So let me tell you about my run in Chicago.
After Jesse and I hammered out all the details, I set my alarm for 5:30a. When it sounded, I put the other pillow over my head and just groaned. Realised that I should probably get up, looked at the clock and it was 5:43. SHIT! That's what time I was supposed to leave! Luckily, my bag was already packed, all I had to do was just get dressed, make my bagel and pack the bananas and Gatorade. I got out of the house and turned around to get a sweatshirt. It was still dark when I left that morning at 6am. And I realised that I forgot my camera while I was driving to the station. Camera phone it is!
I made it to the train station with a little over 2 minutes to spare. *whew!* I listened to my iPod and ate my bagel. I realised that I forgot my morning banana at home and hoped that just the bagel would pull me through the run. Drank my Gatorade.
Found Jesse and off to Millennium Park we went. I noticed on the train that there was quite a few Race For The Cure shirts going on, must be a race. Sure enough, after we got all set to go with our water belts, we had to walk across Columbus and hurried our butts right through their running line!
We started our trek, 13 miles, at the Montrose Harbour and headed south from there. It was 8:51a. Not the best time to start. About a 1/2 mile into it, I realised that I forgot to wear the black knee bands I always do. I knew I couldn't go back for them though. Whoops. I hoped that the pounding on the concrete wasn't going to mess up my knees.
We stopped for water at a fountain about 4.5 miles. Turned around at 6.5 miles. Before that though, Jesse already had by this time, been in front of me for a while, leading the charge. Because I had kept slipping back. We were running side by side at about a 9:15/9:20 pace. But then I just faded, horribly.
After the turn around, I walked sooooooo many times. And Jesse, bless his heart, walked as well. He got me going again so many times too. There were times in which I just felt like I just couldn't do it anymore. It was insane! So hot. The lakefront doesn't have much shade but the breeze did feel nice. My left ankle and the toes (where they bend) were starting to hurt. So I wondered if I needed new shoes. By the end of the run, both feet were burning too. Haven't had that feeling for a while. I did get that cool shot around mile 9 though.
Once we were done, we did some stretching and I poured the cold water over my legs. I needed the cold water. There was a fountain .1 miles from where we needed to stop but I was out of water and knew I needed to get them iced down a bit.
13 miles in 2:20. That's a 10:46 min/mi pace. So much for 9-9:30 pace. Ick. I only wonder how the run would have been like if it would have been like today. 67* and cloudy.
When we walked back to Millennium Park, we went down to Crown Fountain where a whole bunch of kids were playing in the water. The water was cold but felt so good on my feet! Then I headed over to one of the blocks and stood under it to cool down and wash off the sweat. Then I noticed that now's a good time to check out my foot stomp. So I walked in the fountain and walked out on the concrete blocks and you could see a very nice imprint. Apparently, my left foot as a high arch and my right foot is a normal arch. That was pretty cool to notice. Then again, I had just run 13 miles so I thought maybe it had something to do with that. The kids I notice have absolutely no arches. All the kids foot stomps were flat as flat could be. Interesting how that happens. I never did stand where the spout out of the "mouth" happens. I didn't want to get too wet, just enough.
After we sat in the sun and dried off, we went to the bathroom at the Park Cafe building where I changed real quick and then off to get something to eat. We were starving by this time. I went to Au Bon Pain for sandwiches. Don't even ask me how to pronounce it. Good selections though. While eating outside, we saw the saddest and sweetest thing. It was a German Sheppard in a doggie wheelchair. He seemed happy though. It was across the street otherwise I would have gotten one myself.
Then off to see the WIRED NextFest. Walked in and the first thing we noticed was that it was incredibly hot! It's a tent building and with all those electronics, it can get quite stuffy. They have a few fans going but not enough. We got there about an hour or so after opening and it was already getting busy. I think the best time to go is during lunch in the week. They had a WIRED Magazine that you could grab. I love WIRED. And this place was amazing. The best part was the Peronalised Mobility. Crazy to think that this could very well happen. It was a Toyota exhibit. Check out the pictures and you'll see it and more stuff.
We stood in line for like ever to take a survey and get a free t-shirt. As I said to Jesse, the things we'll do for a free shirt. Run 26.2 miles... stand in line for 30 minutes. :-)
Then on back to the train station where we had a few minutes to grab something to drink. Luckily, both of our trains left 5 minutes apart. And that would be that.
It was good running with him, I just wish that the Elburn train would leave sooner. Next time, I'll have to stay in Chicago.
