Chicago Marathon 2024: You Don’t Have to Feel Unstoppable to Be Unstoppable
At Skratch Labs, we know that racing isn’t just about perfectly executed plans or hitting every mark in training. Sometimes, it’s about showing up even when the path feels far from perfect. That was the case for our VP of Sales and Marketing, Mellisa, as she approached the Chicago Marathon—her third time running it, but perhaps the most meaningful.
Mellisa’s training block was tough. “I always felt off, like I was breaking down instead of building up,” she said. What was meant to be her best race, shaped by 21 years since her last Chicago Marathon, had become a mental struggle to push through fear and doubt. But Mellisa didn’t back out. Instead, she leaned into the lessons—the big one being that the race isn’t always about the perfect buildup or a flawless day. Sometimes, it’s about embracing the mess, trusting the process, and showing up for yourself.
With support from her coach and Skratch Customer Experience Specialist, Tori Gerlach, and the encouragement of her family, Mellisa reframed the entire race experience. “I had to let go of expectations. I’d convinced myself that finishing was enough, but really, it was about more than just crossing the finish line—it was about committing to the journey.
”On race day, Mellisa felt an unexpected calm. As she started, she let go of the clock and allowed herself to run free, enjoying every step in a sea of 47,000 runners. The crowds were electric, pushing her through moments when she could’ve faded. And when she crossed the line at 3:58—hitting her sub-4-hour goal that she had secretly manifested—it wasn’t just about the time. It was about heart, grit, and seeing the strength within herself.
Photo: Right after putting a few Skratch Energy Chews in her mouth Grace caught a snap of her
During the race Coach Tori (and Mellisa's family and Skratch photographer Grace), was there to support her. "I met Mellisa at the halfway mark to switch out her bottles (Super High-Carb + Everyday Drink Mix topper for the win!) and she was right on pace for her 4-hour goal," Tori shared. “What stood out to me was how happy and excited she looked every time I saw her. Even in the second half, she remained steady, and you could tell she was loving what she was doing. It goes to show that if you're truly enjoying the process, you can accomplish just about anything."
Mellisa took that energy and ran with it—literally. By mile 25, with her family cheering her on, she found another gear and finished her last 1.2 miles with a burst of speed that pushed her to her sub-4-hour goal with a time of 3:58. But as Mellisa reflected, it wasn’t just about the finish. It was about trusting the journey, finding joy in the process, and leaning on the power of community.
It’s not just legs that carry you; it’s heart. It’s the power of community and the reminder that sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when you stop trying to force them. Mellisa's story is a reflection of that truth—trust the process, lean into the support around you, and remember that the only way out is through.
Mellisa's Full Experience:
"Coming off a marathon a few months earlier, I thought I would have a killer training block heading into the Chicago marathon. Instead, I found myself on the struggle bus for the majority of my training. I always felt off, never hit my stride or had that breakthrough run. Instead of building strength, I felt like I was breaking down. It was frustrating, and as I reached my peak training weeks, fear set in. This wasn’t going to be the race I had planned for Chicago. It was meant to be my third Chicago marathon, and fifth overall, but 21 years had passed since I last ran it. I wanted it to be my best one, especially since I anticipated it would be my last for this race.
Days before the race, I learned I could defer my entry to next year. But with 85% of my training behind me, I decided to fly to Chicago two weeks before the race for a rehearsal run and got in 19 miles, in and out in less than 24 hours. I hoped it would give me the confidence boost I needed, but instead, I got perspective. I always tell my boys we finish what we start if we’re healthy and able and this was a great moment for me to demonstrate my own resilience and commitment. I also realized I had placed too much importance on this race. I felt the need to make it my best, not only for myself but for friends, family, and Skratch. I didn’t want to let any of them down and while I felt their support, I unfortunately translated it into pressure and expectation. It became overwhelming, and I shut down. I was crippled by fear.
