Saturday night, my nerves really started to stir. We walked around for about 12 hours on Friday and 6 hours on Saturday. I was a little worried I would have leg and foot pain/soreness during the race. I laid everything out, stretched and put my compression socks on. Austin also rubbed my feet and legs, that definitely helped me to relax.
For Chicago, I used the training plan that was posted on the official website, I’ve attached it here. It definitely helped prepare me physically and mentally. I trusted the training and I was ready to run the Chicago Marathon! 🙂
I set my alarm for 5am. I took my time getting ready and waking up. For breakfast I had a bagel with peanut butter and some coffee. Also, I think I drank about 3 bottles of water before I even made it to start line.
About to cross through security and the sun coming up.
At the starting line! I definitely had enough time to eat, walk through security and use the bathroom before they closed the corral at 7:45am. On Friday when we were walking around, I figured out the path I needed to take so I wouldn’t be completely lost come race day. I highly recommend this because if I had followed people I would’ve been lost! There were groups of people going every which way.
I had a honey stinger waffle 10 minutes before they released our corral. 
Follow the blue line!
First mile in, we ran by our hotel. Austin got this video as I was speeding by 😉
These are a few pictures he snapped. 
This is the only picture I took during the race.
I look super focused in these proofs!
I completed my 3rd marathon and my first Chicago! I was and still am on cloud 9! I PR’ed by 14 minutes. Nashville Country Music Marathon April 2015 4:21/Chicago Marathon October 2015 4:07.
I really wanted a 4 hour time but all things considered, I’m pumped about my time!
The race was very well organized and just incredible!
Here’s the recap of my Chicago Marathon experience..
I had to pee as soon as the race started, I held it until about mile 6. I knew all of the porta potties would be taken early on in the race. Once I made my quick pit stop (there were plenty of open porta potties so I didn’t have to wait at all), I took my first GU. I kept the 4 hour pacers within my sight (I had set my Garmin for a 9:20 pace since my Garmin was going to be off due to tunnels and buildings). Mile 12ish I see Austin! I took my second GU and felt pretty good. I had not stopped at any water stations at this point in the race.
The crowd support was insane. I didn’t listen to music at all the first 14 to 15 miles. I started to feel kind of bleh on the pace, my legs were starting to feel kind of tired. If I wanted to finish strong, I needed to run my own race. I decided to back off the pace a little and lost the 4 hour pacers. I do run with my phone and handheld. It bothers some people to run with items in their hands, it doesn’t bother me though. I put my headphones in and let the beat of the music carry me.
I stopped at the next water stop to take water and gatorade. This was my first time walking. I had nunn in my handheld. I had drank most of it since I didn’t stop for water in the first half of the race. There was about 1/4 of the bottle left, and I wanted to keep itjust in case I felt I needed a drink between hydration stations. Oh, some neighborhoods had hoses and fire hydrants going. I definitely took advantage of those to cool me off since it was getting toasty.
From there on, I stopped at every water station to take a small walk break while I drank water (I alternated Gatorade at every other station). I’m not sure on the mile markers, but I did take a longer walk break at two stations and my pace dropped into the 10’s.
I never really hit a wall (in Nashville I hit the wall hard around mile 17-18 from starting way too fast). I saw the 18 mile marker and thought I can do this! I was starting to feel a little hungry, bananas we up at mile 20! Around mile marker 22 I took my third GU and Gatorade. This was also about the time we passed through Chinatown. Wow, the crowd support was so moving I choked back tears. I was emotional because I was so close to the finish, I could taste it. I kept thinking about all of the tough workouts I pushed through during training. If I could push through those, then I can push through the last few miles of the race.
Austin saw me at mile marker 26 but I was so in the zone that I wasn’t focusing on anything except putting one foot in front of the other! There it was, “Mt. Roosevelt.” I don’t think I’ve ever ran up a hill so fast before. I sprinted to the finish line and couldn’t believe how awesome I felt! I was even more proud that I finished strong 🙂
Before the race, I read all kinds of blog/reviews on the race and what to expect. Some people mentioned that crowd support wasn’t as strong at some places during the race.
My very first marathon was in Winchester, Tennessee. For those of you who don’t know where that is..you’re not missing out. The only crowd support you got was at the start, water stations volunteers, and at the finish. It was basically you and the back country roads for 26.2 miles. To go from that as my first marathon, to the support of Chicago?! I thought that the support was amazing throughout the ENTIRE course, so inspiring! I applaud all of you spectators for coming out and supporting all of the runners. Thank you to all of the volunteers as well! Without you all, the race probably wouldn’t have ran so smoothly! I definitely want to come back next year and run Chicago again!
Here are my results. I think I stayed pretty consistent in my paces. Next marathon, I’m coming for you sub-4 😉
View from the parking lot. 
Head towards the Boulevard Trail.
Starting the hike, there was just a small amount of snow, it was so beautiful! 
Further into the hike, there was more snow and patches of ice. You’re walking along the edge of the mountain majority of the time. Even if there isn’t snow and ice, this is not a hike for beginners (in my opinion). 
There a few openings that give you this kind of view!!
Finally a sign for Charlies Bunion! To the right for 1.3 miles and we’ll be there! (Sorry, it’s hard to see because of the shadow). 
We made it! 
The small area had quite a few people taking pictures and standing around so this is the only picture we got of the actual “bunion.” 
The views were worth the freezing hike!!
Blurry selfie 🙂 
We ate our lunch quickly and were on our way back since we were chasing the sun. 
We stopped to admire this sunset. Pictures don’t even do this place justice. 
We made it back to the truck just in time! If you’re up for an adventure, I highly recommend this hike! We thought with it being snowy and an “off season” for the mountains there wouldn’t be as many people..wrong, we encountered a lot of people on our hike. Don’t let that deter you though, the experience and views are worth it! 
JennyJennRuns 