Rick Smith [Bib # 4342], Overland Park, KS [Photos]

The 1997 LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon. My first marathon. Slept like a rock the night before and didn't feel nervous at all. Only semi-worry was to go out slow enough to avoid ``the Wall.''

Temperature at the start was a perfect 46 degrees (F). Brought along some gloves to wear and tossed them at the half-way point.

The race

Start--joined 16,299 of my closest friends at the starting line and lined up around the 3:40 Runner's World Pace Group. It took us 1:51 to get to the Starting Line, mostly at a walk. Doesn't look like going out slow enough will be a problem.

Mile 1--a really slow one, I crossed in 12:12, so my split was 10:17 $\ldots$ already quite a bit slower than my 9:00 hopes, but I figure it's better to be too slow than too fast here. It's just too crowded through here $\ldots$ we even had to slow to a walk over the first bridge. Noticing a lot of hats, gloves, sweatshirts, etc. that look pretty nice (some people's ``throw-away'' stuff is better than the stuff I wear).

Mile 2--another slow split, 10:17 again (at least I'm consistent). At this point, I'm just trying to enjoy the sights and not run over anyone's heels. Decide that it is not worth trying to push the pace until I can dodge other runners more easily and with less effort. Besides, I'm enjoying reading the backs of runners' t-shirts and some of the more creative signage along the way: ``24.2 Miles to Beer + Men!'' and ``Wooden Shoes are Better than Nikes!''

Mile 3--pushed the pace a little better through here for an 8:48 split, and tried out our first water stop...learned that it will be better to cut over to the water tables at the latter stages of the water stop to avoid the congestion. I've got to admit that I'm not used to such lengthy water tables $\ldots$ just another reflection of the magnificent job the race director, Carey Pinkowski, and his staff did the entire weekend. I walked through the water station, making sure that I got an entire cup of water down. I am too clumsy to drink while running, so I will walk through every water station throughout the day. It gives me a little bit of break, and it only takes me the amount of time it takes to drink one or two cups of water/Gatorade, so I don't really lose any significant time.

Mile 4--start to push the pace even a little more here, but we are still very congested, and I cannot get a good rhythm going. Have pretty much lost the 3:40 pacing group by now, but I am casually shooting for a 3:45 anyway (and mostly just trying to finish without bonking). Split for this mile was 8:32.

Miles 5 and 6--turned in a two-mile split of 17:12, and feel like I'm beginning to sort of loosen up, but still having trouble with some congestion. We hit the northernmost part of the course here, and the view coming back towards Downtown Chicago is great $\ldots$ also seems like it didn't take too long to get there.

Miles 7 and 8--it wasn't until the latter part of this leg that I finally began to feel like I could get into a rhythm and run without shortening my stride to avoid anyone. The two-mile split for this one was 16:03 $\ldots$ figured I would try to hit closer to 8:00 and no slower than 8:30 from here until I couldn't anymore. My math is not always very precise while running, so I concluded that with that goal, I would finish ``close enough'' to the 3:45 I was seeking.

Mile 9--the congestion has really loosened up by now, and I am enjoying a pretty nice rhythm. Run on the carpet while crossing the bridge onto Wacker Drive (just because it's there, and I think it is cool to get to run on carpet.) Run a 7:54 this mile, probably because of the newfound freedom, and start preparing for the Mile 10 water stop by the Sears tower where I will take a Lemon-Lime PowerGel, take in more water/Gatorade, and see my wife and her friend.

Mile 10--running along the right side of the street so they can find me (a suggestion from our neighbor back home for easier identification), I can see that there is quite a crowd. I begin to doubt that I'll see them as I am taking in the PowerGel and liquid. Then I hear my name and see them, camera-ready and cheering. I strike a pose with the PowerGel in one hand, and a Gatorade cup in the other $\ldots$ it probably looks like I'm posing for an ad, not running in a marathon. Split for this mile is 8:00, and we leave the cheering masses at the Sears Tower to head west into the second of the three major sections of the course.

Mile 11--while running along this section, we run by a building adorned with a 2-3 story high poster of adidas poster-child, Todd Williams. I have to wonder what it is like to be running in a race and have something like that hanging along the course for everyone in the lead pack to see and comment on. An 8:12 for this section, which also included a group of high school cheerleaders, a couple of non-marathoners out for some exercise, and a host of little kids for high-fiving.

Mile 12--Mile 12 is the first of three zigzags in this section of the course. Pick it up to counter the over 8:00 pace of the last mile for a perfect 7:48 split.

