Last weekend was incredible! Had I never been able to run Boston, the Chicago Marathon is the real deal. The whole event was flawless from start to finish. They know what they are doing. As for my personal race, I decided about 4 miles in that I was going to see how long I could hold a pace that would qualify me for the Boston Marathon. I felt great until about 14-15 when I could feel just a slight tightness in my groin. I was still maintaining pace though! I lasted through about 21 and then decided to shut it down. I never thought that deciding to do that would still yield a great experience. I enjoyed a classic 312 at mile 23 with some frat guys, waving to some relatives and KC fans, and enjoyed a few laughs as I was heckled by some onlookers to keep going. I was breathless for the last half mile of the race. What a finish! Even though I was very far back, the crowd was still involved as if I was in the top ten. I shed a few tears at the finish and got lots of photos of me, a first time Chicago Marathon finisher, healthy and happy (and with a beer in hand). 

My favorite part of the race was Boystown, or up in Lakeview. The entire first half was incredible, actually. West Loop was pretty boring after you passed over the half way mark and after Greektown. I wasn't overly impressed with Chinatown but appreciate all of the enthusiasm and culturally exclusive neighborhoods in the south part of the race. Overall, I would give this race a 11 out of 10. What an experience! I had the best weekend, spending it with my temporary roommates Candice, Valerie and Lynne. Even my parents made the trip from Iowa to cheer me on. I saw them three times on the course and could tell them were proud. This made the entire event extra special.

This was my last marathon for a while. The race was Sunday; it is now Thursday. I am four days deep into my "70.3 training". I've got a long way to go.

On Sunday, October 13th with nervous excitement 45,000 runners will cross the start line at the Chicago Marathon. This year’s race was in high demand evident when Active.com crashed as tens of thousands attempted to register back in February in the first half hour it opened. The Chicago Marathon has been known to be a flat, fast course with unrelenting weather conditions - cold, hot, rainy, windy. This year runners are facing a new challenge, but accepting it with open arms.

The Chicago Marathon, one of the three World Majors held in the US will be the first major since the 2013 Boston Marathon which shook the deepest trenches of the souls of runners from across the globe. As a result of the Boston bombings, Chicago race officials have made plenty of modifications to accommodate an unfortunate modern day threat. It’s easy to get caught up in the inconvenient modifications, but as I see it, they are most welcomed by my fellow runners.

Last April, I was living in New York. I took a bus up to Boston to meet my brother Jason and sister-in-law Dana who were both qualified to Boston Marathon. At the time, sadly, my brother chose to revoke his elite entry and decided his injury was too serious to run on for 26.2 miles. After packet pickup on Sunday, the three of us snuck off the beaten path and found a lovely italian restaurant with no wait. What?! (That doesn't happen.) I’ll keep this location a secret!

I took this photo the night before the race after leaving the restaurant. Not an award winning photo obviously, but this is one of the most cherished photos I've ever taken.

To most people, they see a young couple being goofy and enjoying their time together. What do I see? I see those prized Boston Marathon jackets that are worth more to runners than any medal ever will. I see Dana holding onto Jason with a dependable embrace. I see the way they were smiling and it reminds me that the spirit of the marathon is so innocent but strong and unwavering.

This photo has haunted me ever since I got a phone call from Jason at 2:50pm on April 15th asking me what the heck was going on. I could hear the chaos in the background while I was lounging comfortably in my NYC apartment.  I turned the TV on, but no news station had started covering it yet. My head began to spin as I headed out into the subway for a training session on the Upper East Side. I started to get phone calls and texts from people who thought I had stayed and watched the race. I will never forget that day.

It’s debatable to say that those who ran or watched Boston this year have moved on from the chaos of April 15th. We will undoubtedly celebrate their spirit which has endured all of the physical and mental challenges of the past six months. Sunday’s event will be emotional for all of the right reasons as we toe the line, shoulder to shoulder, amongst this country’s biggest and greatest “fraternity”. 

I look forward to the marathon this weekend. It will be an honor to stand before the start with 45,000 of my closest friends as we cheer each other on throughout the entire 26.2 grueling miles. I encourage those participating to witness the innocence and purity of what you are about to accomplish and the enduring spirit of runners and their friends and families throughout the weekend as we take back and own one of the world's most prized and legendary marathons.

My friend Cole and I before the 2012 Boston Marathon.