Chicago 2008

[tcoy777]

Any one else running in it?

[emartin10]

Absolutely not, not after last year. It was a beautiful event, and the city was FANTASTIC, but after their race director tried to blame runners, I vowed never to run another of his races. I loved running the race, but for a top 5 world marathon, the preparation was lacking to say the least...

E

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by emartin10

Absolutely not, not after last year. It was a beautiful event, and the city was FANTASTIC, but after their race director tried to blame runners, I vowed never to run another of his races. I loved running the race, but for a top 5 world marathon, the preparation was lacking to say the least...

E

I must say I am worried a bit about it, but surely they can't screw it up 2 years in a row! This will be my first marathon and I picked it do to a flat course and that the crowds are amazing.

[emartin10]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, the crowd was fantastic. They were letting us drink out of their hoses, giving us their ice cubes, handing out snacks...everything the race was supposed to be doing. The city was fantastic, the course is fantastic, but I didn't think that they could screw up a marathon of that magnitude. And for what they charge, there is no way they should have messed up that badly.

I'm not trying to talk you out of running it, I'm just very very bitter towards it. I think with better weather and circumstances that don't require the race director to get involved, it would have been a fantastic experience...

E

[misstenacity]

I'm in. I should be all "Peele'ed" and repaired by then.

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by misstenacity

I'm in. I should be all "Peele'ed" and repaired by then.

Excellent!! What is your goal time and what training program you going to use?

[marthand99]

I will come out and cheer for you guys! You will have to look for signs that say "tcoy777" and "misstenacity". LOL

[tcoy777]

SWEET!!! Its going to be great. I have friends from all over the US. Most are running in it, but some are watching. If its hot I may have to bribe all of you to have water!!

[BamaDave]

I think Chicago would be a fun one. Flat is definitely a plus. The negative is the October date. I'm simply not in marathon shape in October after the brutal Southern summer. I imagine hot temps in Chicago in October are fairly rare, so odds are the weather will cooperate.

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

I think Chicago would be a fun one. Flat is definitely a plus. The negative is the October date. I'm simply not in marathon shape in October after the brutal Southern summer. I imagine hot temps in Chicago in October are fairly rare, so odds are the weather will cooperate.

Same here, this maybe my last Fall Marathon for that reason. I am not sure how my training will go in the southern summer. I think there will be a lot of 4am runs in still 80 degree weather.

[misstenacity]

Originally Posted by tcoy777

Excellent!! What is your goal time and what training program you going to use?

Oops - sorry for the delayed response.

Truth is - I still don't know.... after my REPAIR program I might not have enough time. I have already entered, so might treat it like a half and drop after 13.1. IF that's what I do - my goal would probably be <1:40, since I've run a 1:43 before without too much trouble.

If I managed to actually make it with a shot at racing the whole thing? Well.... let's say that without this 8 week interruption I was all about planning for a sub 3:30. Maybe that will be the *next* one, not Chicago. Doing a half at Chicago would set me up nicely for California International!

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by misstenacity

Oops - sorry for the delayed response.

Truth is - I still don't know.... after my REPAIR program I might not have enough time. I have already entered, so might treat it like a half and drop after 13.1. IF that's what I do - my goal would probably be <1:40, since I've run a 1:43 before without too much trouble.

If I managed to actually make it with a shot at racing the whole thing? Well.... let's say that without this 8 week interruption I was all about planning for a sub 3:30. Maybe that will be the *next* one, not Chicago. Doing a half at Chicago would set me up nicely for California International!

Nice times. I think your plan is a good one. I am sure 20 mile training runs would be a severe no no on the REPAIR program. Either way it should be a fun time. I can't imagine a repeat of last year.

[misstenacity]

Originally Posted by tcoy777

Nice times. I think your plan is a good one. I am sure 20 mile training runs would be a severe no no on the REPAIR program. Either way it should be a fun time. I can't imagine a repeat of last year.

I hope you're right on the weather. Regardless, I'm a food freak and I already have my 'hit list' for culinary must-do's.

How is your training going? Something like 17 weeks to go, right?

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by misstenacity

I hope you're right on the weather. Regardless, I'm a food freak and I already have my 'hit list' for culinary must-do's.

How is your training going? Something like 17 weeks to go, right?

What is on this culinary list? I too am a food freak. Training is going good. 2 weeks down so 16 more to go. So far its actually less then I normally run. Next few week it will ramp up so I am looking forward to going over 13.1 as that is the longest run so far.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

I'm not doing Chicago, but will be running the Grand Rapids Marathon the following week. I'm in week 3 of my training and have a 17 miler planned for this weekend. I'm looking forward to a great training season, hopefully peaking around 60 mpw. Good luck to you guys doing Chicago.

[misstenacity]

Originally Posted by tcoy777

What is on this culinary list? I too am a food freak. Training is going good. 2 weeks down so 16 more to go. So far its actually less then I normally run. Next few week it will ramp up so I am looking forward to going over 13.1 as that is the longest run so far.

I've done Topolobampo, classic pizza, dutch baby pancake places and loved it all, so this time I'm going for Hot Doug's crazy meats, and... the big guns (& fat wallet): Alinea.

Good luck on getting your long runs up there - I had an easier time of it mentally because I spent 8 years doing ultras before I came 'back down' to do marathons, so spending hours out on a run was nothing novel. Only the speed was a bit faster for marathon training, of course....

[tcoy777]

Originally Posted by twinsavsvikingsfan

I'm not doing Chicago, but will be running the Grand Rapids Marathon the following week. I'm in week 3 of my training and have a 17 miler planned for this weekend. I'm looking forward to a great training season, hopefully peaking around 60 mpw. Good luck to you guys doing Chicago.

Good luck to you also. Lets all hope the weather will be nice.

Originally Posted by misstenacity

I've done Topolobampo, classic pizza, dutch baby pancake places and loved it all, so this time I'm going for Hot Doug's crazy meats, and... the big guns (& fat wallet): Alinea.

Good luck on getting your long runs up there - I had an easier time of it mentally because I spent 8 years doing ultras before I came 'back down' to do marathons, so spending hours out on a run was nothing novel. Only the speed was a bit faster for marathon training, of course....

Oh your evil!!! Those look like amazing places. The one thing I am dying to eat Chicago style dogs. Alinea looks amazing.

Once I break the 13 mile mark, that is when the real training begins. I just hope I can find some cooler days down here in the south to do them. I have been getting up at 5 am now to run, so if I have to get up earlier I will. Ultras just scare me. I think I would rather do a tri before a ultra.