Saturday, I had the pleasure of running the Fleet Feet
Soldier Field 10 Mile race here in Chicago. I was really looking forward to
running this course since it was this time last year I was diagnosed with my
stress fracture, just two days before the 2011 Soldier Field 10 Mile. The other
reason being I’m working on solidifying my A corral for all the upcoming Disney
races (I should already be good, but have time to improve my standing).
Overall, the race was very professional and well done, and while
being a die-hard Buccaneers fan, running on the Soldier Field grass was kind of
amazing. Also, I was super impressed with Fleet Feet’s social media team, they
were on the ball all weekend with updates and personal Facebook replies. They
are a top-notch organization. Kudos, Fleet Feet Chicago!
The week leading up to the race certainly wasn’t without
drama. The weather forecast looked to be in the high 80’s, which would be murder,
and then changed to severe thunderstorms to happen right as we were to step
off. Therefore, the EAS warning watch was set to YELLOW (best to keep your wits
about you as anything could happen).
Saturday morning, I was up at 4a (my corral started at 7a
and Devin’s 7:30a). We had to get to
Soldier Field and while we live in the city, it’s a tough journey to get to there
through public transportation, so we were going to have to cab it. I was
nervous remembering how we almost missed the Hot Chocolate race in November due
to the jack hole cabbies that wouldn’t pick us up as they knew they could get
larger fares farther north.
Luckily, we caught a cab without much issue and got to Soldier
Field with time to spare. The sky looked a thick grey and ominous, but I knew
we’d be okay as I checked the weather before leaving and the storm was going to
skirt us by about 10 miles (looking north looked like a hurricane as the sky
was black). The air was damp and cool, perfect for running, but the wind was
howling making it feel colder.
My corral closed at 6:40a, while my wife was in a later one
giving her more time to settle in. I wished her luck and headed over to my
area. The runners around me looked like they just got off the Olympic Trials
bus, so I just closed my eyes and visualized the racecourse and went over my
strategy (which really was anything under 1:24:00). The course was to take us
south to Hyde Park and then back to Soldier Field where we would finish on the
50 yard line.
After some well-done Memorial Day fanfare (and the
announcement the EAS warning had been downgraded to GREEN (all clear)), the
elites set off and we moved into the chute just as one or two rain drops
started, but quickly dissipated. The horn went off and we headed on our way.
As expected, some runners quickly gobbled me up, but I just
moved over to the right and kept to my race strategy. Oddly enough, later in
the race I was able to pick off most of them, which felt great. The first 4.5
miles were all tail wind so I could just set my legs on cruise control let the
wind do all the work which really helped me conserve energy for the back half
which would be all headwind on a path right next to the lake.
The race put us on Lake Shore Drive, supplying us runners ample
room to run our own race. However there was still a lane for car traffic, which
always makes me nervous. All it takes is one idiot on a cell phone and serious
damage could happen to me, my wife, or any other racer.
Making the turn at mile 4.5, I could immediately feel the
headwind which must have been about 20-25 mph and made me feel like I was
standing still. I popped a Tri-Berry GU gel, took some Gatorade at the 5 Mile
water stop and then tucked in close behind a runner who was taller than me to
draft for a while. I never really believed runners could “draft” off of a
single runner, but I could really feel it working so mental note for next windy
race. I rode that guy’s coattails until about Mile 7 where he started to fall
back and I shot by him Ricky Bobby-style (“Shake and Bake!”).
Mile 8 was such a tease in that you could see McCormick Place, which
seemed so close, but it really wasn’t. Plus, by this time I was so close to the
lake the whitecaps were spraying me (it was that windy). I knew that if I could
keep this pace until Mile 9 adrenaline would take me the rest of the way.
As
anticipated, at Mile 9 I felt that warm bubble of energy know as the “runner’s
high” and picked up the pace as I neared Soldier Field. Upon getting to the
stadium we turned left into the player’s parking lot and then into the bowels
of the stadium. Turning left, through a tunnel of light and boom, we were on
the field! To be honest, I can’t remember the finish only that my final kick was
what I am calling “the stuff of legend”. My legs took off like Usain Bolt and I
jammed past about 60 people who appeared to be just standing still, it was
awesome! Passing the Finish Line, I checked my Garmin, 1:20:50! I had just PR’d
by over 5 minutes from my previous 10 Mile race and also killed my 10k time!
Although excited to PR, at the same time I felt like I didn’t leave it all on
the course, but there’s always next time.
 | |
| The Finish Line |
 |
| BOOM! |
I
picked up my Soldier Field medal (kinda meh, but then Disney medals kinda blow
all others out of the water) and branded blanket and headed into the stands to
wait for my wife.
My
wife did a great job too! This wasn’t a PR for her, but she had not been
feeling well and put in a solid effort.
Overall,
this was a tremendous and well-executed race, both by Fleet Feet and myself. The
course layout was fast and relatively flat, allowing for some serious running. Again,
hat’s off to Fleet Feet, they really have their act together when putting on a
race. I can’t wait for next year’s!
Official
Time: 1:20:36
Overall
Place: 1,623 (12,845)
Gender
Place: 1,234 (5,526)
Age
Place: 208 (1,012)
***NOTE***
I wanted to call out that some of my loyal readers are not runners and keep
asking when I am going to be putting up a Disney Parks related post (that’s not
running). Therefore, in the near future I will be launching a blog specific to
running (both Disney & non), while keeping All Things WDW specific for
Parks posts. Stay tuned!
