My first marathon | Chicago Marathon 2023

[@er48021]

Congratulations on your accomplishment. I run my first marathon in October 3rd of 2024, I will be 61. This will be my first since college.

[@IvyAlonzo27]

That is incredible, you're very inspiring. I am very excited for you! I hope you have fun.

[@yeojin6759]

12 Days left!! I'm so excited for you, hope it goes well ~ I'm rooting for you all the way till the finish line 😆

[@blackbelt2000]

Great hustle. I run Chicago every year and this particular year I took so long to run it that they kicked me off the street and I had to finish it on the sidewalks. lol. I had just recovered from covid a few days earlier and had lost a lot of gains from my training. But a finish is a finish 💪

[@IvyAlonzo27]

I am sorry to hear that. One thing I was really scared was to get sick before the race. I bet it was so hard to run it when you just recovered from covid! A finish is a finish, we all ran 26.2 miles (actually even more than that!).

[@lizzypicardi]

Awesome ! You did AMAZZZINNGG I have my 1st marathon in 4 days and I am SO STOKED> SUBBED

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you so much! Good luck and have fun on your first marathon. You will do great!

[@darylbickford]

Great work! I love watching all of these race recaps!!! You did amazing!! That 800 meter sign always lets me know the hill is coming but so is the FINISH!!!!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

I love watching recaps too! Same race but everyone goes through different things. I’m glad that 800 meter sign was there 😂

[@one_thirdlifecrisis]

Wow! From 0 experience to a full marathon! You're amazing!!!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thanks to your amazing wisdom!

[@KevinTofel]

Congrats Ivy - this is a huge accomplishment! I ran Chicago way back in 1998 when I was younger and in shape at 3:19:58. Just finishing is an accomplishment I’ll never forget. And you’ll never forget your Chicago Marathon experience either. I guarantee it! 👏🏻

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you so much! That’s an amazing time, you’re a fast runner! Yes, I would definitely not forget this experience. It was the most amazing 5hours and 26 minutes! haha

[@raeliahoffman022]

Hi Ivy! I think you're amazing! Thank you for sharing your journey. I can't wait to watch more of your videos!!!!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Hi Raelia, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I'll be uploading more videos soon, so watch out. Thanks for supporting this channel, it means a lot.

[@G_Liwag]

Great seeing the race from a wave 3 runner’s POV! Thanks for making it!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

They say wave 3 is where the party's at, I say the whole experience is a party no matter what wave you're in!

[@xyramaenadayag6284]

This is so inspiring! I'd love to run the Chicago Marathon one day. I watched the Tokyo Marathon on the sidelines last weekend and I got so inspired with that as well that now I'm planning to participate in the next one in 2025. As Filipina who has just started running last year, I find so much hope hearing your marathon story that maybe (just maybe) I can do it too ❤ Glad that I found your channel. Thanks for sharing your experience, Ivy!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Hi Xyra, thank you so much for your sweet and kind words🫶🏼. I bet watching the Tokyo Marathon was so fun!! It’s so inspiring to watch people push through and achieve a very hard goal. I’m glad I somehow inspired you to run a marathon (nahiya ako 😅). You’ll be shocked that there are actually a lot of Filipino runners out there. There are some facebook groups you can join, everyone is inspiring too. I’m excited for your marathon journey, with hard work I know you’ll have a great time crossing that finish line. Keep me updated, I would love to hear your running journey. Ingat♥️

[@PlanetDental]

congratulations!!! That a great time and its YOUR time

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you so much. That is such a sweet comment. I will forever cherish my 5:26:10 time!

[@jamstar876]

This is fantastic and I am very happy for you!!! Congratulations! Keep up the FANTASTIC work!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you, that’s so sweet!

[@wendyrogerson6530]

Love this video so much. Thanks for sharing ❤️ I teared up a couple of times seeing your family in the crowd. I totally know that feeling of seeing a familiar face. I'll be running chicago in a couple of months with my hubby as the sole cheerleader as we're traveling there from Singapore 🎉 looking forward. God bless ❤️

[@carlosrostoniquimson1533]

I need this video. I will also run my first ever FULL marathon this May 2024. Congratulations. 🎉

[@IvyAlonzo27]

I wish you all the best for your first marathon! 🥳

[@jennysmith9707]

Congratulations 🎉

[@LadyRabiaAbdulHakim]

Great job! Keep it up!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you! Will do ❤

[@dazdarren9926]

Congrats You did very well! Chicago was my first marathon too…ps you beat me by about 30 minutes 😅

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Congratulations in finishing Chicago! We both did great!

