I’m On A Boat

adminbourbon, brownies, Fall in Chicago, Groupon, Lake Michigan, sailing, Tall Ship Windy, Uncategorized%s Comments

Somehow, Chicago has lucked out on yet another week of unseasonably warm temperatures.   It was perfect timing for me yesterday because 1) I got out of work early, 2) I had a Groupon for the Tall Ship Windy that was expiring exactly yesterday and 3) the weather was perfect for a little fall sailing.  Off to Navy Pier I went.

(Are you familiar with Groupon.com?  It’s my go-to for when I want to try something new and try it on the cheap.  It’s a deal-of-the-day website where if enough people purchase said Groupon for the day, the deal is on for everyone.  I’ve tried The Counter, Jazzin’ at the Shedd, Spa Chakra at the Palmer House, and Paint, all for a fraction of the cost I would have paid.  Pretty sweet.)

Back to the sailing.

“Rum Runners” was the theme of the sail so in addition to AMAZING views of the city with the wind in my hair and sun in my face, I heard all about how tall ships were used to smuggle alcohol into 1920s “dry” Chicago.  Apparently, “Grandmas that made brownies were now making bourbon.”  The docent telling the story was fantastic and I learned a lot of cool things about booze and Chicago.

These days are the kind I store in my pocket and bring out when it’s Februry and freezing and I haven’t seen the sun in weeks.  When winter’s frigid winds roll into town, I am going to be able to remember that, at one point, the wind was soft, warm and propelled Tall Ship Windy through Lake Michigan on a lovely October day.

Thursday: TMI Edition

adminChicago Marathon, gross, ouch, pedicures, toenails, too much information, Uncategorized%s Comments

The worst part of the Chicago Marathon happened last night.

I lost.  A toenail.

I know, I know.  It’s a part of this running thing but I was doing so well, not sore and all after the race.  Now this happens.

I emailed my Dad a picture of my newly deformed foot but I’ll spare you.  I’m the only person who should be burdened with this.  Me and my pedicurist.

On Flowers and Toenails

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Marathon Good Luck Lilies from my bff Holly.  It was such a boost when I got them on Friday and now that they’re in full bloom, I’m reminded every time I go into my living room how supported I was every step of those 26.2 miles!

In other news, I’m shocked by how great I feel post-marathon.  My legs were a little sore yesterday and today, the only thing that hurts are the 2 toenails I am definitely going to lose.  In all fairness to the toenails, if I had been pounded into shoes for 26.2 miles, I’d fall off too.  However, I think the long walk I went on Sunday night was clutch.  I kept those muscles moving and stretched out until I passed out at 8:30pm.  Best night of sleep.  Ever.

Have a happy little Tuesday, Chi-town!

Chicago Marathon Recap

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, Chicago running, CM10, Fall in Chicago, first marathon, Luna Bell, running, Uncategorized%s Comments

This weekend was sooo my weekend.

First, my Michigan State Spartans beat U of M.  For the third straight time.  This is may also be known as “putting them in their place” or “basing your team on a kid who can’t tie his shoes is a terrible idea/he will never win the Heisman”.

This glorious, 34-17 win gave me a clear conscience to run the 2010 Chicago Marathon and run it, I did.

A record setting 38,131 runners competed in the marathon and 26.2 miles later, I was one of the 36,159 that finished.  Even today, I cannot believe that I ran that far and it’s all over.  It’s almost surreal.

Some highlights:

  • Nearly every inch of the entire course was lined with spectators.   I now know what 1.2 million people look like.
  • Every single one of those spectators were cheering, screaming, sign-holding and smiling.  I now know what being a rock star must feel like.
  • My friends Mike and Lindsay were at miles 6 and 9, Ryan and my Mom were at mile 12, my co-workers were at mile 23, my college roommates saw me cross the finish.  I had people there for me at crucial miles and it made all the difference in the world getting me across that finish line.
  • Every Port-a-Jon I used was relatively clean.  Score.
  • I was served a Dixie Cup of beer at Mile 24.  I dedicated that entire mile to those fine folks.

Here is the method to my madness during the race:  I focused on each individual mile.  Some people told me to break it into sections, some people told me to not look at the mile markers.  But the second my feet hit the start pad, I knew it was going to be a mile by mile race for me.  “Working on 2, working on 2”, “working on 8”, “working on 18”, all the way to “working on 26”.  This really kept me focused on a manageable task (I can run a single mile) and fully present to what I was trying to accomplish.  It worked for me because before I knew it, I was working on 26.

Speaking of Mile 26, this is the only portion of the race with a hill.  The Chicago Marathon is famous for being “fast and flat” but right before you hit 26, there is a decently steep hill.  And I didn’t even mind.  For me, it hammered home that yes, this is a huge deal, yes, even though you’re almost done, you have fought for every step of this run in 80 degree heat.  And yes, once you’re at the top of that hill, .2 miles has never looked so sweet.

When those .2 miles were done, I cried.  Oh boy, did I cry.  I was a marathoner.  I ran 26.2 miles.  Every time I didn’t go out, every beer I didn’t drink, every mile I put in when I just wanted to stay in bed all led to the exact moment I crossed the finish line.  Holy cow.

And then I got to meet up with my cheering section:

And then I got to go home to my cat.  And even though I had to share my bagel with her, I didn’t mind one bit.

Congratulations to all of the 2010 Chicago Marathon runners!  It was long and it was hot but we did it!

Run This Town

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon 2010, excited, first marathon, Marathon Expo, nervous, protein, Uncategorized%s Comments

Yesterday was the first day of the Chicago Marathon Expo.  So now, I’m running the marathon in an official “I’ve got a race bib/souvenir t-shirt/more forms of protein than I ever knew existed” (gel? bars? cubes?!) sort of way.

