Things are looking up

This week Monday I actually got off my ass and gave the knee a nice and easy test run/walk on the treadmill for the first time in over three weeks. I just couldn't take not being active anymore. I'm very happy to report that everything went well, and I felt no pain after 3 miles. I did a set of 4 minutes run/1 minute walk for 40 minutes followed by stretching. To be honest, this workout felt so effortless, and the legs felt so good, that I couldn't keep the grin off of my face.

The right knee felt strong. I actually have a bit of scarring on the skin near the right knee cap from all of the icing I've put it through. On Wednesday, I did a quick 20 minute run, followed by a rigorous weight routine on the legs and core. Again, no knee pain whatsoever.

I can't begin to tell you how important it is for me to get better. Running is such an important part of my life that I can't imagine not doing it. Having two pain free workouts in a row was such a relief. Still, I'm being extra careful.

This weekend I'm going to attempt five miles of a run/walk. The St. Louis marathon is less than three weeks away, but I'm no longer concerned with finishing it. My focus is now going to be the Chicago Marathon in October. I'm going to ease back into running full speed, and I can't wait to jump into a race 100% healthy.

All I can do now is pray that I'll come out of this better than ever before.

Post-Chicago Marathon thoughts

I'm finally starting to get my legs back after Sunday's race. They were stiff as a board the couple of days after, but I'm mostly unscathed. Remember the left calf pain I was whining about before the race? Well, I've managed to turn it into ground beef now, so it will take a little time to rehab it back into shape. No real harm done, I hope.

I'm still on a little bit of a high after finishing that 26.2 mile monster. Despite the major malfunction I had after mile 18, I'm very happy with the result. I. can't. begin. to describe how magical the moment was when that medal went around my neck after crossing the finish line. As I mentioned in my previous race report, I just held it tightly in my hand for quite a while afterwards. I now understand how addicting that feeling can be. I am hooked.

You see, in the running world there are these things we call "PR's" or "PB's" (Personal Records or Personal Bests). And there are these numbers attached to them indicating your finish times. These are meant to be broken. So the 4:54:38 time I have in the marathon, will soon fall. This is my new goal.

One thing is certain, I will be back to run Chicago in 2009. I have another crazy idea of taking on a 2nd marathon sometime next year, along with a couple of half's. I haven't decided on the races yet, but I should have a final list soon.

There is a quote I saw somewhere on the Internets that will be my mantra from this day forward:

"There will be a day when I can no longer do this. Today is not that day."

I like that.

Chicago Marathon race report- worth the pain

Race: Chicago Marathon
Distance: 26.2
Official time: 4:54:38

I've read that it isn't only the distance of the marathon that provides the challenge, but it's how you deal with the unexpected that can make or break your run. This proved so true on Sunday.

This is the biggest running event I have ever experienced! Standing and waiting to go in that sea of people was simply incredible- jaw dropping in fact. It took me nearly 20 minutes to cross the start line, as I ended up somewhere around the 5:00 hour pace group, but ended up working myself up to the 4:30's.

After crossing the Start, my GPS was rendered useless right from the beginning after running under the first bridge. The only thing useful on it was the timer; the mile and pace counters never recovered. All I had left was my Pace Tat, which was a huge help:



It was hot, folks. Really hot. I believe the recorded high was 85. I knew the heat was coming, so I made the proper adjustments, scaling back my pace and not starting out to quick.

I stayed with the 4:30 pace group for a good 9 miles until I was comfortable enough to pull slightly ahead of them, just keeping them within ear shot. I walked through the early water stations for about a minute until the pace group caught up with me, and then I would continue running.

I reached the half way point in 2 hours 8 minutes- just 7 minutes behind my official half-marathon mark. I'd already exhausted my hydration bottles by this point, so I was depending on the stations to keep me hydrated the rest of the way.

I think I may have depended on my Garmin GPS too much in my training. It was by that clock that I would take my gels and liquids during long runs. Since my GPS was way off the mark, I was now just guessing and counting miles as to when I needed to take my gels- 5, 10, 15, 20. In the middle miles, I was still taking water with my Gatorade for fear of stomach cramps. This mix may have negated the sodium intake that I badly needed later in the race.

I was in awe at all of the different sights, the amazing crowds, and the diverse group of runners. There were people here from all over the world. I took it all in.