[@kgbj44]

Chicago is a great city to do your first marathon!!!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

It was, I’m glad I did it. 😊

[@RubenMontenegro-lk1vc]

This was very helpful :)

[@gracelewis4173]

Well done Ivy. I'm doing Chicago 2025 (deferring my place from this year)

[@emy4292]

I really appreciate you incorporating prayer into this. I am gay but I’ve been getting closer to god through prayer and it feels great, going to start running again tmrw! ((:

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Yes, I definitely could not do this without God's help. I'm glad that prayer helps you with your relationship with Him at the end of the day we are all children of God and that's what matters :) I hope you had a wonderful run!

[@666Azazel.]

Great accomplishment.Years ago you probably never knew you would run a Marathon. MY first Marathon was years ago in Washington DC in 1983 with a time about 3:30.Then years later got down to a 2:30 by early 90s.From that point on of having strong focused training to getting side tracked w daily work and laying off running as much and getting older Im not as fast as I was in my prime.You have the youthful energy now so cherish and enjoy the the improvements and ride up. A little speed work at a track maybe something like 6×800 meter repeatS will make a huge difference in a 5k and 10k also.Good luck stay safe Stretch a little eveydsy.Drink plenty of water.Salamet

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Salamat for your tips! Wow, 3:30 is already fast but you were able to cut 1 hour from it. I can't imagine running myself that fast, but with hard work and using your tips I might someday. Thanks again for your encouraging words! Do you still run now? My hope is to not stop running, but I've met some friends who stopped after years of running because they got busier and have no time for it or are into different sports.

[@666Azazel.]

@@IvyAlonzo27 Thank you for your reply. Yes I still run now.Lately a good base to keep in touch with about 40.miles a week.Naturaly with time over many years I slowed down some.I can probably hit about a 20 minute 5k or a 130: half marathon with about a 3 month build up. .I went running tonight about 6 miles at a easy pace about 8:20 pace per mile running at a easy pace and it was slightly rainy and in the low 40s.The day before I did about 8 miles in an older pair of Asics back from 2112 that are still in good condition. Slightly heavier then today's shoes but they felt durable and secure with plenty of rubber traction. Every now and then I compare old running shows to new ones.The old ones were built more durable with more traction while today's focus on performance over lasting as long I guess .If I can hit a 3:00 hour to 3:30 Marathon in my 60s in a onother year I think that's an honest realistic goal.Over decades of running off and on again I have seen it really evolve.I'm lucky to be active and running as many friends I know have developed health problems many from not enough excercise and smoking and eating junk food more often rhen they should.I try to be encouraging and tell them it's never too late to make good choices. Over time good choices add up and make a difference nin the long run.One thing I used to do that I slacked off on is core exercises like crunches,sit ups,leg lift and push ups.A strong core can improve your form and arm swing even helping you stay strong in a run and run faster because the old saying is "You are only as strong as your weakest link" So a good core can help your form from breaking down when your tired which helps your strength to keep strong.Really I hate leg lifts and push ups but your whole body becomes stronger and it makes a difference. .Keep running.and have some easy fun runs to rotate in which helps recover from a harder run a day or 2 before. One movie I think you might like is "Remember the goal" the whole movie is on KZbin.I stumbled on it thinking no way can I watch this girly movie but I got deeply absorbed into it because the messages were deep and meaningful.The cute blonde female coach of a girls cross country team always said something to her students or girls parent's leaving them thinking and hoping they would make meaningful choices..It's free movie on KZbin "Remember the goal" Because you're into charities I know you'll like it . This isn't a movie I would normally watch but loved it. Good luck on your running this winter.