During the expo, I went in between feeling like I-might-throw-up-on-you nervous and super excited about every 2 hours.  However, the expo had some solid ad campaigns that definitely elicited the super excited response.

Run Faster?  Run Unleashed?  Run, Chicago, Run?  Don’t mind if I do!

I can’t imagine running 26.2 miles anywhere but Chicago.  This city is filled with favorites upon favorites upon favorites.  Favorite landmarks, favorite people, favorite neighborhoods, favorite food, favorite streets.  I can’t wait to see and experience all of those favorites tomorrow while running my very first marathon

See you at Mile 27!  10.10.10 is HERE!

Nom Nom Nom

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, chocolate chip waffles, food cravings, ninainthechi, running, The Running Couple, Twitter, Uncategorized%s Comments

If chocolate chip waffles aren’t running food, I don’t want to know what is.

I’m not sure if I’m cut out to have children because the marathon cravings I’ve had the last few days have been so intense that  I can’t imagine what pregnancy cravings are like.  I feel like I’m eating like a college linebacker right now.

In other news, I met the most darling couple from Fort Worth, Texas who are in town for the Chicago Marathon.  We got chatting about the race and I learned that Husband Lee has run a few before, Wife Isis is taking on her first and they had tons of great tips, stories and were just so gosh darn nice.  It turns out that they have a blog called therunningcouple.com and have been blogging about the running and training they have done together.  If there ever was a team (or a “teamie” as Ryan and I call it when we are particularly proud of ourselves for doing something good together), Lee and Isis are it.  They absolutely fueled my excitement for the Chicago Marathon and I am so excited to get reading their blog for more inspiration and advice!  In addition to their killer blog, you can follow them on Twitter: @runningcouple.    I’m @ninainthechi on Twitter, just in case you’re not following my musings yet.

High Five of the Day: The incredibly nice people who spoke with me at ADT today.  All I was trying to do was change a battery but they took me seriously, as if I were dealing with a matter of national security.  I totally didn’t expect that from an 800 number.  Way to go, customer service.

Just Like a Good Bra…

adminChicago Marathon, Friends, running, support, Uncategorized%s Comments

I’m talking about support, people.

To say I am blessed to have supportive people in my life is an understatement.  I am even luckier to know that I do as these people are also very expressive.  But this week, the support I have been getting from people I love, people I like and people I don’t even know has been overwhelming.  Overwhelmingly AWESOME, that is!

My best friend is in Paris this week so she sent a card because she’ll be mid-air during my run.  My Dad, writer of the best emails of all time, sent me a Papa G classic that made me (and several co-workers) cry at work yesterday.  Mama G is coming into town to be at the finish line.  There have been emails and calls from friends, friend’s parents, acquaintances, readers, friends of friends, all with advice, their own running stories or well wishes.

I’m getting more excited than nervous now and I attribute that to the amazing support I’ve been shown recently.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

4 days!

Marathogging???

admin10.10.10, Chicago Marathon, Chicago running, Go Go Green 5k, running, Running Blogs, Save The Date For Cupcakes, Uncategorized%s Comments

Title: my lame attempt at combining the words “marathon” and “blogging”.

I apologize for the million posts about the marathon but with 10.10.10 being T-minus 6 days away, I have a pretty one-track mind right now.

Today, I met the bloggette behind Vegan by Valerie.  Formerly ChicagoMarathonVal.com, Valerie has shifted the focus of her weblog to her passion for veganism while still blogging frequently about training for her 4th marathon.  Simply hearing that the 2010 Chicago Marathon will be her 4th was impeccably good news for me- someone I have actually met has run one of these AND still thought it was a good idea to keep running.  Helped quell my anxiety a bit.

Since she was super sweet, I checked out her blog when I got home tonight.  She must have known about my recent obsession with jicama because her latest post was a recipe for Jicama and Carrot Slaw with Mango Dressing and Avocado!  Delightful.  I really like how her blog blends vegan love with running, yoga and overall healthy living.  Especially loving on her post “Just Run”.

I’ve had my blog for a little over a year now and I am just becoming aware of what a community blogging is.  And how many wildly creative, and might I add hilarious, titles there are out there!  I totally regret not calling my blog “Seriously, You’re Taking My Bagels?!?” or “Save The Date For Cupcakes“.  And, I totally, definitely regret that my table doesn’t look like this everyday:

I mean, shut the front door SaveTheDateForCupcakes– now I want Gummi Worm Shooters and Mini Caramel Candied Pears Infused with Peach Honey Sticks at my Halloween party!  Simply gorgeous.

A quick Google search for Chicago Marathon Bloggers came up with about 307,000 results (or at least that’s what Google could muster in .19 seconds).  There’s a kid w ho has run 17 Marathons, a guy who compiled selected blog posts from last year’s race, one who wrote a funny and really true post about being a Jekyll and Hyde runner.  Super inspiring, powerful stuff- why didn’t I think to read this stuff during my training, when I needed all the inspiration and motivation I could get?  You live and you learn, I guess.

Moral of the story: there is a blog for every topic under the sun and when one is taking on running 26.2 miles, one might consider reading one of said marathon blogs.  Ahem, Nina.

In other news, the Go Go Green 5k is coming up on October 23rd.  It’s an eco-friendly race designed to raise awareness about our urban ecosystem.  Recycling, running, Lincoln Park…what’s not to love?

It is truly, without a doubt, go lace up your shoes right this second, fall running season.