Welcome to the Big Time

My friend and running partner Rick never said a word.  He told us he was training for shorter races this year.  The other members of our running group talk about marathons and half marathons.  Not Rick.  He talks about racing 5k's and 10 milers.  So we were shocked to learn he managed to get through the flawed online registration process for the Chicago marathon last week, and signed up.  He said he wasn't sure he wanted to do it until he went on the site, and found it difficult to get through.  That's when he took on the challenge and decided if he succeeded in getting in, he wanted to run the race.  Crazy.

Rick was one of the lucky ones.  As you probably know marathon officials closed down registration shortly after opening it in response to numerous problems with the website.  But in that brief window, about 30,000 runners managed to register.  That leaves about 15,000 spots left when they reopen registration sometime in the next week or so.

It was bound to happen.  New York has had a lottery system for entries to the marathon for years.  And it's very tough to get in.  Boston had to change registration policies and lower the qualifying times a year ago after the race filled up in less than a day.  Chicago, however has clung to the open registration policy.  And that has worked fine.  Until last week's debacle.

Last year, at a registration kick-off event for the marathon, I asked race director Carey Pinkowski about the open registration process, and he said he believed it fit with the character of the race here.  He indicated he expected to stick with it, and saw no need for a lottery.  But then after the open registration began, the race sold out in a week, which was record time by nearly a month.

This year, at the registration kick-off event, I asked Pinkowski the same question.  He answered it a bit differently this time, suggesting that a lottery or some other registration system might be necessary at some point, but he was still good with the open registration for now.

It was not unexpected.  They had a pool in the office of one local running store on how quickly registration would close, with most predictions in the 48 hour range.  But the onslaught of registrations when it opened at noon last tuesday still apparently caught the officials at Active.com by surprise.  The site was clearly unable to handle the tremendous volume of registration they faced when it opened.

Chicago is the other U.S. marathon (with Boston and New York) that is included in the 6 World Marathon Majors.  And there is a lot of demand from runners to get into the race.  That's helped many of the charities that offer guaranteed entries in exchange for fundraising. 

Most of us locals are partial to our own little 26.2 mile footrace.  And, having run Boston and New York myself, I think we are justified in thinking we have something pretty special every Ocotober here.  I remember running it in the mid-90's when the field was about a quarter of the 45,000 it is now.  And you could register almost up until the last minute.  The steady growth since that time is amazing.

The rest of the world has apparently caught on to our little secret. Chicago is a great place to run, and we put on a great marathon.  The result, I guess,  means the open registration process will soon be a thing of the past.  On the one hand it makes it more difficult for many Chicago runners to get into our hometown race.  But on the other, it makes it all the more desirable.  Just ask Rick!

See you on the roads....

Texas Here We Come

We passed the 6 mile mark in the Livestrong marathon/half marathon in Austin, Texas, Sunday, and I heard the couple running alongside me encouraging each other while mentioning they had only 20 miles left.  I did a double take, and then immediately thought how grateful I was to only have 7 left! 

I was among a large group of runners from Chicago doing the half marathon on a beautiful morning in Texas.  Most of the group was part of the Chicago Endurance Sports training group that made Austin their destination race for the winter.

For them, it was a great incentive to train.   Not only was it 70 degrees, while in Chicago it was 14, but Austin is also a great, fun, city that features great music on practically every corner.  It also is home to the state capitol and the University of Texas.  And it is one of the most vibrant running communities in the country.

That was in evidence when many of the runners gathered Saturday morning for a shake-out run
 on the incredibly popular running trail along the river downtown.  The trail was packed even though we were meeting relatively late, and many local runners were taking the day off because of the race Sunday.

We met at the statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn, who was an icon in Austin until his death in a helicopter crash after a concert in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin in 1990.  As a fan of his, seeing the statue was enough by itself to get me out to the run.  But as a bonus, Bart Yasso, from Runner's World Magazine, and Dick Beardsley whose epic battle with Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston marathon led to the book, 'Duel in the Sun' were also there to speak.  So I wasn't going to miss that!

The trail was also amazing. The idea was to run only a couple miles to loosen up and be ready for the race the next day.  But I enjoyed running on trail with the great weather and scenery to much, I was tempted to run 13.1 miles right there, and forget the race the next day.  As it turned out, I probably should have.  But I digress.

It was absolutely beautiful as we walked over to the race in the predawn hours on Sunday morning.  While it was a little chilly at that hour for the locals, about 40 degrees, it was pretty nice for us midwesterners. 

Having lived for a time in San Antonio, an hour or so away, I am pretty familiar with Austin.  I ran a 10k there many years ago, and I remember how hilly it is.  While much of Texas is pretty flat, Austin is on the edge of what is known as the 'Hill country' in Texas.  And there were plenty of rolling hills along the course, including a pretty steep one at mile 12.  So a fast time would take some good effort, and luck. 

