Just a Chi Town Girl’s Race RUNdown

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It gets warm for a few days, I have a few great runs along the lake and I’m already excited about what is (nearly) upon us: running season!

Just looking at this picture reminds me why I love running.  Whether you are pounding the pavement with 45,000 runners and over a million spectators or a just handful of people on the Lake Front Path and a cheering section of one (aka the voice inside your head telling you to keep going!) there is nothing quite like running in Chicago.

This year, I’ve decided to take advantage of some road races preceding the marathon for some training runs.  More community, more commitment and frankly, more fun!  There are SO many that there’s no reason why I can’t be at the starting line for a few.

So here it is: my race RUNdown of the races you need to tie your laces for.  If you have any favorites that I did not list and absolutely cannot miss, for the love of Gu– let me know!

April 10: Shamrock Shuffle

April 16:Race to Wrigley 5k (starts AND ends in Wrigley Field)

May 7:Cinco de Miler 8k (3 cheers for the clever name!)

May 28: Soldier Field 10 Miler (ends ON Soldier Field.  Unless the Bears recruit me, this is most likely my only shot at getting anywhere near that 50 yard line.)

June 4:13.1 Chicago (Lake Front Path, my friend)

August 4:Terrapin 5k (Who doesn’t love tie-dye?)

August 11: Elvis is Alive 5k (Who doesn’t love Elvis?)

August 14: Rock N Roll Half Marathon (Hotter than hell…and I was only working a water station.  Ryan ran it and loved the bands that are positions every few miles.)

September 18:CARA 20-Miler (allegedly a great way to get in your last long training run before the marathon on a fully supported course.  I say allegedly because last year I opted for going it alone…which meant frequent 7/11 stops for Vitamin Water and Cliff Bars.  Maybe I’ll leave long run support to the pros this year…

October 9:Bank of America Chicago Marathon!

Happy Running!

2011 Soldier Field 10-Miler

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The Soldier Field 10 Miler will be held on Saturday, May 28th and is a chance to “finish on the 50”.  The race ends on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field and I don’t know about you but this race is most likely going to be my only shot at doing anything on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field, given the fact that my hand eye coordination is far too lacking to land a spot with the Bears (although from what I’ve seen from Jay Cutler, the Bears might actually have room for me.  But I digress).

Word on the street is that this race sells out early so I signed up today! Chicago’s running community is amazing and growing every year.  I, for one, love that races sell out- that means that even in these frigid temps, people are sweating it out on the pavement or on their treadmills, gearing up for warmer weather and running season.  Powerful stuff, that community.

Can’t wait to “finish at the 50”!

(photo via Fleet Feet Chicag0)

Snow Running and Shuffling

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I bundled up and went for a run outside this afternoon.  I’ve never been one to run in the snow so there’s this novelty to it right now.  “I’m running outside, I’m running outside and there is snow and I may fall on ice but I’m running outside!” sort of deal that totally makes the miles fly by.  The 5 shirts I was wearing and I knocked out 5 miles today and when I got home, this announcement was on my Blackberry, via email:

Registration for the Shamrock Shuffle 8k Opens January 1st.

This race signals the start of Chicago run season!  Last year, I swear it was negative a million degrees outside.  The kind of cold layers can’t touch.  Interestingly enough, the race has been moved from the 3rd week in March to April 10th.  I mean, I would have run it anyways but the chance of it being a little warmer while running those 5 miles through the Loop is fine by me.  The race is capped at 40,000 people and it sells out every year so you better mark your calendars for January 1st!

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!

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.

Marathon Update Part 2

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I did another long run yesterday and it was a success.  Chicago lived up to its name with the wind off the lake forcing me to cut up through Lincoln Park.  I think the site-seeing is what got me through.  Ran through the recently re-opened pond area of the Park, up on Inner Lakeshore, Cubs game just starting at Wrigley, down through the brunch crowds on Armitage…I was just so happy to be out and about on such a beautiful morning, experiencing so many of my favorite parts of the city within a short time frame.  Running is so good for that.

And did I mention that Ryan hits the pavement with me through all of my long runs?  Weeks have been busier than usual lately and it is so nice, even though we do live together, to be able to spend several hours together talking about all the stuff that just doesn’t make it into week night conversation.  News headlines, conversations we’ve had with friends/family, work anecdotes, “did you see what Luna Bell did?” stories…all while getting in mileage.  I am exponentially grateful for Ryan just in general but his support has made this marathon business so much more fun.

I wasn’t even sore today, at all!  I was shocked, I put in quite a few miles.  I think I’m really going to be able to run this marathon.

2 weeks. 2 weeks.

Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon

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5:45am–My alarm goes off.

6:05am–I walk out the door.

6:07am–I realize that I can’t make it another step without a copious amount of coffee and bagels.  Maybe donuts too.

6:15am–I arrive at the CARA (Chicago  Area Runners Association) water station for the Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon with a bag of bagels, donuts AND muffins after a Dunkin Donuts stop.

6:30am–25,000 runners start their race.  Man-Friend ran it, as well as several of my friends and it could not have been a more gorgeous day.  I was absolutely blown away by how courteous these runners were!  I know our water station was at mile 3 and people were still pretty fresh but pretty much every runner who grabbed a cup of water for me said thank you, thank you for volunteering.  I don’t know about you but when I run, my focus is on putting one foot in front of another.  These people had 10 miles ahead of them but still took the time to share some love.

After I was done hydrating some rockin’ runners, I headed to Buckingham Fountain to wait for Man-Friend to finish the race.

I watched as the runners met up with their loved ones, locals had their morning coffee and met a nice little Vizsla named Scout.  Ryan did great–he was out of town all week for work and didn’t get back until Saturday evening but got his butt out there and ran the 13.1.  I’m so proud of him!  I’m absolutely on board now to kick up my marathon training.  I have a little over 2 months and as long as I increase my long runs by 2 miles each week, I will be hitting over 20miles by October.  It’s in the bag.

Congrats on the Half Marathon, Ryan, Mike, Lindsay, Christina, Carina, Bill and Giuliana!  (I had to throw Bill and Giuliana in there because I ran into them while I was running down Michigan Avenue this morning so they’re practically my neighbors, ya know?)

High Five of the Day: Our basil plant is now 4 weeks old and alive and well.  This is a record for me.  I am loving being able to walk over to the window and pluck off leaves to throw in our dinner–definitely made our sun-dried tomato, roasted red pepper and chicken pasta last night oh-so-delicious.