From Hilda Coulsey…
Another race booked pre-covid finally arrived and now completed. I had an ambitious (and expensive) plan to run all six of the world marathon majors finishing at age 70. I’ve done London, Boston and Berlin in the previous 10 years with only Chicago, New York and Tokyo to go!
Chicago was the one I was the least looking forward to, I doubted I’d enjoy the big, brash American city. I have to say though, it was amazing – support along most of the route, deafening in some sections and really well organised (however why are the toilet queues everywhere so horrendous- surely major marathons can afford more toilets?!). Chicago is undoubtedly a concrete and glass, grid road system typical American big city which is not, for me, overly inspirational. It is however in a beautiful location on the lake making good use of the river and extensive canal systems.
Travel was stressful. I’d booked with Aer Lingus through Dublin, which is a brilliant plan as you are processed through US customs in Dublin and arrive in the US domestic terminal. Suffice to say connection time from Leeds was no where near long enough, the Leeds fight was delayed anyway, I shamefully queue jumped three queues (yep!) and made the connection as it was closing. Then that flight was delayed! Travel in Chicago was fine with a good train system to the hotel and to the expo to pick up my run number.
You always have to arrive so early for a big race and it was freezing cold, but the forecast was ideal for running and so it turned out being 7 deg to 15. Having booked so long ago my corral letter was based on a time not possible these days (pacers were for 4:10 and 4:20) and having learned a little sense I started towards the back of the wave which worked well, I could run stress free not having weave through slow starters nor being mown down by faster ones from behind. My running pace was relaxed and as recent training speeds. Due to the concrete and glass jungle around me however the gps went berserk – I did kilometre 2 in 2 mins 49 supposedly and finished with 44:74 km. Luckily I’d seen Facebook posts previously, it’s a common problem so I resorted to manual calculation in the first half anyway and made sure I didn’t hit the wall later which worked.
My biggest stress was the hydration/ nutrition arrangement. In UK/ European races you are increasingly encouraged to bring your own nutrition and water containers. In the US it’s Gatorade which is sugary sweet and isn’t great for my stomach. The instructions said hydration packs are prohibited, small hand-held bottles are ok but must be empty when entering security to get into the start area, gels are ok but I don’t take gels either. So, would I be allowed to take a belt with small bottles and fill them inside with water adding the Tailwind electrolyte/ carb powder I’m used to and how do I refill on the way? I entered security and a sweet elderly gentleman said my belt was fine and he let me through with a full closed 500l bottle of water. Facebook posts confirmed that in some security areas they were really strict. On the run there were 20 water and Gatorade stations – that’s a lot of paper cups! I was all set up now for the first 9 miles and then stopped to refill my little bottles with tailwind powder and water at an aid station using a lot of cups each with about an inch of water. What a faff! I finished off the run happily with my jelly baby treats and water. As I say a LOT of paper cups over the road plus spilt sticky Gatorade.
Although my pace fell off in the last 10k, I didn’t hit the wall and I walked through some stations getting water, kept going and felt good. Very happy with my time, it is my slowest marathon time but considering injuries this year and as I’m not getting any younger 🙂 it was great.
We’ll see if my world marathon majors https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/ plan completes, still depends on good health and being injury free-ish!
My time was 4:40:58, the Canadian lady who won F65-69 did it in 3:19.