The first half went really well. I was feeling wonderful. It was extremely difficult to stay at a steady pace with so many runners around. I would veer to the left to find a clear shot along the curb and gently tap people on the arm if they got a little too close for comfort- it was just that packed.

Then, the inevitable happened.

I saw the Event Alert level go to red around the 15 mile marker as it felt way over 80 degrees now. I started to see runners dropping off to the side one by one. I came up to a water stop just before mile 17 and saw a wall of runners just slow down in front of me to get water. I came to a dead stop to avoid bumping into people and my quads just locked up. I couldn't believe it.

The cramps were intense. I grabbed some Gatorade and took down another gel. By this point, I was in pain. I just continued to walk forward to shake it off and regroup. I just couldn't believe what was happening. I knew that if I stopped, I could not continue. At times I just wanted to sit and let it go. This was not happening. Not today.

So I would run, and run, until I couldn't run anymore, and then I would walk for a couple of minutes to gather myself up. After a while it got a bit easier as I got more fluids and bananas in me. This continues for another 5 or 6 miles until mile 25.

I was close now. Up to this point I was picking a marker ahead of me and running to it, whether it be a light post, tree, or the mile marker. Once I got there, I'd have to shake off the cramping for a few seconds and do the same thing.

Near the end, coming up to Roosevelt and the finish, I ran. I saw my family and it pushed me to go faster. I fought through everything I was going through and made it. Finally.

I put my arms up at the finish. And as the medal went around my neck, I clutched it hard and didn't let go. I sobbed like a little kid and didn't care. I had made it.

I had just finished my first marathon.

So that's it! 4:54 wasn't the time I wanted, but near the end, I had set my goal to finish in under five hours, which I accomplished. I fought hard and it made finishing my first ever marathon all that more satisfying.

I absolutely loved every minute of it and I WILL be back again.

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support. I will not soon forget it.

My family and me:



Lindsay and Erin- thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming out to support me. I hope you have been inspired to try it next year!:



See the rest of the photos on my Flickr page.

Read my Twitter pal Alex's race report here (you did great!)

Check out Lindsay's Race report as a spectator here.

Congrats to all of the finishers!!!

See you on the flip side of 26.2, my friends

Well, this will officially be my last post before the Big Day.

I think life will be different after the marathon- it pretty much already is. God willing, I will finish and would have experienced the most incredible moment of my life, I think.

My mind is at peace. My soul is inspired.

I have rediscovered my love for running, and I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm a distance runner dammit, and I freakin' love it. This is my life now.

I'm leaving it in the hands of God now. I'm still being bothered by a slight pain in my left calf, but I can run through it. I'm not too concerned with the heat, as I've trained in much hotter weather than this. Still, I don't know what to expect, but I'm going to do my best.

The journey has been especially difficult. Not only in a physical sense, but emotionally. Yes, there have been times when I wanted to stop; times that I thought I could not continue. But in those moments, I would take a look back at my life to see the good times, and the bad. There are many things I succeeded in, and many more where I failed.

I will try not to fail this time.

Thank you to all of the wonderful friends and family who have read this blog and followed me on my journey. I have met some incredible people- many who I don't know face to face- but I still hold you close to my heart- you know who you are.

To list these names will take a million posts. So I will say this:

Whether you know it or not, you are my inspiration. I am grateful for you to be a part of my life. Whether you live right next door, or half way across this world, thank you for sharing this moment with me.

-To all of my new Twitter runner friends- You are all an incredible bunch and your wonderful words of encouragement through all of this have helped in so many different ways. For this, I am grateful.

You all will be in my thoughts through this journey.

It's going to be quite a ride.

I am ready.

My marathon suit for the day

(click to open)

This will be my marathon suit.

All of my wear has been tried and tested. Everything in the photo has logged hundreds of miles and I trust them so!

I had mixed feelings about putting my name on my top, but hearing your name shouted at you from the crowd gives you a nice little boost. So, what the hell?! This is my first marathon and I'm going to enjoy it!

Clicking on the photo will take you to my Flickr page. The photo contains mouse over's to each piece of wear.

It's all or nothing!

Finishing up a five mile run outdoors in my winter running gear in near 70F temperatures. Comfy? No... Necessary? Probably yes, considering the forecast high of near 80 for Sunday.

