Go Go, Chicago!!

I remember that day as if it were yesterday. It was December 7, 2023. Since morning, I had butterflies in my stomach, waiting for the results of the Chicago Marathon lottery to be announced. It was morning in India, and I was anxiously waiting for Thursday to arrive in the U.S. (the time zone difference). I knew it would be evening here by the time I learned if I had been lucky!

I struggled to focus on anything, but deep down, I had a gut feeling it was going to be a good day. Around 5 PM, while making tea, I placed my phone on the kitchen counter, and a notification beeped. It read, “You have spent Rs. ******* on ***** bank credit card number ********* at Chicago Marathon!!”

OMG! This was one of those rare messages where, even though it stated that money has been debited, it felt like I have earned everything in the world. I was thrilled. I had just completed the Berlin Marathon in 2023, and now, God had been incredibly kind to give me this opportunity to run my second World Major. The feeling of gratitude and surprise hasn’t left me—I still can’t believe I got that lucky!

(Before we move ahead, let me mention that there will be many references and comparisons to my Berlin Marathon experience. If you wish to read that first, here is the link (https://www.runchronicles.com/post/unforgettable-journey-of-berlin-marathon)

Next up was the visa process! Those who know me understand my patience level is zero. I want things to happen now! 😊 Bureaucracy annoys me to the core; it’s like gagging. Given the long wait for a U.S. visa, I told my husband there was no way I would get it in time for October 2024.

He suggested a startup that helps you in getting US VISA in the shortest possible time. I thought, yes, I will do this. I got in touch with them and true to their word, I had my U.S. visa by the end of January 2024. Thanks, Atlys, for taking care of this; otherwise, my anxiety would have been through the roof until I received my visa.

Pre-Training Challenges

It doesn’t matter that I ran the Berlin Marathon and then TMM; my marathon training always starts with an injury and a wave of self-doubt. I have been struggling with plantar fasciitis since 2022, but I have learned how to manage it. After Berlin, I got a bit distracted and stopped doing my daily rehab exercises. Being an amateur runner, I continued using my old running shoes, which led to renewed pain.

My run at TMM

In February and March, I took a break and then ran a 10K in Bangalore in April. During the Berlin Marathon and TMM, I completed my 10K in 57-58 minutes, but in the TCS Bangalore 10K, I struggled and finished in 59 minutes! You can see the decline, right? 😊 The pain persisted, my confidence was low, and self-doubt loomed large as I questioned whether I truly wanted to tackle another marathon.

I even considered postponing my Chicago Marathon plans. Training for a marathon is physically and mentally taxing. It requires more than just waking up and running miles every day. You need to focus on your diet, sleep, schedule, workouts, stretching, and breathing exercises. If you drop the ball on any one aspect, your performance can suffer.

Having just run two marathons in six months, I was on the verge of abandoning running altogether. But then a wise friend pointed out, “We’re not starting the training cycle until June-July, so why stress now?”

Training

During my Berlin training, I hired a personal trainer for strength training, which was incredibly helpful. I could see the benefits during my marathon runs. However, as the event date approached, my mileage increased, and the heavy workouts became overwhelming. I realized I needed more recovery time than others, and running isn’t my full-time job; I have other responsibilities as well.

This year, I decided to focus on less demanding but consistent workouts—easy ones but regularly. I’m not sure how consistent I was, but I stuck to my plan of doing simple workouts at home or with a group to avoid injuries. I loved my training block for the Chicago Marathon. All thanks to the wonderful training plan crafted by our mentors from Bavdhan Brigade. I followed the plan 95% of the time, missing only a few runs due to travel. I didn’t feel fatigued or suffer any injuries, and running a total of approx. 1000 kilometers over 16 weeks felt great! I was much better, stronger, and more confident than the previous year.

Some pics from my training block –

Weekend Long runs!

Traveling to Chicago!

As October began, I was the happiest person on the planet. I turned 40 just five days before the Chicago Marathon and decided to fly on my birthday so I could celebrate in both countries! 😊 I flew early on the 8th, celebrated in India, enjoyed a nice breakfast at Dubai Airport, and concluded my birthday with a wonderful dinner in Chicago. A birthday that lasted over 24 hours—how cool is that? 😊

Celebrating my 40th B'day!

I had an awesome stay with my relatives in Chicago, who happen to be a six-star finisher in World Major marathons. Who could take better care of me than someone with that experience? It felt like having an older brother and sister looking after me.

Pre-Race Day! (Apla Chicago and Chicago Marathon)

There can’t be a Chicago Marathon without an Apla Chicago marathon! 😊 My running partner, Prasad, chose to run with me, again, keeping me company during my training block even though he didn’t register for Chicago. Sometimes I wonder if I were in his place, would I have done the same? The answer is no!

I need motivation to run my own runs, how would I get motivation to support someone in his or her event? Let’s say I am not that selfless and kind as he is.

Anyway, to wrap up his training cycle, he ran in Apla Chicago, a locally supported run by Bavdhan Brigade (our running group). It was Saturday night, the night before my race, and I eagerly waited for him to finish his run. I’m grateful to all the running buddies who accompanied and supported him in his full marathon.

Prasad , going for his FM at Apla Chicago

Once his run was over, I tried to go back to sleep, but honestly, who gets a good night’s sleep before race day? 😊

Race Day!

