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October 29, 2007

grand rapids marathon race report

I was planning on starting this report at the start line and take you on the journey from there. But it was one of those races where everything fell into place. So be warned, this is long ... you can skip down to the race.

P found this race, and convinced us that we should trust her, sign up and travel 4 hours across the border to the other side of Michigan, to run a small town marathon.

So we did.

We left on Saturday morning. It was pouring with rain, gray, cloudy and cold. The sort of drab day that lasts for a week. But as we approached GR, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the sun shone bright. Angels were practically signing Halleluh, welcoming us to town.

After a delicious pasta dinner and a good nights sleep, we got dressed, packed and headed down for a continential breakfast. The Comfort Inn, put on a spread. They had everything a runner's heart could desire. Bagels, bread, muffins, scrambled eggs and ham, 4 types of cereal, 5 variety of juices, fruit, oatmeal, coffee and a waffle station and homemade cinnamon rolls filled the air. It was the best pre-marathon breakfast I've ever had. The room was filled with runners, many talking about Chicago and their experiences.

We scrapped the car and drove the 3 miles to the YMCA. P and I, cheered on D and S as they headed out with a hundred other runners in the early start, "velocity challenged" group. Then we headed into the worlds greatest YMCA, found a locker and strategized about what to wear.

P and I had a plan. We were going to start out with the 4.44 pace group. Stay with them til 10 or 12 miles, then pick up the pace to see if we could catch Oprah by 23 miles.

As we stood at the start, it seemed everyone was here because of Chicago. There were t-shirts with, Chicago, been there run that, and one with GR registration $90, Hotel $100, the marathon not being cancelled at mile 20 ... priceless. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and second chances. It was like nothing I've felt at a start line before.

The race

Mile 1-3

The first mile headed us out of town and onto the bike path, then we winded our way through the park for the next two miles. We stayed close to our pace group, they were running about a 10.30/mile pace. It didn't feel slow, and I started to think that maybe I'd stay with them for the whole race. I tell P, this race was a great idea and I am so happy we are doing it. Then I tell her, to hold on to this memory when I start bitch'n at mile 20 about how much I hate this race, remember how nice I was at this moment. She laughs.

mile 3 ... 32.30

Mile 3-6

We headed out of the park and uphill. If you have ever done Around the Bay, the next 3 miles were very similar to the last 10k in Burlington. Nothing too steep, but biggish rolling hills. If they had of been at the end, I would of hated them. We didn't have any problems with them. In fact P and I rocked the hils. We rocked them so much, we lost our pace group. We kept looking back, seeing they were way behind us and tried to adjust our pace, that didn't work, we kept getting further ahead.

mile 6 1.03.12

Mile 6 - 9

We headed off the road and into a beautiful park that looped around ponds and playgrounds. At the abundantly stocked waterstop I took my first gel, I know everyone was on the edge of their seats wondering when I would do that! We were still trying to slow down to catch our pace group, but we were now about .5k ahead of them, cause we are superfast! At mile 8 we headed out of that park, up a hill, and into another park that ran along a river, the path was wide and shaded with trees.

Sometime around here I began to regret my decision to indulge in the cinnamon bun. Yes, I have no willpower, and they smelled so good! I found a port-a-potty at the next waterstop, thankfully, the cinnamon bun stayed put and everything was okay. I caught up with P at mile 9.

mile 9 ... 1.35.20

Mile 9 - halfway

Our original plan was to run to the halfway with the 4.44 pace team, then pick it up. We lost the pace team around mile 5 and now I had secretly launched the speed it up plan. I didn't tell P. She was happily munching on the oreo cookie they were giving out. At mile 13 you head out of the park and turnaround. The more water than niagara falls waterstop, enthusiastic volunteers, blasting music and the guy on stilts did distract from what I would describe as a junk yard a la sanford and son. As we crossed mile 13, P and I agreed to keep this pace until mile 20, that was our new goal. For those keeping track, I took gel number two here.

