Looking to October!

I usually enjoy either running or cheering along the route of the Bank of America Chicago marathon.  But after hearing today's announcement, I think might have to find a television instead.  That's because the race among the leaders promises to be epic.  The top two entrants announced so far, both ran unprecedented times at April's Boston marathon.

Ryan Hall is the best marathoner this country has produced in several generations.  And after his amazing 2:04:58 performance in Boston, he has entered a new realm on the international front.  He led the race early, and set the pace before eventually falling back slightly, finishing 4th.  But the first two finishers ran well under the world record time, and Hall's time would have set an American record, but the Boston course doesn't qualify for those records.

One of those two top finishers, Moses Mosop, is also coming to Chicago.  Mosop ran an amazing 2:03:06 in Boston, and was beaten by Geoffrey Mutai's 2:03:02.  Both are times that would have been practically unthinkable just a few years ago. 

For Mosop, the even more incredible detail is that it was his marathon debut.  He'd never raced the distance before.  Chicago, in October, will be only his second race at the marathon distance.  And coincidently, his Boston performance broke the previous marathon debut record set by Evans Rutto in the 2003 Chicago marathon (2:05:50).

Ryan Hall told me he's excited to race against Mosop again, and part of the reason he's running Chicago is to increase his experience racing against runners of his caliber. 

Hall is truly a great ambassador for the sport.  I got a chance to run a few miles with him a couple years ago, and was impressed with his warmth, and down-to-earth personality.  He shared some great advice with a group of young Chicago runners on the Lakefront, answering their questions, and relating to them in ways few other world class  athletes could.

 

Some marathon experts question whether Hall is taking a risk running Chicago just three months before the U.S. Olympic trials, but he told me he wouldn't do it if he thought that would be an issue.

You can see my entire interview with Hall and Marathon Director Carey Pinkowski here:  http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8277251

And if you are a fan of the U.S. Women's soccer team (and who's not these day), the marathon will also give us an opportunity to see three of the team's stars in running shoes.  Bank of America announced Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Alex Morgan will run the marathon as part of a relay to raise money for charity.  

I don't know how good they are as distance runners, but they all (other than Solo who is the goalie) certainly run quite a bit in their sport!  It should be fun to watch at the front, and in the middle of the pack on October 7th.

 
Now on to the prize portion of this entry!  The Chicago Half Marathon has already been around for 15 years!  I remember running it when they first started the race, and it was a relatively small field running through the Hyde Park area on the south side.  Now it's become a big time race that will attract a huge field that runs nearly the entire course on Lake Shore Drive.  It's really a great race, and it will be run on September 11th this year.  If you are the first to respond in the comment section with the correct answers to the following questions, you win a free entry to the race.

1. Who holds the American Men's record for the Marathon?  (Hint: he was a fixture in Chicago until a few years ago).

2. Ryan Hall has won just one marathon.  Which one was it?

3. Which ABC-7 meteorlogist has run more marathons:  Phil Schwarz or Jerry Taft?

Good luck.

See you on the roads......

  

Lightning!

I enjoy running in just about any weather.  Sometimes the more difficult the conditions are outside, the more satisfying the run.  I've documented runs in this space in the wind, rain, snow, extreme heat, and extreme cold.  Just about everything I can think of.  It's kind of a badge of honor for my strange group of running friends.  We don't let the conditions get in the way of our training plans.  Except for lightning.

When I woke up early this morning to overcast skies, and light drizzle, I really didn't think much about it.  I put contact lenses on, rather than wearing my glasses in the rain, but that's about the only concession I made to the anticipated conditions.

My wife and I were heading out to a really great 5k starting near Montrose Beach.  It's the March on Melanoma, sponsored by the Melanoma research foundation.  When I say it's a really great run, it's because of the cause, and the people involved.  The race itself is nice, just like lots of other 5k races on virtually the same course along the lake in that location.  But after running it for the first time last year, at the behest of WGN anchor Dina Bair, we discovered a really nice group of people committed to finding better treatment options, and ultimately a cure for melanoma.  And we learned that it's a type of cancer that too often goes undetected for quite a while and claims a large number of younger victims.

Dina is a melanoma survivor as well as a persuasive spokesperson for the race.  She not only made eloquent remarks on stage, but she convinced us to come out again this year, despite the late night celebration we had planned on Saturday night for my wife's birthday.  Admittedly, it didn't feel especially nice when the alarm clock went off in the morning, but by the time we arrived a short time before the scheduled start, we were looking forward to a nice run.  Dina also rounded up some of our other media racing teammates, who were there as well.

We probably could have stayed in bed.  Right when we got out of the car, we saw a bolt of lightning light up the sky over the lake.  That's a bad sign.  We went to pick up our race numbers to find runners carrying umbrellas or hovering under tents to avoid the rain.  After we picked up our race numbers we learned they were going to have to delay the race until at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. 

