The 2019 Chicago Marathon Race Report

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What a day!

If you ran the 2019 Bank of American Chicago Marathon, congrats! (And if you spectated, thanks!) We would love to read about your experience in the comments. This article will include an overall report on the Chicago Marathon, a brief recap on our marathon prep and race experience, and a little about what’s to come.

atozrunning.com Chicago Marathon Race Report

The Bigger Story: Chicago Marathon by the numbers

Great weather and a fast course set the stage for history making performances.

Although Chicago was a bit windy (go figure!), the course and the temps were pretty ideal for the marathon runner. At about 40 degrees throughout the race, it would be unlikely for a runner to overheat or dehydrate as quickly, so stunning performances were obtained by many beyond just the elite field.

(Major shout out to Chicago Marathon spectators as the conditions were less than ideal for standing and watching the race! Here are a few of our people…)

Here are some of the incredible facts surrounding this year’s race:

2019 Chicago Marathon Race Recap By the Numbers 
atozrunning.com
  • 1 Women’s Marathon World Record shattered by Brigid Kosgei of Kenya in a time of  2:14:04 (over a minute beneath Paula Radcliffe’s previous record).
  • 1 man and 2 women in the wheelchair competition qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic games for team USA.
  • 1st time 10 US men have run sub 2:12:00 in the same race.
  •  The top 3 male runners posted the closest top 3 finishes in Chicago’s history with just 3 seconds separating them. 
  • 6 US men and 4 US women ran the new Olympic Standard (in spring of 2019, they announced a significant change to the qualification standards and process).
  • Over 40,000 marathon participants.
  • The course went through 29 Chicago neighborhoods.
  • Estimated 1.7 million spectators. 
  • More than 100 countries represented.
  • All 50 states represented.
  • 29 US men ran the US Olympic Marathon Trials Standard (2:19:00).
  • 45 US women ran the US Olympic Trials Standard (2:45:00), including our very own Andi Ripley!

(Above information was synthesized from the results page and the Chicago Marathon press release.)

In our podcast we give a little more commentary on a few of the elite performances, like Kosgei’s record and an impressive run by Parker Stinson, a local connection. You can listen here or find it on any major podcast platform: “A to Z Running”.

atozrunning.com Chicago Marathon Race Report

Every Marathon Story Begins Before the Start Line.

Andi’s Preparation

Everyone loves a little “comeback kid” story, right? It feels weird to tell my story because it’s a bit unreal. Truth be told, it wasn’t coming back. It was more like lunging further than I’d ever been.

Every marathon story begins before the start line.
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Here are a few words about my experiences that may ring true for others out there. Be encouraged to pursue levels that may seem previously impossible!

Be encouraged to pursue levels that may seem previously impossible!
atozrunning.com
  • I was not an NCAA athlete.
  • My best times are just now arriving in my 30s (despite running competitively since middle school).
  • I did not have “fit” pregnancies. (I wanted to but had issues.)
  • I’m injury prone (more and more as I age).
  • I currently have bi-lateral hip labral tears (they don’t heal).
  • My Chicago Marathon training was shortened because I came off of two months of zero training (including no cross training) because of my second labrum tear.

My training was abnormal for a person trying to get an Olympic Trials Qualifier. I ran minimum mileage and supplemented very little with cross training. My highest mileage week was 66 miles. I did not run anything faster than steady state effort (6:17-6:45 depending on the day) until the final weeks of marathon training when I was fine tuning.

clams
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The main element of my training that I would like to highlight is not glamorous but was defining: my physical therapy exercises (thanks, Adam). I focused on mobility and activation (still need to dive into the strength piece better). There were days my pre-run routine took longer than the runs themselves. Getting my body ready to run was more crucial than my paces or workouts.

I ran a 5k PR as my first true fast effort. The race was my first tempo. I ran 17:25 feeling strong until the last step. Weeks later I ran a poorly executed half marathon in 1:21:42, but it was still a half marathon PR.

Coming into the marathon, I hadn’t quite seen enough to give me confidence that I would be able to hit the standard.

