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 Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Rabbiting Rod Last weekend I went to the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon to serve as one of the rabbits. It was an incredible experience.
I had gone to Chicago two times previously (1998 and 1999) as a semi-elite runner. In 1998, I was just going to do 18 miles of pace work for my marathon debut at the Marine Corps Marathon a few weeks later. All I really wanted was a number so I could start up front, but when I arrived to pick up the number, the race organizers treated me like I belonged, asking if I needed special water bottles,giving me a Chicago Marathon backpack, doing the most to make sure I enjoyed their race and might come back in the future. Well, I did indeed go back as have many of America's top runners because for many years Chicago was the only top marathon welcoming American talent. This year was a totally new experience for me because for the first time in my life, I knew I was going to get paid to run a race before I even started. My brother had made the arrangements with Carey Pinkowski, the race director, for me to rabbit actually what was supposed to be the third group at around 1:05:00 half-marathon pace to around 5 minutes a mile (1:05:30). My coach wanted me to do a long tempo run for training (16-20 miles), so being selected as a rabbit was an added bonus. Not only did it fit perfectly into my training (which I pretty much never compromise), but I would also get paid for my efforts, plus get my expenses paid. In addition, I would have a certified course to run on with mile splits and water bottles. It sure beat placing bottles along the side of the road. Chicago this year was the first time in my life that I truly felt like a professional runner. I'm new to the top level of the sport, so I still think it's cool when a race pays for me to come in. Hopefully, I'll always feel this way because although running isn't the best way to make a living, a lot of people would love to have the experiences I'm having. I'll never forget the first race where I ever got a hotel room (the Midland 10 Mile Run in NJ in 1998). My brother, 2 friends from DC,and a friend from NY all came to watch and were arriving at various times, just coming into the room at all hours to crash on the floor. They were all worried about upsetting my sleep, but I was too excited about the whole experience to care. So in Chicago, I flew in on a complimentary ticket on American Airlines, met my brother at the airport, and then went to the race headquarters,the Hilton hotel. We checked in at the elite suite (all top races have a suite for elite runners where they can socialize, find bottled water, Gatorade, etc), got our meal vouchers (all of our meals were taken care off at the race hotel), and were given instructions for the rest of the weekend. I was supposed to be in the press area at 10:30 the next morning, and had to go to the technical meeting at 4 pm that would discuss the rabbiting and technical aspects of the race (water tables for the professional runners, logistics in the morning of the race, etc). That evening Scott Anderson of online journal fame had us over for dinner at his parents new pad in downtown. It was a lot of fun, as I saw Scott, his parents, one of my old roommates from DC, Melissa Johnson (no we're not married), and my cross-country captain from college, Doug Corcoran. (If you're in high school and want to be good runner in college click here). Although I knew what pace I was supposed to be rabbiting, I still wasn't sure who I was going to rabbit. Gradually, I began to figure it out as I ran into other runners and they heard I was there. Peter De LaCerda of the US (2nd at the Olympic Trials) and Shaun Creighton of Australia indicated they would be going with me. Rod DeHaven (2000 US Olympic Trials Marathon champ) said he wasn't sure if he would be with me or not. He would see how things felt race day, and wasn't going to force any certain pace, but thought he might be going a little faster than I was going to go. At the technical meeting,the rabbits were introduced and their paces announced. 4 lead rabbits would be going through at 1:02:40 to 1:03:00 (world record pace) for Paul Tergat. David Morris would lead a 2nd group at 1:03:30 to 1:04:00 and I would be the third group at 1:05:00 to 1:05:30. My biggest fear going into the race was the unknown. I had never rabbited a race before. I have historically had a great ability usually to maintain an even pace, but doubts began to enter my head. I didn't think 4:58 to 5:00 minute pace should be too hard for me, but then again how should I know since I hadn't done any hard race efforts at sea level in a month. Plus, now that I had a bunch of guys depending upon me for a steady pace it was a little more important that I hit the right pace than if I was out there on my own racing or training. I didn't want to screw this up for the other guys who had spent months preparing for this day. At Chicago, a good rabbit is essential because most of the guys there for one primary reason - to run a fast time. Once the gun went off, things went very smoothly. A few guys shot out front, but I gradually figured out where I should be. I figured the first mile or so might be the most difficult to get the pace down. I just judged myself off of others. I saw Paul Tergat close by and knew no matter what I wasn't passing him even if he was going slow. David Morris was up there too, and I went through the first mile in 5:07. A few seconds slow, but everyone was slow a bit, as the first mile in a major marathon often can be the slowest. I picked it up a bit, and by mile 2 in 4:52, things began to settle down as distinct groups began to form. I could see David Morris' group in front of me (which I later