Chicago Marathon: Race Report

Let's start with the end: I finished the marathon in 3:03:17. My streak of sub-3 hour marathons has ended at three.While this race was tough, there was nothing that really surprised me about it, though the end of a marathon is always harder than I remember the last one being.

Chicago is a fun city and Laura and I really enjoyed the Chicago Marathon. Our hotel was out by Chicago Midway Airport, and public transportation to the expo and the start was a breeze. We rode the train and bus to the expo on Saturday afternoon, and after spending some time at the expo getting free stuff and eating free samples, we went with our friends Brit and Jared to grab some pre-race pasta.

The next morning we got up early to catch the train to the start and get ready for the race. The start line was pretty crowded already at 6:45 AM, but it was still easy to get to everything. We took a couple of start line photos, then headed to our respective corrals for the start.

After waiting about ten minutes for a port-a-potty, I made it to the start line with about fifteen minutes to spare. With five minutes to go, I threw off my Goodwill sweats, and shivered slightly until the start.

As the race got going I knew I was dressed perfectly besides not wearing my sunglasses. The forecast said it would be "mostly cloudy," but at the start of the race and for almost the entire time, there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

During the fist few miles I chatted off and on with another Team World Vision runner, Andy, about our past race and race goals. I settled into a pretty good pace of about 6:45/mile, and felt really good.

Honestly, for most of the first 20 miles I felt really confident that I was going to get my "A" goal of under 2:58. My legs felt good and the pace felt nice and smooth. Then, around mile 21, I started feeling it. I did a little quick math and knew that if I could run right around 7:00/mile I would break three hours, my "B" goal.

Unfortunately from mile 21 on my pace got slower and slower. I was getting passed by a lot of runners, and every time I tried to speed up I couldn't hang on to a faster pace for more than a minute. My legs were very heavy and I was really hurting.

I tried to pick it up at the end, but even that didn't happen. Oh well. It was a fun race and it was cool to run through the big city with so many other runners. The crowd was awesome, the course was flat, and the weather was near perfect.

Laura also finished the marathon, and I was super pumped for her. She's been dealing with a foot problem for months, and we were both glad it held up and that she was able to finish the marathon.

So far I've helped raise over $1100 to bring clean water to communities in Africa. The Team World Vision post-race party was pretty awesome with pizza and soda and dozens of other World Vision runners. I can still accept donations through mid-November: fundraising page.

Chicago was a great race and I definitely put it up there on my list of marathons. I don't know if I'd do it again, but I wouldn't rule it out.

After running my second slowest marathon (not counting pacing), I will say I'm really motivated to improve my training. I've already got my sights set on a PR next fall. Fortunately I'm feeling completely healthy and I'm headed into winter training motivated and in decent shape.

Happy Running!

Birthday Run

It was a beautiful, windy fall morning in downtown Minneapolis. The sun was shining, the runners were frolicking through the chocolate-filled race course of The Chocoholic Frolic, and birds were probably singing too. The dog poop was washed off my hand, my picture had been taken with Laura and our chocolate, and I was off to continue my trek of thirty-one kilometers on the Great River Regional Trail, over the Mississippi River, through historic Fort Snelling, and to the Mississippi itself.

While I could go on and on about the nice weather, my sore knee, and all the deep nonsense I think about as I run, I'll tell the rest of the story through the lens of my iPod camera.

After the 10k, sporting my Husker gear for the rest of my run

From the sandstone river bluff above The Great River Regional Trail

Saint Paul, where I started my run, from the Mendota Bridge

Historic Fort Snelling with my thumb over the iPod lens

Historic flood levels of the Mississippi

The Mendota Bridge, where my Garmin died.

View of the shore of the Mississippi

After that last picture, the foot pod in my iPod died, so I ran back to Children's Country Day Preschool where my car was parked. I ran somewhere north of 31k, so I made it. Birthday run completed. Thanks for reading.

Happy Running!

Whistlestop Recap

The course

The blazing orange and yellow fall colors of the Ashland area were barely visible through the windows of the school bus as I rode to the start line of "The Whistlestop Marathon" in Ashland, Wisconsin. I was sitting next to a class act and fellow member of the Minnesota Running Wild (MNRW), Don Sullivan. We chatted about the race, about our families, and about Lewis and Clark as we rode from Ashland to the "Tri-Timbers Resort."

