A Great Experience - Chicago Marathon

Musings from the Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10 "The Date to Motivate":

• Being part of 1 of the 5 World Major Marathons is quite an experience, with over 38,000 runners toeing the line and 1.5 million spectators lining the entire race route
• Wicked cool to see a Marathon welcome message at the Midway baggage claim
• Best souvenirs = CTA ticket with Marathon image & special edition of the Chicago Tribune with list of ALL official finishers & times
• All of us who officially completed the course did something that Ryan Hall (elite runner) hasn't done, since he pulled out of the field prior to the race due to "bad workouts" leading up to the event - I think we've all had "bad workouts," but I guess it's different when you make your living with this type of activity and have to consider the potential impacts to your career (or your rankings) if you have a poor performance
• Maybe next time Ryan shouldn't make such a big deal out of trying to set a new American record... (performance anxiety???)
• Running on wet banana peels late in a marathon is rather challenging
• Hoses and spray bottles are most welcome late in a race when the temps rise to the 80s and the shade is hard to find
• Note to spectators waiting for their runners at the exit to the gear check area - PLEASE move out of the way so we can keep moving rather than having to stop short and suffer leg cramps!
• Crouching down quickly is definitely the fastest way to relieve a staggering calf cramp when trying to fight through the crowds at the end
• Better to walk with a smile and enjoy the scenery than run with a grimace
• So not cool for Niketown to keep the marathon merchandise at full price once the event is over (greedy, greedy - another good reason to boycott)
• Cool course entertainment = Student orchestra at college (?) campus playing for runners
• Staying so close to the Start/Finish is most welcome - Mr. E's parents rent a condo across from Millennium Park, so it took less than 10 minutes to jog to the Start at Grant Park (even had time for 2 porta-potty visits!)
• Best post-race recovery = Swimming + Hot Tub
• Best post-race meal = Starbucks reduced fat cheese, turkey bacon, & egg white breakfast sandwich - yum!
• Best post-race sight = Mr. E at Buckingham Fountain holding up sign "Go Jo! Go Jo! Go Go Go!"
• So great to see Mr. E with sign around Mile 10... Many, many thanks for the love, support, and toting of the no-longer-needed-but-rather-sweaty t-shirt - Je t'aime!
• Definitely time to take a break from this distance for awhile... I promise, Mr. E, at least 1 year off from marathons