learned contained Paul Tergat as well), and realized that there was a nice pack behind me. I was out front and there were about 8-10 guys behind me in single file or in groups of two. I knew before hand that I was going to be setting the pace, but was a bit surprised by how it played out in reality with myself feeling like I was really leading the group. Rod DeHaven was just over my left shoulder which pleased me. He's someone I really respect in the sport,and I don't think he gets the credit for what he's done in the sport the last few years. He's America's top road racer and marathoner, and still shows up at the track nationals to race well even if he's not in top form (unlike many other pros who won't race if they're going to get beat). I was hoping to lead him to a nice pr, so I was a bit disappointed when he said he may or not be in my group the day before. But there he was, and I knew my main duty from there on out was to cater to his needs. It was great to get to help him as the highlight of my entire year running wise was when I walked into a bar after my 4th place finish at the track nationals in the 10k. Rod was in the corner, he made eye contact, and said simply, "Nice Race." Earning his respect meant a lot to me for it showed I'd truly arrived, and now it was time for me to pay him back. Things went very smoothly once we settled into the pace. Miles 5-13 were , 4:56, 4:57, 5:00,4:58,4:57,5:01,5:00. The pack was pretty much silent as we toured the streets and crowds of Chicago. I can't remember why, but around mile 6 DeHaven said, "You're doing a great job," and I let it be known they should tell me if they wanted anything differently. Although we may have been quiet, the crowds were very loud, and DeHaven was a very popular guy. Whoever says American runners aren't popular and don't sell shoes, hasn't been with the lead American pack at a major American marathon. "Go Rod", "Come 'On Rod", and "Yeah DeHaven" were heard virtually everywhere we went. This was DeHaven's backyard (he lives in Wisconsin), but I still was a bit surprised at how popular he was. My focus throughout was trying to maintain a steady pace even as I gradually got tired. I'd see the mile markers from about 100 yards out and start to wonder how my pace was. Usually, I was right were I wanted to be. I just took it one mile at a time, and got immediate feedback from my watch each mile. Occasionally, I'd glance over my shoulder to check out the pack, but I really had no idea what they were doing or thinking. I just focussed on the pace. Going into the race, I knew I wanted to do around 16-20 miles for my own training. As a rabbit, my compensation was based on hitting the pace for halfway, then 16 miles, and then 20 miles if I was up to it. I began calculating in my head how far I felt like I wanted to go. I knew for sure I'd do 16, but 20 seemed a long way off. Around half-way (1:05:12-1:05:15 I believe), we started to pass some of the front runners. The first one I remember was Takayuki Inubushi , a 2:06:57 guy. I could tell it was a Japanese runner, but wasn't sure it was Inubushi until I saw his number. I thought to myself, "He must be having a bad day," as we blew by. Generally, once you come back in the marathon that is it. Mile 14 was the only strange mile for me. 2 guys, who I believe were the South Africans Melk Mothuli (2:15:44) and Simon Mphylanyane (2:12:43) suddenly got in front of me. It was the first time anyone in the group got in front of me except for a water stop. I was a bit surprised because I didn't think I was slowing down, but figured I must be getting tired. I picked it up a bit then glanced over my shoulder and saw DeHaven and crew about 10 yards behind me. I realized these other guys had picked it up a bit, so I just let the pack reform. I don't remember what happened to the guys in front as I was just focussed on maintaining the pace. Once I got to mile 16, I figured I'd go to mile 18 for training and call it a day. At mile 18, DeHaven was still on my shoulder and I felt I had 2 miles left in me at a steady pace so I just kept going. It was getting tough for me since I had been leading the whole way, but I knew that the guys behind me had 8 more miles to go, so I couldn't abandon them now. The 20th mile seemed to take for ever, but it was right on pace with the other ones. Miles 14-20 were (4:54,4:59,5:01,4:56,4:58,5:00,5:00), and I was very pleased with my effort. I pulled off to the side, gave the guys a cheer and that was it. The pack I believe was down to 4 (DeHaven, Shaun Creighton, Mothuli, and Mphylanyane). Peter De La Cerda had been with us to somewhere around mile 16 where Creighton said a gap opened up as I went around one of the many turns. He said he sprinted to close it, but that everyone else fell off at that point. Now that I was done pacing, my immediate thought was "How the hell am I going to get back to the finish." I should have tucked some cab money into my shorts, but didn't think of it. However, next thing I knew, a van pulled up with all the other rabbits in it,and told me to hop in. My hamstrings felt like steel pipes, but stretching was out of the question as I had a ride back to the finish. Slowly, we kept driving towards to the finish along the course. I could still see my group at mile 21, and I thought they had slowed down a few seconds but wasn't sure. In the van, we slowly would pass the remaining runners in front of us one by one and they didn't appear to be going very fast (yet they were running sub 2:10). Before I knew it we were to the point that we could see the leaders. I was surprised to see them so soon, but they only were a couple of minutes ahead. At this point, I knew the guys in my group were in the top 10. It was a bit of a surprise because early on there were probably at least 20 guys ahead of us, but you