After what seemed like hours, we climbed out of the bus and into the brisk, damp Lake Superior air. Runners mingled around the bag drop outside, and lines loosely formed near the two rows of port-a-potties. On the way to the lodge I met Sheila, a runner I'd paced at the 2011 Brainerd marathon. She said I was a great pacer, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  A little later, I met another runner, Kyle, who I knew I'd seen before, and he showed me and Dan LaPlante, another MNRW member, a back door to the lodge, where runners had packed themselves to stay warm.

Inside the lodge I borrowed a dollar from Dan to get a cup of "Hawaiian" coffee--that's what the friendly bartender at the lodge called it. I assumed she meant a Kona blend, since the pure Kona blend costs around $60 a pound. I hadn't had caffeine for over a month, so between the caffeinated gel Don gave me and the cup of coffee, I knew I would be wired. After some time relaxing, focusing, and a little chatting with Dan, I headed to the start.

When the gun went off, I settled into a comfortable pace alongside Don--he said he was shooting for a 2:45, so I thought I'd stay right with him and hope for the best. The course was scenic, but the rain had left the trail soft, and it was challenging to find a firm place to run. We often had to sacrifice running tangents in favor of firm footing.

A couple miles in, Don and I began running next to a tall woman in a red singlet. Eventually we introduced ourselves, and I found out she was from St. Louis Park and running her second marathon. She was also aiming for the 2:45ish range. It was awesome having three of us running together--for much of the race Don and Jenelle were the only runners I could see.

Don, Jenelle, Nate

Laura had graciously come along on this trip as wife support. The first time I saw her she was cheering and taking photographs. "Do you want to throw your things?" she asked. The dampness and cool weather made me shake my head, "no." It was too cold to get rid of my hat and gloves.

The miles ticked by as we ran through the fall foliage of yellow birch and various northern hardwoods. We chatted here and there about running--Jenelle had also run in college, though much better than me, I'm sure. It was only her second marathon, and she'd had a kid in between. Don offered a little advice on the course (slippery bridges, elevation profile, and surface), while I gave my water stop tip (dump some liquid out if it's too full, then pinch for an easier pour).

I don't really remember a ton of details after that. I know I saw Laura again around mile 7. Jenelle and I picked it up a little, while Don kept the same pace. Around mile 16, Jenelle had to stop at an aid station when her shoe came untied. Luckily a volunteer was able to tie it for her--the weather made for cold hands. I couldn't open my gels with my fingers either--my teeth had to take care of that. At the same aid station, I choked on my water and Don caught back up to me for a bit.

After pulling away from Don, I could hear steps clicking behind me on the soft crushed limestone. For about a quarter-of-a-mile I thought it was Don, but it turned out to be Jenelle. She was feeling good and looking strong. "You think you're going to pick it up at mile 20?" she asked.

"No," I said. "But if you do, do you mind if I try to stay with you and draft?" I asked. "And same goes for you if I pick it up."

"No problem," she said.

She picked it up at 20, and I after trying to stay with her for a mile, she was gone. From that point on I mostly remember pain. I got a weird tunnel vision, where when I closed my eyes it looked like I was playing "The Last Starfigher." Why did I close my eyes during a marathon with an uneven surface? According to the exercise physiologists, my brain was not getting enough glycogen to properly function. If, however, you ask my family, that happens to my brain often.

 As bad as it hurt, I tried to stay on pace. I knew a 2:45 was out of reach, but I was hoping to at least break 2:50. I tried pumping my arms harder to make my legs follow suit. I tried to embrace the pain, to breath into my hamstrings as lightning bolts of pain shot through them.

Somewhere around mile 23 or 24 I went past Gerad Mead--a runner I normally wouldn't see until after the race. He was grabbing his hamstring and walking. I gave him a low five and kept moving. Then, I passed Kyle. "C'mon Kyle," I said.

Gerad

"The top of my foot is killing me," he said. "Good luck."

I crossed a road where a volunteer shouted, "Looking good!"

"Liar," I replied. I was trying to be funny, but I probably sounded angry, so if that volunteer's out there, I apologize.

With about 1.5 miles left, we hit the pavement. A switch flipped in my hamstrings, and the pain was gone. I picked up the pace as we rounded the corner towards downtown Ashland. With less than a mile left, Kyle caught back up to me and passed me.