Zach’s Preparation

Runner
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It’s pretty simple, here. I decided later than I would have liked to go all-in for Chicago, so did everything I could to build a heavy base and rely on strong aerobic conditioning. 

I struggled against comparing my preparation to my 2015 marathon debut (also Chicago) when I was building off both the strongest season of racing of my life (2014) as well as the most successful block of training I had ever strung together (in 2015, I averaged 100-120 miles/week without injury for almost 6 months straight).

You can see why it was hard.

Dads who run
atozrunning.com

For all of the reasons adults working full-time with a spouse, two kids, house, and all the other important things in life share, I no longer find it practical (or desirable) to train in such a manner. Still, with the marathon looming, I felt the temptation to pile on the miles, and after drifting over 100 miles a couple weeks in a row, my body started breaking down (lack of sleep, overwork, etc.).

I learned my lesson, but it was a stark reminder that 2019 was not 2015.

Chicago Marathon Report atozrunning.com

Our Race Story

Andi’s Race

I think we will soon dedicate an entire blog post on race week jitters. I experienced them more than I ever have, because I cared more than I ever have. Zach can attest to the fact I would often zone out, forcing him to repeat himself numerous times during a conversation. My anxiety was razor sharp, something else to which Zach can attest. We’ll spare you the details.

Here are a couple ways I combated the jitters:

Combat race day jitters
atozrunning.com
  • Stretching
  • Yoga
  • Meditation/prayer
  • Reading
  • Gaining perspective
  • Encouraging others

Marathon morning I noticed I forgot my watch when leaving the hotel. I ran my previous two races without a watch, so I decided (with Zach’s help) to leave it behind.

I did very little jogging before the race. Very gently, I did some drills and a little bit of running in the park area where the American Development tent was located.

When the gun went off, I felt like we were all moving in   s l o w m o t i o n. I know we actually weren’t, since my first mile was about 6 minutes, but it felt like it. The energy of the city and the race was electrifying. After about 3 miles I settled into a group. By mile 6 I found out I was in the 6:10/mile pace group. This was a much faster pace than my 6:15-18/mile goal. It was still worth running with a pack and this gave me “time in the bank” which helped my confidence concluding the marathon. I also noticed the cheering was better during the times with other ladies. As a unit, spectators saw our strength. 

Mile 16 my quad started screaming. The night before the race I reamed on my really sore right quad. I was almost crying on the foam roller (y’all can relate, right?). It was too aggressive. If you want a take away, please include this- don’t roll so hard you cry the night before a race. You are doing damage.  If there is one thing we practice over and over, it’s the motion of the lift of the knee and the push off. Unfortunately for me, I had to start thinking about lifting my knee on my right side during the race. 

Andi Ripley 2:43:41 Chicago Marathon
Photo credit: MarathonFoto

Mile 20 rolls around I am really questioning if I can finish. 10k seems like forever at this point. I could feel my legs failing me. Putting one foot in front of another was a struggle. I saw the clock and realized that I had time in the bank and if I was willing to suffer, I was going to achieve my goal.

Suffer I did as I shuffled up the hill to the finish. Praising God in my suffering became my purpose in the pain.

At the end I had charlie horses and a pained smile because I knew I had made it in Olympic Trials Qualifying time. I crossed the line 2:43:41 ahead of the 2:45 standard.

Zach’s Race

There’s really not much to say here. I joined forces with a friend in the running world, Joe Niemiec, to execute our conservative race plan. Thankfully, we found a solid chunk of guys all playing the same game and latched on for 13 miles.

As the marathon goes, those 13 miles were about the easiest I’d run all season, but we all know that it means little to feel good for 13 of 26.2.

Zach Ripley 2:22:09 Chicago Marathon
Photo credit: MarathonFoto

Around the halfway banner, the group’s pacing began to waver significantly. One of our number broke off to take on the beast alone, but I wasn’t ready to ratchet up yet. Instead, I found myself hanging out at the front of a dwindling crew, taking the wind and setting the pace.

Admittedly, aside from the wind, I tend to prefer it that way, so it was a comfortable place for me. For a bit, at least. I actually found myself getting a little too excited for a couple miles and tried to calm it down a bit in order to save as much as possible for the final 10k.

