Lucky #9...

I write this at 4:45 am, because I can't sleep, either because I'm too excited, too tired, or most likely a combination of the two. Is it possible to be so exhausted that you can't sleep? I had a great marathon in Chicago. I could not have asked for better running weather, and I seized the opportunity. I qualified for Boston! 3:40:30 was my unofficial chip time. That is not a typo, though I am still trying to get my head around it myself. I knocked 12 minutes off my PR. Huh?? Who am I? how did this happen? I can't believe it!

Since my eyes sting, my body hurts and I am fuzzy-headed, I will recap the entire marathon in full in my next post, because it was amazing and interesting and full of new experiences. Until then, I will leave you with some random thoughts that went through my mind before and during the marathon:

• Brrr. Its cold. Perfect!
• Crap, this sweatshirt left lint on my running shirt. I wonder if that will show up in the pictures.
• Why are all of these people running before they get to the start line? They will be sorry.
• Mom C and Pop C, I'm running this for you. (My grandmother Mom C is in her last few days. I said goodbye to her on Tuesday. Damn that was hard... And Pop C passed away in May.)
• Is that the Sears Tower?
• That was a pretty decent 5k. I wonder how long I can keep this pace up.
• Those houses remind me of Europe. Oh, one is for sale! I wonder how much it is...
• I went out too fast. Crap, I'm going to catch grief for going out to fast.
• I want to quit. I can just fake an injury. I've been sick all week, my grandmother is dying and my mom is recovering from major surgery. No one will question it.
• Nah.
• Is that the Sears Tower?
• Holy crap, I just PR'd the half marathon. I'm half way done! That wasn't too bad at all.
• The Houston Marathon crowd is much louder.
• I think I can PR, even come close to BQing.
• Feeling good and strong. Keep it up!
• I want to quit.
• Nah.
• Is that the Sears Tower?
• Where the heck are we?
• Wow, I'm on pace for a BQ.
• Do I need to run an 8 or 9 minute mile pace to BQ? Ugh, I can't think!
• I hope I don't have a heart attack.
• My race pics are going to turn out awful.
• C'mon legs, don't fail me now.
• Cramps! No!! Toe-curling calf cramps! Only two miles left! NO!!
• I wonder if someone will carry me the last two miles. If so, will I still qualify?
• Heck, I'll just take a PR. These cramps are about to do me in.
• Heck no, I did not just run my ass off for 24.5 miles to not qualify now.
• I want to quit.
• NO!
• I'm never running another marathon.
• There's the 26 mile marker!!
  
• There's the finish line!!
  
• Holy crap! I qualified for Boston!! Wait, what???
• Where's the beer and bananas?