I arrived in Chicago on Friday. I took the "L" from Midway to my apartment at Lake and Michigan Ave. The location was 3 blocks from the start/finish line of the marathon and one block from tons of shopping for Julie, Frances, and Cassidy.
Sunday morning I awoke at 5 and went through my normal pre race routine of shower, shave, getting dressed and heading to the start line around 5:30 with my bag and gear already packed and by the door. The start line and baggage check was VERY well organized and easy. At 6 0'clock it was in the high 50's so I wore a long running shirt under my Livestrong race shirt and 
Falcons hat to the starting line. The Falcons were playing the Bears in Atlanta later in the afternoon and I felt it would be a great ice breaker. Boy was I right. I called Joe and Walter, my tailgating buddies in Atlanta to let them know I'd made it to the start line. Fortunately, I met another Falcons 
season ticket holder in my time group that tailgates about 50 yards from me on Sundays in Atlanta. I attached another hat onto my fuel belt knowing that I would see my family at mile two and could ditch my long sleeve shirt and Falcons hat. I downed my traditional pre-race bagel and peanut butter. A little water and potty stop had me ready to run.
Falcons hat to the starting line. The Falcons were playing the Bears in Atlanta later in the afternoon and I felt it would be a great ice breaker. Boy was I right. I called Joe and Walter, my tailgating buddies in Atlanta to let them know I'd made it to the start line. Fortunately, I met another Falcons 
season ticket holder in my time group that tailgates about 50 yards from me on Sundays in Atlanta. I attached another hat onto my fuel belt knowing that I would see my family at mile two and could ditch my long sleeve shirt and Falcons hat. I downed my traditional pre-race bagel and peanut butter. A little water and potty stop had me ready to run. Miles 1-7
I lined up with the pace group to finish in 4:15. The marathon bills itself as one that passes through 29 neighborhoods in one world class race. The start is in Grant/Millennium Park heading north on 
Columbus, over the river into town. You turn on Grand, passing under the massive shopping and restaurant venues and head back over the river again down State street through the theatre district, where I saw my family the first time. I threw my shirt and hat at them and continued. There is tons of crowd support the first 4 miles. I kept hearing people rooting for me and some woman named Marcie for the first 5 miles or so. I remember in mile three running behind two women also in the 4:15 time group. One had a shirt on that had Philips Electronics on the back and her name, Julie, was placed on it. I thought, hey Julie Phillips, how cool is that. I remember passing the famed Cook County
Courthouse and thinking about all of the history that had happened on those famed steps. Al Capone, Elliott Ness, Reverend Wright. So Julie dropped off of our pace in less than a mile and I ran with the other women, I don't recall her name but we ran together for the next 3 miles or so. I joked with her because it seemed that every half mile or so was another guy specifically there to cheer for her. I asked her if they knew about each other. She swore they were family members and one boyfriend. Anyway, we noticed that at miles 4-5 that we were already about 3 minutes ahead of our pace. At mile 7 she decided to slow but I kept close to the same pace because I felt great. We ran up LaSalle past the Old Town and through Lincoln Park. Wow, I remember thinking how lucky Chicago was to have all of these awesome parks. As we headed up the shoreline we turned west on Addison and another runner pointed out to me when we came close to Wrigley Field. It was quick but I'm glad I had someone point it out to me.