pass one runner here, another there, and it slowly adds up. The marathon is definitely a race of attrition that rewards those with patience. Peter Githuka, the "head rabbit", was in the passenger seat of the car, and he would yell in Swahili at the African runners we passed. The other rabbits kept me informed of who we were passing. They seemed as shocked as I was when they told me the guy up front with Tergat (eventual winner Ben Kimondiu) was one of the rabbits. It was interesting watching the finish from where we were because we could slowly see the race unfold over the last few miles. We were behind the 5th place runner Igarashi from Japan for most of the way. At one point, Igarashi seemed to be pulling away from 4th placer Ouaadi of France, but then just minutes later Ouaddi was well in front. The two guys up front were definitely slowing or having a tactical dual the final miles because for a second it seemed 3rd placer Peter Githuka might catch them. But it was not to be, as it came down to the final sprint between Tergat and Kimondiu. Cars are not permitted to go the last 300 yards of the course, so everyone in the van was craning their necks and yelling in anticipation as the van turned off the course as Kimondiu appeared to be pulling away from Tergat. We hopped out of the van to try and get to the finish area to get our clothes and offer our congratulations. It was during this trek to the finish, that I saw Rod coming in. He was right on the heels of Ondorro Osorro and neither guy wanted to give an inch. DeHaven's hamstrings appeared to be buckling on him. Despite that he looked like he was going to crumble to the ground he somehow managed to pass Osorro. It was an impressive site. I couldn't see the finish perfectly, but knew that DeHaven had gotten a pr which pleased me although he had slowed down a bit. I'm convinced he's got a sub 2:10 in him if he gets the right conditions. He had to push the last 6 miles by himself, and in addition his wife was giving birth the day after the marathon. But he's shown this year that he can race with the best in the world under various conditions (he was also 6th at the Boston Marathon).. Some of the first people I saw at the finish were Paul Tergat and his coach Gabriel Rosa. Rosa looked like a truck had run him over (well let's just say he didn't look pleased), but Tergat had a smile on his face and was offering his congratulations to the other runners. Many including himself had perhaps expected more from him, but he knew that he had given it his all and was beaten by a better runner on this day. As for Tergat, the guy is a class act. Some fuss has been made on the message boards of Tergat's comments late in the week after the marathon saying that the rabbits' duties need to more clearly defined before hand, so that the other competitors can be mentally prepared if the rabbits are going to finish. Having heard Tergat after the race, he was very congratulatory and has the utmost respect for the marathon distance (if anyone has too much respect for the distance it is him) and his competitors. I think his comments were in relation to a direct question if he felt that rabbit's roles need to be more clearly defined. I do not think he was trying to make an excuse for finishing second. And as for Tergat being a class act, a couple of anecdotes. First, the night before the race, there was a buffet in one of the restaurants at the hotel. The professional runners had coupons to eat in this restaurant for free. I guess a lot of other marathon runners wanted to eat the pasta as well, so there was a long line to get in. No one could really understand why the line was there because there were empty seats in the restaurant (perhaps they didn't have enough servers). The line was about 30 minutes long. As I stood waiting impatiently in line complaining to myself and everyone around me, I was shocked to realize who was standing a few feet in front of me in line - none other than Paul Tergat, Dr. Rosa, and his Fila compatriots. Tergat seemed perfectly content with the situation. I just tried to picture in my mind Barry Bonds waiting in line for thirty minutes the night before the World Series, but quickly realized this wasn't a just analogy. Remember Tergat was standing on his very legs that he was going to use the next day the entire time. I knew that the race director, Carey Pinkowski, would have freaked out and done something if he knew the athlete he was paying a large sum of money was standing in line for so long, but Tergat was content to wait in line like the rest of us. The other story is after the race. The race had massage therapists on hand throughout the weekend for the professional runners. Tergat was getting a post race massage at the same time I was. When he was done, he started talking to me and the other massage therapists and Rojo about Chicago and what a wonderful city it was. When he left the massage room he went around and thanked everyone on his departure. I could see why he thanked the therapists, but was a bit shocked he was thanking me. All I had done was talk to him from the massage table. But it just reiterated to myself what a humble and class act he is. Well, that's about it for Chicago. A special thanks to all the race volunteers and personnel. Click here
to read Robert Johnson's account of the Chicago Marathon |
First, let me start by saying everything involved
with the Chicago Marathon is done very professionally. The
marathon has undergone unprecedented growth the last few years
not only because it is known as a flat course where fast times
can be run, but because the race organizers leave no stone unturned.
From the baggage check for the runners, to the busses
to the expo, to the water stops, everything is done with excellent
detail. The volunteers and race organizers are true professionals.