Keep your focus. Always remind yourself that you are a runner. The more you say it, the more you believe it. Then you will expect it. Then you will become it.
" To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift" - Steve Prefontaine http://www.marathonrookie.com/marathon-motivation.html (neat site!)
The next three weeks are critical in terms of staying healthy and focused (physically AND mentally). I've been browsing the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon website and am pulling together information for everyone including the course map, spectator information, post race party, etc. I'll get it all to you soon. For now, check out one of their links which includes an article for each week. Note: they are numbering their weeks opposite of ours, so click on the link for week 7 for last week's information (week 18 was actually our week 1). There's information on injuries, nutrition, how to dress, etc. Worth browsing: http://cbs2chicago.com/marathontraining
- Washington Park Thursdays - Group Run 5+ miles (Washington Park to YMCA http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=13296, but go the LONG way around the park on the way back instead of the short way to get in your full five miles (will be closer to 6 miles). I'll be there at 5:30 p.m. for anyone wanting to meet together.)
- Panera West Saturday - Group Run 18 miles (Saturday's route (http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=72064) leaves from Panera West at 6:30 a.m. and involves running a combination of the Panther Creek, Westchester, the trail and the Stanford overpass to Bunn Golf Course. The posted route is 22 miles - for those of us doing 20, just turn around at the top of the Stanford Overpass. For those who are sticking to the 18 miles, you can jump on the trail right at MacArthur and head back to Panera.)
Water options for the 22 mile route:
- Panera (mile 4.5) keep a water bottle in your car you can grab as you go by. 2nd chance restroom break
- Panther Creek (mile 8) look for the SRRC cooler
- McDonalds on Freedom Drive (mile 11.5) we've stopped in there and they've given us water. (restroom if needed)
- Trailhead on Wabash/Park (mile 14 & 16/18) look for the SRRC cooler
- Bunn Golf Course (mile 16) stop inside for water/restroom
Fuel belts with gatorade and energy gel is recommended for this long run. For those of you bringing Kleenex, try putting it in a baggie to keep it sweat free! You just never know when you'll need it!
The weather looks great for Saturday morning - nice and cool, but the sun doesn't come up until 6:40 so be careful out there! See you on the roads!
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15 comments:
Awwww Mary!
All that running seems like it would be so much fun... but I think army belly crawling in the "mud", climbing 20 foot cargo nets and running up muddy 45 degree inclines with bikes on our backs would be so much easier!
How was the Muddy Buddy? A full race report, please...
Is anyone else doing the Lewis & Clark Half (or full) this weekend in St. Charles?
I am doing the half. I probably won't be able to go to dinner with anyone, but I'd like to meet up at the race.
Jeremy - as slow as I am, plus I'm fighting a cold, so I plan to get in the 12mm slot. You'll probably be in your car and halfway across Illinois when I cross the finish line! :=)
Hey, how was everyones weekend? Mary, how was the mud bath? Still got mud between the toes? I lead a conference this weekend and stood in heels which caused my ankle to swell some. I did get my 12 miles in monday. It sure was hard doing it alone. I also forgot my music and one dumb song just played over and over in my head. My legs were very sore afterwards but I walked in my icey pool and after it took my breath away they felt better. Looking forward to running again with my buddies. See ya thursday.
Anne - I don't really know quite what pace I'm going to do yet. And I think I'll probably still be around sampling the post-race fares and getting my free hot dog and beverage when you cross. So I'll at least see you there. Anybody else doing St. Charles? I know there were a couple of other people running it.
OH Anne!
You would have had soooo much fun!!! Brent and I, Chuck and Heather all got very muddy as well as Mary and Carol. You'll have to see her pixs they are just as funny as ours! Next year Anne~~~ you better be in!!!
Rain~~~ that is all it did!!! But it made it better, yet more aggressive! The rain did live up to it's name~~~ very, very, very muddy!!! It was slippery~~~ my husband did see a girl flip head first over her handle bars on one of the trails~~~ at least she had a soft (muddy) landing. (UGH!!!)
There were times when the mud was at least 2 inches above your tire or us sinking in the mud as we ran.
I don't think anyone got hurt~~ at least~~ I hope nobody did~~~ it was so muddy one of the ambulances got stuck!
It was nice to get the mud off after the race though~~~ we had a choice~~~ get hosed off or wade in the farm pond where the cows gazed in... I chose the hoses...
It is definitely an event everyone could do but mostly have a BLAST in!
Oh my, I am laughing out loud at work reading Emily's race report!!! It sounds like some bizarre hazing ritual! I am definitely in for next year.
Sounds like it would have been easier to just pick the bike up and run with it?
Jeremy - I forgot about the free hot dogs. If they are half as good as the infamous St. Francis cookies served at the Indy Mini, I may have to pick up the pace just a bit!
Anne,
That is exactly what we did in some cases. The hills were a bit steep and the mud was thick and the bikes couldnt move...hauling the bike over my shoulder was the only way to navigate the terrain.
Now as for Emily choosing to use the hose to wash off...she doesnt know but the water used for that was actually being pumped from the farm pond.
You all gotta to do it next year. It was fun. I have bumps, bruises to show for it. Mary where is your report?
You all have fun in St. Charles this weekend. I hear Dean K who is attempting to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states is using that marathon as his starting point. Now he should be a honorary half wit!
Thanks Chuck~ and to think I thought it was YOU that was stinkn' my vehicle up for wading in the pond~~~ guess it could have been me too? Hmmmmm....
Nah~~ it's always you! HA! ;)
"Halfwits talkin' dirty" quite catchy sis!
PS: Mary congrats on your son and his friend on the Muddy Buddy for finishing 42nd overall with approx. 1000 participants!
He must have got it all from his Mom!! Right? (Sorry, Troy!) :)
The mom in me needs to know if you are all current on your tetanus shots?
I think its been ages since I had one of those shots...well, I take that back. I remember getting hit in the face with a softball line drive when I was pitching a few years back and I think they gave me one, plus 35 stitches too.
Mud is fun though!
OMG Mary!
Your new pix cracks me up!!!!!
Hey Kim, didn't see your comment on how your leg is doing. I'm free now so if you want to call me, I can help you with the sign up.
Mary, are you all better now or still hurting? Hopefully, if was just a one time deal with your leg.
Jenny G, how is your leg doing?
Anyone else that I didn't mention, how is everyone doing after that 20 mile run?
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