I just finished up my breakfast: Five pancakes, 3 scrambled eggs with 3 slices of smoked ham, tall glass of orange juice, and a bowl of mixed fruit. Last night I had a sirloin steak, baked potato with mixed vegetables, and a beer. This has been the norm the past week or so (actually all summer!) and the funny thing is my pants from last year still fit me :-)

The past couple of runs this week, I've grown more concerned about the increasing pain in my left calf muscle. It probably sprung up after this run, but lay dormant until now. All I can do now is ice it and rest it as much as possible. It doesn't hamper my pace at all... it's just there, and it bugs me.

There's no turning back now. Pain or no pain, I'm going to run through it. I'll have plenty of time after Sunday to rest and rehab it.

It's all or nothing now.

And many thanks to those of you wishing me well!

The heat is on!

Before I begin: Found this very cool interactive map of the marathon course- complete with photos! Check it out here.

What do you know? The Chicago Marathon organizers have upgraded their Event Alert System warning level to "Yellow/Moderate" which indicates "Less-than-ideal" conditions for runners the day of the marathon. With temps already near 80, the game changes.

I've dropped down my expectations a bit from finishing in four hours to just... finishing. Fortunately, I've trained in some ridiculously warm weather this summer, so I know what to expect. I don't expect holding a 9 minute-per-mile pace the whole way, rather I'm going to set an easy pace early, take my fluids, and go on feel the latter half of the race.

I'm digging out my winter running gear for my two runs today and Friday, and I am going to run with a couple of layers on in the middle of the day to simulate running in the heat for Sunday. This means thermal running tights (my butt looks good in them too), and my thermal shirt with another long sleeve or jacket above that and some gloves.

For now, I'm enjoying a couple of days off before the weekend, and then hoping for two days to recover after!

...and probably more blogging because this taper is killing me slowly :-)

Do I have to wait four more days?

Four more days until the marathon and I'm practically jumping out of my skin. I want to do this thing TODAY. I ran a wonderful three miles on the treadmill last night after not doing anything since the eight on Saturday. I could of gone forever.

My sleep patterns are still pretty staggered as of late. Last night, I had a dream that I was running a race dressed as a largemouth bass. Now I don't know what running around as a freshwater fish really means, but I know they can indicate good luck! I am a Pisces after all...

The back of my right knee is still a little sore, and the calf on my left leg feels as though it has a huge knot in it. I've been icing and massaging both areas daily and it has helped. Actually, this was the same soreness I battled the week before my successful 20 miler, so I have high hopes I'll heal it up with the same care.

Until next time!

This can change everything!

If this weather forecast holds, it can change a whole 'lotta things. From what to wear, hydration, pace... oh man... this is getting interesting.

They say you should expect your body to feel 20 degrees warmer than the outside air when you run, so this should put the actual "real feel" temperature around 97F. Great!

Here's hoping my training in the hot summer sun will come in handy. Hopefully my body will know what to do.

Six more restless nights

It's Monday now. Six days from now I'll be lining up with 45,000 other runners for the Chicago Marathon.

I think I had my first case of a restless night in quite a few months last night. I remember waking up and looking at the clock around 11:45pm and again around 12:30am. I'm not sure what I was worried about, but I was restless nonetheless. I did go to sleep at a decent time, so I'm not really tired this morning.

I suppose now that I've brought the mileage down in my runs, I'm not going to sleep like the dead (tired) as I've been doing almost all summer. Is this normal? Whatever the case may be, I'm turning in almost an hour or more earlier than normal this week.

My appetite has also been pretty rampant as usual. I had this big plan to visit some different restaurants this week to fuel up for Sunday, but I think I'm sticking to what I know. The running books say not to try anything different the one to two weeks before the marathon for fear of falling ill or getting injured in some way. So I'll look back at what I did before my two 20 mile runs and go with that.

This is my last week of tapering, so my mileage is pretty slim:

Mon: Rest
Tues: 3 miles
Wed: Rest
Thur: 5 miles
Fri: 2 miles
Sat: Rest
Sun: Race!

I've been dealing with some tightness behind my right knee, but I think I can lick it come Sunday.

Counting down the days

What a chilly morning to start my 8 mile run today. My guess is that this is what it's going to feel like eight days from now. Friends around me and on Twitter have been keeping me up to date on the weather forecast for Oct. 12. It's been somewhat of a mixed bag. Whatever it winds up to be, I think I'm going to have a great time.

