One WHORiffic Experience!!!

Kim, Diane, Sheri and I appreciate all of your well wishes and support through this experience! It is so nice to know you were tracking us and concerned about us. Sorry it took me awhile to update you, but this is the first chance I've had to get on the computer.

Most importantly, we all enjoyed our experience, none of us have any regrets about going or our performance. The people of Chicago treated us amazingly well, even as the race organizers abandoned us. There is so much to tell, but I'm just going to give a brief summary, or I'll never get this posted!

Race Day:

Up at 5 AM, ready and waliking to the start at 5:45 AM (about a 1.5 mile walk).
In the Trophy Tent by 6:20 or so (we paid $75 each to go to a separate area with food, gear check, and port-a-potties away from the mob). We ate a little and filled up our fuel belts.

7:30 AM we were at the starting line near the 4:45 pace group. Had a lot of fun reading people's shirts, seeing the costumes (one guy wore a testicle suit- no, I'm not kidding!), and chatting with our neighbors.

8:00 AM- heard the national anthem and the race started- it took us over 20 minutes to cross the starting line- we shuffled/jogged across the line and for the first mile or so until it thinned out a bit. It never thinned out enough for you to be comfortable holding your own pace- you were always passing or being passed.

Diane forged ahead, Sheri and I held to our run ten minute, walk one minute plan, and Kim settled in with the 5:30 pace group and got into a comfortable pace of running 3 minutes walking for 2 minutes. She felt good with that group and was sure she could have finished the race with them if allowed.

There was no water or gatorade available for the first six miles!!! ALL OF US CARRIED OUR FUEL BELTS, which saved us, and I do mean literally SAVED us! All of us made detours to public fountians in the park we passed to dunk our hats in water and cool down. They may have had water at the aid stations, but they could not fill cups fast enough to meet the demands of all the runners (and 10,000 runners didn't show up)!

The heat really started to get to all of us, Sheri especially around mile 12. When we detoured so I could use the restroom, she was dehydrated and unable to go. Her hands and face were tingling and I was scared for her. We abandoned our 10/1 plan, were able to rehydrate at an aid station that FINALLY had gatorade, and walked until she felt well enough to switch to a 5/1 running plan.

About mile 15 we heard roumors of the race closing. We didn't know what this meant, thought it was becasue we were slow and they were cutting off the back of the pack, but we knew our pace was within the alotted race time, so were very confused. The police and volunteers didn't have any information, either. We were told that we were going to be redirected at mile 16. Sheri and I sprinted to mile 16 so we would get there before they cut us off, and made it. Then we heard they were cutting people off again around mile 18. When we got there, a confused volunteer and fireman were trying to divert people, but we ignored the cut off and continued on the regular race route. No one knew what was going on- if we were going to get counted as a DNF, if we were going to be allowed to get a medal, nothing. We heard that they were bussing people to the finish line, but Sheri and I never had the opportunity to get on a bus even if we wanted to (which we didn't). From mile 16 on, we were told that the race had been turned into a "fun run"-whatever the heck that means-and we were also told to walk. Diane heard police threatening to forcibly remove people who were running from the course.

Diane started walking from about mile 20, Sheri and I from mile 16. Kim was diverted from the course at about mile 18, and walked to the finish where she was able to cross the finish line and get her medal. Hence, her Boston qualifying time of 4:03, and Diane, Sheri, and my less spectacular finish times of over 5 hours.

Even while we were walking, there were spectators all along the course. They started taking the aid stations down immediately after the race was called, so when Diane, Sheri, and I were walking for over 2 hours, we had no official race support. At times we did get watered down gatorade, and sometimes water taken from the open fire hydrants that were spraying runners along the course. The best support we got was from the people of Chicago who bought water and ice on their own and handed it out to us as we passed. Their support was inspiring. Sheri and I greeted a lot of the spectators we passed, high fived the kids, thanked the adults, danced with the dragons in China town, cheered with the cheerleaders, and just enjoyed the whole experience. Sheri had her name on the front of her shirt and was very popular among the spectators!

Sheri, by the way, is a very fast walker. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with her! We passed more people walking than I have ever passed in a race in my whole life. I will always remember Chicago as being the race where I left people in the dust behind me!

We finished the race running and holding hands 6 hours and 7 minutes after we crossed the starting line.

Kim was in the trophy tent relaxing and getting a massage when we came in, Diane was stripping in front of the wait staff putting dry pants on, and Sheri immediately got in line for a massage. We recovered in the tent until they kicked us out (it closed at 3).

Then, we wlked the 1.5 miles back to the hotel (not a cab to be had in the city). We went to the pool and recovered in the cool water and revived with a shower. Then we dressed to the teeth, went out to P.F. Chang's for a post race celebratory dinner, laughed at all the runners who were there that couldn't walk without a limp- Kim was particulary amused by my post-race gimp, pretty ironic coming from her with her broken clutch, but whatever. I have blisters on the soles of my feet from the ordeal that made it very hard to walk, but otherwise I'm fine.

Our trip home was long, flights cancelled and delayed, luggage lost and recovered, but we made it home in time for me to see my daughter perform in her first choir concert of the year, so all's well.

I'll leave it to Sheri, Kim, and Diane, to post more of their experiences. Diane will have to tell you about her "penis finger" experience, Kim can elaborate on our Segway tour, and Sheri will have to post some of her photos.

Thanks to all of you for your support!!

Benita