Caitlin and I just returned from out hotel after completing the <a href=”http://www.chicagohalfmarathon.com/” target=”_blank”>Chicago Half Marathon</a>. <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1182279953&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=” target=”_self”>We have been training for the past three months</a> for this and our performance really showed. We weren’t sure what our pace really was going to be since we hadn’t run the 15k race as training called for, but based on some recent runs we knew around an eight minute mile pace was attainable.<br/><br/>We crossed the start line about a minute in to the race with the 1:45 pace group. After four or so miles with them, we began to pick it up a bit and didn’t look back. The entire race we were passing people, which does great things for your mind… We clearly trained well and knew what we were capable of.<br/><br/>Around the tenth mile, both of us started to feel a bit woozy. It was Caitlin’s “we only have 5k left” that really got me back on track <img src=”http://www.iammike.org/cutenews/data/emoticons/wink.gif”/> Yes, we ran together… just as we had trained. I wouldn’t have done the training without her, and I couldn’t have done the race without her… Being just about as fast as each other really rocks.<br/><br/>With a mile to go, she dropped her pace by a few seconds as I soldiered on. I crossed the finish line with absolutely nothing left at 1:43:18 (7:52.7 pace) and she was a few second back in 1:43:28 (7:53.6 pace); I think she just backed off for my ego. <img src=”http://www.iammike.org/cutenews/data/emoticons/tongue.gif”/> Regardless, PRs for both! It was my first so that’s by default, but she conquered her previous by ~45 seconds. Hurray!<br/><br/>Chicago has been a really good trip… I’ll update the post below to reflect what we’ve done over the past few days.<br/><br/>The endorphins are kicking in to high gear right now… this feels great.<br/><br/>Gripes: A post by me wouldn’t be a post by me without negativity. My first gripe would be that the mile markers were not at the mile marks. With the pace group (a guy trained to hit perfect splits), I clocked a 7:45 followed by an 8:30 for the first two… Uhhh, yeah, no. I know the difference between those two paces; like night and day. My second grip is slow people who don’t manage to see the signs all over about where they should start. Come on overweight lady who plans on walking… Get out of my way… That got old really fast, but luckily those people were well behind us after a few miles. They’re just plain dangerous…<br/><br/>All in all a well run event. I couldn’t thank all the volunteers enough… If you happen to be one, thanks again!<br/><br/>My other posts regarding the race: <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1167765887&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=” target=”_self”>New Years Resolution</a>, <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1177606905&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=” target=”_self”>Planning</a>, <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1187284678&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=” target=”_self”>Pace Talk</a>.<br/><br/><span style=”font-weight: bold;”>Update</span><br/>Results are up! I finished in 715th place (out of 10118), was the fastest Collins, 22nd fastest Michael, and the 2nd fastest from Arlington. Caitlin was 739th place, fastest Kinkead, fastest Caitlin, and fastest female from Arlington. I also beat her by 11 seconds officially. Hoooahh! <br/><br/>They do a little age/sex/time calculator to give you a sort of grade. They say 60 is local-class, 70 is regional-class, 80 is national-class, 90 is world-class, and 100 is world record level. Caitlin scored a 63.6, and I got a 57.3. I suppose that means that she wins <img src=”http://www.iammike.org/cutenews/data/emoticons/neutral.gif”/><br/><br/><span style=”font-weight: bold;”>Update #2</span><br/>I think they’ve finished with the results; age group, sex, and split results are up. I was the 563rd male and 118th in my age group. Caitlin? 159th female, 54th in age group. Our halfway split was 52:49, which was 1153/1154 best. Couple that with our finish times and place and I closed in a 50:29 (7:42 pace), Caitlin in a 50:40 (7:44 pace), and we beat over 400 people in the second half of the race… I told you we were booking it! Hurray for training right and knowing your pace/ability! <span style=”font-style: italic;”><span style=”font-style: italic;”></span></span><br/>