Thankfully, when I arrived in Chicago for race weekend, things shifted. Sea-level was an obvious advantage, but I also had a few key mental unlocks. I had already decided to let go of my time goal—a sub-4-hour finish that would’ve been my all-time marathon PR. With a lot of hard personal work and helpful coaching from friends and family, I convinced myself that time didn’t define me, and neither did finishing. The second shift was the sense of community. My training had been mostly solo, with my coach tracking progress and family of course being a great support system, but nearly every mile logged during training was run alone. I didn’t realize how isolating that was. Being in Chicago, surrounded by other runners at the Expo, in the streets, and even during my shakeout run, I finally felt like I wasn’t alone. I overheard two women on the lakefront trail talking about their fears for race day, and it was uncanny how much it mirrored what I had been feeling. I stopped to thank them for that and let them know I much I related. We wished each other well for the race the next day. I have so many more stories like this one of meeting other runners in lines at the Expo, on the hotel elevator, or shopping for our Finisher Gear at Nike. Sometimes we chatted, other times, a simple nod demonstrated "we're in this together". It was comforting to be among people who had been through the same mental battles.
Race day arrived, and I was calm, even at ease, a feeling that felt foreign but I welcomed openly. As I walked over to the race with thousands of others, I felt the collective energy. We all had different training plans and paces, but we shared the same goal: to finish what we started.
Crossing the start line, I was finally excited. I repeated all the advice I’d received in the days leading up to the race: run your own race, soak in the crowds, and remember, it’s going to hurt no matter what, so you might as well go fast. As I ran, I let myself enjoy the sea-level air and my fresh-off-taper legs. I felt good, so I decided to lean in and keep the pace. The crowds were insane. I've heard that there were 1.7M spectators and honestly, I'm not surprised, because there was never a dead zone. In fact, even with my airpods cranked all the way up, I couldn't hear my music because the cheering was on a whole other level. I ate it up. Electric, Intoxifying, Stimulating. It was all of those things and more. Around mile 11, I noticed my Garmin was showing more mileage than the official markers, so I stopped paying attention to the watch. I trusted how I felt and let the race unfold. I was able to see 2 of my awesome teammates, one of whom happens to also be my coach a couple of times on the course. When I look back at my times, my paces improve dramatically in the miles right after I see them - what a jolt they were for me. I need to tell them that!! ha. By mile 22, I noticed I was with the 3:55 pacers and I was stoked to be hanging with them this far into the race. But I reminded myself that I didn’t know where I’d started in relation to them, so I just kept running.
At mile 25, my husband and sons found me one last time, and my husband kept yelling "You need to GO NOW!". I didn’t understand why, but I found another gear, picked up the pace and finished the last 1.2 miles in what would be my second-fastest pace of the day. I crossed the finish line not knowing my time until my son called, saying, “You did it, Mom, you did it!” I thought he meant I’d simply finished, but then my coach texted me that I’d hit 3:58—the exact time I had been secretly manifesting for months (I hadn't even told my husband, he knew I wanted sub-4, but not the exact time). I think I will be forever baffled that without paying attention to my pace or time during the race, I hit my original goal right on the nose. It showed me the incredible power of the human mind, and my body responded. Everything just came together, even when I thought that would never be possible. And also, that kick in the pants from my husband made a big difference... turns out I was teetering within 10 seconds of not getting sub-4 when I was at mile 25, so I'm super grateful he gave me that last push. Life partners make great race partners. :)
I'm (slowly) walking away from this experience with some fundamental lessons, like making sure to leverage the power of the community well before race day and give back to it too. A sense of belonging has always been a beacon for me and that proved to be especially true this experience, feeling connected, seen and understood matters greatly. I also need to right-size the importance of my goals. They’re meant to push me, not debilitate me or make me feel less than. Finishing what you start isn’t just about hitting your goals—it’s about committing to yourself, if you can. I'm more proud of the fact that I stuck with it than I am that I ended up hitting the goal. And finally, trust the process and trust that you are meant to have the race, the day, and the experience you have. While I'm still on a post-race high, I'm really encouraged that I don't have the overpowering desire or need to conquer the next thing. I had the experience I was meant to have. And I'll have more in the future. But for now, I'm going to be where I am. And that feels f'in amazing."
