Inaugural Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon
Friday drive the 2.5 hrs down to Champaign in order to do packet pick up and the expo. It was extremely windy with high gusts. Just hoping it dies down for Saturday.
Everything was held on the college campus and well laid out. We quickly got our packets, goody bags and then wandered the booths. Not a bad size expo for an inaugural. After a few purchases, we headed to the gym for the pasta dinner. Plenty of food and seating plus speakers during dinner. Not bad for $10. Afterward we went back to the hotel, had a beer, laid everything out for Sat then relaxed before bed.
Race time was 8am so had breakfast in room, got our gear together and headed out. Temp was 34 with wind chill of 25. Winds had died down but a cold start anyway.
Parking and bag check was easy. Start was self seed with the pace groups working kinda like markers. At the start was one of the very few things they need to fix – the porta potties were pointed in toward the start instead of out. So while waiting in line for one last pit stop, you were also standing in the start area. Made for some confusion but there were plenty of porta potties not only here but also all along the course.
Race started on time but took 10 min for us to cross the start line. Not a biggie at all really. Course itself was great! Thru the college campus, past some beautiful buildings, into the neighborhoods surrounding the campus, thru part of town, a local park’s trail, more neighborhoods then back so you retraced part of town before heading into downtown then back onto the campus.
Volunteers were fantastic! Cheering, directing us and traffic, water stops, always with smiles. Lots of residents out cheering everyone on. Students outside the dorms. People in town near the end. There were a couple bands along the course and even AC/DC blasting out a dorm window for us.
Patrick decided to walk this one with me since he has a full in two weeks so I got to set the pace. I felt really good at the start so we jogged for the first ¾ mile. Backed it down to a walk and kept moving along a decent 14:05 pace for the first 7 miles. Then it started to fall apart for me. Left hip started to hurt which unfortunately sometimes happens. This time it took the right one with it about mile 8. Then calves start to tighten as I’d changed my gait to compensate for the hip pain.
Finally came across couple of med folks and asked them for bio-freeze. Imagine my surprise when they didn’t know what it was! What?! Okay. Tried to stretch out the calves which made one of them cramp worse about a mile later. Ugh. Well far too late to give up now. However I’m used to passing people during the last 3 miles and this time I was being passed so getting mad at myself and more upset. Convinced there is no way I’m going to PR this now. Note: Please give Patrick big kudos for putting up with me during these miles instead of moving ahead. I would’ve left me.
The finish line was the 50 yard line of the football stadium. As we came back onto campus, could see the stadium and hear the announcers from inside as we got closer. Managed to distract myself watching lacrosse practice as we passed the fields and then a woman came up from behind to ask me about running Disney (had my DR shirt on).
Soon there it is….thru the tunnel and onto the right side of the field. People lining the gates cheering and the stands were even pretty full Down to the end of the field, turn left and head up the field toward the finish. Crossed the finish hand in hand, our image on the jumbo tron. Check the Garmin – 3:11:24. Somehow I managed to PR anyway. 10 min off previous half. Not what I wanted but….
Got our medals, water, stretched then headed inside to get food and gear bags. They had more water, energy drinks, bananas, apples, bagels, cookies, pasta, rolls and pizza. Plenty of food and tasty, too.
After eating we changed, then got in car to head home.
Other than a few things, this was very well run, a great course and one we will do again.
GO! WISH Team GO! 
...sorry, couldn't resist.