There are out-n-back turnarounds during this marathon and it gives you a chance to see where everyone is. One thing I noticed, there were some freakishly tall people in this race. Maybe a basketball team was running, or the stilt guy brought a village of giants with him. But there were a lot of them.

halfway - 2.18

Mile 13.2 - 20

I don't really remember much about 13-16, except my legs were beginning to tighten. My IT band and my right hip flexor were starting to cry out for mercy.

At mile 16 we are taken off the wide beautiful path on to a small path that leads to an industrial estate. Now if I was to find fault with GR, this would be it. It really wasn't bad, but after running it what seemed like a fairy tale setting the next two miles didn't fit in ... plus I was hurting.

I grabbed water from the endless supply at the waterstop, but P kept going. I had a bit of momentum from catching her, and I passed her. I knew my legs had to keep going to get me to 20. I saw the Oprah pace team they were at mile 18, I made a mental note of the time, to see how far behind we were. I crossed mile 18 at 3.07, 7 minutes behind Oprah. Which meant we had done the last 5 miles in under 49 minutes! The next two miles were pretty tough. I kept telling myself if I don't stop til 20, then I can walk all the way back if I have to.

mile 20 3.30.29

Mile 20 - 24

Once I saw the 20 mile marker I knew I had to keep running there was a functioning waterstop not far away I could keep going til then. I grabbed some water and gummy bears from the large selection available and started running again. I felt better. Stronger. At mile 21 you turnaround and head back. I saw P, she wasn't far behind me. I had noted Oprahs time again, they were now 6.40 ahead of me. I knew I couldn't catch them. At the waterstop just before 22, I grabbed water and a handful of gummy bears and did something for the first time in this marathon. I walked. I walked and drank and chewed my delicious gummy goodies all the way across the bridge. I would of walked all the way back to the finish, except, there was a photographer poised at the end of the bridge, ready to capture the moment.

DAMIT!

I waved to him to wait, I threw my cups away, took a deep breath and smiled through those horrendous first few steps.

I ran til 23. Not fast. But strong. I actually felt pretty good. I was going to walk for 1 minute, but that turned into 2, and was quickly approaching 3 when I remembered running everyday. I can run 3 miles. I've did that everyday. I can do these last 3 miles. So I started running again. Til 24, when I had another walking party just for me.

mile 24 4.14

Mile 24 to finish

When I saw 4.14 at mile 24, I thought if I can pull 2 miles out at 9 minutes each, I'll just be over 4.30. Now I don't know who's legs I thought would be running those 2 miles, but once I started running I knew they wouldn't be mine. I think I got about 1/2 a mile at that pace before I wanted to die. It wasn't the previous 24 miles that did me in, it was that .5 that killed. I managed a slow jog where I barely moved my feet of the ground to 25. Then came to a grinding halt.

"Seriously, mile 25 you can do this, just run"

"Shut up"

"You are going to start running at the telephone pole, yes you are"

"I am going to walk so slow, that I'll never get to the f'ing pole ever"

It took a long time to get to the pole, but when I did, I kept walking. Then I saw that dam photographer again, I felt like Britney, hounded by photographers. So I started running. It hurt. The last mile was torture. I had to stop 3 times to walk. Then I could see the YMCA and the finish line. I kept running. Some guy passed me, which ticked me off, so I tried to catch him. I began to sprint. Then hobbled in pain and waved to him and shouted "You go on, I'll let you take this one."

26.2 ... 4.41

As they cut my chip off my shoe, I heard P's name being called out. She was just over a minute behind me.

I hugged her, she had picked the best race ever.

Grand Rapids was just grand!

Posted by Ali at 10:46 PM | Comments (22)

October 28, 2007

redemption

After a summer of training, 100 consecutive runs and 6 weeks of tapering I finally got to cross fall marathon off the list.

4.41 an 11 minute PB!

