First and Last Marathons

Having fun in 2016

I will be running my third and last marathon, in Chicago, on October 7, 2018.  In my mind, I actually think of this as my fifth marathon as I ran one 50 mile race in 2015.   But technically, Chicago 2018 is my third and last marathon.  Yes, I’ve said “last” before, but this time I mean it!   The only reason I agreed to run Chicago 2018 was because my niece, who lives in Israel and was a graduate student, was going to come to Chicago and run it with me.  She, however, got a great job and will not be here to run it with me.  While I have lots of friends to run it with, I definitely would not have signed up to do it again if Rebecca wasn’t going to do it.

It is now less than a month to the marathon and I have most of my training under my belt, including the two last really long runs (20 and 22 miles.)  None of my long runs this summer has gone that well, the weather was really hot and humid, I’m about 10 to 15 lbs overweight, and being a few years older probably hasn’t helped either.  I will be able to finish it but that’s about it.

As marathon time approaches, and I have had so many hours on my feet, I have had plenty of time to think about this being my last marathon.  I think that my first and last marathons are going to be a lot alike – they’re both going to be solely about having fun.   Just before I ran my first Chicago, in 2013, I met a man who had run marathons all over the world.  Then just before the race, he sent me an email with advice on how to run Chicago and have it be the best experience ever.  “You never know” he said, “it might be the only marathon you ever run.”  Below is a combination of his advice and my own, which I intend to follow, to have it be a “best experience.”

1. Put your name on the FRONT of the shirt you plan to wear in the race.  People will call you by name and motivate you along the whole race route.

Put your name on your shirt
and lay everything out in
advance.

2. Volunteer at the expo and meet other runners.  Talk to first timers and experienced runners about where they are from, why they are running and to help get excited.

3. Spend time at the expo looking at all the cool running stuff and getting free samples.

4. Lay out everything you’re going to need for the race, two days before. Keep a close eye on the weather to make sure you’re dressed for the right conditions.

5. Go ahead and have a beer the night before if you usually do.  You’re not going to win the marathon, don’t worry about it diminishing your performance.

6. Go to bed really early the night before.  If you cannot sleep, just read in bed.

7. Get up super early and eat a good breakfast.  Depending on your starting corral, it could be hours before your race starts.  You’re going to need the energy.

8. Go to Goodwill and get a bathrobe or other throw away to wear in the start corrals.  It will likely be chilly in the morning but quickly warm up once you are running.  A bathrobe is great as it covers your legs too.

9. Talk to other runners in your corral.  Get to know some of the people who will be running your pace. 

10. Start off slow!!!   This is a big one!  Don’t get carried away too soon.  It’s a LONG race, don’t burn out early.  Even if you’re feeling great, starting off too fast will likely cause early burnout or cramps long before the race ends.

11. Stick to your training.  No matter how good you’re feeling, don’t do something different.  I love this one because I never follow it.

Read signs and acknowledge people

12. Read all the signs and acknowledge people who acknowledge you.

13. High five every little kid that wants to high five and touch all their signs that say “tap here for extra energy”  Remember, those little kids think all of us are big time athletes and are in total awe!!

14. WALK carefully through each and every aid station.  If you’re a mid to back of the pack runner, the stations become VERY slippery.  I’ve seen more than one person fall.

Blow your plan?  Walk it in with
someone you love!

15. As you enter the last mile of the marathon, really start to take notice of everything around you.  There will be runners struggling, people cheering, and just a lot going on.  Don’t miss it!

16. Finally, hand around a bit and soak in the atmosphere.  Drink a beer.

Bottom line, don’t be too hard on yourself, have fun and soak it all in!

See you at the finish line!