As we moved through a series of turns, I tried to position myself on his outside shoulder. Our pace increased. We came around the last turn, a volunteer called out, "the finish is just past the train depot."

Kyle & Nate

We were sprinting. I came alongside him. I could hear spectators getting louder as we approached the finish. The announcer was saying something, but I couldn't hear what. We went across the line at the same time. Kyle later said he went across ahead of me, but I don't know how he could tell--our gun times were identical: 2:50:28.2. I'm not sure of the nuances of USATF rules, but since my chip time was over two seconds faster than his, the final results have me in front of him--6th overall, 5th male, and 2nd in my age group.

Thanks to everyone who made this race possible. All my running friends, including members of MNRW who've helped push me in training. Junal for letting us stay in her "cabin" near Ashland. My family for being proud of me. My high school track coach, Coach Rathke. My mother for birthing me. And the students, parents, and staff at Quest Academy, for giving my training an extra little kick once school started.

And most of all, thanks to Laura. She put up with my sweaty, stinky self all summer, helped me pack all my crap for the race, lets me eat like a starving grizzly, and is incredibly supportive and kind.

Happy Running!

Birthday Run

My Saturday birthday run went well. Very well. Looking back through my training logs I noticed I hadn't done a run longer 16 miles since September 17, so 18 miles was a little tougher than I thought it'd be.

Time went by quickly, however, as I jogged down to Fort Snelling State Park and ran along the Minnesota River. On my way there I made a detour to run up the hill at Sky Hill Park, a small park less than a mile from our house. The wooden observation deck and seating area at the top of a path was the perfect place to watch the sunrise. It was so pretty I decided I needed to bring my camera on Sunday morning to take a picture. The photo doesn't do Saturday's sunrise justice. For one thing, it was a little hazier on Sunday and for another thing, the camera I used is terrible.

The trail along the Minnesota River was in great shape. Some beavers have been hard at work chewing down trees--some of the tree's trunks have circumferences over six feet. What do those beavers think they're going to do with those giant basswood trees after gnawing them until they fall over?

There were several groups of runners using the trail along with some mountain bikers, hikers, and dog walkers. The trail is very flat and on a sunny fall morning it was a scenic place to be. The leaves carpeted some sections of the trail and the angle of the recently risen sun shot shades of orange, yellow, brown, and red off the forest floor. Also, willow, box elder, and basswood trees showed a distinct white and grey sediment line marking the height of this spring's flooding--high water that left the trail unrunnable for all of spring and most of summer.

After the waters had receded the trail's surface had a lot of sandy river sediment, but thankfully most of that has been packed down enough to make for pleasant running. My thoughts were free to wander as I soaked in the scenic surroundings of late fall Minnesota. The wind started to pick up but I was sheltered inside the forest so I took off my outer layer and ran in my Nebraska Cornhusker running shirt--a birthday present from my sister in Lincoln.

After turning around near where the trail goes underneath I-494, I saw a big buck standing in the middle of the path. He turned tail and ran from me in big, bounding leaps. Farther down the trail a lady was walking her two golden retrievers and I stopped and asked if I could pet them. They were already jumping at me and had that "play with me" puppy dog look that was just begging to be petted.

With about 4 miles to go I got a little sick to my stomach--I'd taken a gel and then drank water with a GU effervescent electrolyte tab in dissolved in it. Unfortunately, the GU tab had filled my stomach with it's effervescence and was threatening to effervesce my stomach contents right out my face hole. I had the terrible feeling of needing to burp for about a mile when finally the fizzy goodness of GU peach tea electrolyte drink released its hold on my stomach and exited into the fall air. After 3 more miles I was back home and chatting with my neighbor about siding.

I'd love to make this a birthday tradition--the running part, not the chatting about siding. It would mean I'd have to stay in shape enough to be able to run over 29k. It would also mean that I would be healthy, happy, and sane.

It would mean I'm still extremely blessed to have a supportive spouse who doesn't resent the time I spend running but encourages it. She's a runner as well as a triathlete and understands the importance of running and competing. I've also been blessed with supportive parents who showed up to my track meets to watch me run in circles eight times before collapsing on the infield grass, only to get up and do it a few more times.

A year from now I'll be running 30 kilometers--I don't know where or with who, but I'm looking forward to it.