Anyone who has picked up any piece of athletic literature in the past month probably knows about the Nike + Human Race. The ginourmous marketing stunt on August 31 included 29 races in major metro areas throughout the world, as well as runners who had purchased a Nike + band handing in their times for a 10K. The “world’s largest running event” included just under 14,000 runners in Chicago.

In case you missed it here’s the youtube flack for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8q9y7md-c&feature=related

Overall, interesting concept, not perfectly executed.

The Pros:
-Dri-fit t-shirt with your number printed on it exactly like everyone else. Very cool, very unique (ironically by being all the same), plus I love not having to have that stiff race bib feeling.
-Post race entertainment different in any city. Had I not searched for my friend before hitting the concert, Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy probably would have been crowd-surfing ON ME. And they played their newest song, which played for the first time on the radio today.
-Chicago had the chance to and did successfully prove that we can kick any other city’s ass. Biggest turnout in the US, bitches, plus better times than anyone but Portland (but considering that’s based on an average and we had a lot more people, I don’t feel so bad.)
-All kinds of people who would never think to do it tried it out. Spreading the good word of running is always a high priority and I was happy to see so many young Chicagoans embrace it.

The Cons:
-Really REALLY hard to find your friends when everyone’s wearing the same thing. Which is probably why my friend handed me a solid wallop, beating me 44:55 to 46:17.
-Why oh why do we have to include getting on the highway in these kind of races? We have 18 miles of lakeshore path.
-The tech/web aspect is a bit overkill. The “syncing station” for the big brother Nike + bands was heavily guarded, as if they thought I might drop my blue gatorade into their snazzy laptops. The results page, while designed well, doesn’t give me the chance to compare my time to anyone except the top 10 in a given category. Even in the smallest category I can choose (Chicago women) I’m still 94th. I want to see who finished near me, not just the top 10. I had to go to smaresults.com to get that.

Overall, I approve. Hopefully next year it won’t be on Labor Day weekend and the website will entail fewer complicated website processes.

This post talked about
No Comments »

I’m running an upcoming race with a bib that I purchased from another runner on craigslist.

I failed to sign up for race in time, but was still interested in running. I remember one of my co-workers selling her Shamrock Shuffle bib last year and decided see if there were any available for the upcoming event. There were, and after about six tries, I got two responses from people whose numbers were still available. I took the first that came to me, which happened to be a young woman only one age group away from my own (and as of Saturday, I’m the oldest person in my age group anyway). The exchange went smoothly- I gave her $50 in cash, the face value of the ticket, and she gave me the schwag bag with the race chip and the bib.

Just before I left to pick up the bib, though, one of my co-workers brought up some interesting points. Is it wrong to buy a bib? On a moral level, I don’t think it is, unless you’re being scalped. But also, you are then not the one who signed the “I can die doing this” waiver. If something happens to me during the race, no one will be able to tell that I’m not the girl I bought the bib from. If there’s a debacle like last year’s Chicago marathon, then what do you do? There could be a thousand people there with purchased bibs. And how are they insured?

Is there any way we can start doing waiting lists for races AND allowing runners the opportunity to drop out until about 2 weeks before the race, at a cost? I know volunteers work hard to get the packets out on time, but there has to be a little leeway for the handful of racers that might opt out. Most people, especially young people, just don’t plan far enough ahead to know if they’ll be able to make a race. Plus, there’s injuries, unexpected job transfers, etc. etc. The race charity or staff can still benefit from maybe more money than they would before. Especially in cases like the Chicago Marathon, where bidders are already looking for craiglist bibs. The race is more than four months away! That’s crazy. You can’t even know if you’ll be able to prepare that far ahead.

I understand that we should discourage jumping ship at the last minute, but sometimes it just happens, and with limited entries, why not make someone happy who otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance? This also eliminates having people buying bibs on the cheap at the last minute. Some entries for this run are selling as much as 30 percent below face value. That means someone is losing $15 so someone else can run. That’s just not fair.

Other runners argue that there would also be a market to scalp more popular races. While this might be the case, I think the scope of it is limited to negligible. I dont think the demand for any race is so high that someone will be able to make substantial profits off of it. If people are scalping race bibs, the people buying them are morons. There’s enough honest people selling at face value that you should be able to wait and find something better. There would have to be a united front of scalpers to make that work, and I doubt that will happen in the running community.

For me, I don’t plan on using this technique as a standby, just a way to get out of a pinch for a race I’ve wanted to do for two years now, and to complete my perfect golden birthday weekend. I have a friend who hasn’t run as herself for years. Maybe she could use a hand.

To read some other opinions, visit http://forums.runnersworld.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/493106038/m/6051095101

This post talked about
No Comments »

Crain’s profiles local business runners:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=29815

A couple of my running buddies are taking place in the corporate challenge or have running clubs at their offices. One (Molex) was even featured in this article.

