Upfront: Mission really accomplished
By Steve Noe
In this same space a year ago, I wrote a column titled “Mission accomplished” after I overcame Chicago record-setting heat of 88 degrees to successfully complete my first marathon in 5:21.37. Although I did indeed accomplish my primary mission by simply finishing the marathon, I came away with a very empty, unfulfilled and demoralized feeling. Having trained so hard for so long (nearly 18 weeks) and run a half marathon in 1:57.46 approximately two months prior to the marathon, I figured that I was perfectly capable of finishing the marathon on a good day in 4:00 to 4:30.
A few months after vowing to never attempt another marathon, I decided to give it one more shot this year, much to the chagrin of my family due to the enormous time commitment. Bound and determined to avoid a repeat performance, I decided to pursue a tougher training schedule and didn’t miss a single one of my five training runs per week for the first 10 weeks. Unfortunately, I suffered what a physical therapist believed to be a strained hip flexor in week 11 and had to cease training for nine of the longest days of my life. Over the final six weeks of my 18-week training program, I missed about a dozen runs, but made the all-important pair of 20-mile runs without much pain, so I felt pretty good about my chances heading into the marathon.
But as the Oct. 12 race day approached, I began to experience a sense of déjà vu as the weather forecast called for unseasonably warm temperatures once again, with an expected high of 79 degrees.
However, despite the temperature hitting 84 degrees, I’m extremely pleased to report that I wound up persevering this time around, finishing the 31st annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 4:17.44, which was nearly smack dab in the middle of my target time. Although the heat began to take its toll on me at roughly mile 22 of the 26.2-mile race, and I experienced cramping in my left leg at about mile 24, I was able to finish relatively strong after completing the first half in 2:04.53. Out of 45,000 registrants, including 31,401 finishers, I placed 9,780th overall and 6,923rd out of all males.
As you may recall, the point behind my previous columns about registering for and completing my first marathon was to challenge you to set your own lofty or professional goal and then do your best to achieve it. Well, now I’m issuing a second challenge to re-dedicate yourself to achieving a goal that you never quite accomplished to your fullest satisfaction. If I can manage to shave over an hour off the time of my first marathon, you can certainly accomplish anything that you set out to do.
