Back to Chicago

Take me back to Chicago, to Chicago
Why don't you take me back...

Take me back, take me back
To Chicago...

{Take Me Back to Chicago -- Chicago}

I've lost count of how many times I've been to Chicago. 
Coming to run the marathon was a whole new ball game though. 
This time the tourist part was the 26.2 miles through 29 towns. 
On the way to the expo we saw some of my favorite sights along Michigan Avenue. 
I just adore the mix of old and new. Glass and stone. 
Throw in a trip to the Bean and Millenium Park and I've seen all my favorite bits! 

   

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The Good. The Random. The Fun. v. 41

The Good:
Official race photos are here! I will admit I don't remember smiling because I was so in the zone for 26.2 miles, but glad to see I was looking happy out there!

The Random:
The 52F theme last week was anthropomorphism - I was making waffles one am that week and saw a fishy. I ended up using something else but love my fishy waffle find!

The Fun:
I taught my class my favorite morning meeting game. The Shoe Game. They loved it!

   

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Scav Hunt Sunday: Foliage and Fruit

Covered:

 All of a sudden, the trees are covered with fall colors!

Curled:

 I'm a sucker for a spiral staircase.

Pineapple:

Just a funny, but delicious fruit!

Sunrise:

 Good morning, Boston!

Green:

Fall may be here, but things are still mighty green.

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Chi Race Weekend

Chicago put on a good show for us this past weekend!
Lots to see at Nike Town and then onto the expo!

The expo was insane, so busy but still so special to get my bib and see what they had to offer. 

*not my time! the time to the race start when I was at the expo!**

Of course, the best cheerleader, photographer, and pit crew captain was there with me, I met an IG friend, and saw a Heartbreaker friend, too! 

I captioned this "I'm sorry, I'm running how far..."

 

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26.2 in Chicago!!!!

Hey, Chicago, what do you say
{I am} gonna win today... 

Hey, Chicago, what do you say
{I am} gonna win today...


{Cubs song}

5 months and three weeks after the Boston Marathon, I ran the Chicago marathon. 

It took sheer grit and determination to get here after a rough training cycle after my surgery but it was an amazing 26.2 miles over 29 neighborhoods!!

I can't say enough about my team. Having so many of us crushing this race was amazing. Brittany and I met up at the start and it was great to have a friendly face before loading into the corral. 

The rain began as I waited for my start. Yep! It rained. For about half the race. 

I just ran. A solid 11 miles of only short walks through water stops. I was cruising. 

The course was an amazing tour of a city I've always loved. I tried to take in all the sites and neighborhoods. There were so many people watching and so many people playing music and cheering with amazing signs (my favorite: pain is temporary, the IG post is forever). It was also so strange to not know the course the way I knew Boston, made it a mind game at times. 

I saw a fellow teammate cheering three times and her hugs were the best power-ups! Mom was at the halfway mark and I knew I could do it. 

By 20 I was beginning to hurt, a lot. But knew I was on pace to get a PR. I had to push HARD for it in the end, but the fire in me was fueling me to the end.  

4:55:26. 

I crossed the finish. Turned around and sobbed. 

Only a few close friends know that I seriously considered deferring after losing so much training time in July. I stood at the end and felt the weight of not only crushing another 26.2, not only PRing, but overcoming some major roadblocks. I freaking did it!!

After all my fears of not getting a warming blanket in Boston, I managed to walk right by the ones in the finish shoot but a nice volunteer got me one! I slowly waddled over to meet my mom and cousin and we made our way to the Bean and to Nike to get my medal engraved. 

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