I had small goald related to running the Illinois Marathon this year. Just to test out the result of a new training plan and some new race strategy, namely starting off slower and increasing the pace as the race continued. I wanted to finish under four hours.
The Weather for the marathon was cool and very windy (25-30 mph), but the race started with overcast and cool conditions. The last half of the race was sunny and warmer. The night before I had done a evening 5k as apart of the I-challenge, a special award for running two races a 5k and a half marathon or full marathon the next day, on the same weekend. The 5k went off without a hitch. I covered the distance in 23:11.
The marathon started off without any problem and I slipped into a easy 8:30-8:45 pace. I felt good and stayed calm I ate and hydrated very well, and felt comfortable. The four hour group came up and I joined for a while with a friend who was shooting for a sub-four ten race. I stayed with that group for a while so I slowed down a bit to recover, It was on a slight incline on mile 18 that the bottom of my right foot cramped rather badly. I stopped and tried not to limp, and I was afraid to take off my shoe fearing I wouldn't be able to put it on again. So, it was a mixture of stop, walk and run, for the last 8 miles. Looking back my shoe choice was not the best. I used a shoe better for half marathons, than to run full ones. I paid in full for the lack of better judgement.
The Illinois course is deemed flat, but It is but it isn't, really, at least not to a Chicagoan. The road are uneven, they roll up and down slightly. and they do wear on you legs, or your feet, if you're an idiot wearing the wrong shoes. The Illinois Marathon weekend sponsors a 5k, 10k, Half-marathon, full marathon and a Marathon relay. All the races end inside the U of I football stadium.
I wasn't disappointed as much a frustrated, I knew I could run the distance, but my body wasn't cooperating. Crowd were small but they were very, very supportive. So back to better training, more stretches and foot massages. Today is a new day, and next week, another race awaits.
