Tony & Sue and any others I may have missed that are running Chicago full this weekend.....good luck and run well!  I know you all have trained and are ready, so trust the training. I anxiously await the race reports.

I've been nursing a strained peroneal tendon which has made my heel bursitis flare up. So, basically 3 weeks of little to no running. The pain was greatly diminshed today when I walked the dog, so I plan to run tomorrow. Taking time off in the middle of training for Goofy has not been good, but I've done cross training so hopefully haven't lost too much conditioning.

Sorry I don't have the time to shot out to everyone tonight. Please know that I'm keeping up w/ all the posts and very proud and excited for each of you on your progress and accomplishments.

Patrick- Welcome to the "Mighty Masters" as we are sometimes called.  I hope the love of running continues for you.  Just being out there and being active is the main thing.  Race goals are good, we all have them, but avoiding injury is paramount.  We don't heal as fast as we once did.  I would suggest making one of your runs a little longer and a little slower to give yourself some variety and help build endurance. Don't add too much distance to fast though.

Your goal of getting under 30 minutes may be doable, but don't push yourself so hard you re-injure yourself.  I finally got below 30' this year, at the same race that was my first ever race in 2011.  I had further to go, as my first 5K was over 35 minutes.

There is a lot of info in the different threads, and the multitude of running web sites are good as well.

Good luck as you progress!

(What part of the country are you from?)

Debra-you will have a busy running weekend but not have to do it yourself!  Good plan.  You are right, the weather changes are amazing.  I ran 8.7 this morning, 32 when I started and 41 when I got home.  Nice seeing the sun rise!  Colors are still good, but I think they will be short lived.

I will be registering for the "Honky Tonk Marathon" in the Dells this weekend; it's 2 weeks away, so everything  from here on out is going to be easy.  I actually ran this morning trying to imitate my pace for that race, but I think I'm going to have to start out a little slower in order to have a good finish.  I guess you learn something in every run and every race.  We will see what this marathon teaches me!

Good luck to Tony and any others in Chicago this weekend as well as all others racing tomorrow.  Run strong and safe.

We found out why my wife hasn't been able to run with me this summer; her plantar fasciitis was bad enough she has now actually torn most of the fascial ligament from the heel bone.  She meets with an orthopedic surgeon Tuesday to discuss options.  Surgery my be needed. 

Dan~Praying all goes well for your wife.

MaryKay~Great to read you had fun at the Color Run.  I've heard it is crazy-fun! 

Enjoyed a chilly, windy weekend of cheering on grade school, high school and marathon runners.  Watching the runners in each of the races was inspiring!  My son's team won't be going on to the National meet this year. Missed qualifying by 16 points, but they are a young, talented team. They'll be back, I'm sure!   Wonderful husband and I had a great time cheering on the Lakefront Marathon runners yesterday.  In the past we have situated our selves at the 17 mile marker, but got a late start and decided to drive down to mile 26.5 and the finish line area.  Offered encouragement and recognition to help push them in the final steps.  Each time a "Sue" or "Tony" passed by, thoughts of the Chicago Marathon 90 miles to our south had me cheering a little bit extra.  Hope all went well, and looking forward to the RR!

A bit tired after all the cheering and course running on Saturday, but got out for a super slow 6 mile run yesterday.  Lots of folks walking the path after the Packer's loss *ouch! * a little fresh air and excercise helps to put it all in perspective!

Run strong, friends!

Been awhile...

PKar, didn't do RnR San Jose this year (was signed up last year, but injuries) sorry...How did it go for you?

MKay, yes that was a hole in the shoes and I am very close to the ground, but being short - oh, wait you mean the shoes

Marie, Sorry about the foot, but I'm sure you'll recover nicely.

Tony & Suzee,  Hope the marathon went well.  Can't wait for the report.

Girl, I enjoy watching people finish too, maybe one of the reasons I like doing 5Ks.  I get done early and then get to watch the 1/2 marathoners come in and cheer my family members on.