Fifteen months.

Has it been that long since the thought of running this thing crossed my mind?

Fifteen months. Wow.

Fifteen months of grueling work to condition my body to run 26.2 miles. My bones have ached, my muscles are sore, and my body is tired. Fifteen months ago I was feeling crummy- physically and emotionally. I hadn't run in over 25 years and my body was screaming to get out of that damn computer chair and DO something. So I ran... I didn't get very far on the first try, but it was a step.

It's a lifestyle now. I've thought a lot about what I'm going to do come October 13. I know I won't run big miles for two to three weeks after. I definitely want to more races. And I'm surely not ruling out another marathon should this one go well.

We'll see. Every bit of this experience is so new to me that I'm just enjoying taking it all in.

Jesse's guide to spectating at the 2008 Chicago Marathon

On the request of a few friends who are looking at coming down to cheer on the runners at the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, I've put together this quick guide taken from my personal experience spectating at the event last year.

By no means is this an expert guide, but a collection of tips. You can visit the official Chicago Marathon website for an official Spectator Guide here.

Ok, now that I have that out of the way. Here we go...

First, take a minute to download the PDF of the marathon course. I'll be using this as a guide.

Got it? Ok...

I will have my cell phone on me all day. Email me for the phone #.

My bib #14226
Coming soon... what I'll wear...

Tip of the day: Make sure your runner see's you. Be sure to bring the most obnoxious balloon or sign you can find and stand out!

Runner Tracking: The Chicago Marathon has a runner tracking service that will send text and/or email messages to your phone in real time as the runners cross certain parts of the course- 6 miles, halfway (13.1 miles), 18 miles, and finish. The service is free and is available here. This is a nice way of knowing where runners are during the race.

Getting there: I recommend taking public transportation if possible unless you plan on getting there before 6:30 a.m. There will be LOTS of people downtown. I recommend taking the earliest train out if possible. The start time for the marathon is 8 a.m. CDT

Several Metra train lines will be running on a special schedule the day of the event to make sure you see your runners off. Visit this link for information.

Travel light: Forget bringing chairs. I did this last year and had to abandon it. A blanket will do if you want to hang around in Grant Park and enjoy the festivities. Dress comfortably and for the weather. You'll probably be doing a lot of walking.

The Start: The start line is on Columbus drive in Grant Park between Jackson and Monroe. Trying to see a runner off here is next to impossible. It's kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack (think 45,000 registered runners). Walking through the crowds here is also difficult. I recommend finding a spot between miles 1 and 3 on State st., Jackson, or Lasalle st. (see map).

The Start- where I'll be: If you'd like to try and find me, look for the Pace signs. These signs are lined up along the start line labeled with the finish times. I will be near the 4:00 hour pace group (9 minutes per mile) in the "Open Corral". I like the left side (west side of street). Unless I know where you are, don't count on me looking for you. I may be too busy getting warmed up or puking my nervous guts out :-)

Staying "close to home": If you don't want to stray too far from Grant Park and the train station, the following mile markers are in the downtown area: Start, 2-3, 13, 14, 16, 26, and Finish. Mile markers 17 and up are south of downtown. Use the official Spectator Guide for information on getting to these areas should you want to venture that way.

The Half-Way point: Mile 13 is the half-way point near the intersections of Franklin and Adams, just east of the river (see map). This is a popular spot, so you'll have to hunt around for a good view. Watch your Runner Tracker as I approach this point. You should see me here close to 2 hours after the start around 10 a.m. (god willing!) I like the left side of the street. WAVE AND SCREAM LOUD!

Miles 16 and up: After mile 17, the course goes into the southern 'burbs of the city and will be hard to get to if you walk. See the official Spectator Guide for EL and bus information on how to get to these spots. For me, this will be a lonely journey, and I'll be gone for another two hours until the finish. It's a nice time to get some breakfast or stick around to watch the rest of the field.

Most of the McDonald's restaurants in the area will have Runner Update Centers where marathon staff will provide updates on where the runners are on the course. Your Runner Tracker works too.

