Wow! What a day... I will never forget running the Chicago Marathon. Yes, the temperature was high. They say the heat index was over 94 degrees. I think because of the fact that I have not run many marathons, I didn't realize it was "too hot" to be running.

The temperatures this year have been so high, all summer, everywhere we've traveled to. This was just a "hot run" for me (Keep in mind, everyone is different). Dave and I did our final training run in the Gulf of Mexico, which was really hot and humid. But, I have to say because the bulk of our miles were done in August and September, I think that was a plus. HYDRATE!!! I hydrated so much prior to the Chicago marathon. I was so bloated my shorts almost didn't fit. No kidding.

Follow up:

FRIDAY
Friday night we had flown into Chicago and met up with my Dad and his wife. The excitement of all the race activity had me tossing and turning on Friday night. NOT a good night’s rest.

SATURDAY
Saturday we slept in (until 7am. That's sleeping in for me these days) The day was spent "gearing up" for Sundays run. Chris and I, my steele player and his wife, my brother and his family, and my Dad and his wife headed to the expo to pick up our bibs/numbers, chips and last minute necessities. Power Gels, Gatorade, etc. When we entered the expo, they had a video of last year’s marathon. It was so inspiring. I watched it twice and cried both times. After hanging around the expo for a bit we went to the hotel and chilled before heading out to an early dinner in Little Italy. What did we have for dinner? PASTA. I don't eat a lot of pasta and heavy foods, so that was a treat for me. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a calm pre-race evening. The night prior to the marathon I went to bed early. About 9 O'clock. I knew I had to be up at 5am and didn't sleep well the night before.

SUNDAY
Sunday 4:49am. I received a text message from my assistant wishing me luck (she was up feeding her newborn) So, I was up for the day. Took a hot shower and spent the next 45 minutes stretching. Eating a bagel and banana and drinking. Drinking…drinking… water … Gatorade… Gatorade…water. At 6:45 we met in the lobby to head down to the start line. It was a 5 block walk and thank heavens they had restrooms when we got there ;-). I hung out drinking water and stretching. As some of you may know my right leg had tightened up after my 18 mile run so stretching for me was really important. It was time to sing the anthem. A race official walked me out to the start line. The temp was beautiful. Not too hot. The sun was behind the clouds and the humidity was "normal" for a "summer" day. 8 minutes after the anthem the race started.

THE MARATHON

Vinnie, Dave and I all started together. In my head, I kept saying "Pace yourself, pace yourself". In Boston I started way to fast and was injured. It's so easy to get caught up in the run. Runners go by fast so you feel like you're barely moving. Adrenaline is pumping so running is effortless. I wore my GARMIN watch that gives me Time, distance and pace. After crossing the start line I looked at my watch we were at a 7:30 mile TOO FAST... I was yelling to Dave "7:30 we gotta slow down". Dave was great with keeping the pace. He was so smart and didn't get caught up in the excitement. "9:30" I yelled "Still too fast, gotta slow down". I slowed myself down and then started to look around. We went under a bridge with people overhead yelling and cheering. As we came out of the bridge we took a right turn. People were cheering everywhere. Before I knew it we were at Mile 1. My brother, at this point, was too far ahead of me to yell to. His pace is faster than Dave and I. So I yelled to Dave, "Mile 1, baby". and grabbed his hand as we crossed that mile marker. That was pretty much the last time I saw him until after the race. We flip flopped. He'd get ahead, then I'd get ahead.

The first 1/2 of the race was great. I settled into my pace (I tried to keep an 11 min mile). Not fast, but, steady). Around mile 5, there was a guy on the side of the road with a case of Bud Lite, offering it to the runners. It made me laugh. Thoughtful of him, but, needless to say, I don't think he had any takers.

The race started to thin out around mile 10. The sun had also cleared away the clouds, the "Windy City" had NO breeze that day, and the heat was setting in. By now, there was a steady flow of people, you could stop or pass people without causing a huge pile up. I wrote my name on the front of my shirt. I'm glad I did it. People were yelling encouraging words which helped take my attention off "running." They did that for everyone with their name on their shirt. It was so cool. Right before the 1/2 way point I heard this crazy man yelling my name, clapping really loud, screaming. I looked up to see my dad and his wife with my brothers wife cheering me on.