My target 10K race turned in to a semi-disaster after getting stung by a yellow jacket during training 3 days before.  I'm sensitive to the buggers, but not in the traditional allergic reaction.  Oh, well sh*& happens and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.  Been taking it a little easier the last week and signed up for a 5K this Saturday.  Hopefully I'll run a bit better then last time.

Run strong.

Ray

CONGRATULATIONS Tony,  YOU are a MARATHON RUNNER!!!  Great race report, and you are proof to trust in the training.  So happy to read that your fueling and the strategy of breaking down the miles worked so well for you.  Enjoy the next couple weeks to "reverse taper", display your medal proudly and bask in your achievement as you place the 26.2 magnet on your car!  You ran strong, friend!

Miss Marathoner, checking in, woohoo!!!

Simply an awesome experience, if I never run another marathon again (not really sure at this point), I am so glad that the one I did was Chicago, because it was truly the best!  The weather was perfect, it was a cold start and as I was waiting in Corral E I was holding my water bottle and wishing it was hot chocolate.  It was so exciting when we heard the start horn and saw all the sweats go flying through the air!

The crowds were amazing, I was a pretty slow poke, which was pretty much my plan because I just wanted to take it all in and enjoy the entire experience.  I also wasted too much time waiting for porta-potties (which will give me nightmares for years to come!), but if I felt an urge I didn't want to ignore it and be sorry later.  My halfway time was 3:04, and I was feeling my IT band calling out.  I usually take an Excedrin migraine before I start running and I had forgotten that, so a little headache was starting, so I stopped at an aid station for some ibuprofen for both the head and hips.  The hips surprised me because I never had a problem with them in training.  Upon reflection, I realized that my training was all straight running, but the marathon was a lot of running side to side to either pass others or get out of the way of faster runners, or get over for pit stop, water, etc. 

It was suggested that I write my name on my top, and wow, did I ever feel like a celebrity!  The crowds were so excited and supportive calling out encouragement every step of those 26.2 miles.  I never really got tired, never hit the wall, but the IT band kept me company from about 10 miles onward.  There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't finish.  I kept in mind the quote "Pain is temporary, Quitting is permanent", and there were a few signs to that effect, too.  I had my GymBoss interval timer set for 2 min. run, 1 min. walk but got messed up a lot because either the crowds/music were so loud I didn't hear the beep, or I heard someone else's beep, but I did the best I could to keep consistent.   I started out with Gatorade in my water bottle but eventually switched to plain water and salt tabs, along with Chia Surge gels at the beginning and at every 4 miles or so, probably a little more frequently toward the end, just because I was getting hungry!  The first glimpse of that FINISH sign is an indescribable moment that I wish everyone could experience.  My finish time was 5:53:31, which is a little embarrassing, but there were still LOTS of people behind me!

At the end it was somewhat anticlimactic because the spectators weren't allowed near the finish line.  We had to walk a way, they handed out the mylar blankets, walk a little further and got our medals, then walk further for snacks, water, goodie bag, etc.  THEN, the anxious family/friends.  By sheer luck I spotted my friend in the sea of faces and we walked about another mile to the charity village tents for pizza - SO GOOD!  Then, MORE WALKING!  By then I was pretty cold - I had thrown off my sweats early in the race and didn't leave a gear bag, thinking my friend would arrange a taxi or we could hop a bus.  However, all the roads were blocked, so we just walked back to our hotel, about 2 miles.  Very slowly, LOL!  I got back to my room, took a cold shower for my legs, ordered room service and shared a bottle of wine.  I was so happy to be DONE, yet I couldn't stop talking all about the people I ran with, the people and places I saw, all of it.  Sleeping was tricky, I had a big ice bag that I would put under one hip and lay on that side, then alternate, but I did get more sleep than I expected. 

The next day it was kind of funny to spot the runners at the hotel and airport - we were all walking a little different, and SLOW!  As the day wore on, my hips felt better, then my quads started complaining, but still not bad.  Today I'm back to work showing off my medal and feeling fine.