Which I am really happy with, it wasn't the 4.30 I was hoping for 3 weeks ago, but it was a great marathon and a fabulous run.

I really can not say enough wonderful things about Grand Rapids. This is by far the best race I have ever done. The organization was impeciable. They thought of everything. Including but not limited too ....

GU in various flavours given out at 4 waterstops
More water and gatorade than we could use (even if we wanted to pour it over our heads)
Oreo cookies, gummy bears and pretezels at waterstops after 12 miles
Only 7 miles of road running, the rest was on park paths.
Free showers and towels at the YMCA afterwards
Post race food, fruit, cookies, bagels, yogurt, cheese, granola bars, rice crispy squares, hot dogs, chilli and beer!

My favourite thing, the celebrity pace teams. They were funny, supportive and told great politically incorrect stories. On the back of their pace shirts it said ... it you are not happy with my pacing please call 1 800 GRM 2007 ... it still makes me giggle.

Full report with all the dets, tomorrow!

Posted by Ali at 8:11 PM | Comments (19)

October 27, 2007

marathon eve

my bags are packed
I'm ready to go

Okay, my bags are almost packed, so I'm not quite ready to go. But I've been singing this for the last hour, while I sip coffee and procrastinate on packing. The TV has sucked me in, I can't pull myself away from the Top 20 Rockers run in with the law. This is quality TV.

D and P are picking me up at 10am ... and then we are officially off to the Rapids which are Grand.

The weather ... ahhh ....

Low of 37, high of 45, sunny and partially cloudy

SWEEEEEEEEET!

Posted by Ali at 8:42 AM | Comments (10)

October 25, 2007

better

I have been on a steady diet of sleep, turkey soup, hot lemon drinks, vitamin C and oranges. Today I feel better, almost back to normal.

Went to the group run tonight after work, and did a short run with P. It felt good. So I think I am ready.

Now all I have to do is decided what to wear! It's going to be cool. Ah ... how I love cool.

Posted by Ali at 10:08 PM | Comments (7)

October 23, 2007

I'm sick

There is an elephant sitting on my chest. I feel like crap.

I've come home from work, stopped at the video store and rented the first season of Weeds. The rest of the day I am hiding under the duvet on the sofa.

Posted by Ali at 11:52 AM | Comments (11)

October 22, 2007

6 to go

Yesterday was a perfect running day. The leaves have changed, and they crunch under your feet. The sky was brillant blue, but the air was cool. It's the sort of fall day that makes you glad your a runner.

That's what I kept telling myself. Look around. It's beautiful out. You should be glad you are a runner. You should be glad you are a runner. You should be glad you are a runner.

NEWSFLASH

I wasn't really all that glad I was a runner.

The company was awesome, in fact if it wasn't for them, I would of set up home in a pile of leaves obeying squirrel law til spring.

I think my body has finally clued into what I plan to make it do on Sunday. It's not onboard with the plan.

I struggled to keep an 11 minute pace. My legs felt tired and sore. My feet. They are really pissed. I'm pretty sure I have at least 4 syndromes I'm ignoring. I had to work really hard to keep going. Then at the end, when I looked at my garmin, I realised I would have to run another 11 miles. You have to be kidding me. I didn't even want to crawl into the back seat of a car and be driven 11 miles.

I haven't been on the "I'm angry with the Chitown organizers" train. Shit happens. But I was physically and mentally ready on October 7th. I suppose I should be angry at mom nature, or global warming. The point is I was ready then, I am not so ready now. I think I need to downgrade my expectations. I need a new realistic goal.

Which might be, just have fun ... which should be easy, here's the email from the Race Director I got this morning.

Six Days to the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon.

We ran the course yesterday. Everything looked great. We even had a roving aid station organized by Terence's wife Tina. Nice. Chocolate chip cookies too!!

Today I'm going to download the database and take it over to Joe at Classic Race Management so he can finish assigning numbers.

