stayed in bed. I couldn't tell if I woke up late and missed it or if it was 2 in the morning. Either way I wasn't getting up until that blackberry started beeping. Once it did I was up and about fixing myself breakfast and tip toeing around the best house guest ever (she was quiet as a mouse!). My friend Julie, another awesome finisher came and we were in a cab and out the door.

It Begins

We got to Grant Park in plenty of time, but apparently some other people wanted to run the race as well. We were pushed along like cattle and as the gates were about to close, shoved our way in. Missfit mistake #1- starting out in the 8 min. mile pace section. (Why is everyone so thin?). Needless to say this threw everything off and we crossed the starting line at 7:39a.m. Julie and I kept the pace easy breezy for the first 5k and parted ways knowing we'd meet up at the finish.

Zoom!

Miles 3-9 went by really fast. Funny how shade makes running easier. I kept thinking, "This is going by too fast!" Ohhhh Connie, you fool. Around 8 I missed my family (there's some funny home video of my parents arguing who's fault it was that they were late). I had snack time around 9. Peanut butter and crackers, with a side of shot bloks and water. Mmm, mmm good. After my half marathon foolishness of not walking at all, I decided to walk the water stations. BEST IDEA EVER.

10.5, Move over Charles Dickens

I had to go to the bathroom so thought It'd be a good time to update Twitter. All I said was, "10.5- potty break!" Sorry I got so emotional there, the race got to me. =/

I've Got Friends in low places

The first sighting of anyone I knew in real life was Accidentally Sexy and Dana. Sadly I missed Steph, Ernest, Jen, Bex, and Katie, but I'm sure I heard them. =) I also met two readers! They both passed me so clearly they read this blog for a chuckle, but it was nice to meet new friends. Speaking of which, I want to thank the 1.5 MILLION spectators who came out on such a hot day to cheer us on. Thank you to anyone who could read and shouted out my name. Anytime you need help moving just give me a ring. I also saw all 6 of my bridesmaids! My parents were on the course too, and although I didn't spot them, there's some hil-arious family footage of them trying to find me (at one point the camera was just pointed to the ground- 'nuff said.) One of the coolest moments was when a woman read the back of my shirt, passed by and said, "No one that runs a marathon is a misfit." =)

Wall? Pssh, more like a small curb

Mile 14 was hard. I got it in my head for a bit that I had just ran a half marathon... and I had to do it again. Plus I'm told the temperature in the city was a tad higher than the average weather that typically goes with foliage (by about 30 degrees). But then I started to think to myself, "Do I want to RUN the Chicago Marathon, or do I want to walk the Chicago Marathon?" And I picked it up in search of mile 15.

It's a Small World After All

I've lived in Chicago my entire life, but I cannot tell you how many times I thought, "Where the hell am I? This is such a cute area! I wonder if there's any good restaurants around here." I actually have never even been to Chinatown since Sunday. Hopefully next time I go I won't need spectators screaming my name to keep me upright.

It's 6.2 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas- half a pack of shot bloks, its bright, and we're wearing sunglasses...

Mile 20 is where everyone says the race really begins. Honestly? Not that bad. I think being told it would be REALLY HARD made it easier. Don't get me wrong, the walk/run ratio definitely flip flopped, and at one point I ditched my sunglasses because they were annoying me (smart, no?), but it wasn't as bad. And everyone says the end is a dead zone, but there were way more people out there cheering us on and hosing us down with their garden hoses than there ever are on the lakefront path. It helped tremendously.

Are you there Amy? It's me, Connie

Mile 23.something I glanced over to my left and magically see Amy float down from the heavens (ok, more like she went to lunch in between seeing me at the start, but like I said, it was hot). She ran along side me explaining that after the 40k I was right there. I was sick of the metric system by then and shot back, "how many Ks are there?" She said I was "a sneeze away." Much better. I asked her to get me some cranberry juice and I went on my way.

How many Finish Lines are there?

Every time I go somewhere outside my neighborhood, I look at Google Maps. You would THINK that I would have studied the course map a bit more, but no. So that's why when I saw the blue flags at the end of Michigan Ave. I thought that was it. "Sweet! They got rid of that hill at the end!" But as I went closer I realized they didn't move it. Darn.

Am I there yet?

Once I saw the words FINISH I thought I was close. So I picked it up and started to sprint. Alicia said she saw me and screamed but I was to busy bolting that I didn't notice. As I approached the Finish line I was confused because there were two timing pads, so I crossed them both and kept walking fast asking out loud (like an IDIOT) "Is this it? Is this it?"

I hope they serve beer in hell

Once I figured out I was done, I choked up a little. It was over and I was done and I was ok. The finishers center was blissful. I spent a good 15 minutes just walking around. I grabbed a water, ditched it for some Gatorade, and ditched that for the beer. Yes, beer. If anyone has any doubt of how tough a marathon is, hear this: I didn't finish my beer.

More Paparazzi than Lady Gaga

When I finally arrived to the family center I was greeted by so many loved ones it was overwhelming. Kinda what I imagine heaven to be like, except my back won't be aching and I won't be sweating like a pig. My parents, the future in-law crew, Redeye elite, best friends and trainer Amy were all there. We cheered and hugged, I cried a little, and everyone was impressed with the fact that I was still standing and not in the least loopy (pretty proud of that- no delirium! woo!). I even made it out later to the bar for drinks and food- although I was dissappointed by my lack of appetite- I didn't even finish my dinner! But the beer was flowing and my back stopped aching. A perfect end to one of the greatest nights of my life.

Thank you times a million to all the volunteers and spectators. And to everyone who sent words of encouragement and congratulations on the blog/Twitter/Facebook. You guys were amazing and kept me going. It's because of you that I have one of the greatest pictures ever...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more pics check out the Chicago Marthon Photo Gallery