Hi guys, it’s me again! I wanted to pop in and share my experience at the Chicago Marathon. For those who don’t know, I work at Bank of America, which sponsors the Chicago Marathon. As an employee, I was guaranteed entry! I was beyond excited because this was my First World Major Marathon. I never thought I’d get the chance to do one since I don’t have a qualifying time, and getting in through charities or other methods can be super competitive.

Training: The Good, The Bad, and The Injuries

Let’s start with my training. Things were going well, and I made it up to 17 miles when my tibial tendinitis flared up. If you remember, this started in 2024 while training for the Miami Marathon in January. Since I’d dealt with this before, I knew what to do, but after three to four weeks, I still wasn’t feeling great. Long story short, I tackled that issue but ended up with Sinus Tarsi Syndrome, which made my ankle feel constantly tight and achy.

Finally, after a few weeks of new PT movements (glute med/calf strengthening), I managed a 20-mile run just a week before the marathon. That was the deciding factor for me—if I couldn’t do 20, I was going to cancel the trip. But I pushed through, and it went well enough to stick to my plan!

Another Obstacle: IUD Drama

On July 1, I got an IUD, and let me tell you, the cramping was next level. I was constantly nauseous and in pain. It got worse when I ran or lifted at CrossFit, so I went back to the doctor. He said extra cramping was “normal” for his marathon runners, but none of them were doing what I was in terms of lifting or CrossFit in addition to the mileage I was running. I decided to stick it out, even though I lost 15-20 pounds in four months because I just couldn’t eat from all the nausea. I was bummed about losing muscle but knew I will be able to gain it back.

 The Race Weekend

Despite the IUD drama and my foot injury, I powered through. And I’m SO glad I did. Huge shoutout to the incredible people around me who inspired me to keep going. My boyfriend and I flew to Chicago on Friday, October 11. We explored the Magnificent Mile, did a little shopping, relaxed at the Oak Street Beach and visited the five-story Starbucks that serves alcohol on the 4th floor—how cool is that? We grabbed espresso martinis and later had an amazing dinner.

Saturday morning, I attended a Bank of America-hosted breakfast event with guest speakers and panelists. It was truly inspiring! Cedric King, a US veteran who lost his legs in combat, runs marathons with prosthetics, and Emily Sisson, a US Olympian who held the women’s record for the Chicago Marathon, spoke at the event. It really got me pumped for the race!

After breakfast, we went to the expo to get my bib and shop around all the awesome vendors that were there. Shortly after we walked to the Navy Pier and did the Architecture Water Tour, which was so cool. The sun was setting, and the views were stunning. We ended the night with my pre-marathon dinner at Quartino, which was the perfect carb-loading spot. I stuck to mocktails all weekend (except for that Starbucks martini) to stay hydrated.

Race Day!

Race day arrived, and the weather was perfect. The Uber got totally lost, so Josh and I speed-walked to Grant Park. My left earbud didn’t charge the night before (of course), but luckily it lasted until mile 22! My corral didn’t start until 8, but the race was delayed, so I didn’t actually get going until around 8:20. I had to pee by mile 2 (marathoner problems), and my foot was a little wonky while warming up, making me nervous that I wouldn’t make it.

Things got better as my foot loosened up, but then my stomach started acting up. I had to make another pit stop at the port-o-potties, which was a first for me during a race. It just goes to show—no matter how many marathons you run, anything can happen on race day.

The BEST part of the race was seeing Josh at all the different mile markers. He ran 15 miles and biked 5 just to make sure he didn’t miss me—now that is love. Hearing his texts read out loud on my Bluetooth kept me going.

The last 400 meters were uphill, which felt like a cruel joke, but I pushed through. The finish line was everything. This race had so many participants that I was never alone on the course. The energy was incredible! I high-fived kids, danced, laughed, cried (because I was totally depleted), but I finished, and that’s all that matters.

Wrapping Up

Thank you all for reading and supporting me through this journey! The Chicago Marathon was such an amazing experience, and I’m beyond grateful I pushed through all the obstacles to get here. Until next time—keep running and chasing your goals!