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t minus one
October 21, 2006
i dreamt about the marathon last night. it was vivid and clear, but i can't remember anything about the dream. some time later, i said "no" and woke up. i got my bearings - i was in the top bunk of our room at the hostel. i looked over at saba and aida in the bunks across the room. it was dark, and without my glasses, i could only make out their shapes, but i don't think they were awake, and they didn't say anything.
i had set the alarm for 6:30, but i was cold through the night, and hadn't slept so well, so i woke instead at about 7:30. i couldn't decide what shorts to wear, not knowing for certain what i would wear for the race sunday, so there was a brief fashion show for myself in the semi-dark.
i stepped out of the hostel onto, ironically, Congress Street. my last run had been on Congress Avenue back home on Wednesday. what was supposed to be an easy four mile run that day turned into a quick run at faster than a 10K race pace. my body had felt good, my stride high and energetic, my footsteps light and quick. still, i immediately regretted indulging in speed, as my left hamstring kept shooting stabbing criticisms up to my brain.
i began to run towards michigan avenue, crossing it, past the giant bronzes of native american warriors firing their bows from horseback, bracing either side of the roadway.
i turned left, heading north on columbus. runners were everywhere. some ignored me, some made eye contact and nodded, some smiled. to my left, tents and fencing and scores of portable toilets, television trucks, and people already at work for the day on preparations.
i ran through the start line, past the art institute and millenium park, with the billowing metalwork of the pritzker pavillion, under the beautiful moebius strip-like pedestrian bridge i had seen in the 2005 marathon highlights video.
i've never been anywhere like chicago. i felt like a rube, awed by the height and beauty and sheer ambition of the architecture, even of the brutally functional trusswork of the bridges and tunnels and double-decker streets. at the same time, i was happy to be a rube, wanting to appreciate it all, wanting to let it all make me feel something. it is sad when we become accustomed to things.
i crossed the chicago river, then turned west on the walkway between the river and the universtiy of chicago's graduate school of business, back to michigan avenue, nd back south.
this time, i caught a glimpse of the cloud gate sculpture in millenium park. i turned back and up into the park, and into the plaza where the sculpture sits.
the air was crisp around me, and i felt like it was reflecting my own energy back into me. the scultpure hovered in that same air, a giant quicksilver drop of rain, of sweat, a tear, improbably smooth, captured in time and space right before impact, pressed by intertia into a perfect but organic shape, curved as you might imagine the universe is.
i approached it, walked under it, around it, and saw reflected in its polished skin, distorted, yet clear, strange and familiar as a dream, the city, and a runner.
Posted by Rob at October 21, 2006 04:56 PM
Comments
GOOD LUCK!!!
Posted by: Katie J. at October 21, 2006 05:22 PM
Good Luck Rob!! I was in Chicago for work a couple of weeks ago, so I know of exactly where you write about. It is hot here in Austin, so you are much better off with the cool weather there. Glad to see the Postfontaines in your list!! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. You can do it!
Posted by: No Gracias at October 21, 2006 05:54 PM
Good luck Rob!!! We'll be thinking about you tomorrow!
Posted by: michele at October 21, 2006 10:27 PM
well my legs were sore after walking around zilker park for the stones concert so in a way we both went thru the same thing
Posted by: nanette at October 26, 2006 09:52 AM
Okay, I have been patient all week. Where is the blogging about the Marathon??? No fair just skipping on ahead to the Race for the Cure (although that's way cool, too) without giving us the scoop! :), Julia
Posted by: Julia at October 26, 2006 07:38 PM