Chicago Marathon 2023: A Gritty Back-of-the-Pack Journey
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- Опубликовано: 19 окт 2023
- Join me in this raw and real recap of my experience at the Chicago Marathon 2023. Against all odds, I decided to take on this incredible challenge despite not having run for 5 to 6 weeks prior. With no option to defer, I embraced the daunting task of running from the back of the pack.
In this video, I'll share the highs and lows of my journey, from the pulsating energy at the start line to the moments of doubt that crept in as the miles progressed. You'll witness the sheer determination it took to push through the physical and mental barriers, fighting every step of the way.
Witness the breathtaking sights of Chicago, the camaraderie among fellow runners, and the unwavering support of the cheering crowd that kept me going. As I recount the struggle, the pain, and the triumph, you'll see the true essence of resilience and the power of the human spirit.
This isn't just a race recap; it's a testament to the strength that lies within all of us when we refuse to give up, no matter the circumstances. Whether you're a seasoned runner or someone looking for inspiration, this video will remind you that the journey is never about the finish line, but the unwavering spirit that propels us forward.
Let’s be friends:
IG: breakfastofmarathons
As someone who is currently sitting in my bed binge watching marathon videos… you better be so proud of yourself for getting out there and getting it done!!! YOU are amazing and inspiring ❤
Haha. I do a lot of sitting in bed binge watching marathon videos too. 🤣 Thank you for watching and supporting.
“Forward is a pace.” Can we please put that on a shirt? I didn’t know how bad I needed to hear that. 😢 Thank you.
Yessss 100% can put it on a shirt. I definitely need to hear it sometimes too. ❤️
Thank you for sharing the back of the pack perspective. I ran Chicago too! Same corral and beat the cutoff time by 15 minutes. I know how forgotten we can be but you did great!!!! Awesome job!!!
You’re so welcome and thank you for watching! Congratulations to you on your race!
What was your strategy @ooshkey?
I just did my first marathon in under 5 hrs at age 50. HOWEVER, your message @11:58 , where you talk about how things are back of pack is HIGHLY MOTIVATIONAL. Where people are leaving, not many cheering, cleaning has already begun...It needs MUCH MORE determination and courage to do it. You go, girl...loved that part. Sent it to my local running group.
Thank you so much and a big congratulations to you both n your first!
I just wanted to say that I am touched by your effort and dedication to finish the marathon. You are an inspiration to people out there.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you saying that and I appreciate you watching. ❤️
I was right there with you at the back of the pack, actually made it in to the video at 10:05 I'm in the orange jersey kissing my wife. Thanks for the video, great seeing it from our perspective at the back of the pack! Congrats on the finish! PS i hate that pass car! I've had nightmares about it!
Oh I absolutely LOVE that you made it into the video! ❤️❤️ That pass car was the worst, staying ahead of it gave me anxiety hearing “move to the sidewalk” over and over but having it pass was also anxiety inducing.
I appreciate SO MUCH these videos from my fellow back of the packers. I'm about to start training for my first full marathon, and you give me hope and inspire me. THANK YOU for posting this and being honest about your experience.
You are so welcome and thank you for watching. Good luck on your first marathon training, just remember to have fun and enjoy the process. There is absolutely nothing like your first marathon finish line. ❤️
Your determination is AMAZING. It takes so much to push through without the energy of the crowds… I hope you’re forever proud of yourself for this!!! ❤
Thank you so much!
My application for Chicago 2024 got selected and i am sure I watched ALLLLLL the videos trying to get a feel for what to expect. Im not sure you realize - but this is the best chicago marathon video in terms of what to expect. There are vids about the course preview that dont do half the job you did, mostly because they go through it too fast and you end up having to watch stuff over and over and over (and maybe that's what they aim for , now that i think of it). Yours was nicely paced. Because you were out there so long with your phone I really got a good feel for what it looks like. And grrrl, way to tough it out. Mind blown. Congratulations!
First, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you so much, your comment really means a lot to me. I really wanted to show the down and dirty of the back of the pack and the perseverance (and sometimes sheer stubbornness) it takes to finish. I also want to make my race videos in a way that I would want to see them, I agree that a lot of the other videos are too fast or the creators are not like me (not saying that is a bad thing, just that they’re faster and that’s not relatable to me at this point). I hope you have the best time in Chicago and happy training! 🤗❤️
Hey I was part of the "Back-of-the-Pack" crew too! I was kinda hoping to see myself captured in your video but no dice. Although, I did recognize a couple of people so maybe I was close by off camera. I can sympathize with all you went through. Your thumbnail says you "do dumb things"...wrong you did an amazing thing! We did it!💪
Awww thank you and congratulations to you on your marathon. I guess I do dumb amazing things. lol. 😂
I can’t tell you enough how incredibly tough you are mentally. I am currently fighting through foot injuries. Your video gives me hope that I could overcome this setback and be ready for my 2024 London Marathon.