Mile 18 to 20: Find me here between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. or 3 1/2 hours after the start. This is the furthest I've run in training. Anything after mile 20 is in the hands of the man upstairs! Prayers are welcome :-)

The Finish: Unless you park yourself at the finish line early and stay there all day, forget about trying to get a good view. There are paid seats here and the crowds get really big. The best view will be on Roosevelt, which is the street just before the turn to the finish. It is the highest hill on the course, and your SCREAMS will give the runners encouragement!! Get there early (at least an hour before noon) as only the north side of the street is accessible- don't worry, there is lots of room. SCREAM LOUD!!!

When it's over: If you head over to where the runners exit the corrals, be prepared for lots of people. If you cannot find me, the Runners Reunite area is located in Grant Park's Butler Field, just northeast of the finish on Columbus Dr. and Jackson Blvd. There will be alphabetically posted signs. Go to the M's and wait here. Otherwise, find the CARA tent (Chicago Area Runners Association). I will go there to get my gear first. Ask around if you can't find it. Call my cell as a last resort, or go to Buckingham Fountain.

Even if you don't go to see anyone in particular, the entire area is full of energy, and the inspiration you will get from seeing the runners finish 26.2 miles will be with you for days to come.

And perhaps... even inspire you to run next year :-)

Goodbye Long Runs... for now

This is Lindsay. She's a running rock star.

She also hates my guts. Well, at least she did for the second half of our 13 mile run this past Saturday :0)

This was her first training run in Chicago, and it was my last long run before the Chicago marathon in two weeks. It turned out to be a beautiful day, but since we got a late start, the heat of the sun started to take its toll on us. We could have used more of that refreshing lake breeze, too.

So as she started to fade a bit after our turnaround at the 6.5 mile mark, I yelled at her to keep moving! She told me a few times she couldn't continue on, but I wanted nothing of it! Poor Lindsay. I think my brief stint as an assistant cross country coach during high school kind of showed itself.

In the end, we both finished all 13 miles. I thought for a minute I may have ruined our chances of running together ever again, but a high five at the finish as she said, "I couldn't of done it without you," was an encouraging sign :)

I know we all need a bit of encouragement to pull through the really tough miles. As a mostly solo runner myself, I didn't get much of that during my training, so it was nice to help a friend finish strong.

After our run we headed to Millennium Park to check out WiredNextfest:



This is just one example of the crazy contraptions that will be "transforming our world" in the near future. From personal transports, to robotic wonders, it was neat to see the different types of innovations already taking shape.

So that's it. My training is done for the most part. It's mostly just maintenance runs for the next two weeks until Oct. 12.

Here's what's ahead:

Mon: 5 miles
Wed: 5 miles
Thur: Cross train
Sat: 8 miles

Of phantom pain and early taper madness

I had to stop 5 miles into an 8 mile run yesterday after feeling a "pop" in my left calf muscle. The only way I can describe it would be like snapping a stretched rubber band. I felt it from the knee down to my heel.

I stopped dead in my tracks and stretched it out for a few minutes. I was able to jog the half mile back to my car, and I wasn't limping at all. I quickly massaged the area and it felt like I had a charlie horse in there. It scared the crap out of me.

Later in the evening, I put ice on it and massaged the area for a bit and it felt better. I woke up this morning with a little soreness, but I think it's OK. I'm staying positive about it all.

All of this training is taking its toll, I think, and I'll be glad to be gearing things down come Sunday. I may just take a queue from Alex and get one of these deep tissue massage deals she talks about in her blog, however unpleasant she makes it sound :-)

Speaking of this Saturday, I'll be joined on my 13 mile run on the Chicago lakefront by fellow running-blogger Lindsay, who is training to run the St. Jude Memphis Marathon in Memphis, TN on Dec. 6. I've been following her blog for quite a while now, and am looking forward to finally meeting her in person! She will be coming up from Dekalb, IL. for her first run along Chicago's beautiful lakefront. It will be nice to share the last long run in my marathon training with a friend!

Follow up on the 20 Mile Monster

I wanted to take a few minutes to look back at my post titled, "Thoughts on conquering my 20 mile monster," just to see how I did.

My run went so well that I wanted to make sure I document everything I did leading up to the run so that I can duplicate it the week leading up to the marathon. I'm sure a little luck was involved on Sunday, or perhaps divine intervention? Whatever it was, lets hope it sticks with me come Oct. 12.

These notes are mostly for my own use, but feel free to read along with me!

