Table of Marathons

11 MCM (not for time) 11 Wineglass (950/1442)
10 MCM (not for time) 09 MCM (348/1076)
09 Washington's Birthday Marathon (22/44) 08 MC Historic Half (51/210)
07 Frederick Marathon (32/60) 06 MCM (394/1076)
05 MCM (547/1047)

Monday, September 27, 2010

Transformation

I mentored Denise through a 21 mile run yesterday. She came through phenomenally well. Her journey to marathon distance has brought a transformation in body and mind. In body, she has hardened and curved and rolled back decades of aging. What has really been amazing to me is her mind transformation. Her success at distance has bred a determination and transformation in mind to succeed that is quite opposite to the woman who used to get annoyed at me when I would quote Tere Stouffer Drenth's remark that success at the marathon depended simply upon the dictum: "All you have to do is do the miles." Denise weathered through the summer's 90 degree challenge and now basks in the strength of body and mind that can easily take her through 21 miles now, in the cool of the arriving fall.

At 21, 23, and ultimately 26.2, when I grasp her hand as she crosses her milestone, I kiss the hand of a woman who willfully transforms herself into someone better than she was.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Its 4:45 here in Chicago; we've been up since 4 sipping coffee and eating peanut butter on Fox and Obel whole wheat bread. Denise and I have travelled to the Windy City to run the Chicago Half Marathon. Denise has yearned to do this race since she first saw Spirit of the Marathon and the participants running the Chicago Distance Classic.

We met some protagonists of the U.S. running scene a the Expo. Jenny Hatfield is a coach, blogger, and advisor here on active.com. Dane Rauschenberg is an marathoning and ultra-distance author and athlete. Michael Sandrock is a running author, columnist - we first see him when he opens the running movie Showdown.

Well, breakfast has just opened downstairs. Need to go eat a bit more.

One other thing:

On this day, 2500 years ago, a small Greek army face a Persian force 2 to 5 times its size on the plane at Marathon. After a face-off of a couple of days, the Athenians stopped waiting for their Spartan allies and surged forward a hail of projectiles launched by the Persian specialist archers. The heavily armored Greeks met and crushed the Persian troops, routing them in panic back to their boats and swamps.

Phidippides, who had already run to Sparta and back to get aid, will begin his famous run back to Athens to announce the news.

In 21st Century America, we forget that that battle, that moment in time, not only was the inspiration for running's most famous racing distance, the Battle at Marathon made western history possible.

The Chicago Half Marathon

Denise ran a PR today. We got up early, at 4, to warm up, eat, and prepare. There was the usual confusion....making coffee, eating peanut butter sandwiches, me realizing that I'd brought one of her racing singlets.


The Chicago Half Marathon begins and ends in Jackson Park. After a couple of turns in the park, it follows South Lake Shore Drive roughly 5.5 miles northward to just beyond Bumham Park, then turns south and returns to the finish near the start. This turnaround occurs at 8.5 miles, so at this point the runner is over half done, confusing some who instinctively feel that the turnaround in an out-and-back would be at the halfway mark. The course itself is flat, fast, and scenic. Lake Shore Drive runs through a string of parks, flanked on the west by gleaming buildings and on the left by a gleaming lake.

Race management is excellent. When they tell you not to drive, don't. Most of Chicago's hotels are clustered around a vibrant downtown. The race start is best approached by a brief walk south to Millennium Park where shuttles bring runners to the starting area. Give yourself plenty of time; board the shuttle at least an hour before race start. There are 18,000 runners converging on Jackson Park.

The Expo is on Navy Pier: walking distance from the downtown hotels. It is large for a half marathon, and well-run also. This year's speakers included Jenny Hadfield and Dane Rauschenberg, both exuberant speakers for the running movement.

Chicago is an excellent running destination. There are plenty of attractions to entertain after the race. I recommend staying an extra few days to enjoy the restaurants, museums, shopping, parks, and other attractions....all within walking distance of the downtown.