"Run like a girl, or....

...how to tutu for 26.2.

"Running for a Cure"
Thing #2
Chicago Marathon
Chicago, Illinois

Yep,  that's my pretty, pretty ballerina.  AKA Thing #2.  Chasse'-ing her way thru the Chicago Marathon.  Donning purple for the Alzheimer's ALZ STARS.  Hate to tell her that this is the best photo I got of her.  Why?  Because honestly, it's HARD trying to photograph your daughter in the midst of 45,000 other runners.  AND...

"Taking our Eyes Off the Prize"
Iphone

(My favorite sign of the whole race..."Toenails are for sissies"...yeah, ya gotta be a runner to appreciate that one!)

...I MIGHT have been goofing around with my BFF getting our photo taken when she ran right by me another time.  Seriously, take your eye off a 26.2 mile race for one freakin' second and the purple tutu passes you by.  What are the odds?

But I got some pretty good photos of OTHER parents' children.  That should count for something.  So while I show you a bunch of photos of people I don't know, I'm gonna share a bit about the runner I DO know.  The one who when she was in high school, couldn't run a mile to the local diner after swim practice with her team mates.  Yep folks, she couldn't run a mile even with mounds of homestyle diner quality AND quantity of bacon, hash, pancakes, waffles, syrup, and desserts luring her from the finish line.  Considering we are German...it was kinda embarrassing.

There are many reasons runners choose to subject themselves to a marathon.  All ages and ethnicities. Some might be for the sheer joy of running (I do not comprehend), competition, self imposed goals, personal challenges and obstacles, to raise awareness, to support a cause close to their heart.

Thing #2 ran the Chicago Marathon for a variety of those reasons.  And in doing so, she  joined forces with 200+ other runners who dedicated their efforts to the Alzheimer's Association as part of the ALZ STARS team.  As a whole, the ALZ STARS raised close to $400,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. Thing #2 was responsible for almost $4,000 of that amount.  I couldn't help but think my Pops was smiling down at her all 26.2 miles of the way.  And let me tell ya, Pops must have pulled some strings up in heaven cause he provided his grand daughter (and her purple tutu) with one glorious Autumn day for little jaunt thru Chicago.  

"L is for Loud"
Chicago, Illinois

Thing #2's LOUD contingent of 8 navigated around Chicago's neighborhoods via the 'L' trying to catch up with her.  Quite the atmosphere when you have the LOUD contingents of 45,000 runners navigating right along with you AND their gazillion signs!

"Sign Language"
Chicago Marathon
Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Marathon wind's its 26.2 miles thru 29 unique neighborhoods that create Chicago's rich culture, history and beauty.  By far my favorite section of the marathon was when it passed thru Chinatown.  The largest in the Midwest with 8,000 residents within it's 10 block radius.  The colors, the designs,the atmosphere were electric.  Of course, Chinatown comes at the 22 mile mark...so Thing #2 wasn't quite as enamored with it.

"A Run Through Chinatown - Mile 22"

Chicago Marathon

Chicago, Ilinois

The last place we got to see Thing #2 tutu her way thru the 45,000 was at mile 25.  That's as far as us non-runners were allowed to go.  As a result of the Boston Marathon bombing, the Chicago Marathon closes off the beginning and the end of the marathon to spectators.  Which altho understandable, still really sucks!

"Mile 25"

Chicago Marathon

Chicago, Illinois

Hated not being there at the end.  I mean seriously, our group of 8 had put in LOTS of time and energy too. We were exhausted. A toe cramp here and there was duly noted and lamented. Would have been nice to have been cheered on at the end too!  Altho, I'm sure Thing #2 would have appreciated our exhaustion as much as she appreciated Chinatown!

"Run Like a Girl"
Thing #2
Chicago Marathon
Chicago, Illinois

So here are some final stats:

3:34.22 finish time (Boston Marathon qualifying time)

5,019th out of 45,000 overall

1,057th out of women

1st woman to cross the line for the ALZ STARS

3rd to cross the line for the ALZ STARS overall

Close to $4,000 raised for the Alzheimer's Association

Why do runners subject themselves to the rigors of a marathon?  Many, many reasons.  For Thing #2 the least of the reasons is that she is now perfectly capable of running to the local diner after a swim practice, not that she eats any of that good stuff anymore! Plus, I think she might have just wanted to wear a purple tutu.  Proud of you kiddo, ya done good!

(AKA: Proud Mom)

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