We were going to have to push it a little if we were going to catch her, but I was confident we could manage. Fortunately, we weren't trying to catch Lance Armstrong as we turned back on our 'shake-out' 3 mile run. It was his ex-wife, Kristin, who was ahead running with the group that had turned around a little earlier than us. And if I wanted to talk to her for this blog entry, catching her during the run was my only chance. Fortunately, she often writes about how running is a social experience, and she enjoys running an easy pace in a group of friends. That's what she was doing, so we were able to catch up pretty quickly.
I'm fairly certain Kristin Armstrong would prefer to be known on her own merits, as she should. She is a very talented and accomplished author, mother, and runner. Her writing is inspirational, particularly to women, and speaks to the universal experiences we runners emjoy. I am the wrong gender to be in the intended audience for much of what she writes, but regardless, I find her writing to be entertaining and refreshing and wish I could write nearly as well.
Her latest book (her 6th) is called 'Mile Markers'. It's a compilation of some of her most entertaining blog entries on the Runner's World website. She writes about her experiences running with her friends in Austin, Texas. She reveals a lot about herself, and her family and friends. I feel like I know her friend Paige just from reading her blog. http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/
Once I managed to settle in next to her during the run, our brief conversation centered around one of the central topics of her writing. Her kids. Her three children are clearly her top priority. And though I'm not a mother, I can relate. My four are the center of my life as well. One nugget I found interesting is that her oldest son Luke is starting junior high sports. But rather than follow his famous parents into endurance sports, he's playing football!
Ms. Armstrong was in town courtesy of the 'Runner's World Challenge' training program sponsored by the magazine. About 100 or so runners who entered the race followed the training program and were treated to advice from Runner's World experts. Many were attempting the distance for the first time. Among the staffers who came out to run were Editor-in-Chief David Willey, and Armstrong who is a contributing editor. They even brought their own photographer along to document the event (and let me use the photos in this space).
They were among the group that gathered at the Puma store on State street (Puma sponsors the Challenge) for an easy saturday morning the Chicago half marathon the next day. Peter Sagal, who writes for the magazine, and is also host of 'Wait, Don't Tell Me' on NPR lives in Chicago and also made it out.
It was a pretty impressive group of runners and writers, and I could have spent all morning talking about my favorite sport with them. I was able to spend some time with David on the phone the night before, but, we all had a busy saturday ahead, so I tried to make the most of the three miles were ran.
I'm pretty fortunate. I get to work at a job I love, with great people at possibly the best local news station in the country, ABC-7. It is the realization of goals and dreams I had in college, and I truly feel blessed every day. But, if I had to pick a second most coveted job, it would probably be working for Runner's World magazine.
I've been reading Runner's World for more than 30 years. And while it has gone through many changes over the decades, it has always been the pre-eminent source of journalism and information for running. I could have easily spent all morning talking about my favorite sport with them. Fortunately, I was able to spend some time with David on the phone the night before. And since we all had a busy saturday ahead, I tried to make the most of the three miles we ran.
43 year old David Willey also has three young children and a family life he has to balance with his running and his duties with Runner's World. I told him I'm envious of his job, and I got the impression he hears that a lot. "I'm so lucky", he told me. "It's been a total blast for 8 years."
Willey played football in high school and college. He started running for exercise during college, and became hooked. Now he's on a quest familiar to many runners, trying to run a qualifying time for Boston. He needs to break 3:20, and he's hoping to get it in November in Philadelphia. I can also relate to that challenge. It took quite a few tries before I managed to break 3:20 (barely) and realize the Boston goal.
Willey has lived in Chicago, and studied at Northwestern. His last Chicago marathon effort, however, was in 2007, the year they stopped the race because of the heat. But he likes coming back here, and he says the 'challenge' program gives the staff with a great opportunity to connect with readers.
On this day, that's what I was. I was in full 'running geek' mode getting a chance to meet some of the folks I've been reading for years. Many of them will be back in town in a few weeks for the Bank of America Chicago marathon. If you get a chance, stop and say hello to them at the expo. You're bound to pick up a few nuggets of wisdom, and, hopefully you won't have to chase them down duringa run to talk!
See you on the roads......
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