Which brings me to a story about our packet pickup chair, Kathy Haase--

Last year, I sent her the runner list so she could get her staff ready. She sent me back an email, telling me that she had sorted it by race and alphabetically so she could post it for people to look up their numbers.

"WHAT?? I didn't know we even asked RACE on the application! How did you do that? What difference does it make what color anyone is anyway?" She really had me wondering for a minute there.

"NO, YOU IDIOT. By "race" I mean Full Marathon or Half Marathon."

"Oh. Never mind."

And now, a word or two about this weekend. Many of you are going to have questions. On the website, check the FAQ page, the Relay page, or the Race Day Info page. You'll notice something on the Race Day page that you don't usually see at all those other marathons. See if you can figure it out.

and the adventure continues....
Don

Posted by Ali at 8:36 AM | Comments (8)

October 20, 2007

deluded

In preparation for Chicago, I ran everyday for 100 days.

In preparation for Grand Rapids, I am not running everyday.

In fact I am taking a whole new approach to training this time. I am barely running at all.

My new philosphy is that I ran a whole lot before, so hopefully, my legs remember what running a whole lot feels like next Sunday!

I am more efficient with my time and running now. I combine workouts. Like this morning, which was just an average training run. But for 1k, I looked at my watch and timed how long it took. That part was speedwork. Impressive huh?

In celebrity news (once I complete Grand Rapids, this will officially become a celebrity gossip blog) ...

Bon Jovi are coming to town. That's right, those boys from Jersey , who's big hair and sprayed on pants adorned my bedroom walls throughout the 80s.

You should see the buzz the concert is causing. It's crazy!

There are grown women, I'm talking happily married with teenage children, freak'n out.

They are deluded. Not one but at least 7 women in different and totally unrelated situations have told me that Jon is coming too town to see them. Too see them. Really? These are smart, intelligent, worldly women. Super-hot-dreamy-sexy-rockstar has gone on tour, dragging his band along, so as not to raise suspicion, so he could meet one of them.

Really?

I don't think so.

You're livin' on a pray! It's obviously me he is coming to see.

Posted by Ali at 5:24 PM | Comments (7)

October 19, 2007

the man in the ceiling

I arrived into work late this morning. I would of been only 5 minutes late, due to my own tardiness, and my super comfy bed. But the city in there on going efforts to dig up ever road in the downtown core simotaniously, added 10 more minutes to that.

When I finally arrived, I was greeted by 3 very concerned looking faces. How sweet. They were all worried about me. Wondering were I was and how they would cope without me.

My hand swung instintively to my heart and I mouthed the words "I'm okay"

Their looks quickly changed from concern to confusion. Then finally C spoke.

"The instructor is in the ceiling."

Background info ... we have a 2 day leadership course going on in one of our classrooms. The participants are professionals in the workforce looking to tweak their skill sets.

"Why is the instructor in the ceiling?"

The three of them go into panic mode. "ssssssssshhhhh" they glance around then hudle around me. "It's a surprise for the class"

"Oh .. okay" I notice students mulling around the front desk. "So what's the problem?"

"He's locked himself in the class with a ladder, we have to get the ladder out, you know without anyone realizing what's going on."

"Right. Okay. What's the plan?"

"We thought you could come up with something."

"Something, to sneak a 10 foot ladder past 36 grown adults"

"Yeah"

I look down, bring my hand to my face and grab my chin. This seems to calm them down. LIke something profound is about to happen.

"Okay, I have it." then I look at each one individually. "But, I'm gonna need one of you to help"

C volunteers. I explain, when we walk down the hall passed the students, she is to tell me that the 'maintenance guy" was in earlier and left a ladder in the room. We will enter the room, and carry the ladder passed the students, while talking about calling the 'maintenance guy" to come collect his ladder. Then I add, you should have a bit of attitude like, he shouldn't leave a ladder lying around, roll eyes etc.

We arrive in the classroom. The instructor is half in the celing and half on the top of the ladder. When he sees us, he hoists himself up. C grabs the ladder.

