Here is this week’s Safari Email
The course map can be found here: Portage YMCA Course Map
The 2007 Chicago Marathon will no doubt go down in history for its extreme conditions and will always be remembered by all who lined up at the starting line that fateful day. The 2004 Boston Marathon, which boasted temps in the mid 80’s and the 2007 Boston Marathon, which followed a Nor’ Easter, paled in comparison to the challenge runners faced in the windy city Sunday. The conditions were so severe officials closed the course after 4 hours, over 300 found themselves hospitalized, including at least one among our own Safari. Sadly, one runner from Midland Michigan lost his life. Runners were urged to drop out, stop or walk it in.
Life in general, even with the best of planning, can take unexpected twists which lead to disappointment. We can dedicate so much time and energy to relationships, jobs, health or any facet of our lives, yet they can fail us despite the most valient of efforts. Because we devote so much time and energy into training for a marathon like other major areas of life, it can be a tremendous letdown when factors outside our control sidetrack our goals or crush our dreams.
I have to confess I’m no stranger to marathon disappointments. With 3 Did Not Finishes (DNF’s) and 2 Did Not Starts scattered within my successful marathon finishes, I’ve had my share. One was admittedly due to stupidity (starting out way too fast) and the other two due to unexpected life stresses which led to sheer exhaustion. Mother nature can be the marathoners biggest friend or biggest adversary. I finished one marathon that started with a temperature of 2 degrees, another with an ending temp approaching 90, and many of us this past winter walked to the starting corrals in wind and pouring rain for the start of the 111th Boston Marathon. But from the stories of those who ran 2007 Chicago Marathon, it may have been by far the most challenging of all.
Many of our Safari heroes, some of them first time marathoners, started their journey through Chicago, and most did make it across the finish line in Grant Park. In past Safari results, we have listed marathon finish times, and sometimes placement, but for the 2007 Chicago marathon we’re tossing past practice. Finish times were irrelevant as some folks finished an hour slower than usual, or were shown off the course, unable to finish. All are champions, regardless of time or whether able to finish. Please do let us know if we missed you in this list. Due to the size of the field and the fact there is no zip code filter, the results were extremely difficult to pull and had to be done by city name.
Here are the Safari Champions who will always remember and go down in history as part of Chicago 2007:
Jennifer Shaffer
Erin Kucera
Aaron Stanley
Cecilia Mallett
Vicky Mergen
Bill Greer
Carrie Hybels
Jeff Cavanaugh
Lisa Cavanaugh
Keith Deblock
Michele Fabi
Elsa Argyres
Kelly Armstrong
David Ausema
Tim Bredahl
Michelle O’Connell
Frank Hui
Jon Willard
Steve Downard and wife Trish
Brenda Stoddard
Elizabeth (E) Wright
Marga Keizer
Nicole Lycan
Rob Lillie
Kent Bakeman (who ran in memory of his late wife Claudia)
Marty Feilen
Daniel Hill
Jeff Datillo
Megan Bradshaw
Natalie Dale
Melissa Olken
Ron Reid
Adam Wade
Sarah Willsea
Rachel Wittkowski (who ran the Chicago Marathon on her BIRTHDAY!)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!
Also, we can't forget our Safari friends who completed the Twin Cities and Milwaulkee Lakefront Marathon as well.....in the same heat! Congratulations to Bob Poznanski for his Twin Cities finish, and to Gordon Hare for his Milwaulkee Lakefront finish!
What now? After a summer of training and preparation, we all enjoyed and embarked on a memorable journey together. The rewards, the friendships, the stories, the laughter, the learning, mean so much more than the marathon itself. The destination we had set our sights upon did not reveal itself as we anticipated, but much more has been gained than lost. Life is not made up of a single journey or destination, but many. Some of them bring great delight and joy, others disappointment and sorrow. Running is an endeavor that can last us a lifetime, with many experiences, perhaps many marathons to come. Recover, than set your sights upon a new goal, a new dream. Some, particularly those who were forced to cut the marathon short, may recover in time to run Grand Rapids in three weeks. The day may dawn cool and sunny, or windy and rainy, but for now it is a day full of hope, promise and surprise. If not Grand Rapids or another late fall marathon, the future no doubt holds many marathons or other experiences to savor, and a new adventure full of promise will once again begin.
