Friday Eve - Rest Day Post

 Two Part Post - 1: Motivation 2: Stuff
1.
Are you someone that always tries to motivate people, encourage them, tell them they are doing awesome, but don't give yourself the same pat on the back? Most of us huh. Well this post is about us.
This is feeling proud about yourself, myself, we are pretty great.

(Except you, yeah I see the Nutella smear on your face and you haven't brushed your teeth yet today, you aren't that great)

The thought started crossing in my head as I chatted with a coworker who signed up for her first half marathon. She started the early phases of, what the hell did I just do, but I can't back out now. She got a legit plan set out from one of her runner friends beforehand and isn't backing down. I added what extra value I could and try to encourage her whenever we talk running, reminding her the dedication to training is what makes those motivational videos and posters we all wish we were in. News flash, we are those posters.

I forced myself to take a look at my own training. About 6 weeks into the Hanson Plan. Plenty of days where I feel like I'm not doing enough. That I set my goals too high. That I should lower my expectations for my first race. You know the downward spiral. But then that day I pretended it wasn't me I was looking at.

You know those videos of people running in the dark, running 10 miles Friday, to wake up just as early on the weekend to knock out god knows how many more. The people that can tell you about running at -10 degrees or 90 degrees. That is me I'm looking at. What values to you honor in other people? I bet you have them yourself, but don't like to admit it.

The speech in this video has been around for awhile, but as I love the Bulls, I'm giving you it as a backdrop to a Bull's video. 

“Here’s the thing that makes life so interesting. The theory of evolution claims that “only the strong shall survive”. Maybe so, maybe so.

But the theory of competition says, “just because they’re the strong doesn’t mean they can’t get their asses kicked”.

That’s right. See, what every long shot, come from behind, underdog will tell ya is this: the other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be stacked against you. Fair enough. But what the odds don’t know is, this isn’t a math test. This is a completely different kind of test. One where passion, has a funny way of trumping logic.

So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows, and the clocks start ticking just remember: out here the results don’t always add up. No matter what the stats may say and the experts may think and the commentators may have predicted, when the race is on, all bets are off.

Don’t be surprised be if someone decides to flip the script and take a pass on yelling “Uncle”. And then suddenly as the old saying goes, “WE’VE GOT OURSELVES A GAME”.

So you know what? Game on. I'm going to keep dreaming big and so should you. You inspire me.

-
Annnd Stuff:

Got my new sneakers in! Same ones I have now, just different color (New Balance M890v3)

If you see these bad boys on the path, it is probably me and I expect a side five.

And my foam roller is still getting use:





For people dealing with gnats while running:

And some photos from the Rock and Roll Half Marathon:

Okay, that's enough for one day. Have a great day

Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon Recap!

I can finally stop saying I never did a race. I think this race sets the bar high (as it should with its cost!). Bottom line up front.

Pros: Course, music, pre and post race food and drink, organization, volunteers, course extras like cold sponges, and a lot of fun people!

This is not me

Cons: Only con of the race was the Humanity Vitality Cheer Squad screen at mile 10. When I crossed there, they weren't showing the messages yet which sucked. Thankfully I heard that they were working for +Maggie Wolff and Xaarlin at Pain is nothing and they got my messages! yay!

Lessons Learned: Double tape nipples. Put bib on shorts next time so I can shed my shirt. Don't eat so much random ish after the race, stomach still trying to digest it. Get my race fuel strategy on track, and don't sip gatorade too often, I started getting a drinking cramp.


Do it again? Yes, although heat was getting to me a bit.

Now to my journey!

Woke up at 3am, I was still full from eating so much pizza for dinner. I started with my coffee, but added some sugar and milk to try to top off my energy stores. I watched part of Equilibrium and talked to my friend in NY who hadn't gone to bed yet.

4am: More coffee, gotta make sure no junk is left in the trunk.

5am: Get moving out to the El.

My attempt at the foot selfie

Most of the people getting on the train were going to the race, which was pretty fun.

5:45am - Get to the race area. I knew the +Chicago Running Bloggers  meetup was starting, but I needed to use the facilities and get my bib and stuff on. Sad I missed meeting some people that comment on my blog for the first time (Running with the Sunrise and This Hobbit Runs).

6:10am: Get to my corral.

I recalled Annabelle @ Fluency's Folly's would be a pace leader for 1:45 time and would be at Corral 4. So I did what all good stalkers do and just went up and talked to her.

After a brief chat and no luck in finding Xaarlin or  Sarah who would be in that group, I went to my corral.

I lined up at the end of the corral with the intention of going with the 1:30 group. Social observation, I think I was the only guy there that was near 180lbs.

The first mile was a bit tight, people kept getting in front of me and I couldn't get my normal stride going without stepping on someone. I started losing the pace group until the path widened and I went way out to the side. My first 5k I was hitting sub 7s pretty easy. I passed the pace group (which I won't do next time), and went on my way.

I saw Erin @ Loop Looks around that point with a sign by the  route and got a cheerful wave!

I didn't know it was her until after I waved, and immediately waved again.