Then the unexpected happens. He loses his grip or balance and his foot is thrust through the ceiling tile.

"Oh Shit!" he retracts his foot. The celing tile falls to the ground.

C and I scramble to pick up the pieces and hand them back to him. He attempts to rebuild the tile while dangling from some ropes.

C tells him we are leaving with the ladder. He says nothing. She tells him we are letting the students in. Silence.

We look at each other.

"are you okay up there"

nothing

C asks what do we do. I have no answer. I don't know. Maybe it's part of the character preparation for what ever the hell he is going to do.

"Let's go"

We grab the ladder, and hurry down the hall, hitting walls and talking loudly about caling the 'maintenance guy".

It was an emmy winning performance.

Once the ladder was safely in the office and the students were in the class. I asked again.

"Why is the instructor in the celing?"

No one can figure it out. It is obviously something very clever and smart.

** update **

I talked to the 'man in the ceiling' after the class.

"what were you hiding in the ceiling for? Was it a leadership activity? Did the students learn a skill from it"

I felt like I was a reporter, getting the big scope!

"I wanted to make an entrance"

"I drop from the ceiling and hang there for the first few minutes of the class"

hmmm ... there you have it!

Posted by Ali at 11:23 AM | Comments (6)

October 13, 2007

take two

My four blissful days of Nothingathon officially ended this morning at 8.30am. I ran.

Actually, to be completely truthful, Nothingathon ended at 11.14pm last night when I hit 'register'.

Yes, I hit register.

I am running the Grand Rapids Marathon on Sunday October 28, 2007!

Why?

Good question.

I need closure. Like at the end of a bad relationship breakup.

After training for 18 weeks, running everyday for 100 days, there is a still a feeling of incompleteness (word). I know 100 consecutive days is a huge accomplishment which I am incredibly proud of, but it was part of training for a marathon. That goal still lumes. I started thinking seriously about it, yesterday morning. Then P sent me an email yesterday afternoon, suggesting Grand Rapids. I laughed.

Then I visited their website and I was sold. I found a marathon with personality. A small town marathon with heart and humor.

For example, they do have pace team. But with a difference. No 4.00, 4.05. 4.15! No the pace teams are based on Celebrity Marathon finish times.

Celebrity-Pace Pace Teams will include:
The Penguin Brigade 4:44:44 (endorsed by Runner’s World’s John “The Penguin” Bingham)
Team Oprah 4:29:30 (everyone wants to know if they can beat Oprah)
P. Diddy Pacers 4:14:54
Will Ferrell’s Sub-4’s 3:56:12
George W.’s Running Mates 3:44:52
The Billy Baldwin Racers 3:29:24 (We’re not really sure if he counts as a celebrity, but he’s Alec’s brother and we do respect his time.)
Pi’s Pacers 3:1415926 (geeky younger brother of Phidippides in ancient Greece, was more interested in mathematics than in running).

I am going to sign up for the Oprah Pace Team!

Here are a few of the answers to my favourite questions

Cutoff Times? Do you have cutoff times for either race?
YES! We'd really like it if you finish on some day ending in a "Y" Stay perpenicular and cross the FINISH LINE. We'll save you a beer.

Is whining allowed on the course?
NO! You signed up for this on purpose. Deal with it. I don't care if you were drunk when you friend talked you into it.

Finisher Medals, will there be any?
Yes, and thery're really cool too. Half marathon medals as well. Even something nice for the relay teams.

What sport drink are you serving?
Gatorade this year. In a variety of flavors & colors drink. GU at mile 8, 13 & 18.5 (vanilla and plain)

What's the course like?
It's long. 26.2 miles. Mostly flat. Actually, there are a few hills between 3 and 6 miles, unless someone comes through with a really big bulldozer between now and then.

Posted by Ali at 12:23 PM | Comments (18)

October 11, 2007

nothingathon

I am on day three of doing nothing.

