Monday, May 30, 2016

The First Half of Chicagoland {Michelob Ultra Chicago Race Recap}

One of the things I decided to treat myself to is a race in Chicago every year. This year I'm actually indulging in that treat three times. The first race on the list was the Michelob Ultra Chicago Half Marathon (part 1 of the Chicagoland Half Marathon Series). My hotel was pretty close to the race start so, much to Kai's distress, we walked to the start very early on race morning. When we got to the race location set-up activities were still in progress...

Kai was volunteering at the finish line with a friend from school so once they were settled I was able to get into "race mode" (aka strategically mentally prepare myself to run 13+ miles... without dying). Somehow I managed to do that with a smile ;)

The race had a corral start and each corral was sectioned in a nice grassy area across from a pier. We entered the corral from one side and then walked to the opposite side toward the road that led to the start line...

In case you can't tell from the photo above, it was already pretty hot by the start of the race. I was in one of the last few corrals so by the time I started it was already 20-30 minutes after the official race start at 7am. My goal was to run to each water stop and take my walk breaks while hydrating (a plan that was only effective for the first 5-6 miles). 
My progress for the first "half" of the half...

Then I walked after each mile and at each water stop. So sometimes I had walk breaks close together and at other times they were further apart. By the time I got to mile 10 I was pretty sure the Chicago sun was aiming to break some type of heat index record. It was so HOT! Not humid, but still very very hot. During the last few miles of the race I was walking so often that I decided to snap a few pictures and make the most of my slowed pace...


The second "half" of the half...

The official race pictures weren't the best quality, but you can tell that I was really struggling at certain points...
 
  

But I finished (without injury and with only a very tiny blister) and got my medal from Kai once I crossed the finish line...

The medal...

The post race activities were in full swing by the time I finished and both runners and families alike were enjoying the hot Chicago Spring weather...

Overall the race ok, but it was also a very hard reminder that I can't slack off on training and expect to have an amazing half marathon experience. While I didn't go into it with any intentions of running a half marathon PR, it was still difficult just to finish the distance. I know that I will have to put in a lot of work so that history (hopefully) doesn't repeat itself when I return in September for part 2 of the Chicagoland Half Marathon Series ;)

8 comments:

  1. How very cool that you got your medal from family! It sounds like you did a great job in tough race conditions--it's alway rough when you know your training wasn't what you wanted it to be come race day but it's good motivation for the next one :D

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    1. Thanks! It was nice to have her at the finish line. I'm still working on convincing her to run with me ;)
      I'm trying to stay motivated. My next event is next week so... fingers crossed :)

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  2. Looks like you did a great job despite the heat!! And yeah it looks like it was bright and sunny before you even started! I have my second ever half next weekend but I've been slacking too.. :( I'm going to use your strategy of taking pics when I need to walk! :)

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    1. Good Luck Jenny!!!!!! Take strategic walk breaks too. It's against the "runner's code" for some people but it really helps me, especially when I'm under trained ;)

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  3. I know you say you felt you were struggling, but you look SO strong in your photos! And the medal is so cute! Congrats on getting it done despite the heat. This is a hard time of year for a half!

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    1. Thanks Ali! The medal spins also (added bonus) so it's among my favorite ones. Summer training will definitely be hard. The heat is really bad :(

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  4. Congratulations! It's very motivating to see how you did it. I just signed up for the Michelob Ultra Ft. Lauderdale in November, summer training is going to be...interesting :)--Mei

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    1. Thanks! I'm probably going to volunteer at that event (it's the week after the NY full) so look out for me! I haven't decided if I'm going to do a water stop or the finish line medals but once I do I will post it :)
      Summer training is going to be extremely "interesting". I feel dehydrated just thinking about it ;)

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