| Map | Map 2 | Map with Elevation | Runners Village | Finish Festival Map |
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The reality is that quite a few things were converging into the perfect storm. Let's see:
Oh boy... Good news is that Becky who is doing Chicago is ALSO doing The Marine Corps Marathon. Unfortunately during The Chicago Marathon, I found out that Becky cannot make Marine Corps. I'll be all alone. Oh well...
I hate the drive there. I hate the drive back even more. Terrible traffic on the way back EVERY TIME!
With the government shutdown, it was worrisome whether the race would happen or not but it was on.
Saturday morning I worked at the YMCA. Went home and had lunch and a nap and drove out there. I reached out and JC was going to pick up my stuff for me. It was waiting at his hotel for me. Nice. Got to his hotel at 8pm and picked it up from the front desk and onto my hotel. It was a little confusing with the parking but got it done. Got to my room and realized I left stuff in the car so ran back. Thankfully the valet didn't take it yet. Went to sleep.
Next morning, woke up and got ready. There was a shuttle leaving the hotel every 15 minutes to the marathon shuttle. There was a huge line already formed. I started talking to people. People were already waiting more than 15 minutes with no shuttle in sight. One of the guys called the front desk. Yes it's supposed to be every 15 minutes. Yes it's one of those tiny little airport shuttles and by the way, the shuttle is servicing us and another hotel. That's when a group of us said enough. We knew it was a little less than a mile walk but maybe it's the right thing to do... We started walking. I think we walked about 4 blocks and we were there at the lines to the race shuttle. Got on that and at race site. Security looked impressive but as usual was a joke.
It was a little confusing where to go even though I should have remembered. Still, I got my bearing and went. Sucks being all alone in a sea of 38,000 people if that even makes sense.
As always, worried about making the cutoffs even though it shouldn't matter. Going through it. I stopped to pee at the indoor plumbing on the course like we did last time. The blue line was somber as always. I was leap frogging with a guy so we started talking and working together but we got split up. Sucks. They handed out gels and I got mocha by accident. I don't like mocha. Some random guy heard me and traded me with his salted citrus. I did not like that one either...
I got shoved by a guy who said "on your right" when I couldn't go to my left to let him pass. Stupid guy...
Around the bridge (beat the bridge), I thought I heard my phone ding so not sure why but I checked it.
A guard never showed up in the AM. He knew he was going to be out and didn't care too much. Another guard wanted to let me know that he will be 30 minutes late and is that ok. I had no voice but I called him and yelled at him. Seriously?!?
Marc texted asking where I was. I told him and he was shocked that he missed me. Meanwhile, I am convinced that I talked to some of his people looking to score some (liquid) coke. Oh well...
In the gauntlet. I know it's almost done. I'm upset. These 2 guards really screwed up my mental health day.
I'm about 3 miles away. Not worried about time deadlines anymore. Still upset about the guards. I overheard 2 young ladies talking. One of them was saying that she's done and that she needs to be carried. I immediately, without pausing, ran in front of her and while running assumed the piggy back carrier position. She ran to me and I ran away and she yelled and we both laughed. We talked a little and I let them go.
Close... So Close. I know the last stretch near the Pentagon. Finally the area near the turnoff and finally the left turn into the finish. Got my medal. It's huge and beautiful. Got my challenge medal too. Started making my way to the exit. Got my lunch box. Got my extra liquids. Got my blanket (NICE!). Got my Superman cape. People were upset that it's a Superman cape vs MCM cape but seriously?!?
Finally managed to escape the park. Walked far to get Uber to work with me. Got an Uber to the hotel. Changed clothes while the car was brought back.
Drove home all upset about those 2 guards...
I still have to do the Army 10 miler and face the same damn traffic but maybe I'll figure out something on how to deal with that... For now, no more MCM 26.2 or MCM 50K, even though that 1 more race puts me in a special club.
