Marathon Story

Chicago marathon.. I was aiming on running one of the world's TOP 5 marathons. 1. Boston 2. London 3. Berlin 4. Chicago 5. NY

I started walking towards the start line. The roads were all closed.. Michigan Aveue, which is usually packed with cars was literally EMPTY..I was walking in the middle of the road. I would never ever get to do this otherwise. It ws unexpectedly cold that morning... 0 to begin with.. I was not prepared as to what to wear.... I thought I was going to be ok with what I had.. but towards the end of the race.. apparently, it was not.

I went to the bathroom.. and then started stretching. The ambiance was GREAT! Choppers on the air... news reporters... 35,000 racers, the spectators, the family members..... it surly pumped up anyone's adrenaline! It was almost 8:30.. the race was about to begin... I walk towards the start line... jammed pack with all the racers. The American National Anthem Begins and BOOM!!! the gun shot.. THE RACE has officially begun... and I started running...

It was cold.. the gust of cold wind gave you sort of uncomfortable feeling... but with the roars of gushing crowds it soon became a minor distraction.. I started running and looking around... It was amazing.. Everyone clapping at you.. people chanting your name.. What a good feeling!!!

Soon it was mile 2.. then mile 5...

I stopped for the Gatorade. I did not have to worry about getting Dehydrated since it was not going to be hot. However, I had made a goal of drinking a lot at the drink station. Since it was so cold.. Little did I know that drinking a lot would some how equate to stopping for a bathroom a lot as well... In the beginning.. especially, mile 5,6,7... the wait line was at least 2-3 min in the bathroom which somehow made me loose time.. I had a 12/mile pace but with the bathroom stop... I was few min behind my calculated time.. Mile 10 I see my husband.. and I get my energy back..... I told him I was going to see him in Mile 20 next.. He would have to take a train to get to mile 20.

The scenes of chicago during the run was so fun. Different town had diffrent parades, bands cheering all the marathon runners. It was all so exciting.. My music was good.. I was enjoying running.... then mile 12.. my headphone started to make screeechyy sound... I tried to work on that several times but gave up and started running with out the music.... which was something I really had hard time.. however, knowing that I had no choice, I started running looking at the spectators and counting the kids. This sort of distracted me from the "mile marker' and it made my run little bit easier..

Soon I was in the hospital district... mile 15 I think... At this point, I was getting tired.. I knew China town was soon going to be next route.... maybe in about nest 3 miles or so.. I was looking forward to running in the china town. At mile 15, they had also provided the "sport shot" which I was sort of accustomed with. These "power bar shot" was always recommended to get used to before the big day otherwise, it could totally upset your stomach.

I had never tried any of the power shots during my "half marathons" or the "20 mile run." However, everyone told me to take this for my marathon as it was really helpful. So after my 20 mile run..... during the last 3 weeks prior to the marathon, I had done the practice run with the "Gu shots." The taste was yuky.. but it really helped. Personally, I had preferred the jelly beans.. which was helpful too..

On the real day,mile 15, taking the shot helped me.. It did not make me tired. Mile 17....China town arrives... yeah... I can feel my body getting tired. I could feel the blisters and my knee cap slowly hurting. I had both my knees wrapped by the bandages... which was not that great of an idea cause I think I had sort of hampered the blood circulation... Mile 17.. I took the run/walk strategy.. I would run then walk and then run.. but I was having hard time..

I had not :hit the wall".. not yet... Having completed the 20 mile run about 3 weeks ago,Ii had the confident to finish up to the 20 mile without any problem.. after that, I had not a single clue... ... Soon mile 18... running in the Chinatown.. little kids waving at us and passing bananas... I was not in the mood to eat anything... yet, i stopped and took a small pieces of cut bananas from a little girl... During the race, I had made a friend from Chicago, whose goal was to finish the race in 5:35min...It was her second time...

Mile 19... tired.. more tired and I think I had hit the wall... both my legs started feeling numb... I still tried to run.. it looked funny.. but I running on my heels... Mile 20. and you could see the skyline of Chicago... That was my destination... At this point, lot of people had dropped out. There were people escorting the dropped out runners in their cart. Some were getting massaged, some were simply resting..

"Listen to your Body.."

Should I drop out.. No! I think I can keep on going..

At this point, there were very few runners running... . Either people had dropped out or the runners were way before us... It still made me feel nice seeing that I was not amongst the last ones..

The runners were cheering for one another and we started running in a small group.... soon Mile 21. I took out my milkybar and sneakers and started chewing on them... it did not help me a whole lot but still gave me little energy.

Mile 22.. walking slowly... i think at this point, I have pulled the muscles on both the legs..It was hard for me to even walk. I pass the train station..Seeing the condition, the train master asks me if i want to take the train downtown.. "No" I said and kept on moving forwrd.

Almost mile 23.. I get stopped again.. this time by cops. " Do you want a ride.." No! I will keep on going...

I was almost there and did not want to give up... 3 more miles and this will be the biggest achievements of my life.

Mile 24... My destination was almost there... At this point you could see all the racers with the medals... It gives you motivation. I wanted to finish the race. I will finish the race...

Mile 24 and 1/2. Condition= Limping...

The Volunteers stop me again asking me if I was ok. I said I am fine. At this point, I decided to take off my bandage, but was worried of the outcome. What if I cannot stand up... what if I cannot even more... I gradually opened my bandage and it sort of felt better...

Mile 25!!! yes.. Almost there.. I call my husband to come and help me finish the race. I wanted him to be there during my last mile... and there he was..

I had few more blocks to go...

Again, I started visualizing the finish line.... everyone cheering for me

At this point, everyone on the street was cheering us... " You are almost there.. couple more blocks..."

This slogan gave me gush of energy..

Mile 26!! yes.. the last 385 yards.. maybe 3 blocks and at this point you come to the realisation that you have actually finished the marathon!!!!

I cross the finish line ... It still seems surreal.

The guy asks my husband if he wants to put the medal for me. Prasanna puts my medal. What a nice feeling..!!!

I finished the marathon on my First attempt!!!

It was all in my mind... and I did it!!!

i

My body was sore for 3 days. I could not move and was sleeping for 3 days.. but that Pain was the pain of a JOY!!!!!

Thank you Jason for inspiring me to start. Thank you husband for pushing me, encouraging me and helping me get to the finish line.. .

The lessons I learnt!!! :-

1)If you do it from your heart!!! you can do anything!!! :)

2) Surround yourself in a positive environment where people will make you believe that you can do it.

3) Discipline is an integral part.. even though I was not strictly disciplined, I would have done way better had I was one..

4) Stretch = Pre and Post the run!