My Chicago Marathon Story

With many of you about to wake up and receive your results in the lottery for the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, I wanted to take a moment and share my experience from 2018.

Chicago has always held a special place in my heart. I have traveled there, far too many times to count, ever since I was very young and I love it there. In 2016, it is where I ran my first half marathon. And I knew that if I were to ever run a full marathon, I wanted my first to be in Chicago as well.

For those of you that do get in tomorrow, if its your first Chicago Marathon, I know how much this race will change your life. And for those of you who do not fair as well in the lottery. Please keep trying. It is well worth the wait!!

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Here is my story:

(recapped just a few days after I returned back home after the race)

Way back in October 2017, something in me said hey. You can run a marathon. Right? Like why not! Fast forward to December, just a few months later, and receiving the email with my lottery results and entrance confirmation into the Chicago Marathon...I nearly crapped my pants. Who signed me up for this?? Ha. But here I am today. A CHICAGO MARATHON FINISHER! Wow. It still hasn't really sunk in yet. 

I've been trying to think of ways to describe the experience, of what it was like to run 26.2 miles in Chicago, IL with people from all around the world. I'm not going to get all emotional and teary eyed (well maybe a little). But if you have never been to a World Marathon Major, or even if you have never been a part of the Chicago Marathon. It's a must! I had an unbelievable weekend!! Yes it rained, yes it was hard, and walking up and down stairs today it insanely difficult. But I would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat!! 

Race day starts: Waking up at 4am, getting ready, trying not to panic. I didn't sleep well. I was soooo worried l’d over sleep. And then there was the craziest feeling of knowing that once I left my hotel room, I was about to start this journey of running a distance I have never ran before. I was scared to death, but I got up, got ready, and took a million photos of myself before I stepped outside. Hundreds or runners walking the streets towards the gates. Wow. A sight to be seen! This was really happening. I was cold as hell. Excited, scared, praying I didn’t forget anything and was wearing appropriate running gear for the weather!

It started to rain about 10mins before I needed to be in my corral. Crap, I didn't want it to rain but I was prepared for it. I think everyone was, as 40,000 runners nervously watched the forecast for Chicago, days leading up to race day. Rain was inevitable (although the rain did stop after about 7-8miles) but the temp was decently cool. And overcast was perfect on such an open course....I then waited and waited and waited. Seemed like forever, slowing walking towards the start line. Stepping over mounds of jackets, ponchos, pants and gels many runners before me left. Mo was over halfway finished with the marathon by the time I started!! Seems so crazy to look at it that way! Once I could finally see the start line, the nerves set in. And I did everything I could to hold it together and not start crying before the race even started. 

I've watched the race before on TV, and traveled to Chicago many times. In a way I knew the route and neighborhoods I would run through. But I have never experienced Chicago like this! I have never felt a love from total strangers who at times during the race believed in me more then I did myself! The volunteers and spectators were hands down phenomenal. Half way through the race, I pulled my headphones out. The music in the different neighborhoods and the cheering was absolutely amazing and so fun! Like I know I paid for this, and trained to do this race. But to have so many people stand in the rain and chilly winds to cheer us crazy runners on...angels! I was told in the months leading up to the race to take my headphones out and just take it all in. Best advice ever! 

Somewhere around mile 12-14 I started to get dizzy. I know it was because of the way I was fueling, or rather lack thereof. I wasn't being as consistent as I should have been with my intake. I think the adrenaline and distraction of the crowds threw me off a bit. And my body was paying for it. I needed real food and fast. I slammed a cup of coca cola, ate some pretzels and a cherry jolly rancher, and got right back in it. (Normally I would have panicked thinking...don't take in anything new, you don't even drink soda and haven't eaten a jolly rancher since middle school? It all tasted like heaven. I needed it. No regrets!) 

After mile 16. I knew I was finishing the marathon. Something in me just knew it. Many times I nearly balled my eyes out. In pain, excitement and just being so damn proud of myself. 

