2007 Chicago Marathon

October 7, 2007 saw record breaking temperatures and humidity that led to my worst running experience ever. I've run on hot days, in thunderstorms, snow and single digit temperatures, but nothing compared to the challenge of the heat that day. At race start time of 8:00 AM it was already more than 70 degrees and climbing fast. It would reach 88 degrees officially, but heat indexes and local thermostats showed temperatures in the mid-90s.

Running with my friend, Paul Ford, our plan was for 8:15 miles with a 3:36 finish. My concern with the heat started while standing in the start corral -- I was already sweating and not running yet. Beginning at the first aid station, I was one of the many runners dumping 2-3 glasses of water over my head (in addition to drinking 1-2 cups) in an attempt to stay cool.

At mile 6 I told Paul we should forget our PR plans and try for a 4 hour finish. We slowed our pace, but the heat continued to assault us. Around mile 12 I suggested that even 4 hours was questionable and we should just try to finish at whatever pace we could manage. Shortly after that I began to take walk breaks in an attempt to stave off the exhaustion I was already feeling.

We crossed the half way checkpoint at 1:54 -- only 6 minutes off of our original goal. But the heat had already taken its toll and the headache that started at mile 6 was now beginning to make me nauseous. At this point, I quit taking my energy gels and substituted Gatorade at the aid stations in an attempt to stay hydrated (or at least stop the dehydration I was feeling).

It took me almost 90 minutes to cover the next 6 miles crossing mile 20 somewhere around 3.5 hours. I saw Craig and then Danielle somewhere between 20 and 21 and said I was doing fine and would finish. It was shortly after this that I began hearing rumors that the race had been cancelled due to the heat. Rumors of multiple deaths and hundreds being taken to the hospital convinced me to walk the last 3 miles.

I finished in 5:10, more than 1.5 hours longer than my original goal. I have never felt that physically devastated before. It took two days for my headache to go away and the nauseous feeling to subside completely. The slowed pace for the second half did save my legs from complete exhaustion and I started running again that Wednesday.

I cannot allow all of my training this summer to end with a 5 hour marathon (that was cancelled no less), so I have decided to run the Bass Pro Shop Marathon in Springfield, MO on November 4, 2007. Hopefully I will be fully recovered from Chicago and able to put my training to the test.

My thanks to all of the many supporters of Marathon For Marsha for another year. And thanks for the words of encouragement and support from many.