TODD SMITH: Sunday was the test for all my weeks of training. At 6:30 a.m., I made my way to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the 6.2-mile Abe's Amble. I looked for those I had trained with who had become friends over the many, many miles we have run together.
I was not feeling my strongest, but did some stretching to get myself ready. I decided I would take it at a comfortable pace and just focus on finishing. I lined up with those I had trained with and was going to stay close with Lese Schaive and Pam Lusitana. I thought getting encouragement from them would help me to stay focused.
The countdown to the start of the race seemed to take forever. I was thinking to myself, "I just want this over with and done." I was getting a bit nervous. Then, all at once, runners started out ahead of us. We stayed together at a nice clip as we headed through the fairgrounds. At first it was cool, but as we kept running we would feel the heat of the coming day.
I was impressed by how we were all doing, heading out of the park and down Third Street we kept a running pace. Then we began to see the fastest runners head back toward the Illinois State Fair. I knew one thing: That was a level that was beyond my ability, probably even when I was in high school.
We ran into Oak Ridge Cemetery and as we rounded through it we took a few slow strides, but still going at a running pace, breaking only for the occasional water station.
I moved ahead of them on the large hill on Black Avenue. Being one of the toughest stretches, I decided to attack it and ran the hill at a fast pace. They caught up with me at the top as I started walking for short periods through Lincoln Park. I was trying to reserve a bit of energy for the return to the state fairgrounds. 
On Bandstand Blvd., as I saw the finish line I decided to just run it hard to the end. It felt great to still be able to put in the final burst of energy. I heard shouts of support as I made it to the finish line. I crossed the finish line in under an hour and 13 minutes. I felt that was a good result for a first-timer.
I was impressed with what my body could do. Neither the old injury from being shot in the leg back in 1997 nor my 20th high school reunion the day before kept me from feeling great and finishing. I followed my training and did the race at a pace I was comfortable with and in the end completed Abe's Amble at less than 12 minutes a mile.
Now, for the next race ... but first some water.
Top photo by David Kaplan: Todd Smith running towards the finish line.
Right photo by David Kaplan: Members of the Abe's Army training group that I went many miles with over the summer.
My earlier columns:
How to make it to the finish line
Too fast, too furious not a good way to start
Abe's Army training -- Canadian style
Making it past the five-mile hump, sore leg and all
Still many miles to go before the race
The hills are alive with runners
The halfway point on the way to Abe's Amble
My training hits a rough patch
My debut in the Abe's Army training program
Preparing myself for the Abe's Army
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