Columbus, over the river into town. You turn on Grand, passing under the massive shopping and restaurant venues and head back over the river again down State street through the theatre district, where I saw my family the first time. I threw my shirt and hat at them and continued. There is tons of crowd support the first 4 miles. I kept hearing people rooting for me and some woman named Marcie for the first 5 miles or so. I remember in mile three running behind two women also in the 4:15 time group. One had a shirt on that had Philips Electronics on the back and her name, Julie, was placed on it. I thought, hey Julie Phillips, how cool is that. I remember passing the famed Cook County
Courthouse and thinking about all of the history that had happened on those famed steps. Al Capone, Elliott Ness, Reverend Wright. So Julie dropped off of our pace in less than a mile and I ran with the other women, I don't recall her name but we ran together for the next 3 miles or so. I joked with her because it seemed that every half mile or so was another guy specifically there to cheer for her. I asked her if they knew about each other. She swore they were family members and one boyfriend. Anyway, we noticed that at miles 4-5 that we were already about 3 minutes ahead of our pace. At mile 7 she decided to slow but I kept close to the same pace because I felt great. We ran up LaSalle past the Old Town and through Lincoln Park. Wow, I remember thinking how lucky Chicago was to have all of these awesome parks. As we headed up the shoreline we turned west on Addison and another runner pointed out to me when we came close to Wrigley Field. It was quick but I'm glad I had someone point it out to me. Miles 8-13.1
When I turned south in Lake View East the crowds continued to get larger as we headed into 
Boystown. Hmmm......nope, never run through anything quite like it. Let's just leave it at that. I will say that there was plenty of support running through mile 8. The next three miles was a great stretch for just settling into my pace and beginning to get focused. You could tell that it was really starting to get warm. You run south back past Lincoln Park, Old Town, and River North. You run through some beautiful neighborhoods and people coming out of their homes and townhouses to have breakfast and coffee on their brick steps and just root for runners. It was very inspirational. You run back into downtown. As you cross the river again you can really feel the crowds getting larger . Again you run back under the tracks of the "L" and turn on Adams to head through the west loop and to the half marathon point. When I crossed the half marathon line I was still two minutes ahead of my goal and I felt great.
Boystown. Hmmm......nope, never run through anything quite like it. Let's just leave it at that. I will say that there was plenty of support running through mile 8. The next three miles was a great stretch for just settling into my pace and beginning to get focused. You could tell that it was really starting to get warm. You run south back past Lincoln Park, Old Town, and River North. You run through some beautiful neighborhoods and people coming out of their homes and townhouses to have breakfast and coffee on their brick steps and just root for runners. It was very inspirational. You run back into downtown. As you cross the river again you can really feel the crowds getting larger . Again you run back under the tracks of the "L" and turn on Adams to head through the west loop and to the half marathon point. When I crossed the half marathon line I was still two minutes ahead of my goal and I felt great. Miles 13.1-20
I ran west down Adams to the West Loop. It was long, it felt like we were running to nowhere and we were NEVER going to turn. Mentally I hated this stretch because you could see faster runners already heading back into town a couple of blocks over but you couldn't see anyone in front of you ever turning. Finally right before mile 15 your turn for a couple of blocks and head back east. You pass Malcolm X University. Wow, I had no idea how big that place was. They call this the Charity Mile. I'm not sure why. My only thought is maybe they think Malcolm X 
University needs some charity because that place looks old. There was very little crowd support but knowing that I had made the turn and heading back toward town gave me a little boost. My fuel strategy was going as planned although I did notice that every time I was passing mile markers that the medical tents were full. I was taking in what I thought was a great balance of fluid and GU but I'll discuss my strategy in my wrap up. You turn south around mile 16.5 and at mile 17 I saw my family again for the second time. They had positioned themselves to take some pictures of me running with the Sears Tower in the background. You then turn and run another mile west through Little Italy and the crowd support was pretty good. I was cruising and doing really well at this point. Then, I'm running right in the middle of the street with the 30k sign in the faint distance....BAM!!!!!!.....My right hamstring locked up and clinched my leg like I'd been shot...I stumbled to the curb and leaning against a building trying to stretch it out.....Standing right next to me was this Angel of a grandmother with her two grand daughters who had come out of their house with ice trays. I couldn't believe it. She gave me a few cubes of ice and for the next 15 minutes I stood their icing my hamstring and talking to her. She told me that last year, when there was also a really high temperature, she brought ice out to the runners because they were so dehydrated. I have no doubt that God specifically put her there on that day just for me. I would never have finished this race without her. I started back, knowing that my time goal for the day was shot. Now I just wanted to finish. I then started slowly just to get my pace back and really hoped my hamstring would hold up. I started taking on more fluid. We ran through Pilsen and finally into the first banana station at mile 20. I must have eaten 2 bananas. They chop them in fourths but I couldn't get enough potassium.
