Got into Chicago on Friday night; stayed at the Inter-Continental hotel on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Picked up my race packet at the expo the same night. Met some folks from the virtual training (Hal Higdon's program) group at Dave and Buster's on Clark Street for dinner at 7:30pm. On Saturday, I got a massage in the morning and then caught up with couple of friends from Evanston for lunch in downtown. Stayed indoors thereafter, with pasta dinner at the hotel itself--could not each much (too much cheese).
Moving to race-day. I started with the 4:00hour pace group (per my goal). Kelly and another guy were the pace leaders. We hit the start line in about 9 minutes (was about 5-10 seconds behind the pace leaders). I crossed the first mile in 9:07, and the second in around 9:50. Back on track with a 8:30 or so in mile 3. From thereon, I just stayed at a comfortable 100m or so behind the pace leaders. I was hitting the mile markers between 9:00-9:10 on a consistent basis by running within myself. Lost the pace group leaders from time to time, but I did not wan't to change the pace/strategy for I was right on pace (averaging 9:04). Was running alone for the most part, and the pace seemed comfortable enough to even chat. Problems surfaced at around mile 7 or so when my calves began to feel a bit uncomfortable. They were a tad tight even on Saturday when I got a massage (so the therapist indicated). Anyway, I thought it would pass. I hydrated very well at all stops (water/gatorade), with at least 2-3 cups. Jogged through all the water stops. Had a Gu at mile 4.75 and then one at mile 9. At the mile 9 stop, I dropped two of my Gu's, which left me with only one for rest of the way. From mile 10-13, my calves and quads started to act-up, and they were beginning to make their presence felt. I crossed the half-way point right on target: 1:58:36.
Miles 14 and 15 were about the same pace, and by that time it was decision-time. My calves and quads were hurting a lot and also cramping badly (new territory). I c'd have slowed down and aimed for a slower time, but I thought I should get to mile 20 on pace or thereabouts to give myself some semblance of a shot at a sub-4hr time. At that point a 4:05 or a 4:15 did not make much difference, so I decided to get to the 20mi mark and then take a decision one way or the other. When I started, I had a three hour time-goal at 20 miles. It was not going to be easy. I somehow stayed on track till mile 18 (2:41), and then I began to lose it:-) Had a little of my last Gu at that point. Slowed down (per force) over the next 2 miles to be at 3:03:30 at mile 20. From mile 15 to mile 20, I can only remember entering Chinatown (all else is a blur). I was a mess at that point: calves/quad were very sore, cramping, and the pain seemed unbearable. I quit any time goal, and planned on just finishing.
Miles 21-24 were agonizing to say the least. It was the first time in a marathon when I truly felt I would not finish. I did not stop or walk at all for I felt I would have not been able to re-start. I managed to stay on my feet, and jogged through all the stops eagerly looked forward to the next mile marker. It appeared as though the mile markers were placed more than a mile apart:-) At mile 23 or so I doused myself with lots of water and totally drenched my shoes. It was not a wise decision. At 4:00 hours I was at about mile 24.5 and I felt I w'd definitely finish and that too with possibly a PR. The ramps on mile 25 and 26 were unduly harsh on my calves/quads and I was just glad when I hit mile 26 with the balloons in sight. Tried to go a tad faster during the final 0.2 miles and made it to the finish line. Finish time was: 4:19:05--a PR (by only 3 minutes) but it was not fun! This was my first marathon where I did not walk or stop. Had to sit in the photo-line for I c'd not stand, and after removing my shoes I realized I had a few calluses with one which had a blister around it (blood had collected). I walked back to the Inter-Continental from the finish area. A mere 1.25-1.5 miles at most: it took me one hour to get back to my hotel.
Got back to Princeton yesterday evening, and got a massage last night. Even today my quads and calves are hurting/cramping and I can't bend my feet while walking. In retrospect, I wonder how I survived those final 10+ miles on Sunday. Thus far, my training and the results for a marathon have not been in-sync. I hope to correct that sometime in the near future. Had met with a podiatrist in September who indicated I need orthotics for arch support (not very pronounced): he mentiond it might get rid of the calluses/blisters and also the tightness I feel during the early part of my runs. Will look into it. Anyway, I am not thinking of running at this point; I would just like to walk without any pain sometime soon:-) Truly, the marathon is a humbling experience.