On clothing:
No problems whatsoever here. I elected not to bring my iPod so that I can hear what's going on around me. The mental game was what I was afraid of- no music to pull me through the tough parts. A conversation with a friend during the run helped on this one...

On the night before:
I planned a bit more than I should of for Saturday, and was kept pretty busy all day. I did, however, manage to finish early, get my things together, and got a good seven hours of sleep. Sleep is good. Set the alarm for at least three hours before the start.

On nutrition:
Oatmeal-check, bagel-check, banana-check. I took a Cliff Bar with me on the road to nibble on, but I felt pretty full- too full in fact that I had to potty more than once. The REALLY tricky part is making sure I eat at least two hours before so that I don't end up puking it during the run. I also didn't want to be hungry at the start either. Two hours was perfect.

On pacing with the group:
I got to the event a good hour before my start time, but the potty lines were LONG, and I wasted quite a bit of time there. I missed my 9:00 minute mile pace group. Started with the 9:30's. No harm done. Get to the event at least an hour early or more. Find a thicket of bushes instead :-)

On nutrition during the run:
Hydration belt with two bottles Gatorade/water mix, two bottles with all water to take down the Power Gels. Hydrate at each water stop (about 3 miles apart) with Gatorade early until the bottles are empty, walk for 60 seconds at each stop. Power Gels with water every 5 miles, and walk 60 seconds. For later stops, take the Gatorade cup, and a water cup. Drink both. DO NOT drink straight Gatorade (stomach cramps). Four to five gels is plenty.

The two Gatorade/water bottles go in the holders at the front of my belt, the two all-water bottles go behind me. This part is important, people. Trust me on this one.

On preventing the cramps:
Two words- Pretzel Sticks. I bought a bag of these three days before the run and munched on them while increasing my water intake. I'm no scientist on this one, but I think it kept my sodium levels steady. An electrolyte tablet with 16oz. of water one hour before the run also helps. No cramps before, during, or after. This one is super critical and will be the most difficult to master, I think.

Final thoughts:
Rest is important. I can't stress enough how seven to eight hours of sleep in the week leading up to the long run really helps. Three days of rest with some light duty training and a strict stretching regiment is also critical. If I can duplicate what I did here in the week leading up to the marathon, I should be in good shape.

Crossing fingers.

20 mile run: The sweetest revenge of all

Distance: 20 miles
Where: Nike Ready to Run 20 Miler, Chicago
Time: 03:07:25 new PB (old 03:22:51)

I never thought I'd say this about my 20 mile run, but it seemed almost... effortless.

What more can I say? A near perfect run!

Everything just clicked today. Due to a rather long potty line, I missed running with my pace group by one wave, and settled in with the 9:30 minute group. I stuck with them for about six miles and then felt strong enough to run ahead, staying just over my marathon pace.

I took three rest days to stretch and ice a sore right knee leading up to today, and it made all the difference. Absolutely no pain in the knee, and the cramps that haunted me after mile 16 during my first 20 miler stayed away. As a matter of fact, I didn't cramp at all, and felt amazing when it was all over. Believe me when I say the "runner's high" is real. I was so there, and I think I still am!

I've always made fun of people who are able to chat with each other deep into long runs, until I met Nicky at about mile seven. I ended up pacing with her for the next 13 miles, which made all the difference in keeping my mind off of the overall distance. She's a grad student and a three time marathoner, so there were no shortage of stories to tell. Her and I ended up with personal best times in the end. Finding people to chat with during the run will by part of my strategy for Chicago, as it really does help pass the time.

Overall, I couldn't find anything wrong with this run. Achieving a personal best time over my previous 20 mile run was bitter sweet, and I'm still up in the clouds about it.

My mileage comes down from here on in with three weeks left. Here's what on my plate this week:

Mon: 7 miles
Wed: 8 miles speed work
Thur: 2 miles
Sat: 12 miles

Bring on Chicago!

Thoughts on conquering my 20 mile monster

This coming Sunday, I will doing my last 20 mile training run in preparation for the marathon now only 25 days away.

My last 20 mile run went rather well despite experiencing some severe, but short lived, cramping in my calves after mile 17.

I put together a few thoughts on what went well, what didn't, and what I'm going to do different this time around.

