London to Chicago

After a recovery day in London it was back on the big bird to Helsinki. Flying with Finnair all flights transit through Helsinki. We thought we’d have an overnight there to see a new country. Helsinki is the furthest north we have been and is now into autumn. The leaves are turning colour and the temperature dropping. Three degrees and rainy. Not necessarily the chance to see a city at it’s best. Helsinki is built around a port and has several islands containing beautiful old buildings only accessible by boat. It also has an interesting Botanical gardens.

Chicago

We were staying out at Oak Park, one of the original Chicago suburbs. The suburb has some remarkable architecture and was home the celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright (no relation) and Ernest Hemingway the Nobel winning author. The Wright buildings are quite distinctive being solid structures with large overhangs. It’s hard to believe that they were built over 100 years ago they blend into the neighbourhood so well.

Chicago marathon

So to the third of three marathons. You might think that would be challenge enough. Just to make it more interesting I left London with a burning throat that then developed into a respiratory infection. Probably a bit run down after two marathons and associated travel. Anne has had a cough for most our time away but I think mine was just an opportunistic bacterial infection. I felt I was getting better but was still a bit apprehensive as to what the race would bring.

I’ll skip the first bit but my intent was to run easily as I did in Berlin and see what transpired. Went through the half in 95 minutes so within a minute of the Berlin time. Things started to go awry shortly after. First hints started at 23 km. For those who have not run marathons this is much, much earlier than is comfortable. 19 km to go and legs starting to hurt. We negotiated a truce for a couple of kms but there was no doubt this was going to be a difficult run. Surprise!

By 30km I was on the edge of all sorts of trouble, cramp? maybe, heel pain? sure. but mainly just no energy. Hit the bottom of the well and it was dry. Then the 3.20 pacers came past and I started to realise that even struggling as I was, I was still capable of a reasonable time. I had to take short walks at times but kept hanging in until finally the last couple of kms came into sight. The 3.25 pacer came past and 38 and then 39 km went by. A sign said 1 mile to go. Checking the watch 3.30 ish seemed the most likely finish. Then an 800m to go sign. Yes, there were miles and kilometer signs all along the course. It is one of the nice things about the major marathons.
A 400m to go sign was very welcome. The equation was 100m per minute to get in under 3.30. Across the line in 3.27. Whew.

So in summary, the three marathons were completed in 3.18 (Berlin), 3.12 (London) and 3.28 (Chicago). All under 3.30. That was my first aim (tick). The London marathon was also the World Age Group Championship so I wanted to perform well there. 3.12 is my sixth fastest ever marathon and my fifth is only one second quicker, so I think I did as well as I could have hoped. (tick) I ended up 33rd in the world in my age group. I’m sore and boy was it tough but I reckon I have given it as good a shake as I can so quietly satisfied.

From Here

Running is done. Now the recovery and getting home. Tomorrow we head to Portland in Oregon to look at craft beer and pinot. We hope to catch up with friends and wind down. Thursday is to San Jose to see the Sharks ice hockey team play the Carolina hurricanes. Again hoping to catch up with some family. Finally, on to L.A. for the flight home. The adventure will be over. I’ll do one more blog from L.A about the week.

Thanks for reading so far.