University needs some charity because that place looks old. There was very little crowd support but knowing that I had made the turn and heading back toward town gave me a little boost. My fuel strategy was going as planned although I did notice that every time I was passing mile markers that the medical tents were full. I was taking in what I thought was a great balance of fluid and GU but I'll discuss my strategy in my wrap up. You turn south around mile 16.5 and at mile 17 I saw my family again for the second time. They had positioned themselves to take some pictures of me running with the Sears Tower in the background. You then turn and run another mile west through Little Italy and the crowd support was pretty good. I was cruising and doing really well at this point. Then, I'm running right in the middle of the street with the 30k sign in the faint distance....BAM!!!!!!.....My right hamstring locked up and clinched my leg like I'd been shot...I stumbled to the curb and leaning against a building trying to stretch it out.....Standing right next to me was this Angel of a grandmother with her two grand daughters who had come out of their house with ice trays. I couldn't believe it. She gave me a few cubes of ice and for the next 15 minutes I stood their icing my hamstring and talking to her. She told me that last year, when there was also a really high temperature, she brought ice out to the runners because they were so dehydrated. I have no doubt that God specifically put her there on that day just for me. I would never have finished this race without her. I started back, knowing that my time goal for the day was shot. Now I just wanted to finish. I then started slowly just to get my pace back and really hoped my hamstring would hold up. I started taking on more fluid. We ran through Pilsen and finally into the first banana station at mile 20. I must have eaten 2 bananas. They chop them in fourths but I couldn't get enough potassium. Mile 21-23
I kept going knowing that my family had plans to be in Chinatown at mile 21.5 I 
started back into a pace and was actually feeling good again. What a huge lift Chinatown is. The crowds were massive and, thanks to Cassidy and Brady's sign, I spotted my family right after turning south on Wentworth Ave. I felt pretty good the next couple of miles but I could defiantly feel the heat starting to take a beating on me as it continued to get seemingly hotter. We approached Cominsky Park and thought how I'd spent a few nights watching the White Sox in that crappy ballpark a few years earlier.
started back into a pace and was actually feeling good again. What a huge lift Chinatown is. The crowds were massive and, thanks to Cassidy and Brady's sign, I spotted my family right after turning south on Wentworth Ave. I felt pretty good the next couple of miles but I could defiantly feel the heat starting to take a beating on me as it continued to get seemingly hotter. We approached Cominsky Park and thought how I'd spent a few nights watching the White Sox in that crappy ballpark a few years earlier.Mile 23.5-25.8
When turning from 35th Street to Michigan Ave. I knew it was my last big turn. I also remember there being a big LaSalle Bank on the corner of the turn with one of those bank signs that flashes the time and temperature. It blasted a very depressing 93 degrees. It was HOT!!! 
and mentally I just tried to block it out. One thing that always bothered me about my pictures from NYC was the finish. People who don't know any better think that the time over your head is how long it took you to finish. They don't account for how long it took you to get to the start line. In NY it read over 5 hours, even though I ran faster, and I told myself at this point my goal from here on out was to try not to let that happen in Chicago. I ran for another half mile until passing the water station and decided to walk for a minute. I told myself from here on out I would not walk for more than one minute at a time for the rest of the race and I would have to run for at least 5 minutes without stopping. While I was walking I started talking to this man that was running his first marathon and said he had originally set a goal of 3:30. Now he was going to be lucky to hit 5 hours. I said goodbye and started running again. As I approached mile 24, with McCormick Place to my right, people continued to scream support for me and I also started hearing yelling loudly for Marcie again. I looked around and there she was. I said wow, I heard your name a lot early in the race and now here you are again. She told me that she wasn't going to be able to finish with me though as she needed to stop. At that point I knew I was close and told myself just to keep moving my legs.
and mentally I just tried to block it out. One thing that always bothered me about my pictures from NYC was the finish. People who don't know any better think that the time over your head is how long it took you to finish. They don't account for how long it took you to get to the start line. In NY it read over 5 hours, even though I ran faster, and I told myself at this point my goal from here on out was to try not to let that happen in Chicago. I ran for another half mile until passing the water station and decided to walk for a minute. I told myself from here on out I would not walk for more than one minute at a time for the rest of the race and I would have to run for at least 5 minutes without stopping. While I was walking I started talking to this man that was running his first marathon and said he had originally set a goal of 3:30. Now he was going to be lucky to hit 5 hours. I said goodbye and started running again. As I approached mile 24, with McCormick Place to my right, people continued to scream support for me and I also started hearing yelling loudly for Marcie again. I looked around and there she was. I said wow, I heard your name a lot early in the race and now here you are again. She told me that she wasn't going to be able to finish with me though as she needed to stop. At that point I knew I was close and told myself just to keep moving my legs.25.8-26.2
As I headed up Michigan Ave. at mile 25.8 I'm thinking, wow, I made it. Then I turned right on Roosevelt, a President that I will now forever hate because of this, and stared at the most 
massive hill I've ever seen. OK, so it's in reality only about .3 of a mile but it may as well have been Stone Mountain. I buried my eyes in the road and just thought about all of the runs I had made up those fun hills on Lower Roswell back in Marietta. I didn't stop until I reached the top. Once I reached the top, I was almost home. You turn left on Columbus Dr. and finish the last .1 on a flat surface to the finish line. I could see the clock, the one the elite runners started with and it read 4:58:20. I got really focused again. I had .1 left to go and I wanted to finish under the 4:49:59 on their clock. I finished in 
4:46:07. It was 2 minutes and 9 seconds faster than I ran the New York City Marathon. The clock over me read 4:59:48 when I crossed under it. I was REALLY proud given all of the conditions of the day and all of the injuries I'd battled through this year. I downed about 6 bottles of water and 2 bananas. I was then given a medal that they placed around my neck, handed a beer, taken a picture, and kept walking to baggage claim. It was very organized.
