Chicago, Illinois
Finish Time: 3:34:39
Age: 49
Weather: Mild, cool fall morning
What I Remember
The weather felt almost generous.
Cool air. No fight against the elements. Just clean miles.
There’s something different about racing at 49. I’m not chasing something I’ve never done before. I know the course. I know the rhythm. I know what mile 18 feels like before I get there.
At mile 9, I saw friends along the course. That early energy boost matters more than people think. It breaks the run into chapters.
At mile 14 and again at 17, I saw Anjali and the boys. Ashwin and Naveen yelling. That never gets old. It resets everything. You’re not just running through Chicago. You’re running through your life.
By the time I reached the finish, they were there again.
I felt strong all day. Controlled. Present. No panic miles. No survival mode.
Just steady work.
And honestly — it was fun.
What I Learned
Experience compounds.
At 49, I don’t train the same way I did at 29. I don’t recover the same way. I don’t think the same way either.
But I race smarter.
There’s less ego and more awareness. I know what pace is sustainable. I know when to back off. I know when to push.
The margin between “great” and “better” gets thinner every year.
3:34:39 is something I’m proud of.
And there’s still room to improve.
That’s the part I like most.
— Chad Kase
