Notes
mile 1 - 6:03
mile 2 - 5:59
mile 3 - 5:56
mile 4 - 6:02
mile 5 - 6:04
mile 6 - 5:55
mile 7 - 5:53
mile 8 - 5:50
mile 9 - 5:56
mile 10 - 5:55
mile 11 - 5:51
mile 12 - 5:55
mile 13 - 5:57 (half split - 1:17:46)
mile 14 - 5:55
mile 15 - 6:01
mile 16 - 5:53
mile 17 - 5:55
mile 18 - 5:51
mile 19 - 5:51
mile 20 - 5:53
mile 21 - 6:07
mile 22 - 6:00
mile 23 - 6:09
mile 24 - 6:05
mile 25 - 6:04
mile 26.2 - 7:17
The race started a few minutes late due to some problems with road closures. After the gun finally went off, we headed north through Rockford into the wind. As we headed out of the city, the wind became more and more of a problem. Thankfully around mile 5 we turned east, and I could finally hear myself think again. We then did a small loop through a forest preserve. At this point I started to pick up the pace a bit. I ran the miles into the wind at a somewhat conservative pace hoping to conserve my energy but not fall too far off pace needed for my 2:35 goal time. Around mile 7, I caught up with the lead marathoner. We cruised along running side by side through the half way point. Around mile 14, he turned to me and asked where I was from...apparently. He had a strong accent and somewhat limited english, so after he repeated himself a few times, I figured out what he was saying. After attempting to talk for a few minutes, I gathered that he was from Poland but was on vacation in Chicago for a couple weeks. He then added that his best time was a 2:18 and he ran a 2:22 in Boston at one point. Upon hearing that, I started thinking about how second place didn't sound so bad... After weaving through downtown for the second time, we headed out south of Rockford. Although the race website described this portion of the course as "a few rolling hills," what they really meant was a series of steep climbs and punishing downhills. As we climbed the first hill, I noticed the other guy fell behind slightly. He caught back up on the downhill and fell back a bit on the next up hill. I decided that if I had any chance of beating this guy, I better attack the next few uphills and try to form a bit of a lead. So, as painful as it was, I picked up the pace and formed a gap of about 100 yards over the next three miles. At this point, we were between mile 19 and 20, and headed towards the Rockford airport. Once we reached the airport, we turned south and had the wind at our backs for one last time before the final stretch back to downtown. I knew the wind was going to be a problem, but as we looped back a little after mile 20, I realized how terrible the final 6 miles were going to be. I still only had about a 100 yard lead, and it felt like I had to fight to even move forward much run at a respectable pace. But as I fell off pace and dismissed my hopes of running a 2:35, I at least handled the wind a bit better than the second place guy, who ended up falling several minutes behind. So, as I finally reached downtown, I was greeted by some bike escorts who assured me I was in the clear. I slowed down the final stretch to give high fives to the family members that made it out to the race, and crossed the finish line in 2:36:30. A little slower than I hoped, but with a new PR and a win, I'm definitely satisfied.