2013 Soldier Field 10 Mile Recap

This past Saturday was the Soldier Field 10 Mile.  It was also my first 10 mile run ever, making this the second time I've PDR'd at a race this year (the first being at the Illinois Marathon Relay last month).  But unlike the first time, I was ready for this distance so I didn't end up getting hurt from pushing too hard.  Small victory!

Although I didn't have to be in my start corral until 7:30, Bob had to be in his at 6:45 so we took advantage of the free parking at Soldier Field and drove on down.  We only hit a little traffic right outside of Soldier Field on Lakeshore, so I'd probably drive again and consider this a nice perk.  We're not anti-public transit or anything, but it takes a really long time to get to Soldier Field from where we live, and the thought of trekking back to the red line after running 10 miles didn't sound that great.  Also, free parking.  Anyway, we got Bob's gear checked and sent him off to his corral with about 10 minutes to spare and I met up with Melanie and Amy so we could get a shot of our sweet matching Awesomeness shirts.  While chatting with the girls, I looked over and saw Erin about 10 feet away.  Not surprising, since I knew she was running, but what was surprising is that she was chatting with my co-worker's husband.  The Chicago running community can be such a small world sometimes!

Melanie and I parted ways with Amy at around 6:50, which gave us plenty of time to check Melanie's bag and get out those last pre-race jitters.  And, of course, take plenty of pictures.  It's what we do.  As we were getting ready to start the race, I told Melanie that I had no problem with her running without me if I was holding her back in any way.  She's been kicking ass and running faster than me, so I can definitely understand having a good run and going with it.  We thought we'd probably stay together for the first half of the race.  My only real goal was to finish the race without injury, and to do that I had planned to walk through all of the aid stations (around miles 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) to give my legs a little break.

At around 7:45 we heard the P.A. announcer say that the first finisher was getting to mile 9.5, which was kind of funny since we hadn't even started.  But a few minutes later, we were off!  The first 3 miles flew by as we chatted.  Melanie kept going through the first aid station, but I was able to catch her after my walk break.  Unfortunately, I could never catch her after the second aid station around mile 3.3, but I did at least see her at the turnaround around mile 5 (a nice thing about out & back courses!).  Melanie ended up finishing within 2 minutes of her last 10 mile run, and it sounds like she ran a pretty great race!  So I'm definitely happy I didn't hold her back.  

Checking out the skyline from the mile 5 aid station

Running the last 2/3 of the race by myself wasn't too bad either.  I didn't bring music with me, so I just enjoyed the race atmosphere and occasionally chatted with other runners.  I also stuck with the CES 2:00 run/walk pace group until about mile 6, which was my first time ever running with a pace group.  I didn't take the same walk breaks that they did, but otherwise found it helpful, but I don't know if I'd want to run an entire race in a big group like that.

Awesome marching band around mile 8

To make it through 10 miles, I just kept my pace slow and steady.  I didn't take any other walk breaks besides the planned ones, so I think that strategy is definitely a good idea for me.  My legs, although tired, weren't totally dead by the end of it.  To address the energy problem I had on last week's long run, I paid a lot of attention to my fueling.  For breakfast I had my usual english muffin with peanut butter and a banana, but I also ate a homemade granola bar in the car at about 6:30.  I brought my macadamia nut trail mix and started eating that at the 40 minute mark, and had gatorade at the aid stations at 5, 7 and 9.  I never felt lacking in energy, so that seemed to do it for me.  I was ready to be done by around mile 9, but I was impressed that I still felt pretty good overall.  I wasn't moving too fast, but it's always more important for me to have a good time and feel good.  

Maybe you know that the post-race party included a concert by 90's band Soul Asylum.  Bob and I were kind of making fun of that because, although we did grow up in that 90's grunge scene, we weren't sure they were that big of a draw.  So when I got just outside the stadium and heard "Black Gold," one of the few songs of theirs that I actually know, I just about lost my shit laughing so hard about it.  Then I looked up and saw Bob cheering me on, and all of that gave me the push I needed to finish the race strong.

See you later, Bob, I've got a race to finish!

Once we entered the stadium, "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" was playing on a continuous loop.  I'm not even that big of a football fan, but I still thought that was pretty neat!  Of course, I was the only one singing along while running, but whatever it takes to finish, right?

The finish was at the 50 yard line on the field, which was pretty cool!  I mean, that's how the Illinois Marathon finishes too, but this was Soldier Field!

Another really cool thing is that the medals were all handed out by soldiers.  I think sometimes the original spirit behind the Memorial Day holiday gets forgotten, so that was a really nice reminder.

My final time was 2:11:48, which I'm pretty happy with.  I just can't seem to run any faster at longer distances just yet, but that's okay when you consider this is only the 5th time I've ever run more than 5 miles.   You can see, based on my 5 mile split, that I was a lot quicker in the first half.  The first 3 miles with Melanie were at a sub-12:00 pace, so that accounts for a lot of that.

Soul Asylum performing at the post-race party, where we enjoyed our free Goose Island 312, was just the icing on the cake.  As much as Bob and I poked fun at it, they actually put on a really good show!

And if you wondered, Bob finished his first 10 mile run in 1:18!  I had been trying to convince him to do a half for a while, since he's been running for several years now.  I guess this was the push he needed because he signed up for the Michigan Wine Trail Half over the weekend.  I won't be joining him in the half, since it's hilly and in late August, but I'll at least be doing the Galloping Grape 5k at that race.  And probably drinking plenty of wine while spectating, because that's what a supportive wife would do, right?

As for me, this was my last race before my half.  Up next are my last few long training runs (just an 11 and a 12), and I think I'm ready for this half.