As mentioned in prior posts, I intended on going 5-7 miles then decide to go faster, slower, or maintain. Well, I was sipping on my handheld bottle a little too often and felt I was on the verge of a rough cramp, and was feeling a bit hot (and to be honest, my legs were Hanson Marathon tired), so I decided to just enjoy the rest of the run at an easier pace.  You'll see below where I made the decision, and had fun for the rest of the race. It was hard to accept people passing me that I had a good leg on, but in the end, I got the corral time I needed:

Slowing down let me get lots of high fives from bystanders and enjoy the views. The pace group caught up again, I hung with them a little bit, but checked my ego at the curb and just let them go on their way.

The music was cool on the run, although I caught a few of them chilling, um jam people!

Miles 7 to 9 the heat was getting to me a bit and I took a few more steps off. I was a tiny bit worried I would go too slow, but reminded myself I had a strong first half and just stay healthy. I saw a few people in corral 1 have to step off the race and recover on the sidewalk here.

Looping near Chinatown to go east was when the course got really fun. The drummers in Chinatown got some life back into me, and then we went through some people hosing us down and misters. The station with the ice cold sponges was a god send and I screamed out - SWEET ICEY NECTAR OF THE GODS!

The coolest part of the race was going through the tunnel about 2 miles away from the finish line. The inside was all cool flashing lights with DJs and high fives. I would do a half marathon in this, plus it was cooler. It reminded me of this:

 People started going hard here, but at this point I had no reason to other than saying I finished what, 30-60 seconds faster? As long as I was under 1:37, I was good.

Not so fun part of the race for me, I didn't apply my nipple tape good on my right side, and man did that chafe. I was holding down my shirt for half my run and would only take it off my chest for the photographers.

I jogged to the finish line, got my drink, medal, and cold wet towel, then went back to the finish line to try to see some bloggers finish. I capture Anabelle, Sarah, and Xaarlin, but then the medical tent told us to go way back so they have easier access. I went on my way and caught up to Annabelle again.

Annabelle

Guy in white blocked Xaarlin for most of the shots(See behind him)

Sara Crossing with a smile

Post race stuff: They had TONS of food and drinks, I couldn't handle it all (TWSS). I was a bit of a glutton and my stomach paid the price. I only found Annabelle and Maggie and we got these pics:

Good times!
Back to training!

Wind it up

Easy day today. Doing what I can to have a little something extra in the tank tomorrow for the Rock and Roll Half. Click here to cheer me on at mile 10 bit.ly/13nhF72  !

Short story, last summer my goal was to hit a sub 1:30 half by this race. I was doing about 1:37-1:40 on my weekly half. I have yet to taper beyond getting sick, but I did the sub 1:30 a couple months ago during my weekly long run. Pressure off, and know I can do more now.

So for tomorrow, I'll line up with the 1:30 group, run with them for half the race and then decide if I want to hang, speed up, or slow down. As long as my time is under 1:37, I'll get my corral for the Chicago marathon. The next time up is something under 1:27, which won't happen mid Hanson training. Gotta keep my eyes on the right prize.

This morning, my plan called for 10 easy miles, then 8 tomorrow. So I switched it a bit for the race, 7 slow miles today, and then the race tomorrow.  The weather felt nice today, with a welcome drop to the humidity and low 70s temp. And there was a little damage done to the path as well:

A Female Ent

That is all the running stuff I have for you today. Going out to breakfast with another set of parents and their daughter and some odds and ends to be done today. Going to have some Gino's North thin crust pizza tonight! Yum!

Will I see you tomorrow at the race?

Weekend plans?

Friday Fartlecking and More!

While I didn't run yesterday, I made sure the theme of running kept popping up. In addition to commenting on most local running blogs (everyone is special to me), a new coworker revealed she was also running the Chicago marathon and will be running for Team Paws. So our first conversation went like this hi, and running geek out.

Last night I also found a link to another review of the Hanson Marathon Method in the New York Marathon (Success), Link and some discussion here.

Also, I signed up for the Chicago Rock and Roll half marathon in July after +Maggie MagMileRunner posted a $10 dollars off code. Still pricey though, marathon was 175, half still 100 after fees... I'm not going to be doing it for a PR, but just to get a better corral in the Marathon. Corral B needs a 1:37 which is pretty easy, A is like 1:26ish half time, which I don't imagine happening as it is in the middle of marathon training. Plus, I get to meet some other Chicago running bloggers.(Note: I have no races under my belt so I was signed up for corral F)

This morning I woke up at 4:30am so I would have ample time to run 10 miles and still leave for work a little after 6:30.  I wasn't sure the exact point to turn around, so was going to use my GPS and get my splits while at it.  But the GPS  was taking forever to get signal, ain't got time for that. So I just assumed I'm doing about 7 minute miles and add 3:30 minutes after my 4.5 mile marker, which was about Fullerton. (note- checked on google maps and I was spot on) I tried to throw in fartlecks again today, to get my legs pushing harder and prepped for intervals starting next month.

On the way down, it was pretty dead, but on the way back runners came out of nowhere. There was also some boot camp or exercise at the lake class near Fullerton, a sure sign of good weather. Also, I noticed today, south of Waveland, most people weren't that friendly, frowny face. Maybe they know I am not one of them. Go north of the tennis courts and I feel like family again.

And my person of the morning was a lady on a bicycle that had such a hard Chicago accent, the type you see on SNL doing Ditka. And a gnat update: only three on my neck today as opposed to the army that attacked me.

Are you going to do the Chicago Rock and Roll race this July?
Are you running for any charities this year?
How happy are you that it is Friday?