The next day, we all left for Grant Park at 5 AM. We stayed in Naperville, which is a 45–60-minute drive to downtown Chicago. Thanks to my relatives, I didn’t have to worry about my commute. It was total princess treatment before my run! 😊 I had peanut butter on two slices of bread before leaving the house at 5 AM.

We arrived at the venue by 6:30 am and waited patiently for my wave to start. My run began at 8:20 am. A lot of experiences from my Berlin Marathon were fresh in my mind, so this time I was determined not to repeat those mistakes. I layered up perfectly to stay warm while waiting for the race to start. I carried five gels, enough dried fruits, a small Volini spray, and some electrolyte tablets.

That’s me with my family before I entered the venue 😊

Another goal was to avoid completing the first half of the race too quickly, as I did in Berlin, where I struggled after 25 kilometers. I took plenty of walking breaks and even regretted my decision to run, thinking that if I saw my husband, Abhishek, in the crowd, I might ask him to rescue me! Thank goodness I didn’t see him during those moments of weakness.

Still, even after a year, I vividly remember how I felt after the 28th kilometers—the fatigue and hopelessness. I didn’t want to go through that again, so I started conservatively, maintaining an average pace of 6:15 for the first 30 kilometers.

My plan was to have GU gels every 8 kilometers, but I later adjusted that to every 45 minutes. The tall buildings of Chicago are notorious for messing up your smartwatch GPS, and sure enough, it was showing some bizarre paces—sometimes a 5-minute per kms and other times over 11 minutes. I realized I couldn’t keep checking my watch, so I decided to stick to a pace that felt comfortable. Run by feel!

That's my daughter giving a hi-fi to a runner. She had a fun time out there1

The spirit of the running community was alive, with cheers echoing everywhere. I overheard a conversation between two runners who were apparently 20 and 23 weeks pregnant! I was like, what?! I turned around to congratulate them and wish them all the best. How cool is that? I had never met pregnant runners before.

The course was beautiful, taking us through amazing locations in downtown Chicago. The crowd support was fantastic, and I saw my family cheering for me multiple times. 😊. Best thing was to see my daughter soaking in all the experiences. Her little shout of “mamma”!! amidst the cheering crowd was music to my ears.

The weather was perfect, and everything about this race was wonderful. I ran strong, my family was there, I had a solid nutrition plan, and I was well-prepared with shades and a cap (which I had forgotten in Berlin) to protect myself from the sun.

After a while, I began to zone out, as I often do during long runs. That’s why I love them! My running buddy does most of the talking, but I often lose myself in my thoughts

One instance stands out: So, a very prominent runner of my city runs on the route where we run. He is extremely popular and a fast runner. One day I ask Prasad “Oh, today we didn’t see him, how come he is not running today”. He looks at me surprised and tells “Usne aaj saamne se humko good morning wish kiya!!! Khud se, what’s wrong with you” (He wished us first today! What’s wrong with you”? and I was like really? When? :D In that state of mind, I continued my Chicago Marathon. I don’t remember how I felt when I crossed the 20K mark or my thoughts at 30K. I was cruising at a steady speed (it dropped to around 6:45 in the later half from 6:15 minutes per kilometers).

The strongest feeling came when I completed the run. I saw the finish line and thought, “Wow, you did it!!!” Suddenly, all the noise, all the cheering, and the entire atmosphere came alive, as if I was coming out of a trance and realizing the run was over. At that moment, I understood that completing a marathon is a huge achievement. Anyone who finishes, regardless of their time, deserves an utmost respect. In fact, I have even more respect for those who finish in 5 or 6 hours, as spending more time on your feet makes it even tougher.

I’m still getting goosebumps! You know you’re missing something if you don’t experience the joy of crossing the finish line after a marathon (or any run).

Post-Run Reflection

Once the euphoria and adrenaline subsided, I began analysing my run. I compared it to my Berlin Marathon. While I enjoyed the Chicago experience more and had a much stronger finish than in Berlin, Berlin still holds my personal best (I missed it by less than a minute). This was my second-best time (I have completed four marathons now).

I rewound the run in my head and reflected on my training runs. Since I logged all my runs on Instagram, I checked my pace during those sessions. Then I realized I finished my run at a pace similar to my training runs. Why was I expecting something different?

I never increased my speed after starting conservatively, fearing I might run out of fuel. Many factors came to mind that I need to improve upon. Every marathon is a learning experience, and I know what I need to work on for my next training plan if I’m looking for a different result.

Of course, my friends were annoyed with my grumpy behaviour. One of them said, “I’m highly disappointed in you! Even after such a good experience and run, you’re complaining about your time.”

Oops! True enough, I quickly shifted out of my analysing phase and began to celebrate my run.

I spent the next few days sightseeing in downtown Chicago, taking pictures with my medal at famous landmarks, and enjoying some delicious pizza and other local delicacies.

What’s next!

I’m not quite sure yet. During my training for the Chicago Marathon, I decided not to register for any races for the next six months. If I want a different result, I need to approach things differently. These are my FM pace in the last three FM I did in the span of one year. Berlin 6:26/km, TMM – 6:30/km , Chicago 6:28/km.

Yes, there is improvement in my efforts, but not in the end results. I don’t yet know what that change will be, but I sense that something is missing, and I need to identify it.

There are plenty of success stories of marathoners who initially finished in 4:30 and eventually qualified for Boston. I’m not aiming for that level, but even a five-minute improvement would feel like a major victory to me! 😊 I guess it’s easy to make me happy!

For now, I think I’ll return to the basics, focus on my strength training, and just take it easy.

Thank you for reading :)