When I seen the 20mile marker, I broke down in tears. I knew, from here on out, every step I took was the furthest I had ever ran. That's when it hit me... I was going to become a marathoner!! The crowds slimmed a bit before the final 2mile stretch. Turning onto Michigan Ave was surreal. The street was packed, both sides, the music was blaring, and the camaraderie between all the runners pushing that final stretch was a feeling I will never forget. Oh the cheers. Wow. Then I made the turn to the final 400m and see a hill that after 26miles looked like Mt. Everest. I was warned about this tiny incline. Finally seeing it in person was like are you f’ing serious? But finally making it to the top, rounding the corner to the left and seeing that finish line...holy moly...this really happened. I was about to finish my first marathon. THE CHICAGO MARATHON!! The last 18weeks kind of flashed before my eyes. It was all worth it!!

My fav/most memorable/shocking parts:

1. The crowds!! The volunteers!! 

2. The gentleman wearing the watermelon shirt who I had seen nearly the entire race. At first I was like oh ok dude, you’re cool and thanks for being so supportive...but by the end he was still out there. Consistently every two miles or so I would see him and hear his cheers! He was a rockstar!! 

3. The nursing home. The signs and waving to those in the window!

4. The Chicago PD and Fire Department! God bless you all. Not only for what you do every day, but for keeping us all safe on Sunday, managing the enormous crowds of amazing people and even handing out water at the aid stations! 

5. The gal who jumped into the street, pointed at me, and said “you, right there, you are amazing!” I freakin love you! I needed that. You are amazing too girl! 

6. The drinks and snacks! People lined the streets with trays, coolers and big ass tents to pass out out; pretzels, frozen grapes, oranges, trail mix, pb&j sandwiches, banana halves, coca cola, skittles, twizzlers, jolly ranchers, beer...yes beer! You name it! 12 packs of miller lite beer just sitting on tables, guys pouring beer into cups and passing them out. No joke! It was insane! 

7. Favorite sign: “Finishing is the only fucking option! Only 5.47 miles left!” (May have the actual mileage wrong that was on the sign, either way...love the honesty!) 

8. The music! Blaring from every corner! So fun!

9. High-fives from little kiddos braving the weather! 

10. The gal that grabbed my arm with .5 miles to go and said, “Don't stop, lets go, run with me, you got this! WE got this!”. I want to find her and hug her. Thank her, as I needed that!

11. And last but not least. Standing in line at the expo, to take a pic in front of the huge 26.2 numbers. A runner and her dad were in line behind me. So friendly. We chatted a bit as we didn't quite understand how we were supposed to take the pics. Her dad, total sweetheart, was running back and forth making her signs. He asked me if I wanted him to make me a sign. I was like sure! He asked me my name and took off. 10mins later, comes back with a sign that said “Run, Tina Run!” Totally got my name wrong. But it didn't matter. The love from a total stranger, a dad, in that moment meant everything. The sign could have said Becky or Francis! It was still made for ME! I snapped a pic of him holding the sign because how could I not!?

Walking back to my hotel, I still could not believe I had just ran 26.2 miles. How did that happen?? People congratulated me as I walked along the sidewalk. Waved and said good job runner! Yep. That's me. A runner! A marathon runner! Say what? Ha! 

I am not a fast runner. And yes, I walked many times during the race. This was by far the toughest thing I have ever done! But I did it! I ran a marathon!! It didn't feel like it took just over 5 and a half hours. I loved Chicago before this. I L O V E  L O V E Chicago now! 

Now I know the question many will ask or want to know...do you think you will run another!? The secret is, I already had the 2nd one planned before I even ran the first. So yes! Next summer I hope to run my 2nd Marathon! I can’t wait! Details on that will come later as we are still getting everything all set up. But its been planned for months! 1 down and hopefully many more to come!

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Writing all of this down and reliving it, brings back all of the emotions surrounding that entire weekend. This race changed my life!! And while I cannot wait to hit those streets again, I do have quite a few other goals I want to take on first. But you better believe I will be back to run Chicago in the future!!

Best of luck to you all!! I look forward to seeing your journey's toward October 13, 2019!!

Happy running!!

-Tia