Reflections from the 2011 Illinois 1/2 Marathon
Last fall I made the commitment to run the full 2011 Illinois Marathon, but my training was almost immediately derailed by a broken ankle that required surgery. I didn’t have much hope for being able to participate in any event this year, but decided to play it by ear.
I healed well, got my cast off on March 3rd and received the all-clear to begin running again on March 13. Six weeks later I was at the starting line for the 1/2 marathon, knowing I could finish, but with very low expectations for a competitive time. That was fine with me, I was just incredibly thankful for the opportunity to compete.
Provided below are some random observations from the race, which was a great experience overall.
Things I Saw
- Josh Means along Green Street.
- Tom Bruno’s mustache in Urbana (didn’t see him, however).
- Awesome two-person sign that read, “Don’t Stop!” followed by, “That’s What She Said.”
- Another chuckler was, “Puke and Rally.”
The Good
- Staggered starts made the beginning of the race much more pleasant.
- Awesome volunteers and spectators truly make this race happen.
- 5K the night before was a nice change.
- Weather was great, if a tad windy.
- Runners/walkers at the back of the pack have fun.
- I took it slooooow until mile 10, then picked up the pace for the last 3 miles. I did not get passed after mile 10, and managed an 8:25 last mile, so I had gas in the tank.
- Finished in 2:14, which was faster than I anticipated (but still 30+ minutes slower than my PR of 1:42).
- Ankle held up well (metal plates and screws FTW!).
- Very thankful to Kate Brickman for allowing me to officially take her slot in the race.
The Bad
- Really need to widen the chute along Kirby - it was way too narrow for every event that I saw.
- Where was the GU? I never saw any until mile 11, which was way too late. Have a sign for them like you do the water and Gatorade.
- There can never be too many Honey Buckets at the starting line. Even though they had a couple dozen more than last year the lines were still ridiculous.
The Ugly
- The finish, specifically the Memorial Stadium concourse with the food, was an absolute clusterf#&k. Runners were forced down a narrow hall towards three concession stands for food (where in the heck is the end of the line?). However, none of the exit doors were open, so the same group was forced to go back against the wave of humanity and exit the stadium though a single door. Seriously? To make matter worse, medal engravers and chiropractors were stationed in that same narrow hallway, which just added to the cramped conditions.
Overall
- Those are all fairly minor quibbles with an otherwise fantastic event. Kudos to the organizers, sponsors, volunteers and visitors.
I’m already looking forward to 2012!
