Watching the Chicago Marathon this past Sunday made me reminisce about my own experience running Chicago… it was my first marathon, back in 1990. Things were quite different then!
How different, you ask? Well, the 1990 race (then sponsored by Old Style) was only the 13th running of the Chicago Marathon, and there were 6168 finishers. The course was different- I couldn’t tell you many details except that the last eight miles or so were a deathly boring out and back on Lakeshore Drive. And with that relatively small amount of runners, there was no rigamarole about getting into the race. You just dropped your application in the mailbox, and a few weeks later received your letter of confirmation.
I was 24 years old and living in Florida at the time, but my family was back near Chicago where I grew up, so that seemed like a logical choice for my first marathon. Get ready for some poor quality pictures- all I have are some pictures my parents took at the finish line (and one from the start) on their 1990 camera. You might be thinking, wait! This was your first marathon! Don’t you have some professional pictures from the race? No I don’t, and there’s a reason… read on to find out, and also see a completely ridiculous clothing choice I made for the day!
My longest long run before the marathon was 18 miles, and since I had done every single training run at a 10 minute mile pace, I told my family that I would be at the finish line at 4:20. I mean, obviously- right? I had also done all my training runs in the heat of Florida, so figured a nice crisp fall day in Chicago would make things feel easy. Ho ho!
All I can really remember about the start of the race is that it was cold. When I asked my sister (who was there at the end to cheer me on) what she remembers, the first thing she said was, it was cold. So I looked it up- the race was on October 28th, and it was in the 30s at the start, and windy! Too cold for a Florida runner.
I ran well until around 20 miles, where- surprise, surprise- I hit the wall. I didn’t know much about fueling, but I had taken a couple gels and was drinking Gatorade when it was offered. But those last six miles were P.A.I.N.F.U.L. For some reason, it helped me to run short stretches with my eyes shut. I definitely slowed down, but I didn’t stop- I ran the whole way.
I know that picture was taken right before the finish line, because that’s where my mom, dad, and sister were, cheering loudly. The biggest lesson I learned was that I didn’t know what I didn’t know, going into it. Having a solid time goal for your first marathon is silly, and luckily I gave up on that early on and was proud to finish in 4:36.
So why don’t I have an official picture of myself crossing the finish line? WELL…
Again, since this was 1990 there were no digital photos. You would receive proofs of your photos in the mail, and could order what you wanted. My boyfriend at the time intercepted the mail and as a surprise to me, ordered a full size poster of me crossing the finish line. And it was a terrible picture- I even had my eyes closed. He gave it to me for Christmas, and I pretended to be happy. But I was actually so mad- I just wanted a picture of that moment. What was I supposed to do with a huge poster of myself, looking awful? Frame it and put it up in the living room? Somewhere along the way, that poster was “forgotten” in one of my many moves.
I’m so glad I got to run a marathon back in the old days. No complicated training plan- no Garmin- no timing chips- no fancy gear (ahem, apparently!) I just figured if I could run 18 miles I could run a marathon, and I did it… the Old Style way.
Who else is old enough to remember racing in the 90s?
Do you have any awful race pictures? Do you look back at your clothing choices and cringe?
21 Responses
This is such a great post, Jenny! A total flashback to (I agree) much simpler times when running and racing weren’t so “technical.” I like having access to what technology adds to the experience, but I also think it takes away from the genuine joy of it, too (and I know not many will agree with that LOL). I didn’t get serious with running/racing until 2008, so by then most of the cotton movement had moved on 🙂
Ha, yes one thing we can all agree upon is not to run in cotton! Everything else is debatable- I definitely love the technology we have now, but the old way had its own charm.
I LOVE THIS!!! I’ve been a Chicago runner since about 1990, so I remember those simpler times. When there was no digital timing, you just tore off the bottom of your bib and slid it on a spindle to be counted. I knew about marathons but there was no way I would have considered taking it on back then. You were so brave! When I finally did run my first Chicago Marathon, it was 2011 and I was able to register in February without problems. Things sure have changed in a hurry.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
And BTW, 4:36 is a great finish time, rookie or not.
I’m not sure if I was brave, or just ignorant of what I was getting myself into! Yeah, that’s interesting that as recent as 2011 you could just register and get into the Chicago marathon. Although I am glad I ran it when I did, I know the course is much improved these days!
I love this what a great post! I had no idea you have been running for so long. What a fun memory and also fun to look back on how things have changed. I do remember the tear off bibs when you cross the finish line. Fun!
Yes, I went pretty quickly from being someone who tried to get out of running the mile in high school, to running fanatic in my twenties. It was really fun for me to write this post and remember those days of racing.
I love this – a marathon in 1990! That must have felt like the pioneer days! I agree though, an awful poster of your finish was not the smartest gift (even though I am sure your bf thought he was getting you something special 🙂 because I mean, what an accomplishment!
Yes, he totally thought he was getting me an amazing Christmas present, ha ha. His heart was in the right place.
This is awesome! If you can run a marathon in cotton and earmuffs, you can do anything;-)
Ha ha, good point… I’ll think about that next time I’m in the middle of a tough run- “at least I’m dressed appropriately!”
Great photos, you always have a smile on your face, I am sure it was an unforgettable experience.
Thank you for sharing this story, it is a jump in the past for me too, I also ran my first marathon in Rome in 1990: at that time only 1450 runners, no technology, few photos and t-shirts in cotton.
We ran our first marathons the same year! Sounds similar in a lot of ways.
Earmuffs, Jenny, EARMUFFS!!! Haha, I had a pair in pink in the 80’s but I wasn’t into running then. Amazing that you ran your first marathon in 1990! Such great memories.
My first marathon was in 2003 at the age of 35. By then, Nike & Co. had already swamped the market and I somehow managed to look like a runner. But I was totally unprepared for a marathon… my longest run had been 13 miles. I walked a lot towards the end and finished in 4:38.
Did you ditch the boyfriend with the mega-poster?
Ha ha, yes we broke up but not because of that 🙂
You ran a marathon and your longest run was 13 miles??? That last half must have been… interesting. And yes, remember it was 1990- those earmuffs were leftover from the 80s.
I didn’t start running until about 2008? 7? Something like that. I didn’t have a GPS for my first half. I did for my second. 🙂
Having run an 18 mile race, and everyone being so sure I was going to run a marathon . . . nope. Big difference. I definitely think you can do it if you’re an experienced marathoner, but it’s hard for your first time — sorry you found out the hard way.
But you finished! And you ran the whole way! Quite the accomplishment.
BTW, my first half was Vegas. Supposed to be warm, right? It was December — and it was colder there than it was back home in NY. But at least I knew that was possible, having been to Vegas many times.
One reason I think I got away with running a marathon with only an 18 mile long run was my age- 24-year-olds can get away with a lot!
Love this. I had no idea you’ve been running that long and that you ran Chicago.
How times have changed.
My first half was in 2011. I bought a gamin for race day. So I trained without one…obviously my long run was not as long as I thought. I didn’t have a smart phone. I carried a flip phone and a camera in my pocket when I ran.
I have plenty of awful pictures but I don’t buy them (love those ear muffs lol)
It’s sheer luck that I have those photos- my Dad must have snapped them unbeknownst to me. Looking at them really brought back memories!
Your first half must have been interesting!
I love this, the earmuffs!!!!
Thanks Liz! Funny that I obviously thought those were a good idea.