Race Recap: Kaitlin DiBello at the Chicago Marathon 2021
I was ready. I knew I was ready. I had gone through my most intense training cycle for any marathon. I had run 70 mile weeks, I had run countless 20 milers, I had pushed myself hard through tough workouts. The endurance was there, the experience was there, the speed was there. I knew I was finally going to break 3:00 in Chicago. But there was one little thing I unfortunately didn’t see coming and wouldn’t have control over. The weather.
When we touched down in Chicago I knew it was going to be warm. I normally don’t pay attention to the weather but I became focused on it. It was pouring on Friday and I hoped and prayed it would cool things down. Unfortunately it didn’t, so my coach and I readjusted my game plan. Originally I was to sit on the three hour pacer through the 10k mark but with the weather causing worry, I was not to leave them until after the half. I felt confident in the plan. I knew how to run in the heat and humidity since we had suffered through it all summer. I hydrated throughout the weekend and still felt ready.
I started at 7:30AM and it was warm. Throw away clothes had already been discarded and the reporters were commenting on how wonderfully warm this year was compared to years past. The race director mentioned it was the warmest it had been in 10 years. The pros had already abandoned goals and were coming to backups, but I was sticking to my plan. I was breaking 3. I found the 3:00 pacer and glued myself to him. Wherever he ran I was going to follow. I was getting anxious just like I do before every marathon but I knew I was ready. I hit the start line confident in myself, the plan and my training. The gun went off and the plan was put into place. I could tell right away it was too hot for my liking (it was about 70° when we started). I got nervous and reminded myself of one thing - stick to the plan. I let myself relax a little and breathe in the excitement of the marathon. I felt at home in this distance and I knew what to do, so I refocused on the pacer and let them do the work.
The first half went exactly the way it should have. I hit the half just slightly ahead of the pacer but knew that I could go faster. I felt good, but Mother Nature had other plans. The pacers flew by me around mile 15. I blinked and they were gone. I wanted to cry, all of my hard work had just flown past me. I let myself have 10 minutes to grieve and then refocused. I could still run a PR time and be upset later. Mile 16/17 is when the wheels started to fall off. By this point of the race the sun was out in full blast. There was no shade to be found and I hit the loneliest part of the course as there were very few spectators until we hit Chinatown. I let my mind wander back to NYC and imagined I was on First Avenue where the crowds are rows and rows deep. Each water station became Mile 12 and the volunteers faces became my NBR family. Every mile and step was one closer to the finish.
We hit Chinatown and the crowds came back. By this point there was about 4 miles to go. I personally normally don’t take water after mile 22 but it was too hot. I started grabbing Gatorade and several water cups trying to cool myself down. I was running through hoses that were being sprayed over the runners. Nothing worked. I let my mind wander again, this time it focused on every spectator being someone who had trained with me this summer. In an unknown city without my normal support crew, strangers faces became theirs. I was finishing this no matter how long it took. By mile 24 I knew I wasn’t breaking my PR. The plan was to refocus and just get through this next mile.
I fought my way to a 3:09. It was 75° and humid when I finished. Not the time I wanted, but it’s still my second best time and I’m proud of my fight. After I gathered myself and found my stuff, I let myself have 2 minutes to be upset. Then it was back out onto the course to watch my dad finish (he ran a 4:20).
Looking back there were some high points:
1. I still ran my second best marathon time and re-qualified for Boston
2. I got to get back to racing a distance I truly love
3. I was in the best shape of my life
4. I got to experience a marathon in a different state
5. I got to watch my dad finish potentially his last marathon
6. I still love this sport and this distance. I will break 3 (who knows, I am running NYC in a few weeks) and I will return to Chicago to get revenge on it.
It’s ok that goals change and sometimes we don’t succeed. As my coach tells me it’s not a failure it’s a step forward in the right direction and something we learn from. What I learned is I’m tough, strong and love running the marathon. NYC I’m excited to run you on Nov 7.
