Marathon for Mom and Mike by fall4daisies

I did it!  A few days ago I wasn't even sure if I would make it to the starting line, and I'm SO happy to report that I finished the Chicago marathon today!  Yup, all 26.2 miles of it!  My time was 4hrs 57ish minutes (unofficial time), and I DID IT!

My friend Michelle and sister-in-law Nikki went with me up to Chicago on Saturday morning.  After stopping for chicken-n-dumplins at Cracker Barrel, we arrived at the expo just after lunchtime and I picked up my packet: 

Here's the "Event Alert System" notification of "Yellow," meaning conditions were expected to be "less than ideal conditions" on race day:

The expo was HUGE - vendors from Nike, Asics, Gu, Gatorade....you name it.  This sign made me laugh when I saw it!:

After the expo we went to the MMRF reception.  Last year we had only a handful of runners for MMRF, and this year we had about 40!!!  It was awesome to seeing Jane and Alicia (from MMRF) and meeting with other MMRF runners and hearing their stories.  Together the Chicago MMRF team raised nearly $100,000.00!!! 

Another highlight of the evening was seeing Tom Holland again this year.  He has written two books (working on his 3rd, I belive), one of them being "Marathon Method."  I followed his "Beginner Marathon Training Program" last year and his "Intermediate Marathon Training Program" with good results.  After I broke my toe 2 weeks ago, Tom offered good advice and much-needed words of couragement.  Thank you, Tom!

On race day I woke up at 4:30AM and felt the butterflies in my stomach.  After being so wrapped up in a funk of depression and uncertainty about running with a broken toe, I gladly welcomed these feelings of nervousness because I knew my mind and body were preparing for the run.

I ate a banana and a bagel with peanut butter, drank a cup of milk, a cup of coffee, and a swig of juice then left the hotel.  We were surprised to find a layer of frost on the car this morning!  Brr!  Here's a photo of the Chicago skyline at sunrise...so pretty!:

After Nikki and Michelle dropped me off by the starting line, I visited the porta-potty and dropped off my bag in baggage claim before making my way to the starting corral.  Nearly 20 minutes after the gun went off, I crossed the starting line and was off!

My pace was very slow and cautious.  Fortunately, because of the freezing cold weather, my toes were numb and I ran without pain for the first few miles.  At mile 4.75 I saw Nikki and Michelle and shed one of my long-sleeved layers and took a Gu.  Around mile 6 I felt a sharp pain in my right knee and figured it was probably a "phantom pain" that would pass.  Well, it didn't...

I finished in under 5 hours (I think my time was 4:57??) - I'm okay with it. I am just so blessed that I even made it to the starting line today!

Well, I will post more about the race later...right now it's past my bedtime and I'm SO ready to call it a day!!!