My company offers nothing of the sort– no health club discounts, no organized running, nothing. Fuck, it seems that it’s discouraged with the strict hours. I tried to take an two hours off before going on a business trip to squeeze in a run and I was slapped on the wrist.

But enough bitching; there’s some positive that comes out of the companies that do offer such benefits for their employees. I can’t think of a better way of getting to know your co-workers than going out for a long, sweaty lakefront jaunt. Going out to lunch together is all well and good, but you’re probably going somewhere with cheap/unhealthy foods, and you have no basis of things to start talking about. Runners can always talk about running. Some can even talk about biking, weight-lifting, swimming, spinning, beer, food, you name it.

My friend at Molex points out something else about the runs. They make everyone equal. I’m not sure the CEO of my company knows who I am, even after a year and a half of working there and much of it more or less solo on my gig. One employee describes it like this:

“On one particularly hot day, she continued to sweat even after her shower. The clerk at the cafeteria checkout line asked her if she was OK, and Ms. Martello explained that she had just been out with the running club.

Behind her in line was company Chairman and CEO Stephen Lilienthal, who praised her efforts and paid for her lunch.”

Nice.

This kind of activity can be especially important to those in creative professions. One runner notes that the lunch run means you get a fresh start in the afternoon. I like that. I can be livid and ready to punch someone by 11:30, but just 40 short minutes at Crunch or on the Lake Shore Path means I’m at least approachable by 1. I had attributed it to the shower in the past– I’ve always found myself happier when clean. But I think the blood flow and adrenaline might have something to do with it as well.

And yes, the article indicates that we may or may not be… well, nuts. I’m surprised that more women aren’t featured in the article, as I thought we might be more prevalent among social runners at this point. I was taken aback that the women interviewed preferred weight training– the wear and tear from a good weight routine outweigh running most of the time in my opinion. But we’re not nuts. I don’t think there is a more efficient way to get in shape. You can’t cheat at running like you can at most other workouts. I’ve tried, it doesn’t work. Plus the desire to get done sometimes makes you chug along a bit faster (see me in the last mile yesterday.)

I think one point the article may miss is the increased efficiency overall. I think more is accomplished when you encourage your workers to do something that they enjoy and also something that keeps them awake during the day.

Finish strong.

This post talked about
No Comments »

It’s official. Of the five “Bad Habits” detailed in the article “Habits to Break: These easy fixes to common mistakes will make you a healthier runner” by Kara Mayer Robinson, I take part in… all of them. Let’s start from the top:

#1: “You are your own medic.” Really, google is my medic. After all, isn’t google the solution to everything? I’ve diagnosed IT band problems, “female issues,” pulled muscles and hip tendonitis. Now, there’s a good chance I’ve been wrong, but since doctors aren’t free now that I’m no longer able to go to the college athletic trainer, I fend for myself unless I think I’m in danger of doing permanent damage. Also, a doctor might force me into taking medication, and I’ve never been a fan of that. It gets in the way of my erratic schedules and means I have something else to remember every day.

RWs recommendation See a doctor as soon as you feel nagging pain
My solution: maybe I should hit althetico a bit more often. But there’s no way you’re going to get me to go every time I feel nagging pain. I’ll try not running for a week and if it doesn’t go away, THEN I’ll enlist a trainer.

#2: “You never stretch.” Pretty much. My spin instructor maks me, and last night my running buddies encouraged it. But in general, that’s ten minutes that I could use… eating, doing laundry or writing a blog post about poo. I know I should, I’m part of that instant gratification generation that doesn’t do preventative things if they have to go out of thier way to do them. No real good excuse other than don’t tend to feel like taking the time. Except for today, when I got as far as sitting down on the pavement in the courtyard before I realized Desperate Housewives started in 19 minutes and I wanted a shower. I decided to shower and then stretch. Then I forgot to stretch.

RW’s recommendation: Drop a mile from your run and use that time to stretch
My solution: Really? I’m such an addict. I think I should just actually plan out more running time. Or remember to actually stretch while watching TV.

#3 “You’re a night owl.” Apparently, people function best on 5-10 hours of sleep and runner should be on the high end of that. I’ve compromised to seven or sometimes a little less on weeknights and generally catch up where I can on the weekend. I could probably get eight and feel better, but I can’t bring myself to get in bed at 11 most nights, which is why my pre-work work-outs are getting more sparse. Mostly, it’s not that I’m not tired, just that I want more fuck-around time to read, watch TV, play on te internet, etc.

RW’s recommendation: Log hours of sleep in your training log and note trends to see if you need to sleep more.
My solution: I should probably do that. Or just try to get an extra 15 or 20 minutes if i can.

#4: “You forgo sunscreen.” For running? Damn straight. That’s the only way I get a tan. When I’m going to an outdoor concert or to hang out a the beach all day then yes, but it’s complicated enough to get ready to go running and I don’t think the sweatproof junk really works.

