Chicago Marathon Recap

On Sunday, October 13th I ran the Chicago Marathon. I was fortunate to have joined several of my coaching clients in this race and see them achieve their goals. Below are just a couple of their stories. - Dave Wright, Owner

“Like many of us, I have a complicated relationship with running. It's like the old U2 song, "With or Without You... I can't live with or without you." 

Back in my thirties I ran several marathons with pretty great success, then I became a parent and life unfolded in a way that I didn't allow space for marathon training. Then last fall, well into my forties, I joined the new NYRR YMCA Westport running group coached by Fleet Feet's own Dave Wright and many other decorated local runners, including Olympian Roberto Mandje. 

Most of the running team was in the middle of training for the NYC marathon, and I instantly felt the contact high of being in the midst of runners pushing their limits. I was hooked again. 

I had run NYC several times and had always had a desire to give the flat and fast course at Chicago a try knowing it could be the road to qualifying for Boston. I secured a charity bib for Chicago with Team Action for Healthy Kids and was ready to get back into training mode. 

After the fall marathon season, our running team continued training and then set our sights on the NYC Half. One early, dark, and cold morning last January our group headed out on a speedy 5K. I was humming along, until my super cool headlamp did not shine on a branch in the road, and I went down hard. The power of denial is incredible. A couple of hours and an x-ray later, I asked the orthopedist, "You think I can still run the NYC Half in March?"

The good news was that my ankle was not broken, the bad news while they strapped me into a large black boot was that I had fully torn my ATFL. The winter cold and darkness suddenly felt exponentially more chilling. 

The prescribed treatment for this injury is basically rest and PT that will lead to a "return to run" program. I visited a few local PT offices, but no one I worked with was a runner. One therapist suggested that I should think about abandoning running and become a swimmer. That was it, I needed someone who got me! While doom scrolling injury articles in Runner's World, I came across some advice quoted by a physical therapist at High Road Physical Therapy in Norwalk, CT named Bridget Twedt. I immediately called Bridget and got on the schedule. It was refreshing to explain my goals and injuries to a fellow runner and realize that she was not flinching at all. We set up a therapy and return to running program that included gait analysis and got me back up and running, literally. By June I was ready to soft launch my Chicago training plan. 

Returning to running, let alone marathon training, is not without its hiccups. Compensating for one injury can lead to other issues, in my case I experienced hamstring inflammation, shin pain, and an IT band that was less than happy with the increased mileage. 

Bridget helped me stay the training course and advised me when to reign it in to avoid further injury. Being conservative is mentally a challenge when you are trying to BQ, but I respected all twinges and moderately increased mileage and speed training. By August I felt like I was ready for the peak weeks ahead of me. 

In addition to running and strength training, I got serious about nutrition, sleep, avoiding illness, and working out a race fuel plan. The week ahead of the race, I wrote out my race plan and was ready to toe the line.

The Chicago course runs through 29 neighborhoods, and the fans and spectators show out in full force. While the Chicago course is mostly flat, there are lots and lots of turns and switchbacks. By the second half of the race, my injuries started to flare, and my race plan was quickly adjusted. Finish and hold on to that BQ with every cell of my being. My Boston qualifying standard is 3:45; I gratefully crossed the Chicago finish line in 3:42:12. I pray the BAA cutoff is kind next year, and I will grace the start line in Hopkinton in 2026. 

While I had visions and intentions of blowing the Boston qualifying time through the roof, I stopped to reflect on the fact I set out to do something very difficult which was to dust myself off after a significant injury and rededicate to marathoning. If you are in the throes of injury, it is a huge bummer, but it is not the end. You will get back out there and chase your goals. You are still a badass, even if you are in a boot.”  – Laura Silverman

“Last September my husband and I welcomed our daughter, and I knew I needed the proper guidance to get back into marathon shape safely. That’s when I turned to Dave to train for the 2024 Chicago Marathon with two ambitious goals: to qualify for Boston and to set a PR for myself in the marathon. Thanks to Dave’s expert coaching and support, I achieved both! Even with some challenges at mile 18, I felt stronger than ever on race day.

As a bonus, I earned a new PR at the New Haven Half Marathon as a build up to the Chicago Marathon and took 2^nd overall in the female open division. I couldn’t have reached these milestones without Dave, and I’m more excited than ever for my next marathon adventure!

Thank you to Dave and the Fleet Feet team!” – Clare Kutnik