On clothing:
For this Sunday, I'm going to wear exactly what I plan on wearing for the marathon- Nike Dri-Fit top, shorts, and socks. All of the Nike branded clothing has worked well for me. The only issue I have to take care of is making sure I wear these. Believe me folks, chafing in this area is NOT FUN.

On the night before:
Get everything else out of the way early. Relax as much as possible. Pasta two hours before bedtime does the trick. Get everything I need together. Go to bed early. Set 2 alarms for 4 a.m.

On nutrition:
Must eat two hours before the 6:44 a.m. start. Oatmeal, banana, half a bagel, vitamin water or O'juice. Then a Clif Bar with water an hour before (optional). If I'm good with this meal on Sunday, it's what I'll eat come Oct. 12.

On Pacing with the group:
I will be in the 9 minute-per-mile pace group. This means I should finish the marathon in 4 hours. I hope to keep this up for the entire 20 as its the pace I feel most comfortable in.

On nutrition during the run:
Not much change here. Drink Gatorade/water mix every 3 miles. Take a PowerGel with water every 6 miles. There will be food available (probably banana's) after mile 19 in the marathon. I may need it.

On preventing the cramps:
Because my last 20 mile run landed on one of the warmer days of the year, I got nervous about making sure I hydrated myself with water in the days leading up to the run. I think this lowered my electrolyte levels (sodium, etc.) enough leading up to my run that I ran out after 16 miles. I'll have to find the right balance of fluids and electrolytes this time around. This will be tricky!!

Final thoughts:

This long distance running stuff is serious business. The tiniest thing can make or break a long run- a leaky hydration bottle, a pebble in your shoe, a shoelace that's too tight or too loose... I have to prepare for everything, and make the best of what can go wrong.

Whatever lessons I learn this time around are going to be tested at the marathon.

There will be no turning back, and no do-overs.

My marathon training: What's left to do

Only 30 days left until the Chicago Marathon.

Here's what's left to do:

9/8 to 9/14: I've logged 114 miles of running the three weeks prior to this one, so this is a "recovery" week. It's a chance for my body to fix anything that's broken, and to prepare for what's ahead. I'll only log 23 easy miles through Saturday. I'll stock up on any supplies I need, but not try anything new that I haven't tried in training.

9/15 to 9/21: Back to the grind as this is the last week for big miles. This week I'll log 37 miles culminating in my last 20 mile run on Sunday as part of the Nike Ready to Run 20 Miler event. This is it. It's downhill from here.

9/22 to 9/28: Only 27 miles on the schedule this week with my longest run at 12 miles on Saturday. This week I'll dial in my nutrition needs for the race and prepare my body to run in cooler weather by running later in the day with little sun. I'll also run in the rain as much as possible. Best to be prepared for anything.

9/29 to 10/5: The "Taper" begins in earnest. It's a time to let my body heal itself, but still keep the leg muscles fresh with smaller runs. No big efforts this week. I'll be sure to eat well and begin to sleep 7 to 8 hours a day. Little running means the nerves take over. It's a nice time to do other things I've been missing out on like fishing and taking care of personal things. Easy does it.

10/6 to 10/11: The final week. Only 12 easy miles to do. My biggest run will be 5 miles on Wednesday. I'll be stretching a lot, eating well, and sleeping well (try to anyway). I'll be watching the weather like a hawk to make sure I'll have the right clothes for race day. On Saturday, I will relax and prepare everything I need for Sunday. No running for three days leading up to the race. Hopefully spend time with friends and family this week to help calm my nerves.

10/12: Race day. 26.2 miles of the biggest event of my life. I don't know what to expect, but I promise to do my very best.

Coming soon- plan to come cheer on the runners? I'll write up some tips on how you can enjoy this incredible event along with the 45,000 other runners. I was there last year and was brought to tears by the sheer determination of the finishers.

Hopefully, you will be inspired too.

16 Mile run: Revenge is sweet

16 Mile run
Total time: 02:32:39 PB (old 02:48:45)
Chicago Lakefront

I came into this 16 miler with a mission- to seek revenge on the crummy 16 miler I ran back on 8/23 in the extreme heat and humidity that nearly killed me!

The weather was cooler this time around and it was a beautiful morning to get out there. My strategy was to take one minute walk breaks every 5K to take in fluids early on, and then run through the 2nd half at my marathon pace. This is pretty close to my strategy for the Chicago Marathon in Oct.