RW’s recommendation: Sweatproof sunscreen, avoid midday runs.
My solution: Maybe for post-work runs I’ll try the sweatproof again.

#5: “You never rest.” I run days a week. I took one week of just two early last month, but that’s the first time I’ve taken fewer since August. It puts me in a better mood, it’s sort of regulatory for my bodily systems, calorie intake, etc. Plus I feel bad about taking days off. Especially if I take a nap on those days which has been happening a lot lately.

RW’s recommendation: Cross-train, do yoga, walk. Or take a day off to get a massage and breakfast with a friend.
My solution: I like that one. If I can convince myself to not run for a few days.

So maybe I should change my habits. I get a little draggy and dread running here and there and maybe this would put a little pep back into my habits.

This post talked about
No Comments »

I had every intention of running 14 miles after work today. I packed my bag the night before, didn’t drink, didn’t indulge in that second cup of coffee, ate a somewhat reasonable lunch.

But Something stopped me.

It was about 38 degrees and raining most of the day, and of course, like umbrellas are wont to do, mine was on the floor of my boyfriend’s car. So I’m sure the walking to lunch and to press conferences sans umbrella in the nearly frigid temperature put me in a prevailing bad mood. But I’m not sure that’s what Something was.

Donald Trump threw a little shindig at his new Hotel and Tower at Wabash and the River. He was actually on time and answered mostly relevant questions, but I was somewhat late leaving because I couldn’t resist taking the camera for a tour of the suites and spa. But that wasn’t the Something either.

When I got to the gym I realized that I didn’t really have great cold weather clothes in my bag. Also, after losing my college iPod with all its glorious pirated music on it, I didn’t want to junk my Garmin or iPod in the rain. So treadmill it was, natch. That wasn’t the Something either.

Upon jumping on the treadmill, which I don’t frequent after the Chicago spring decides to turn past the 50-degree mark, I discovered that the treadmill TVs now only get music video stations. Plus, I wore out a good portion of the Modern Alternative channel over the long winter. So my hope of getting a movie for the one hour and 52 minutes I would be on there was quashed. No biggie, 30 videos should do it. Not Something.

Compensating for a two-week-old pulled groin injury, I’ve been putting a lot of weight on the outer side of my right hip. And sleeping on my left side. Weird pain in those enigmatic parts of the body I never knew I had. Something? Maybe.

Ultimately, I think Something was that I had to stop after 70 minutes as the health club won’t allow you longer than an hour workout and a 10 minute cool down. After my allotted time, I was only at 8.9 and on the verge of vomiting from the random pain, the boredom of the videos I’d seen a dozen times already and the tired from the rain and the cold. I couldn’t restart; couldn’t get my body up for that last 5.1 miles. I bonked. It sucked, I almost cried on the bus on the way home from guilt.

But sometimes, Something just stops us. It just wasn’t meant to be. At least for today…

This post talked about
No Comments »

OH SHIT

I did not seek this out. It came up on the side of the gmail when I opened my CARA newsletter. I swear.

But now that it’s come up…

I think most people who have run more than ten miles have at some point had that “Oh, God, I have to stop running or I’m going to crap my shorts” moment. The last time I had it I was (luckily?) within about a third of a mile of a construction site with a port-o-potty. I made it. It was touch and go there for a while.

The catch is that you need to get somewhere appropriate to take a dump as fast as possible. But if you keep running you’re going to aggrevate the problem, which could end badly. I find the best option is to walk fast. And try to think about anything but shit. Which is hard when you’re clenching your cheeks together so hard it feels like you’re trying to hold a dollar bill in your crack.

If you can accomplish that, plan to stay in the bathroom for a good ten minutes. You never know when you’re going to hit another wave. And hold your breathe. Your already smell like sweat and feet and armpit, you’re not going to be making it any better. When you finish, don’t stop moving; walk around until you recover the feeling in your intestines and then start running, or if you’re finished with the run, rest, but try to avoid laying down.

So the article above recommends some ways to avoid being gross, like I am on occassion. Don’t eat two hours before. Don’t eat high fat foods. Don’t eat high fiber foods (beans, bran, fruit, salad.) Don’t eat foods with sugar substitutes. Don’t consume caffeine or hot fluids. No milk.

Wow. I think that encompasses almost everything I consume in a day. Which basically means the only way for me to avoid it is to run before I eat anything. The funny thing is, that’s when it seems to be the worst. My poo problems have subsided since I started doing my long runs after work, and I consume caffeine like it’s going out of style at my high-stress journalism job. Besides, going out to eat at lunch pretty much contains two options in Chicago: high fat or salad.

