3:07:17 I AM TRULY HUMBLED. That is the time and there was nothing I could do about it.  Still a very solid time, but not even close to what I was shooting for.  This one hurt, physically and emotionally.  I had put the better part of the last six months into training for this marathon.  The most quality mileage, the most mileage, some of the best workouts (I had one of the best workouts of my life just 4 weeks ago), the best attitude, life was coming together.

Felt crappy at mile 1, settled in, had a bathroom break at mile 10 (thanks to the people at Subway), made it on pace (6:00 per mile), and the wheels came off at mile 14.5 or so.  The heat was nasty again this year, heading into Chinatown the thermometer read 87 degrees.  I ran this in 2007 when they canceled the race halfway through.  Once was a coincidence, twice?  I can take a hint Chicago.

As a coach I try to look at moral victories.  For me personally, not so much.  Had a course PB, I finished the damn thing, but that is where it ends for me.  Like I said, this one hurt both physically (I can deal with that in running), but the emotion killed me this year.  It is tough letting go of the things you can’t control in running and in life.  Sometimes no matter what you do, or how you prepare, or train, or talk to yourself, there are things outside of your control.

p.s. congrats to Mike Morgan, former Linconite and current friend and sometimes training partner. He finished 11th overall with a new lifetime PR.