The storm that hovered over the city was apparently going nowhere fast, which meant a long wait for the eventual start of the race.  But I heard no complaints.  Everyone saw the lightning, and I believe, everyone realized how dangerous it can be to run in those conditions.  Race organizers really had no difficult decision to make, but they made the right one regardless.

It's a shame for the organization, though I believe their important fundraising effort is probably unaffected by the cancellation of the race.  I don't think anyone asked for their money back.  And these race organizers weren't alone.  Most other races in the area also had to be cancelled, including another that is close to our hearts, The Run for Hunger in Elmhurst.

So after waiting it out for about 45 minutes, we headed home.  And by the time we got back to the western suburbs, the skies had started to clear, and the weather was just about perfect for a run.  So that's what we did.  Timing is everything I guess. 

See you on the roads...... 
 
 
 
 
 

The Cell to Ourselves

I can't believe there weren't tens of thousands of runners in this race, but that was all the better for those of us who were there.  The Run for ALS 5k is probably the most fun and unique race I've ever done that most runners apparently have never heard about.  I'm serious about the title for this entry.  About 400 of us runners basically had the Cell to ourselves.  When do you ever get an opportunity like that?

This is the second year of this race, it has the feel of running with a bunch of your friends on a Saturday morning.  But the course all comes down to the third mile.  It starts in the north parking lot, and winds through the lots for the first two miles.  It's somewhat monotonous and a little boring.  But then you leave the parking lot, and it gets interesting.  You run up the ramps to the concourse that leads to the ball park.  It's a pretty good incline full of switchbacks.  Once you enter the concourse on the third baseline, you don't have time to stop for a hotdog.  You start running around the park on the main level, just short of a full loop.  Once you get around to the first base side next to the dugout, you take the stairs down to the field level.

I started out the race with my friend Anthony Ponce, from NBC-5.  Anthony is a fine reporter, and a really strong runner.  He was aiming to run close to 6 minute pace, while I was trying to run 6:20's.  So, like I said, we started out together.  Then I watched him from behind, and tried to keep him in sight.  And I could still see him in front of me until we turned to enter the ball park.

After that loop around the concourse, and the stairs down, you're on the field.  You get to do a full loop around the ball park on the field along the dirt track that winds around the exterior of the grass, including the warning track.  It was a little strange, and very cool.  I kind of wanted to slow down and take it all in, rather than try to get through the last part of the race as quickly as possible.  I've been on the field for work, but this was different.  I'm a huge baseball fan, and I wanted to see the field from the players perspective as we passed by all the different positions.  

Suffice to say, I tried to take it all in as quickly as possible.  Despite the ramps and stairs, which made the course much more difficult, I still was trying to run a good time.  In retrospect, I probably should have slowed down.  A good time was not in the cards.

The good news first.  I won my age group, and finished 11th overall.  But, unfortunately, I ran closer to 6:50 pace.  It was not impressive.  But the race was truly fun.  Dina Bair, from WGN is pictured below finishing strong.  She organized a team of local media folks who ran the race.  I heard nothing but great reviews from them afterward.

I can see this race growing quickly inthe next few years.  It's an amazing opportunity to run in a place you would never get the chance to otherwise.  I've run races at sports stadiums before, including one other one at the Cell, but never one with as much access as this.  

After the game we all went back inside the park and watched the All Star game on the Jumbo-Tron.  The concession stands were open.  It was like a ball game.  Except that only the 400 runners and volunteers were there.  We had the place to ourselves. 

Speaking of great courses, I just got word that the Rock-n-Roll half has finalized a course map.  It already started on Columbus drive in the same spot as the marathon.  It followed the marathon course for the first couple miles.  But then it turned off onto the Lakefront path for the second half. 

This year, they are staying on the roads.  It should be fun.  Here's a link to the course: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/chicago   I'll be out there.  

See you on the roads....

 

A Running Legacy

 
I like to consider myself to be someone with many interests.  Sure, I love runnning, and it's been a part of my life for decades, which is why I write this blog.  But it's still just a part of my life.  Running doesn't define me. I would say the same thing about journalism.  It's my career, and I enjoy it, but I don't think it's what I live for. 

Running and Journalism, however, can be pretty demanding, all-consuming activities.  I also enjoy other sports, books, music and theater.  And I love to hang out with friends.  And when you mix in family life and responsibilities with our 4 young kids, it gets pretty busy. 

I think about this often, as I wonder if I'm placing too much emphasis in my life on one thing or another.  It is in this context that I read a recent 'Where Are They Now?' story in Sports Illustrated by David Epstein.  It was an update on the life of a man whose name is immortally linked with his accomplishments on the track.  Quite a lot has been written about Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run under 4 minutes for the mile.  I knew that he had become an accomplished doctor, and was involved in sports development in Great Britain.  But there is so much more to his amazing life. 

