I just wanted to drop a line to thank you all, again, for sponsoring my participation on the Children's Memorial Marathon Team. Your support helped bring me, my sister and my brother-in-law huge steps closer to achieving our "challenge" fundraising goal of $3,000 (hint: we're still fundraising, so pass along!). Also, your generous gifts not only raise awareness but also make a difference in the lives of the children and families that come through the doors of Children's Memorial Hospital every day.
I also wanted to tell you how the Chicago Marathon went down. I set my first personal best marathon record (haha!) -- 4:13:03 -- and I can honestly say that I have officially caught the marathoning/running bug. I don't think there is an antedote for this except to keep on pounding the pavement. Now I need to stop sounding like an annoying runner who only talks about running, icing, stretching and more running!
For those of you guys who were cheering on the sidelines on 10-10-10, you know much adrenaline, noise, sun and heat was literally pouring down upon the marathon course. On race day, the temperatures got up to a sweltering 87 degrees, not a cloud formed in the sky, millions of folks poured out along the race course, and I don't think I would take any bit of of the experience back. Even though I did the now-endearing "heat exhaustion shuffle" through Pilsen, Chinatown, and the Comiskey/Illinois Institute of Technology area (roughly Miles 18 through 23), all the cheering, all the training, all your support, each of your messages and all of the kids at Children's Memorial Hospital really helped me push through the hellish moments and enjoy the awfully great points along the marathon course. I slowed down at the last 100 meters of the course to soak the entire "first marathon" experience in; finishing my first marathon was, in sum, surreal and I'm honored that I could do it in support of the work at Children's Memorial Hospital.
I'm not sure what my next race will be just quite yet, but once I figure that out (after I enjoy life as a normal human being who does not have to schedule everything around long training runs), I'll let you know. If any of you guys are headed to Chicago any time soon, be sure to drop us a line. We're more than happy to entertain!
Thanks again, much love and keep the faith,
Neal
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