2017 Chicago Marathon

I will summarize the race as best as possible.
I trained for the marathon with the goal of running 3:15 or better.
my mile peek per week was 70 miles per week.
Did all the right things the day before the race, stayed hydrated and ate plenty of carbs. Morning of the race, woke up extra early, ate bread, fruit, and made myself go number two so I wouldn't have to go during the race (it worked).

Race time.
In the coral, i went and stand next to the 3:15 pacer. Race begins, first 7 miles nothing to report, felt great, mile 8, had to use the port-a-potty, had to pee. After peeing, had to speed up to catch the group, catching up was no problem. For the first 8-9 miles the pace felt boring, wanted break away from the group, but did not. That would have been a disaster.
Reached the half way point, was still feeling great, only thought "fucking marathon is long".

At every water station i drank Gatorade
After mile 16 and every mile after that, I poured water on my head and legs. As a precaution, to prevent over heating, not that it was a hot day.


From half way point to mile 16, everything continued to go as planed, felt strong and right on pace. I made the decision that if at mile 18 was still feeling great, I was going to break away from the 3:15 group. Come mile 18, i break away, and it felt good, but before reaching mile 20, the group caught up. I thought "ah fuck, and i slowing down ? or did they pick it up?"
Well, it did not matter, at mile 20, i broke away from the group, for the second time, and this time they did not catch up. After mile 20 i just kept going, did not look back, and at no point did i ever feel like i was going to hit the wall, and i did not. Sure, on the last 3 miles i was in some pain, knees, a little bit on the hips, but not enough to slow me down.

I thought the weather was pleasant, for me everything came together just about perfectly. Ran 3:14.06

poorly written but i hope it was good enough to read.

Efrain