Chi-Town Half Marathon

Today I met one of my goals that I had set for myself for 2011.  I ran 13.1 miles in Chicago.  What a beautiful city.   The route took us along Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan.  Thank God the sun was shining because the temperature was below freezing!!  After checking in, I still had about 45 minutes before the start of the race.  I just shivered as I waited for the gun to go off.  After getting started running it only took a mile before I thawed out.  I wasn't racing for a specific time and really didn't know how I would do.  I used this race as part of my training journey to my 1st marathon in May.  The previous week I had to run 11 miles and this week was supposed to be a 12 mile long run.  I felt pretty good until the 11th mile marker and then I could really feel that I was slowing down and starting to get really stiff.  I felt like I was hardly moving at all.  I think this was mostly due to the cold weather.  I crossed the finish line in 2:34:40.  Was going to hang around and wait my turn for a massage but the longer I stood around the more sore I was getting.  I just wanted to get back to the hotel and take a long hot shower before we headed back home!!