Three days without running, and surprisingly no guilt or withdrawl what so ever.

It's shocking how easy doing nothing is. No running. No gym. Even putting laundry away seems too much, so I haven't.

I have thought about doing something.

Like when I was lying on the sofa in my comfy, cosy sweats, watching The Biggest Loser. I thought. I should do something, these people are amazing.

So I opened a bag of chips and lay back down.

Today, I am starting to think that I really really need to start doing something, sometime, soon! I fear, if I don't, I may never do anything again, ever.

Posted by Ali at 12:37 PM | Comments (15)

October 9, 2007

chi town report

I like to obsess.

I find it comforting. I have obsessed about the weather since early last week. Like my obsessing will change the outcome or I’ll be more prepared. Thursday night when we checked into our hotel, I turned on the weather channel. It was on again as soon as I woke up. If there was a weather station on the radio I would have had blaring in the car.

I knew it was going to be hot. I knew it was going to be humid. I knew it was going to be sunny. I knew all of this, yet I truly believed I could still pull out a 4.30. I would just be more sweaty than normal when I finished.

Knowing it’s going to be hot and actually running in the heat are two very different things.

When we turned off the TV at 11pm on Saturday night, it was 76 degrees in downtown Chicago. At 5.30am it was 75. It had dropped one whole degree overnight. I wonder if I should bring my gloves?

At the start, before the national anthem and the helicopters positioned themselves overhead, they told us of the extra services provided due to the heat. Extra medical tents, more water and Gatorade at every waterstop, drop out tents and buses on the course, misters and sponges at mile 20. I remember thinking, sponges at mile 20, that will be something to look forward too, cause that’s when I will be feeling the heat. I won’t be needing them early on. No not me. I’ve run 99 days in a row. I am made of heat resistant stuff.

Now, although I actually thought a 4.30 was possible, I knew I would have to start out slow. So, plan A (version 48.6) was to start out at an 11 min/mile pace, then at 5k, start to pick it up, by 10k I would be feeling great and take off like a rocket!

The gun went off, only 35,000 of the 45,000 registered crossed the start line. There are obviously 10,000 smarter people than me in the world, that didn’t even bother to show up. My pace felt really comfortable. Just after the first mile I looked around and everyone was dripping with sweat. I thought, wow, these people really sweat. Then I glanced down at my shirt. It was soaked. I ran my hand over my face, the sweat was streaming down my face. Oh my god, I’m one of these sweaty people!

At mile 3 I was exactly where I wanted to be with my pace. My legs were feeling great. Nothing hurt. I was breathing comfortably. I was hot but not really feeling too bad.

Time to kick it up a notch. I figured I would drop it down to 10.30 min/mile.

I picked up my pace. I definitely felt the difference. I knew I was working. This mile was harder than the last. Mile 4 was just over my goal at 10.34, the next mile will be better. It wasn’t. It was a lot more effort to keep pace.

I know I can do this. I know I can do this. I know I can do this.

It was somewhere just before 5 that I began to notice how many people were walking. Not one or two, at least 10 or more. As I got to mile 5 I saw the time on my watch. My slowest mile yet! This is the hardest I’ve worked since the start, and I am going slower?

I looked around and found D, just behind me. He had the same, ‘this sucks’ look on his face to.

It wasn’t going to be a 4.30 day.

We decided to slow it down and walk through the next waterstop. I thought we’d never get there. I begin to wonder if they forgot to set it up. It appeared just before mile 6. There were turned over tables, thousands and thousands of cups on the ground. They had run out of Gatorade. Everyone was grabbing 3 or 4 cups of water drinking them or pouring them over their heads, not thinking they would run out completely. The thought never crossed my mind.

When we eventually started running again, we had spent at least a minute or two strolling through the waterstop, I decided to just take it easy, run to each waterstop and take my time walking through them. It seemed like a realistic goal. However, over the next two miles, I took 2 or 3 walking breaks. Mile 7 and I have to walk? It seemed crazy. Nothing hurt, I just felt like the life was being sucked out of me.