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Once again your comment is a treasure chest. All of it is just full of knowledge that a new runner needs. It really takes years of dedication, discipline, and hard work to be an awesome runner as you are. I will put in the hard work to get there! I know I need to work on my core too cause I’ve heard you really need strong core to be a good runner. Thanks again for your tips. I will definitely watch that movie. Have a great week ahead of you!

[@666Azazel.]

@@IvyAlonzo27 Yeagh that movie was awsome.I got out of it "Take your time but focus on the long term objective and goals.2 other good running movies are "Prefontaine -Baaed on tge true story of Steve Prefontaine. And Running Brave the True story of an American Indian in the 1960s dealing with prejudice at a College that he got accepted to and also dealing with prejudice and anger from his own people back on the reservation for adopting to the White man's system.He ran at College and butt heads with his coach who appeared hard nosed and arrogant.After many dramatic events took place he was faced with great emotional presures but eventually won a Gold metal in the 1968 Olympics. (A true story of Billy Mills!) Well keep running and never let the daily pressures of daily life distract your running goals.Hope 2024 is a happy successful year in all aspects.

[@alexanders4911]

Wow! Filipino❤ kamusta! im seeing a filipina atm. Best girls. Anyways, great job. Inspirational. What charity are you considering? Any in the Philippines?

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you! I love charities that focuses on medical, research, and children. Hopefully I can run in the Philippines and run for a charity there.

[@maggislayton]

Girl! We got to do better framing! We are not the last in the last when we talked about our corrals and our waves. We are the party pace in the party wave!

[@صالحالزهراني-ظ1ه]

Very nice

[@EdwinChenLoo]

Congrats. A full marathon is a very long event. If you want to avoid any bathroom-related issues, avoid having any solid foods within 3h prior. There are plenty of liquid nutrients you can consume instead.

[@Bwebber99]

Nice video I am looking forward to running Chicago in 2024, you should try and run New York

[@IvyAlonzo27]

You will love the energy there.I hope you have a great time this year and that you all will have a wonderful running weather! Someday I will definitely run New York.

[@gladfan1989]

1 down, 5 to go for that 6 star medal.

[@IvyAlonzo27]

yes!!!

[@chukwuemekaogunta5070]

Nice. I got selected for this year’s race, any tips you’d like to share

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Congratulations. I suggest to join the Chicago Marathon 2024 facebook group, there are tons of tips there from previous runners. If I can give you a tip, hydrate based on the weather. I over hydrated so I was using the porta potty more than I should've.

[@chukwuemekaogunta5070]

​@@IvyAlonzo27 thanks ivy. I'm a huge fan of your channel. Hopefully we meet someday😊

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Thank you, you’re so sweet. It would be fun to run with you all in the future!! I hope you’re having a wonderful training in preparation for the actual training!

[@dazdarren9926]

How has your post race recovery been and which marathon will you do next??

[@IvyAlonzo27]

post race recovery was good. It took me a whole day or two to finally walk like normal 😂. I’m thinking of local half marathon races for next year then hopefully get in another world major. How about you?

[@dazdarren9926]

@@IvyAlonzo27 I will probably apply for the NYC marathon lottery but dont expect to get picked. I want to do a Spring half and a Fall full but I’m still figuring out the exact races to do

[@IvyAlonzo27]

That’s my plan too, probably a couple of spring halfs and a full around fall. I hope you get it in New York!

[@SCHD-DGRO24]

Did you have to run a qualifying marathon before being accepted for the chicago marathon?

[@Dustin_Runs]

nyc next naman

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Yes! hopefully nga I can run New York in the future, ang hirap lang maka pasok.

[@Dustin_Runs]

@@IvyAlonzo27 registration for the lottery will start soon. Just keep on trying. Good luck

[@IvyAlonzo27]

I just saw this reply today. Funny kasi application for the lottery closed today hahaha did you apply?

[@Dustin_Runs]

@@IvyAlonzo27 i have guaranteed entry. i hope you get in. you have until 12mn EST.

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Wow, that’s so cool!!How did you get a guaranteed entry?

[@indy500tabasco8]

👽👽👽👽🌎👽👽👽👽

[@disarp]

There's no such thing as a slow runner in a marathon!

[@IvyAlonzo27]

Yes, We're all running the same distance!