Dear Friends and Supporters,
Maxine and I got back from Chicago this morning, a bit weary but most importantly in one piece and with my legs still able to move under their own power.
The good news is that I was able to complete the 26.2miles and to do it in 4hours 28mins, well inside my 5 hour target and even slightly ahead of my privately hoped for 4hours 30mins.
We all benefited from a dry, clear day but it was COLD. At the start time of 7.30am the temperature was only 33F. The locals were clearly prepared for the cold conditions, with everyone wearing old sweatshirts/tracksuits right up to the moment when the start gun went off. This was followed by a hailstorm of discarded clothing as everyone threw their old gear off to the side of the road as they set off. (All the discarded clothing gets collected for local charities)
Before the start I optimistically stood alongside the 4hour 30 min pace group (these are experienced runners who regulate their speed to aim to finish at different designated times). Most of these pace leaders looked younger fitter folks but there was also a charming older lady who looked alarmingly like Maxine's mum, Rita!
I had been told to take care not to run too fast at the start but the momentum of the massed runners seemed to carry me along and I soon realised I was ahead of the 4:30 pace group. I was loving the excitement of the occasion and the crowds were amazing. Chicago really did a great job hosting the event with 1.5m people turning out to line the route. The crowd noise, atmosphere and continuous encouragement were a perfect demonstration of the American spirit and 'can do' attitude at it's very best.
I spotted Maxine with her Union Jack between 8 and 9 mile which gave me a big boost and even had the time to pose for a quick picture. The net result of all of this was that I ran the first 9miles at below 9min 30sec pace, considerably faster than the 10min pace I had planned.
Not surprisingly I paid the price for this later.
We reached the halfway point back in the downtown area with massive support alongside the course, on balconies and on the bridges, but as we headed west for the section between 14-18 mile the crowds got thinner, the neighbourhoods less lively and my legs considerably more tired. This was the worst section of the race for me and my pace dropped to around 11minute miles. If I kept slowing at this rate, I worried about being able to hold on to a 5 hour total let alone beat 4:30.
This was unquestionably the section where I benefited most from all of your generous support and encouragement, it really did make a big difference to how I stuck to my task. I had to dig-in, I was much less aware of the people around me and was really only focused on the 3-4 metres of road in front of me.
This dark phase was broken by a combination of factors. First, between 18-20 mile we went through Mexican and then Chinese areas which were walls of rhythm and noise. Second Maxine actually appeared running alongside me! I had been so focused on the road in front of me that Max realised I was not going to see her standing at the side of the road, so she decided to dive in among the runners and shout encouragement up close and personal. It worked, the spell was broken.
To complete the transformation, the 4:30 pace group, including Rita's look-alike overtook me. I realised the only hope of hitting 4:30 was going to be attaching myself to the heels of my 'mother-in-law' and making sure that I did not let go for the remaining miles. The sight of this mature lady bobbing along without any apparent stress and shouting encouragement to all around her, was the perfect antidote to the self pity that had been building up in me.
From here the crowds and noise only grew and we could count down the miles and minutes left with surprising speed. With a mile and half left I felt able to move ahead of 'Rita' and the rest of the 4:30 pace group to put in my best version of a Coe/Ovett sprint finish.
All in all its been an incredible experience, it is almost unbelievable that the fast guys can cover the distance in a little over 2 hours, but most importantly, I want to thank all of you for raising over a thousand pounds for the Shakespeare Hospice.
With many, many thanks, Jon
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Turning 50 this year I had two choices, buy an expensive sports car or do something to try to prove I'm not really that old. Then Pete Hollins visited and said he was running the Chicago Marathon in October to celebrate his birthday, how could I miss such an opportunity to 'celebrate' with him?!
So the challenge has been set.....at a rather low level....I'm first of all looking to simply get round the 26.2miles and secondly to do it in under 5 hours (just ahead of the man picking up the cones to open the course to traffic)
So here we are, less than two weeks ahead of the event and I've been persuaded to make this more than a personal challenge by also seeking to inflict some pain, of the financial kind, on my family and friends.
I'm raising funds for the Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford upon Avon. It does outstanding work but requires £1.4m per year to continue to operate and receives less than 10% of it's funding from the NHS or Government sources. Your support for me, and for them, would be much appreciated. Every donation will be very gratefully received and you can be sure it will be put to good use.
Thanks in advance! I'll let you know how I get on......Jonathan
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