You see, I’ve been there before, feeling good at mile 18 wondering just how fast I’m going to run. Unfortunately, just like the last 3 times, the marathon proved fickle and fiendish.

At 20, I committed to the final push, knowing that to run 2:19, I needed just a little extra. Two miles later, the floor fell out from under me.

The last four miles were a death march through every step of physical discomfort and its accompanying stage of grief.

2:22:09 was indeed my second fastest marathon (of four), but that’s less than comforting half a mile from the finish, watching the OTQ tick by.

Thankfully, though, that’s not how the story ends. And this is perhaps the greatest lesson I’ve learned in my 20 years of racing and competing. Failure is essential to deepening our connection to God, others, and self.

Zach and Andi Ripley of atozrunning.com

I do not downplay success but rather elevate failure. Success, such as Andi’s incredible achievement, is always to be commended and celebrated, especially when hard-won. But failure is the fallow ground for the seeds of empathy and shared struggle. In every success, I am grateful for the gift undeserved that it represents. In every failure, I am grateful for the shared suffering I glimpse in such a small way.

Chicago Marathon Report atozrunning.com

Our next chapter?

Zach and Andi Ripley of AtoZrunning

Andi:

Recovery comes first, then I will begin training for the 2020 US Olympic Trials in February. I may pop into a half marathon along the way, but the focus will remain on the trials. My priorities will continue to be strengthening, mobilizing, and activating in order to remain healthy with these two labrum tears. Here are some of my focuses for strengthening. Besides that, life will remain the same- chasing after my two boys and traveling for work!

Zach:

I just ran a marathon. What makes you think I ever want to run another step again? Okay. Hyperbole aside, I do actually struggle with a kind of post-marathon depression every time I run one, so for the next week or so, I will step away from thoughts about future running and spend this time rehabilitating and enjoying some rest. I’ll have more for you next week!

Covering 26.2 miles of earth is difficult for most humans. How we overcome, how we process, how we fight through the struggles throughout the journey can grow us. We talk more about the struggle in our podcast.

7 replies
  1. Carly Parker-Plank
    Carly Parker-Plank says:

    I am so happy for you two! Both admirable accomplishments. And Andi, your journey overcoming injuries is a constant source of inspiration for me. Congrats on your OTQ! Let me know if you want to go for a run on the WPT after your recovery period :). I am also really enjoying your podcast—it has entered into my weekly rotation of running podcasts.

    Reply
    • Andi Ripley
      Andi Ripley says:

      Thank you, Carly! I appreciate your support and encouragement! I would love to run. Thanks also for listening. If you ever have any feedback or ideas, we would love to hear it.

  2. Suzanne Fedewa
    Suzanne Fedewa says:

    Thanks for posting this, so I can hear the whole story. I can’t even imagine putting my body through that much torture, and I like to run. Congrats to both of you for an amazing race and Andi for your OTQ!

    Reply
    • Zach Ripley
      Zach Ripley says:

      I seem to have a hard time imagining the torture as well… which explains why I keep doing it to myself… selective memory? Survival amnesia?
      Anyway… thanks!

  3. Lynne
    Lynne says:

    Interesting. I identify more with Zach than I thought I would. Aside from the training part (I planned on my race and set specific time goals), my race went pretty much the same. Including the 18-20 mile euphoria. I actually stepped up my pace a bit to try to stay on my 1st time goal pace. (I had two goals – one stretch and one more realistic.) But my legs turned to lead about mile 22 and I just had to finish with what I could get out of them.

    Great run both of you! Sorry the cards weren’t dealt for you this time Zach. Andi, I’ll be watching and praying for you, your training, and your race in February!

    Reply
    • Andi Ripley
      Andi Ripley says:

      Thanks for sharing your struggle too, Lynne! Marathon is just so difficult things can turn one way or the other in the final miles. I am still amazed you got a PR despite the difficult conditions in Quad Cities. Thanks for following the journey. We love following yours too!

    • Zach Ripley
      Zach Ripley says:

      Right on, Lynne! If you’re doing it right (like YOU did… not me!), that 20mi euphoria is often indicative of a successful race in the making (in my case, it was a false positive…).

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