massive hill I've ever seen. OK, so it's in reality only about .3 of a mile but it may as well have been Stone Mountain. I buried my eyes in the road and just thought about all of the runs I had made up those fun hills on Lower Roswell back in Marietta. I didn't stop until I reached the top. Once I reached the top, I was almost home. You turn left on Columbus Dr. and finish the last .1 on a flat surface to the finish line. I could see the clock, the one the elite runners started with and it read 4:58:20. I got really focused again. I had .1 left to go and I wanted to finish under the 4:49:59 on their clock. I finished in 
4:46:07. It was 2 minutes and 9 seconds faster than I ran the New York City Marathon. The clock over me read 4:59:48 when I crossed under it. I was REALLY proud given all of the conditions of the day and all of the injuries I'd battled through this year. I downed about 6 bottles of water and 2 bananas. I was then given a medal that they placed around my neck, handed a beer, taken a picture, and kept walking to baggage claim. It was very organized.Wrap up: Mile 26.3
I found my family when I got to my cell phone and we spent a couple of hours milling around 
Grant Park and letting the kids play. This marathon was very special for me because it's the first time my father has ever seen me run a full marathon. I'm not sure if he got anything out of it because we still haven't talked about it but I hope there is some pride for him in there somewhere. Julie, Brady, Cassidy, and my mother Frances, who all followed me to New York also, were again amazing in all of their support. Chicago was a great choice, not the Obama kind of choice either. I actually enjoyed this choice. One tricky thing to do in a marathon is to hydrate properly. Drinking to much in a race is worse
for you than not drinking enough and could land you in the hospital. I sweat more than most people and usually try to take in slightly more than the recommended 6 oz. of fluid every 15-20 minutes. I've learned this over a few thousand miles the last couple of years. However, taking in more fluid in high temperatures is something I'll take away from this race. I should have finished between 4:00-4:15. Because I didn't follow that simple rule I missed my goal. I'm a little disappointed with myself but not to much. The crowds in Chicago were great. You aren't New York, but the support was great in many sections. Yes, I know your offended but it's my race report not yours. Sorry, deal with it. 
I look forward to my next marathons of choice in 2009.
Grant Park and letting the kids play. This marathon was very special for me because it's the first time my father has ever seen me run a full marathon. I'm not sure if he got anything out of it because we still haven't talked about it but I hope there is some pride for him in there somewhere. Julie, Brady, Cassidy, and my mother Frances, who all followed me to New York also, were again amazing in all of their support. Chicago was a great choice, not the Obama kind of choice either. I actually enjoyed this choice. One tricky thing to do in a marathon is to hydrate properly. Drinking to much in a race is worse
for you than not drinking enough and could land you in the hospital. I sweat more than most people and usually try to take in slightly more than the recommended 6 oz. of fluid every 15-20 minutes. I've learned this over a few thousand miles the last couple of years. However, taking in more fluid in high temperatures is something I'll take away from this race. I should have finished between 4:00-4:15. Because I didn't follow that simple rule I missed my goal. I'm a little disappointed with myself but not to much. The crowds in Chicago were great. You aren't New York, but the support was great in many sections. Yes, I know your offended but it's my race report not yours. Sorry, deal with it. 
I look forward to my next marathons of choice in 2009.
Fins Up!
Cliff
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