What got me thinking was a line in the story about what he believes should be his legacy.  When asked whether his best memories and greatest contributions came on or off the track, Bannister has no hesitation: "Oh, medicine," he says, repeating it for emphasis. "Medicine." 

This is a man who, in 1954 became the first person to do what many previously considered impossible.  Breaking the 4 minute mile barrier is still considered one of the most significant accomplishments in modern history.   Forbes magazine named Bannister's 3:59.4 as the greatest athletic accomplishment of the last 150 years.  Bannister was one of three men who were close, and competing to become the first to break it.  But everone knows the name Bannister, while mostly only track historians know the names of the other two.  It's kind of like Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest.  Few people could readily identify the sherpa who was with him, and was the second person to reach the summit just seconds later. 

But Bannister believes his accomplishments in medicine and research are more noteworthy than that famous 3:59:4.  That says a lot about his life and his perspective.  Bannister is now 82 years old, and has been unable to even jog for more than 30 years since a car crash nearly killed him, and severely disfigured his ankle.  He retired from competitive running at 25 years old, not long after his record setting run.  And even as he trained for that incredible 4 laps around the track, he was also studying in a demanding medical school program.  Can you imagine that in these days of full time professional running?

Yes, Roger Bannister has led an incredible life.  And he is also an inspiration to many of us, not only for his speed on the track, or his groundbreaking medical research, but for his perspective.  It would have been easy for him to live off his athletic feat alone.  Noone would have blamed him, or even questioned it.  That's how significant his sub-4 minute mile was.  But Bannister has gone on to do many more amazing things with his life.  And that serves as an inspiration to all of us.  If you are interested in the SI story, here's a link:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1187805/index.htm 

I'm not a doctor, and I'm not likely going to make any great scientific discoveries.  For that matter, I also  
never came close to a 4 minute mile.  But I am trying to be the best journalist, father, husband, friend, and yes, runner that I can be.  Did I leave anything out? 

And I'll see you on the roads.......

Happy Independence!

Sometimes you can blow a race well before the starting horn sounds.  And in the case of the 4 on the 4th on Monday in Elmhurst, I recall the exact moment I knew my race was not going to go well.  I believe it was when I opened the second bottle of wine around 10:30 the night before.  We had friends staying with us from out of town, and I rationalized that we don't see them often, but we have races just about every weekend.  I believe I said something about "throwing in the towel" early for the next morning's race.

Nevertheless, my wife and I woke up and threw on our running clothes on and dragged ourselves to the start of the race a good 20 minutes before the 7:15 starting time.  It was just enough time to get in a short warm-up and stretch.  But it was not enough to cure my dehydration from the wine and lack of energy from the lack of sleep.

I had originally hoped to run about 6:40 pace and be a little under 27 minutes for the 4 mile distance.   As we lined up Monday morning, however, I revised that goal and decided to run how I felt, and see where I was at the first mile split.  And I was nowhere near 6:40 pace.  My first mile was closer to 7:10, and my comment about "throwing in the towel" became a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Regardless, it was a great day to run, and celebrate Independence day.  The sun was shining, and the heat was manageable.  There were lots of people I knew in the race and along the route, so I decided to just enjoy the run, and not worry about the time.  Thanks to my Ragnar relay teammate Ray Hecker for snapping this shot of me at about the two mile mark of the race.  I think a lot of people could relate to the difficulty of maintaining your focus for a holiday race that falls on the final day of a three day weekend.   Running requires some sacrifices, but also some perspective about priorities. 

Heck, at least I got to run.  My training partner, Rick, was stuck on the other side of a stopped train just a half mile from the starting line, and by the time the train finally moved, he missed the start of the race.  And while that was maddening for him, it was a blessing for the top runners in his age group who he would have likely challenged, and probably beaten.

Elmhurst's 4 on the 4th is a really great little race.  They attracted more than 800 finishers this year, including a pretty competitive field at the front of the pack.  The top two runners ran under 5 minute pace, and every age group had strong finishers.  Part of the reason for that is that the race is part of the CARA circuit, so leaders can earn points that help their rankings in the season-long race series.  Race director Bob Richards also does an excellent job of making sure this is a race that caters to more serious runners.  Here's a look at the final results if you're interested: http://www.theracershub.com/results_view.php?id=1331&result_type=file

Next up, a 5k run for ALS at U.S. Cellular field next week.  http://www.run4als.org/ .  This is a great race that they have invited me to the last couple years, but it never worked out in my schedule.  This year it does and I'm looking forward to it.  I plan to run it with some of my media teammates, including Dina Bair from WGN.  Hope to see you out there.

See you on the roads........