At the halfway mark I was hot. I drank at every water station, but, was sweating a lot. The sun block on my face was running into my eyes and was burning. As we were about to round a corner, I saw Chris in the crowd. He had a bag of emergency items, water, Gatorade, sport glide, Advil, GU, face cloth, etc. He ran into the marathon along side of me. "You need anything, baby?" he asked "I need WATER. Oh and this towel." In his bag was a hand towel. It was too big to carry, so he tore a piece off to give me. THAT would be what carried me through the race. A towel. He gave me and a kiss and then ran back to a bike he rented. He and Dave’s wife rented bikes to ride to different points of the race to cheer us on. Chris's chain broke. He said it took him a few minutes to fix it. When he went to get back on the bike he noticed the street had been blocked off and people were being diverted off the course. The Marathon officials had called the race. People past the half way point could finish. Those NOT to the halfway point were sent back. I didn't know what was going on, so I kept running.

The next water stop was fine. As I got to mile 16? (can't recall) the water stations were running low. I had to find someone who had a cup of water. Usually the tables are loaded, but, it seemed there was fluid and no cups or cups and no fluid.

We were in the Mexican section of the race. (The race went through Little Italy, Chinatown etc) I remember because of the flags on peoples shops. These folks were so enthusiastic. They were playing music, cheering loudly. Shop owners came out with hoses spraying runners as they went by. I wet the towel that Chris gave me to wipe my face and neck. It was refreshing. I heard someone yell, "They canceled the marathon, stop running" of course, being a jokester myself, I thought they were kidding. I got to the next water stop and there was barely any water there, so I didn't stop. As I approached mile 18 I saw a pay phone. I didn't have any money or my cell phone to call Chris and tell him where I was, so I thought I would call my mother collect and have her call Chris. I NEEDED water. At that point a spectator offered her cell phone. Gratefully I took and called Chris. I got voicemail, so I left him a message…a desperate message. "They are trying to stop the race." I said. "There is NO WATER, I need water. I am almost to mile 20. Please meet me at mile 22 with water". I handed the phone back to this very kind girl and continued to run. Most people by now started to walk. I was slowing down. I think I was crying when I ran past the convenient stores. "Money" I thought "I have no money on me." I couldn't even buy water. At about that point, there was a women behind a tree leaning against it. A spectator. I heard her yell "Does anyone need water?" I looked and she had 2 bottles of water. They were frosted with condensation meaning they were cold. I grabbed one and thanked her profusely. 1/4 mile after that someone had a bag of ice. I took a small handful and put it in the towel Chris gave me. I kept taking pieces out of the towel and chewing them as I continued to run.

By now, the police were driving down the street and over the loud speaker telling people to stop running. I couldn't. I had come too far. I felt good. After another 10 minutes 2 more police cars came driving through the people saying "the race is over. Stop running." forgetting my name was on my shirt, I freaked out when I heard the police man say "Jo Dee, stop running". I thought he knew who I was. I could see the headlines now "Jo Dee Messina Arrested For Running the Chicago Marathon". That kept me amused for the next mile or so.

At mile 22 I looked for Chris. I couldn't find him. The checkpoints were turned off by now so he wasn't getting updates on where I was. He kept riding between mile 22 and 23, then back to mile 21 to 22, looking for me. He would get to a mile marker and think, "Maybe she passed already" so he'd ride ahead. At about mile 24 there were only a few people running. Police were now standing in the street telling everyone to walk. They were saying "The clocks have been turned off. You WILL NOT get a finishing time. Stop running." I showed them my water bottle and my ice and continued to run.

MILE 26 - I heard there was a hill before the finish line. I don't know if I was sincerely amused or delirious at that point. I turned right and headed up the hill. IT WAS HOT!!! People were yelling "You're almost there, You can do it. Come on Jo Dee, you've got it!" I just kept thinking "Hill?" I did my 20 mile run in Nashville. If you want a hill… Come here to Nashville. This "hill" was nothing. My body didn't even feel it. That, of course, gave me extra umph to take it on home. The last 350 meters is down hill. There it was. The FINISH LINE! I kept on running. About 200 meters from the finish I heard my Dad yelling "Come on, Jo Dee Marie. You can do it. Looking good kiddo" and I RAN across the line. 5 hrs 45 minutes. Not my best time, but, truly my best effort.

I want to thank Joel and His friend who I saw during the run. They were towards the back half of the race, so I was a bit out of it when I saw them. Thank you guys. Thank you to the folks in Chicago who were so thoughtful and supportive to ALL the runners. And thank YOU for all of your cards and encouraging words. They are SO appreciated.

After the race, I headed back to the hotel and got into an ice bath. I ordered a salad, grateful that I could go back to my normal eating routine.

Monday we flew home. At the airport Dave and I were talking. We never hit "the wall" that everyone talks about. Maybe that was because of all the folks cheering us on. I don't know why we didn't, I'm just glad we didn't. Today, Tuesday morning I feel really good. I'm hoping to start back running tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone for being so supportive. I am truly grateful.
Jo Dee