Mile 13--we cross over the Eisenhower Expressway on this mile and head in to the halfway point. Mile split was 8:07. Halfway split was 1:54:00 $\ldots$ exactly the same time as the half-marathon training run I did three weeks ago back in Kansas City. I had felt really smooth during that run, and didn't have the slow start time, so my race pace thus far was only a couple minutes faster. Take off the gloves and stick them into the back of my shorts. Minutes later I forget that they're there and fling them onto the road behind me when I re-adjust my shirt. Oh, well.

Miles 14 and 15--knowing that I have run a 1:44 half-marathon in June, I feel like I have accomplished the goal of going out slow enough, and I'm feeling pretty strong. At the next zigzag, I'm looking for Jeff Galloway, the 3:40 pacing leader $\ldots$ ``maybe I can shoot for catching him right at the finish and pull in with a 3:40.'' Never do see him, though, and still don't know where he finished. Push it a little to turn in a two-mile split of 15:30.

Mile 16--at the Mile 16 marker, the time read 2:08:xx, and I asked a guy running next to me if he realized that somebody was probably finishing right now. Little did I know that the winner, Khalid Khannouchi, had already crossed the line a minute earlier. In other words, I got beat in a race by a distance longer than I had ever run before I started training for this marathon. Wow. Khannouchi and I are the same age and both running our first marathon. Obviously, the similarities end there. Mile 16 split was 7:40.

Mile 17--this mile was a little long for me, and I decided that a second PowerGel would be very nice to have about now. Fortunately, I knew that PowerBar would be handing them out ``around mile 18.'' Unfortunately, upon arriving at the Mile 18 marker, there was no PowerGel to be found. I eventually got some Berry-flavored PowerGel later, but failed to realize at what mile it was. Split for this mile was 7:59.

Mile 18--got a little worried when my Mile 17 split was slower than the previous three miles had been, and picked it up to a 7:34 coming into the third, and final, major section of the course.

Mile 19--might have gotten the Berry-flavored PowerGel at the water station during this mile. My split slowed to an 8:09, but my energy returned as I tried to prepare for the ``halfway mark'' at Mile 20.

Mile 20--was pleased with how I felt at the 20-mile marker, but still was a little worried about the stories I had heard about how quickly it comes on between 20 and 22. Tried to push those thoughts out of my head as we went through the water stop by Comisky Park. Thought about how nice it would be if the course would also go by Wrigley. Really began to focus on finishing at this point, calculating possible finish times based on a 10 minute/mile final 10k pace. Mile 20 split was 7:31.

Mile 21--make our turnaround at the southernmost part of the course and head for the finish. I am convinced I am going to make it now, and continue to calculate 10 minute miles while turning in a 7:46 split.

Mile 22--I'm passing people with regularity right now as the 3:40, 3:30, and even a few 3:20 pace group members are slowing. Remind myself that I only have four miles to go and continue to calculate ridiculously slow times in my head that aren't even appropriate for my current pace $\ldots$ I guess I'm just waiting to crash. Meanwhile, my split is a 7:13. During this stretch, someone had a boombox blaring ``Smells Like Team Spirit'' by the band Nirvana and a guy comments, ``That's as close to nirvana as I'm going to get for about another four miles $\ldots$'' As for me, I'm thrilled that I've gone out slow enough, and I'm not going to hit ``The Wall.''

Mile 23--the combination of the math and constant passing of other runners confuses me and I'm surprised to see the Mile 24 marker ahead and not the Mile 23 marker. In all this confusion, I realize I'm closer than I thought I was and record my fastest split of the day - 7:11. In addition, our second 180-degree turn gives me a chance to see who's ahead and behind me $\ldots$ no sign of any of the pace leaders. I remember reading somewhere that anything I drink after Mile 22 will probably not be used. I, however, decide that my mouth could use a little moisture, so I get a little bit to drink here.

Mile 24--at the beginning of this mile is another water station. I skip it, but recognize that it is nice that they have one so soon after the last one. I'm sure that a number of the runners have found it to be extremely helpful at this point. As for me, I can now do the math well enough to realize that a consistent pace will bring me in around 3:35, even better than the 3:40 I'd calculated earlier. Still feeling strong, I'm picking off runners with pace group tags reading as low as 3:00 $\ldots$ feel thankful I haven't blown up like that. Split for this mile slows to a 7:34.

