This past weekend, I completed my 16th marathon and my 5th (or 6th) Chicago Marathon. It was a crazy busy weekend with first a visit from my beloved brother and his wife, Cruzzie’s 12th birthday, and then flying to Chicago and running the marathon and flying home. It was overall a great full weekend and now I am exhausted!
The expo was INSANE. Usually, I am in and out in 20 minutes, but due to COVID regulations and checking proof of vaccine, it was incredibly delayed. Took over 2 hours to pick up my number. And always awkward for me to ask a stranger to take a picture of myself holding up my number, but hey, YOLO.
The view of where I stay never ceases to amaze me. It is so gorgeous and looks right out to the start and the finish line.
Part of my dinner before race day. A slice of thin pizza. So salty and so delicious.
Morning of the race. Conditions were brutal — hot and humid — and one of the harder marathons I have completed. I literally would pour water on my head at every water station and drank gatorade each time it was passed out. I started out conservatively with just wanting to stay consistent and feel good and not crash, and that is what I did.
The start line! I was supposed to start at 730 am, so got there around 7 am, but we didn’t actually start running until 7:40. Those 40 minutes seemed like eternity!
This Kehinde Wiley painting in my hosts apartment is by far one of my favorite piece of art. It is SO big and SO vibrant and SO strong. I just love it.
The best post race meal — french toast and bacon!
AND champagne!
At the after party, some Olympians showed up — and most of all, the 2nd place winner of the Chicago Marathon, Emma Bates. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with her for 30 minutes and she was the nicest, kindest, most down to earth lady. I am now a huge fan and can’t wait to see her next big win!
PEACE race day.
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Happy I did the Chicago Marathon, happy with how race day went, and happy to have it done and in the books! Next up — getting back to normal life and figuring out all the things that I have forgotten about and neglected to because I was otherwise sidetracked! Hope you’re having a great week!
