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Chicago Marathon strategy: Pace yourself, soak it in

Having thousands of people screaming and cheering for you as you do something as mundane as running will get anyone’s blood flowing.

Because of that, those who have run the Chicago Marathon say it’s easy for first-timers to take it out of the gate just a little bit too fast.

“The problem with the Chicago Marathon and every other big race is there is so much energy at the start,” said Stephanie Lo, a 46-year-old South Loop resident who will be running in her 15th Chicago Marathon on Sunday. “There is so much adrenaline going through your veins that you start taking off, they’re playing all the music and you just go a little too fast, which is always not good.”

The trick to a successful race, she says, is being able to rein yourself in and muzzle your own personal emotions as best you can.

“The smart strategy, which I have finally learned, really is to hold back the first 5 to 7 miles and then start slowly picking it up,” she said.

“It’s so hard not to do that especially with a race like Chicago, where there are so many people cheering you on,” added Kristan Huenink, a 34-year-old West Loop resident who will be running in her sixth Chicago Marathon. “Keep a steady pace, don’t worry about what’s going on around you.”

On Sunday, Lo, Huenink and nearly 45,000 others will tackle the 26.2-mile course, which will take runners on a tour of the city from Boystown to Bronzeville and everywhere in between.

Of course, running that far isn’t an easy feat, and it’s one that requires a not-insignificant amount of preparation. Running groups like the Chicago Area Runners Association, or CARA, offer 18-week programs aimed at helping build up runners’ staminas.

“The training involves long runs, a little bit of speed work and then some shorter runs in between during the week, along with some strength training,” said Alona Banai, a 31-year-old Oak Park resident and the partnership marketing coordinator for CARA.

Less experienced marathoners taking part in the program say the moral support is almost as valuable as the physical training provided.

Running that far for that long a period of time can be mentally draining if you’ve got to do it by yourself, after all.

“It’s fun because you get to run with lots of other people who are doing it, too, and going through the exact same thing you are,” said Kari Berglund, a 26-year-old Logan Square resident who will be running her first Chicago Marathon.

“The sense of community really helps you get out there to train every single Saturday at 6 a.m. and to get you through those long runs and those issues that you’re having [throughout training],” added Melissa Nardi, a 34-year-old Lake Shore East resident who will be running in her second Chicago Marathon.

So what’s the best piece of advice the veterans have for the rookies?

Simply put, be a sponge.

“Soak it all in,” Lo said. “There is nothing like the excitement of a first-time marathon. That kind of, ‘Can I do it? OK, I’ve [run] all these miles.’ “

Matt Lindner is a RedEye special contributor.