It worked.

I beat my old time by nearly 15 minutes and I felt great the whole way through, especially during the second half. I started to cramp along my left quad near the end, but I was able to control it and finished strong.

A unique problem I've been running into on my longer runs as of late is that I'm coated with salt all over my skin when I'm finished. I've heard of this happening to runners, and it's only started happening to me within the past month on warmer days. For now it's more of an annoyance and it isn't causing a problem. I'll have to experiment with my electrolyte intake from here on in.

I really needed this one. It has boosted my confidence leading up to October, now with less than a month to go!

This coming week is a recovery week:

Mon: 9 miles easy
Tues: Cross train
Wed: 9 miles
Thur: 2 miles
Fri: Rest
Sat: 9 miles

I also decided to sign up for the CARA Nike Ready to Run 20 Miler on Sept. 21 to celebrate my last 20 mile run before Chicago. It will be a nice change of pace to train with a group in a controlled environment.

20 mile run: With every fiber of my being

Miles: 20
Total time: 03:22:51
Date: 8/30/08
Where: Chicago lakefront

I'll have to admit I came into this 20 miler with a little bit of a cocky attitude about it. Hell, I've already plowed through a nice finish in a 13.1 mile half-marathon, and battled a 16 mile run the weekend before. What's another measly four miles? I can run four miles with my eyes closed.

Well, let me tell you straight out, I was brought safely, yet very painfully, back to earth after this run. To run twenty miles is NOT a force to be reckoned with. This thing chewed me up and spit me out and lay me there to suffer.

Lets do a play by play, shall we?

The start:

I made the decision to drive to my start point near Irving Park Rd. and Lake Shore Drive instead of the usual public transport. I did this so that I can have a "support vehicle" waiting for me at the finish with a cooler full of fluids, food, and air conditioning. Good call.

Mile 1:

Right off the bat, two of my hydration bottles were seriously leaking near where the top screws on to the bottle. I fought for almost 10 minutes trying to remedy this to no avail. I got so pissed I considered emailing the company the next day to complain. I ended up dumping my special concoction of water and electrolyte mix that I would pay for later (read on..)

It wasn't until a couple of hours into my run that I figured out what may have gone wrong: Because I brought a cooler with me, I left my 8oz bottles in there to keep them cold. I never do this. I'm no scientist, but I'm sure that plastic shrinks when it gets cold. That would explain why the top never sealed tightly around the bottle hence spilling the liquid as I ran. Doh!! Makes sense.

Mile 2 to 8:

These were fairly uneventful and at a nice, easy pace. Maybe a little faster than I should have been going. I hadn't stop to walk at all up to this point, and as I look back, I probably should of taken a few breaks considering what was ahead.

Mile 9 to 11:

My first walk break to take some water and a Power Gel. Mile 10 is my turnaround point near E. 63rd. St. on the southern half of the bike path. I take a minute to look at the Chicago skyline and it struck me just how far I was from my start. This was a scary feeling.

Half-marathon mile 13.1

At 2hrs. and 15mins. I was about 15 minutes slower than my half-marathon time. This is pretty close to where I want to be. I also had my first pee break during my run. Never did that before.

Miles 14 to 16

It's almost noon and I've been running for 3 hours now. It's gotten hot. Very hot. My Gatorade is gone and I'm running on water and Power Gels. I can tell I'm a bit hungry now. I walk for a minute and start to feel a bit light headed. I run for 7 minutes and walk for 3.

Mile 17

I start to fall apart here. I start to get intense cramps in both of my calves and it's hard to walk, let alone run. The water/electrolyte mix that I should have been taking up to this point to stave off the cramps lay on the ground at Mile 1. I hadn't taken a gel for 6 miles, so I take one down which keeps the cramps away. I begin to run again. Easy does it.

Mile 18-20

I'm starting to feel very fatigued, but the cramps have stayed away. The finish is in sight and I keep a good pace on my last mile.

The end was something amazing. I'd done it. I suffered, but I finished. It's hard to explain the feeling, but it was heavenly. I'm finding it very difficult to walk now and I battle through more cramping in my legs which left me sore for two days!

It was quite the experience, and I gained a bigger respect for the distance of the marathon and what it takes to finish. I have one more 20 miler near the end of the month and hope to apply what I learned here for a stronger finish.