Mile 25--seeing the 25-mile marker, I begin to smell the finish. At this point, I'm passing people, focusing on running smooth, and not really taking advantage of any of the scenery. The last part of Mile 25 is a trip through tunnel running under McCormick Place, the main convention center in Chicago. I really enjoyed this part, as I felt like we were going ``downhill.'' My company was exhibiting in a trade show somewhere in McCormick Place, so ``I may be running right under them,'' I thought to myself. Since the race I have heard several complaints about the stretch under McCormick Place--mostly that it was too dark, but I found it to be a nice change and a little bit refreshing because it was cooler. My split for this mile was back down to a 7:14.

Mile 26--coming out of the McCormick Place tunnel was the Mile 26 marker. At this point, we make a left turn, go under the Lake Shore Drive overpass, and run onto Lake Shore Drive for the finish. I'm not certain, but we may also pass Soldier Field at this point $\ldots$ I was focusing too much on running smooth to even notice. Under the Lake Shore Drive overpass was a band (The web site map says they're called Tumbleed $\ldots$ kind of a cool name) playing. I don't remember what they were playing, but I remember liking it pretty well. Right after the band was another water stop as we headed onto Lake Shore Drive. I didn't stop for water, but I did soak up all the encouragement I could from the volunteers and spectators around it. Good thing, because the ``climb'' onto Lake Shore Drive seemed to take a long time. Shortly before we crest the on-ramp, a woman says, ``You're almost there, the finish is at the balloons!'' No offense to the lady, but the balloons only marked the 26-mile marker $\ldots$ a sizable discrepancy to a tired runner. Overall, I felt pretty strong here, passing other runners all along Lake Shore Drive for a 7:21 split.

Mile 26.2--coming into the final .2 miles, I suddenly begin to take notice of all of the spectators, sights, sounds, etc. again. I can see the finish and it is very wide with several finish lanes. Trying to bring it in strong, I start to lengthen my stride a little. Bad idea. My hamstring tightens, just short of cramping. New strategy: bring it in strong with shorter strides and higher turnover. Nearing the finish, I look at the clock, and it reads 3:33:xx $\ldots$ darn, not going to break 3:33. Decide to shoot for 3:33:33 (figure it'll be easy to remember). I move into the center of the road, picking out a wide-open area to finish (hey, you only get one first time, and I want a decent finish line photo $\ldots$). Find a nice clear area and finish a little faster with a 3:33:27.

Finish--cross the finish line, stop my watch, and get into the nearest chute. As I hand my tear-off tag to the volunteer, I tell him, ``Don't lose that.'' Another volunteer places a nice 20th Anniversary finisher's medal around my neck. Next, I'm given a nice, aluminum foil thingy to wrap around me. Don't know that it's really holding in a lot of heat, but it looks cool, and I feel important. Move over the ``free finish photos'' area and get my picture after watching a few others comically struggle to make it up the two-step, step-stool without falling off the side. One common trait of everyone's picture, though, was the smile of satisfaction. After that, it was a trip through the goomies line where I couldn't carry much more than a drink and a bagel, and on to the gear check to collect some dry clothes from my very sturdy and handy gear check bag they issued us at packet pickup. I wander over to the Hilton Hotel to meet my wife and her friend, and to change into my dry clothes. Turns out they missed my finish because I had predicted too slow a time. My friend David then came by to offer congratulations and ask how things went. He himself finished 12th in the 5k (out of about 5,000 runners) and will probably qualify for the Olympic Trials someday in the marathon. Later in the evening, after a soak in the hot tub and shower, we enjoyed the post-race party at the Hard Rock Cafe with free Coors Light and snacks galore. I met the race director, and got a chance to tell him how well-organized the race was and thanked him for making my marathon debut an enjoyable experience.

Final Thoughts--an excellent experience for my first one. I was able to enjoy the sights, finish strong, and record a good time on a day with perfect weather $\ldots$ you just can't ask for much more. I ran negative splits, 1:54:00 and 1:39:27, and my second half was a PR for a half-marathon (I had a running start, though:-)). I was sore for four days, but nothing is injured that I can tell. As for my future plans, I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude to find out if the marathon bug has bit me or not. If so, the next step would be a 3:10 to qualify for Boston--preferably in a smaller race that allows for a faster start than the 12-minute mile I started with in this race. If not, triathlons provide a little diversity. And if not that, I need to find another way to keep in shape, because that is truly the best aspect of this experience--the feeling that I'm doing something good for myself.

Take a look at Rick's marathon photos.