Love of running

I am a runner. How do I know this? Even after what I think is bad run, in which I lost all bets mentally in my marathon, I have signed up for 3 more races this year. And they will be fun ones. I will INSIST that I enjoy and have a great time (not talking pace!). I still love & want to run.

Pumpkinfest 10k

Sunday, October 25, 9 am, Sycamore, IL

This one is a race that I've done since 2006. It was my first 10k and I love the start time, 9am. Totally excellent! It's held during Sycamore's Pumpkinfest so many people come out for it to support the runners while in Sycamore. Out in the country it can get a little lonely but you're never alone with runners always with ya. It's on CARA's race circuit so a lot of runners from Chicago come out for it. Pack's usually around 1100 or so. I'm pacing a friend this year. He doesn't really have a goal in mind but I think he can do an hour. He ran a 7k with a 10 min/mi pace so yea, no problemo! It'll be my first pace race, just need to keep him slow and encourage him when he wants to stop!

Hot Chocolate 15k

Sunday, November 1st, 8 am, Chicago, IL

This is my first time doing A) a race in Chicago 2) a 15k, which is 9.3 miles. I'm excited about this one. It was expensive but the swag is neat-o. Except since I signed up late, I don't get a jacket that fits me, I get a Large. :( But I also get a drawstring bag & a wicking hat. A few in NITRO is running this one so I think we're gonna car pool in to Chicago together. It's starts at Montrose Harbour. Afterwards, get this, Hot Chocolate all around. Chocolate Fountains for bananas, strawberries, etc. Chocolate mini candy bars! Sounds like a dream come true! The start time SUCKS for November 1st though. Come on! It's gonna chilly!!

Gobbler Gallop 5k

Saturday, November 21st, 9 am, Waterman, IL

A co-worker is the race director of this 5k. She wanted me to do it last year but I couldn't. I was training for my marathon and I didn't want to run 3 miles after a long run. She's run the Chicago Marathon in 2005, the one year it was actually nice! She won't do another marathon but she's been asking about all of mine. So while it's a bit of a drive for me, I think it'll still be a fun run. Maybe I'll tell the guy I'm running with in Pumpkinfest and see if he wants to do this one too.

Now I haven't started running yet. By Wednesday all pain was gone from my muscles but I still wanted to take the rest of the week off. I got out of work on Tuesday and wanted to run. It had rained earlier and the sun was shining and it was actually pretty warm and it was so windy. But I held back. I instead sat on my couch watching The Biggest Loser new season.

I will start this week though. I was going to have 2 weeks off but since I'm not exactly injured in this race like I was with my last marathon, I can start running sooner. I have to breakout my winter running clothes now. We had frost last night and there's a freeze warning for tonight. I will start with a few maintenance miles to see how the legs & lungs are holding up. Go for a long run on Saturday. Probably just 6 miles for that first try. Just enough to test out the 10k distance. Then I'll work my way up to 9 miles. I can't imagine that I lost that much endurance in a week but you never know.

Speaking of tomorrow morning, I'll be in cheering for the Chicago Marathoners again. It starts a half hour earlier this year, so I won't have a chance of seeing Jesse cross at halfway, like I tried to do last year. But I also need to dress very warmly. I will be arriving in Chicago at the same time as last year, 9:46 am, but I won't be running around like the rest of the fools out there (just kidding!) so I won't have as much body heat. There'll still be lots of sleeveless tanks and shorts though.

I started running (for the 2nd time in my life), a few weeks AFTER the 2005 Chicago Marathon. So in the years that I've been a runner, I've also paid attention to the Chicago Marathon (even before I knew I wanted to run a marathon!) and the weather. 2006: cold, rainy and the elite winner fell as he crossed the finish line. 2007: HOT, so much so, they called the race. 2008: again very warm 85 degrees but didn't run out of water this time. 2009: Cold, 30's at start, mid-50's for a high all day sometime. I'm hoping for some sun though. We need another year like 2005, I guess!! Maybe next year?

So I still love running. It is still a part of who I am. As this article on Runner's World said, "We need terrible runs in order to have terrific ones." Ain't that the truth.

Categories: Chicago Marathon, Gobbler Gallop 5k, Hot Chocolate 15k, Pumpkinfest 10k, races