You absolutely have time to be ready! Foot injuries are the worst though I went through those for a long time in 2021 and 2022. So I quite literally feel your pain. Wishing you so much luck in your training and your London marathon that is a dream race of mine.
Thank you for sharing your story! I’m sick in bed right now and thinking about a half marathon I have next month in Vegas . . . But forward is a pace. Thank you for showing how admirable the grit is to keep going when the crowds leave. So proud of you for finishing and sending you all the party emojis because you deserve to be celebrated! 🎉🥳🏃♀️👑🎂🥂🍸🍹🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Thank you so much! I hope you recover quickly. Have so so much fun in Vegas, running a half there is on my bucket list! Forward is definitely a pace. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Thank you so much for this video. I can’t tell you how much you’re helping people ❤
Thank you so much for watching and thank you for your kind words. If I can help just one person, my mission has been accomplished. 😊
So proud of you!! You go girl!!
Thank you! 😊
Thanks for sharing your perspective. You showed grit. You’re right how NYC is more supportive for back of the pack runners.
Thank you! There is definitely nothing like the NYC marathon. It remains my favorite marathon to date. 🙃
the fact that you even considered doing it, let alone doing it makes you a superhero. knowing your body is vital. digging deep and finishing the beast, absolute superstar!
Aw thanks! I suppose being stubborn also helps lol.
Fantastic effort. A real show of determination and grit. 👏
Thank you! 😊
Wow I'm so impressed with your determination! No matter if you ran it under 3 hrs or over 6. You both ran the same distance!
Thank you!
BOOM CONGRATS!
Thank you!
Hi! Got recommended this video (probably as I'm training for my first marathon as a slow runner) and I just wanted to say a huge WELL DONE!!! Us slow runners are on the road for much longer so it's really impressive to go out there and get it done! In April I hope to film my own back of the pack marathon video... if I make it to the starting line 😅 Also, subbed 😁
HOW EXCITING! Your first marathon! There is nothing like your first, enjoy it.
Thanks for the sub, your support means a lot.
Omg...I am so proud that you finished. My biggest fear is being last. You made me see that it's not the metal, it's about how YOU feel. Thank you. Rachelle in Seattle
Thank you! Don’t be afraid to be last, last is better than never trying at all! ❤️❤️
Congratulations! What a great effort.
Thank you!! Thank you for always being a supporter!
Thank you for making a video from the back of the pack, I’ve run 3 marathons now Sydney/Hobart & Brisbane and gotta say I’ve had two great back of the pack experiences with the marathon volunteers and crowds and 1 horrid one and we had a golf cart as the pass car and a guy on a scooter just telling us we were too slow and to not bother as we missed the cut off for them to reopen the roads (Brisbane) so I fully understand the feeling of doubt and defeat it brings with it but how good is it to go through all that and still finish that marathon!
I’m running the Chicago Marathon this year 2024 flying all the way over from Brisbane Australia for it and I’m so excited! And I’ll be back of the pack there too I’m sure haha
Sydney is on my bucket list, I hear it’s a great race (and in line to become the 7th WMM)! Ugh, I wish that races would stop being jerks if they will let you finish on the sidewalk and give you a medal. Back of the pack are out there covering the same distance as everyone else and out for longer. Congratulations on getting into Chicago, I hope you will have time to do some sightseeing, it’s a neat city.
@@breakfastofmarathons9777exactly! And yes this year is the last year of its application process so we shall know September this year if it’s added next year as the 7th and then all those 6 star finishes would need to come down under to get that 7th
@Flyingdave88 then I assume they will have to go to a lottery system at that time too, which will make it harder like the rest of the majors.
Congratulations! You deserved this so much!
Thank you!
I am now a huge fan! Congratulations--nothing was given, you suffered, but you did it!! I was there as a volunteer in the early shift, but now I want to aid runners in your position. Thank you for sharing your race!
Thank you for volunteering and thank you for your kind words. ❤️
Great, and remind me to be on your side if you ever commit to something, because you finished a World-Major marathon by not even planning to be there and then maybe running half of it!! Also, I did choke up a little bit seeing lack of support you and fellow runners received towards the end. I am happy that although all that racer support evaporated, you did receive your deserved medal!! Once again thanks for sharing and letting us experience it. @@breakfastofmarathons9777
Congratulations on finishing!!! You are so courageous and give hope to those of us who are planning to run a marathon this year ❤❤ Thank you for sharing this
Thank you! I wish you all the best for your marathon! ❤️
Hotel Staff: "Why are there two rolls of toilet paper missing?" B.O.M.: "🤔..." Very funny! Congratulations to you!
