Week 31: Chica-GO!

Five years ago I toed the line at Chicago with high hopes and big plans for a personal best marathon.  The abridged version is that I ended up puking my way through 42.2 kms and with that bitter taste in my mouth (literally), I took a hiatus from marathons...and somehow ended up racing Ironman instead.

This year was to be my comeback.  My year to have a great marathon and what better place than Chicago, the home of my marathoning demons.

When I found out about Bun, I went to the Chicago Marathon website and discovered their inflexible and unaccommodating policy on transfers and refunds.  The Dutch in me wasn't going to sit it out.  21.1km would be my goal.  Run half, then drop out and walk to the finish line.

Nothing makes a pregnant runner feel supported more than being surrounded by like-minded people.  Minus the Japanese guy who, 2 minutes before race start, looked at my belly, then at me, then back at the belly, and said "You sure you OK?".  I didn't tell him I was only doing half then dropping out.  Sometimes it's funny to see people squirm with discomfort.

Bun is like a really great coffee table book.  He's a conversation starter, especially among other Moms at the race who had been there done that, and with younger women who asked questions about running pregnant--like having a fit pregnancy was a revolutionary idea!

The crowds, however, had mixed reviews of my awesome coffee table book running through downtown Chicago.  I kept to the right side for the entire race to avoid the crowds and keep myself within close proximity of the aid stations.  As I approached the walls of spectators there was a constant murmer that went something like this:

LOOK!look...pregPREGNANTshe'sPregnaCheckitout!WHOAlookLOOKshe'pregPREGpregnantOHwow!
...with the occasional "run hot mama" and "you go momma!" thrown into the mix.

I've never had so much fun at a race before.  This was partly because the Chicago marathon is an epic event with over 40,000 runners and streets lined with screaming spectators and partly because I was doing what I love to do without a care in the world.  Sure, I wore my GPS.  I may be pregnant, but I'm still me.

Rob enjoyed his day as well.  While not quite achieving his goal of sub 2:50 he enjoyed the experience.  We both celebrated our victories with a giant deep dish pizza, Chi-town style.

Picking up my "women's small" race t-shirt.  The volunteers thought this was pretty funny.  So did Rob.

Architectural boat cruise.  Sometimes we crave culture...and sitting down for long periods of time.

Post-race.  Temps reached 27 degrees.  Perfect beach weather.  Not so perfect marathon weather.

Race action photos can be seen HERE.