After Jesse and I hammered out all the details, I set my alarm for 5:30a. When it sounded, I put the other pillow over my head and just groaned. Realised that I should probably get up, looked at the clock and it was 5:43. SHIT! That's what time I was supposed to leave! Luckily, my bag was already packed, all I had to do was just get dressed, make my bagel and pack the bananas and Gatorade. I got out of the house and turned around to get a sweatshirt. It was still dark when I left that morning at 6am. And I realised that I forgot my camera while I was driving to the station. Camera phone it is!
I made it to the train station with a little over 2 minutes to spare. *whew!* I listened to my iPod and ate my bagel. I realised that I forgot my morning banana at home and hoped that just the bagel would pull me through the run. Drank my Gatorade.
Found Jesse and off to Millennium Park we went. I noticed on the train that there was quite a few Race For The Cure shirts going on, must be a race. Sure enough, after we got all set to go with our water belts, we had to walk across Columbus and hurried our butts right through their running line!
We started our trek, 13 miles, at the Montrose Harbour and headed south from there. It was 8:51a. Not the best time to start. About a 1/2 mile into it, I realised that I forgot to wear the black knee bands I always do. I knew I couldn't go back for them though. Whoops. I hoped that the pounding on the concrete wasn't going to mess up my knees.
We stopped for water at a fountain about 4.5 miles. Turned around at 6.5 miles. Before that though, Jesse already had by this time, been in front of me for a while, leading the charge. Because I had kept slipping back. We were running side by side at about a 9:15/9:20 pace. But then I just faded, horribly.
After the turn around, I walked sooooooo many times. And Jesse, bless his heart, walked as well. He got me going again so many times too. There were times in which I just felt like I just couldn't do it anymore. It was insane! So hot. The lakefront doesn't have much shade but the breeze did feel nice. My left ankle and the toes (where they bend) were starting to hurt. So I wondered if I needed new shoes. By the end of the run, both feet were burning too. Haven't had that feeling for a while. I did get that cool shot around mile 9 though.Once we were done, we did some stretching and I poured the cold water over my legs. I needed the cold water. There was a fountain .1 miles from where we needed to stop but I was out of water and knew I needed to get them iced down a bit.
13 miles in 2:20. That's a 10:46 min/mi pace. So much for 9-9:30 pace. Ick. I only wonder how the run would have been like if it would have been like today. 67* and cloudy.
When we walked back to Millennium Park, we went down to Crown Fountain where a whole bunch of kids were playing in the water. The water was cold but felt so good on my feet! Then I headed over to one of the blocks and stood under it to cool down and wash off the sweat. Then I noticed that now's a good time to check out my foot stomp. So I walked in the fountain and walked out on the concrete blocks and you could see a very nice imprint. Apparently, my left foot as a high arch and my right foot is a normal arch. That was pretty cool to notice. Then again, I had just run 13 miles so I thought maybe it had something to do with that. The kids I notice have absolutely no arches. All the kids foot stomps were flat as flat could be. Interesting how that happens. I never did stand where the spout out of the "mouth" happens. I didn't want to get too wet, just enough.After we sat in the sun and dried off, we went to the bathroom at the Park Cafe building where I changed real quick and then off to get something to eat. We were starving by this time. I went to Au Bon Pain for sandwiches. Don't even ask me how to pronounce it. Good selections though. While eating outside, we saw the saddest and sweetest thing. It was a German Sheppard in a doggie wheelchair. He seemed happy though. It was across the street otherwise I would have gotten one myself.
Then off to see the WIRED NextFest. Walked in and the first thing we noticed was that it was incredibly hot! It's a tent building and with all those electronics, it can get quite stuffy. They have a few fans going but not enough. We got there about an hour or so after opening and it was already getting busy. I think the best time to go is during lunch in the week. They had a WIRED Magazine that you could grab. I love WIRED. And this place was amazing. The best part was the Peronalised Mobility. Crazy to think that this could very well happen. It was a Toyota exhibit. Check out the pictures and you'll see it and more stuff.We stood in line for like ever to take a survey and get a free t-shirt. As I said to Jesse, the things we'll do for a free shirt. Run 26.2 miles... stand in line for 30 minutes. :-)
Then on back to the train station where we had a few minutes to grab something to drink. Luckily, both of our trains left 5 minutes apart. And that would be that.
It was good running with him, I just wish that the Elburn train would leave sooner. Next time, I'll have to stay in Chicago.