Haha. It’s 💯 how that went. 🤣🤣
You were in the race, that reason alone is already awesome. Congratulation!!!
Thank you! 😊
I finished the atlanta marathon in 6:29. The course time limit was 6:30. I was so alone at the very end that I was literally getting lost in the last few miles... having to figure out the course on my own. I'd come into water stations, and I'd be the only person, but the volunteers there would read my name on my bib and cheer like crazy for me. I guess that's what it also would feel like being at the very front? Lol. They were trying to move me to the sidewalk in my last like 500 metres, but technically the course was still open. It's really annoying and feels unfair when they do that and you're still within the time limit. :-/
Yes! I hate that some races are so dismissive of the back of the pack, but wonderful volunteers help ease the frustration. I wouldn’t have moved to the sidewalk if I were in the time limit, I would have pointed out that I had x amount of time left.
Congratulations on your finish! 🎉
@breakfastofmarathons9777 yeah you're right. I didn't have the energy to even talk, though. Kudos to you for vlogging the whole thing! 💪❤️ There were police in the last mile of my race asking me to move, but no race staff or volunteers, so I wasn't really sure what else to do. I was in front of the sweep though, but there weren't many of us and we were spaced very far apart. From what I can see in your footage, your race seemed to have a lot more runners still hanging on at the back of the pack than the race I was in.
real life super hero....not many, certainly not I, have this kind of physical and mental strength!
Thank you!
Yaaaay you did it!!!
Watched and enjoyed your video from Tokyo!! Well done to you and thanks for sharing your day with us!! Would love to try Chicago some day!
Thank you for watching! I would love to try Tokyo one day, it’s definitely on my bucket list.
Superhero ❤❤❤❤
thank you! ❤️
Good job, thank you for the eye opening POV for those in the back of the pack.
Thank you for watching!
Congratulations
So proud of you. You are an inspiration
Thank you!
Well done - amazing determination x
Thank you! ❤️
This is lovely. Truly. Rock on.
Thank you!! 😊
I was rooting for you the whole time! Congratulations!🎉
Aw, thank you so much!!
I have run 5 marathons, chicago included. Of all the marathons you have run, which is your favorite?
NYC marathon is my favorite, hands down. After that probably a tie between Marine Corps marathon in DC and Disney World Marathon.
You do dumb things so I don't have to? Well, I didn't get that memo :P Look at you fighting here and turning it around in a short time to finish Dopey. Congrats again cause it's all forever!
We’re rockstars!! 💜💚❣️
Inspiring stuff, congratulations!
Thank you!
❤ you kept going! Congratulations 🎉
Thank you! ❤️❤️
Well done!!!! Smashed it 💪
Thanks!! 🙏
🎉👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Its so nice to watch someone who is also doing a galloway. 🏃🏻🚶🏻♂️🏃🏻
Galloway has gotten me through some tough races for sure. RunDisney races are all about the method, down to the pacers.
I get agitated watching videos like this. 16+ miles of whining when there’s people who didn’t get a bib and then have to watch this… 🤯
I’m sorry you feel that way… 🤷🏻♀️
You obviously missed the point of the video as I raised A LOT of money for charity and couldn’t defer my bib because that’s Chicago’s rule. A week before this race I couldn’t even walk but felt that it would less insulting to people who donated to my charity to try.
If this happens again, I’ll just let them know that you don’t approve and I won’t even try.
@@breakfastofmarathons9777 it is what it is 🤷🏻♂️
Not all marathons will be rose-tinted celebrations, but if you saw this as whining, you didn't see the same video I did. Some days just suck. When you're at the back of the pack, watching over your shoulder to make sure there's at least someone still behind you, seeing the flashing lights gaining on you as trash and runners are being swept off the course, the cheers are gone and your legs are cramping up, and you have to strategically change your goal and mindset on each mile in order to keep going... It's not whining. It's an unfiltered view of the truth that some people prefer to turn their heads from.
If you are agitated, look away. You didn't "have to watch this" as you say. No one forced it on you. And if you didn't get a bib for this race, stop whining about it (the irony astounds). There are countless of other races you could have signed up for.
@TheJathys thank you, this was very well said and exactly what I was trying to show. When I decided to run, the only recaps I could find were from the mid-pack and faster runners. I want to show people that it’s ok to keep going.