Marathon Week!

Workouts: wind down this week with a 4-mile, 3-mile, and 2-mile run.

You're Invited: Washington Park WEDNESDAY - 5:30 p.m. for a short run and then to Thirsty's Playground for drinks to celebrate Rich Chaput's birthday.

Marathon Forecast: Just forget about it - I've checked 10 times over the last few days and it keeps changing - HWGW can run in anything, but please - we really need the rain to hold off! Pack shorts, a hefty garbage bag, and throw away sweats. Slit an old sweatshirt up the front and slit old pants down the sides. Close with duct tape and you have your own redneck tearaways!

Group HalfWits Gone Wild - It might be tough, but I'd really like to get a couple pictures of the HWGW. Since it might be kinda crazy on race morning we could try to meet outside the hospitality tent at 6:30 if nothing else, let's shoot for getting together at the post race party at Millenium Park. What are your thoughts?

Advice from a vet: James Alexander, one of the HWGW that drives from J'ville some Saturday's to run with us sent me a "Good Luck" email today (which was really nice), and said that although he missed out on signing up for Chicago - he wishes the best for all of us, and he is relaxing after completing the Quad Cities marathon a few weeks ago. Congrats, James, and thanks for your kind words. He says to carry aspirin, gels, and whatever else you may need on the road!

Advice from The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer (which now makes me laugh -because we're all real runners now):

• Prevent injuries during the marathon: Pay attention to the road (uneven surfaces, curbs, discarded clothing, etc). Use courtesy when passing other runners - don't squeeze between runners - go around or slow down. Running a crowded run is like driving on the espress way. Be courteous, be careful, run defensively.
• Stay hydrated: Be sure to take fluids early and use your GU- they're insurance for later on in the race. The few seconds these measures take are irrelavant over the long haul.
• Pace yourself: start out slow - I know you've heard it before. You've trained and tapered and will be pretty anxious to charge ahead. Conservative running the first half will pay off in the second half. If you don't wear a Garmin or other watch that shows your pace - pay attention to the mile markers and the clock. If you feel like you're going too fast, you probably are. Besides, it will be more fun to pass people at the end anyway! Going out too fast can be devastating not because you might have to slow down later, but has an effect on if, when, and how hard you hit the "wall" or rather, the depletion of the fuel necessary to keep you going.
• After the race: make sure you've got something warm to put on afterwards, especially if it's cool and rainy

Okay - Are You REALLY Ready? From the emails and conversations going back and forth, we're all a little nervous and of course that's to be expected. Most of us have never done this before - there's the "unknown" factor and the logistics of a big city race. Many of us have some nagging injuries or muscles that just don't feel quite right. Some are trying to beat a previous time or qualify for Boston. Some of us are getting cold feet and wondering - "What Was I Thinking?" During the tapering period - this is all normal. Trust in your training plan. Trust in the hundreds of miles you've logged on your shoes. Trust the advice and support of your family, friends, and veteran runners. But most of all, trust the courage you've discovered all along the way over the last five months. So we're all not elite athletes - but we're marathoners.

This week - be sure to thank all of those who have supported you along the way - after all, training has consumed almost five months, and many of us have been doing half marathon and marathon training since January. In addition to my family and my co-workers who have put up with my constant talk, whining, and rollercoaster of highs and lows about running, I am so appreciative of all the SRRC members who have showed up for long runs, offered encouragement and advice, or have simply read the blog and followed our journey. This for me has been the coolest experience.

Saturday after working the Chatham race and running a lousy 6.5 miserable miles, I decided to use the Panera gift certificate from all of you on my way home. I was kinda down - and as I pulled into the parking lot around 11:00 a.m. I felt kinda sad that the Saturday long runs were done and I looked around at the cars and didn't recognize them. I stood in line for my hazelnut coffee and Asiago Cheese bagel and just figured I'd take it on the road towards home. But I looked over my shoulder - and there you were: a group of HalfWits keeping up the Saturday tradition - I passed an hour with old friends. I really needed that. Linda Jones was there - she was my Abe's Army leader the day I started my official running career - and here she was to give me a good luck hug. I've come full circle and wow, that's really cool. Her advice to me? "Slow Still Counts." Of course it does, Linda - you've taught me well!

HalfWits: Good Luck - I'll see you on the road - guaranteed!

• Homework this week: http://www.marathonguide.com/features/firstmarathons.cfm (inspiration from first time marathoners like you)
• http://www.chicagomarathon.com/Page_L1.aspx?Nav_1_ID=117&subMenu=117 (watch the 2005 video, send an ecard to a fellow runner, check out some recipies, or get a free screensaver)
• Mentally rehearse the race: http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_psycho.html
• Finally - don't put too much pressure on yourself. Our goal - first timers - is to finish and nothing more. Find those experiences along the way that will make the last five months nothing less than an incredible journey: http://www.runnersthoughts.com/marathonman.htm (sometimes, you just gotta laugh at the stupidity of it all!)

Mary

This is my last post (okay - I'm lying)