Then came mile 8, boy town. The energy from the spectators and volunteers was amazing. I perked up. They were dancing and singing. I was feeling better. As we headed along a shady residential street, we got sprayed with hoses and waterguns. People were bringing water and cups out of their homes to help us out.

** I really can not say enough wonderful things about the people of Chicago. They truly support their marathon. They were incredible.**

I think the shade and being hosed down really helped during these couple of miles. If I could of just run mile 8 and 9, 13 times, I might have had a hope of finishing. I started to believe it wasn’t that hot out. Then we hung a right and all that changed. It was hot, sunny and no more shade. It was 88 degrees. By mile 10 I was walking again. I just kept thinking I am walking now, I still have 16 miles to go.

I think that’s when I made the decision, although I probably made it early than that, but it was about mile 10.5 that I committed to it.

I wanted to get off the course. Given semi-normal conditions, I know I can do a 4.30. I would of stuck it out to finish under 5 hours. But now, looking at my watch, I had at least 3 more hours of this. If I felt like crap now, what would I feel like at 18 or 22? It was getting hotter, and the second half had very little shade.

So I decided to run to the half, then get off the course.

By the time I made it back to the finish line, you could see the effects of the heat. There were runners lying on the grass. Ambulance sirens constantly filled the air. Stories of what people saw and experienced out there. Then rumors that they had closed the course.

I have heard, read and watched numerous options on the organization and shutting down the marathon. I agree with their decision both to start and end it. I might feel differently if I was at mile 23, feeling good and told to stop running. I don’t think it was badly organized. Yes, they shouldn’t have run out of water/Gatorade, I agree, but on the other hand, me and thousands like me, shouldn't have taken 3-4 cups at a time.

We may all, runners and organizers, have underestimated the power of mother-nature and the marathon.

Posted by Ali at 6:13 PM | Comments (20)

October 8, 2007

holy heatwave batman

100 runs successfully completed.

However run 99 was a little, oh what's the word, hmmm .... HOT! For those of you that don't know they shut the marathon down at 3.5 hours.

I'm fine, still sweating and in much need of a cold beer and my sofa. I've just arrived home from Chicago. So I'll post a full report tomorrow.

I just wanted to make a quick post to say I'm okay and to thank you all for your encouraging words, concern, emails and phone calls.

Posted by Ali at 6:50 PM | Comments (17)

October 3, 2007

5 to go

My ideal conditions to run a marathon would be, sunny with cloudy break, light wind, no humidity and temperatures ranging from mid 40s to low 50s.

The worst case scenario would be hot, humid and rainy.

Here is the forecast for Chicago on marathon day

Yeah ... what's with that?

It's fall, the season of crunching leaves, crisp mornings, wearing sweaters, eating casseroles and pies.

It's October!

This doesn't just reak havoc with race day, no sir, it is so much more than that. Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday are all going to be over 85!

It's October!

How's a girls supposed to pack! Let's not even speak about the effect on my hair.

It seems weird and wrong to be wearing summer clothes? But it's 85 degrees out. I'm so over summer clothes, I want to wear fall clothes. I don't care I'll be a tourist in a foreign city, I'll wear my white capri pants, and I'll wear them proudly!

Every distrubing bad timed heatwave cloude has a silver lining. My legs (with the exception of my painful right foot) feel great. They felt the best they have felt in weeks last night. Taper must be doing something!

Posted by Ali at 12:00 PM | Comments (16)

October 1, 2007

7 to go

7 more runs, 7 little runs. Well, 6 little runs and one rather long run also know as the Chicago La Salle Bank Marathon!

To mark the occasion of run number 99, I'm going to wear a chip and run over mats placed every 5k just for your viewing pleasure ... so you can follow along.

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/
Name: Alison Adair
BIB Number: 21282

Posted by Ali at 7:13 PM | Comments (11)