I had neither Sunday.  When the starting horn went off, I started pretty slowly.  And, as I told my friends, I decreased my speed from there.  It was just one of those days when I never got going.  I realized it within about two miles, but I found myself unwilling to start running harder.  It was a conscious choice, but I really just wasn't 'feeling it'.  But the race itself was a really nice tour of Austin. 

When I crossed the line and looked at my time, I realized I'd run much faster for a similar distance on the hilly Barrington loop the previous weekend.  I've been running long enough to know some days you just don't have it.  This was one of them, but it didn't diminish the running experience much.  It was a really nice run, in a fun city.  But I still couldn't help but think maybe I should have stopped at Six miles!

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

Still Runnin'

I turned 49 a few days ago.  It seems weird to write that.  Like there was a typo when I hit the number keys.  It can't be right can it?  I have young kids.  And I don't feel like how I think 29 should feel.  Except that was two decades ago, and I don't remember it very well.  And I know don't act like what I think a 49 should act like.  But I guess it's real.  A friend (?) generously pointed out the other day that I am now into my 50th year. I believe the math is off, but regardless, I guess I she made her point.  When I was younger, I would consider 49 old too.  Not anymore.

As I was pondering that this weekend I thought of how friends and acquaintances frequently greet me with the question, "Are you still running?"  I know they are just showing interest, and making small talk.  But I always find the question a little funny.  Running isn't something I just started on a whim, or ever thought about quitting.  For me at least, running has been a part of life since I can remember.  And that goes back to early grade school.  And that is undoubtedly a big part of why I don't feel old.

In fact, when it comes to running, I still feel like I have some pretty good racing in me if I ever decide to get a little more serious about training.  Like all of us, I've hit a few injury speed bumps over the years.  But right now, I've been pretty blessed with good health for a long stretch, and am enjoying my running as much as ever.

I'm not going to try to impart some secret wisdom about how to achieve that for yourself. Some combination of cross-training, rest, and improving core strength and flexibility is clearly important.  Good diet and sleep are also helpful.  And in truth, I am not very good about any of those things.  I guess the thing I left out might be the most important, as well as the thing we have no control over.  You want to be blessed with good genes.

I normally make a point of enjoying a nice run on my birthday every year.  This year my birthday fell on my regular rest day.  I had a bunch of activities planned with my kids already, so rather than make some special point of going on a birthday run this year, I followed my schedule.  I'm not especially rigid when it comes to training schedules, but taking Friday's off has worked for me the last few years, and I'm not one to mess with good karma.  So I relaxed, ate well, and enjoyed my day with the kids.  

I enjoyed my regular long run with friends in Barrington even more the next day.  It was a chance to reflect on where the time has gone for all of us.  We've been running together for so many years we could them in decades.

Despite that, I've never felt old.  So yes, I'm 49.  At least that's what it says on my birth certificate.  But I'm not giving in to old age.

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

 

Rest is Good Too

Runners are not invincible.  We are not immune from the germs that cause colds and the flu to our family and friends. And especially when we fail to get the proper sleep and nutrition.  So, given my poor diet and sleep schedule, I'm a prime candidate for getting sick.  Running might be great for your health, but, unfortunately, it doesn't turn you into a superhuman.

That poses a difficult issue for runners, when we do start to feel under the weather.  The basic mentality I learned as an athlete growing up is that pain is good.  We fight through that.  And when we are sick, we fight through that as well.  I recall the conversations my teammates used to have about how running when you were sick would help you get better more quickly.

I do realize how counterintuitive that sounds.  Not to mention wrong.  But I'm pretty sure I believed it.  So it was not easy, but I was somewhat proud of myself this weekend for deciding to cancel my plans to race and take it easy.

I'm clearly no expert, but apparently sometimes rest is what our bodies need.  So rather than go ahead with my plans to run the Big Game 10 Sunday morning at Soldier Field, I
woke up, felt awful, and decided to muster up the energy to go to church rather than head to the race.

That was a rather involved decision.  I had to make last minute changes to my childcare needs, send my apologies to race organizers, and alter my family's plans to spend the rest of the day after the race downtown.  Not to mention feeling like a bit of a loser for 'wimping out' of a race I'd been looking forward to.

But the reality, I reminded myself several times throughout the day, is that there will be plenty more races coming up.  And sometimes we need to take care of ourselves so we can be good for the long haul.  This is a marathon we are all running.  Not a sprint.

And I'm pretty sure it was the right decision.  Rather than continuing to feel worse for the next few days, as has been my pattern when I get sick, I started to feel better by Monday.  I didn't need to miss work.  We made it to church.  A little rest, and we're back on track.

Just don't let it happen again.

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