The last part of the article recommends gradually increaing mileage until your issue goes away. Maybe that’s what has helped me. I decreased greatly last fall after the Chicago distance classic, but I’m back up to about 13.5 miles on Sundays or Mondays. I still have a passing-out-on-the-couch issue, but I no longer have to give the all-clear before I make the sprint to the john after a long run.

The one other recommendation that I can make: Poop first. Mom had it right: You should have gone before you left home.

This post talked about
No Comments »

Check out your shuffle pics. When I saw mine I was like

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I mean, I don’t consider myself a truly vain person. I know not every picture of me is going to look like my fairy-princess senior prom picture. But I also don’t PAY for pictures that look like THAT. Anyway, I’m sure my dad has a good five dozen of them on his digital camera. Which he will never print out. Because, let’s face it, unless you won, you’re never going to do anything with that photo.

Marathonfoto or a similar organization seems to show up at nearly every race these days. And I have to wonder how they make a profit. It’s expensive to pay a photographer, organize the photos, link all the photos to their people and send out all the emails, even in the age where the majority of that process is digital. I don’t know a single person who wold buy their 8K photo. Maybe a few would buy the marathon photo, but Jaysus, I think I’ll take my own photos for $80 a pop, thank you very much.

I guess it would be different if I felt like these pictures were anything special. I run five days a week. I spend as much time running in a week as I do teasing my co-workers, drinking coffee or passing out in font of the TV on the couch. And I don’t have pictures of me doing those thing. (Thank God. Me passing out on the couch can’t be pretty.) You buy those cheesy prom pictures because you only get to go to prom maybe one to three times. You can run as much as you want. I never run with the intention of having my picture taken because that would be like planning on having your picture taken on your walk to the Dunkin. It only happens if you’re Britney Spears.

There’s got to be someone who likes these piece of shit pictures, and uses them for something other than stealing the samples to prove they actually ran. I just don’t know of anyone.

This post talked about
No Comments »

Today marks my second running of the LaSalle-Bank-of-America Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago. The race was vastly differnt from last year’s race in several ways for me and in a few ways for everyone.

Starting with the basics: I finished the race in just under 36 minutes. It also puts me 37 seconds ahead of last years fnish of 36:24, so I’m really pleased with the self-improvement.

The first difference I noticed, other than the CARA training I previously documented, is the new risk rating system. The confirmation email to the reace detailed a new system in which runners would be alerted by flags to changes in conditions they should be aware of so as to gauge the precautions they should be taking during the race. At first, I thought this seemed like a somewhat flawed plan. Once I’m on a race course, there’s little I can change about my weather preparedness short of stopping. I suppose I could slow down or drink more water, but most precautions are best taken before leaving the house: dressing well, sleeping well, not drinking too much alcohol the night before, hydrating. But when I saw the flags also displayed at the expo, I realized this was probably a good plan. The black flags that would indicate the race was cancelled could have been displayed there. Or beginning runners who didn’t feel up to a high-risk (red) race could save themselves the trouble of getting up the next morning. The more flawed part was that I’m not sure I ever saw the colored flags during the race.

The next difference, for me, was that this is the first race I’ve run since moving to the city, and I had forgotten 1) that the Wellington Brown Line station is officially closed today >fuck< and 2) that much of public transportation within a half mile of the starting line would be impeded by the race. My martyr of boyfriend, who was apalled at the thought of waking up at 7:30 on a Sunday to watch me run around in my shorts in the misty 40 degree morning, was patient enough to follow me around on a slightly wild goose chase for transit that ended at the 22 Clark bus full of runners. Maybe CARA members or another organization should start a shuttle from the northside neighborhoods to the race. I was less than thrilled that it took me about 50 minutes to get from my apartment to the start corral. And my brother nearly didn’t make it into the start corral because of road closings.

The slight drizzle that started when we got off the 22 made me apprehensive after last year’s almost-too-hot run. I’d almost opt for full out rain; the drizzle makes parts of the course, ie the bridges, unexpectedly slippery. The close-packed start warmed me up a bit after I ditched my sweatshirt and pants, but the first mile was an adrenaline sprint to get warm. I clocked it in about 6:57. The mist stopped shortly into the race’s start and started up again around mile 4. Overall, I’m complaining less for my own sake than for that of the spectators. My parents and my boyfriend and my brother’s girlfriend are awesome for sticking it out.

One thing I’m continually impessed with is the dedicated mass of Chicago runners. We marvelled at the string still finishing up on Michigan and Roosevelt from the window of my brother’s South Loop high-rise after we had both finished, showered and harrassed our parents for a good 15 minutes. Along the course, one of the best feelings is knowing that you’re just one of a flood of awesomeness– your’e never alone, even if you’re not talking to anybody. Also, kudos to the guys in the green body paint and shorts. That probably sucked, but it was entertaining.

I’m also happy with the consistently stellar course. Despite Block 37 construction and the inconvenience of L and road closings, there are never any hitches in this course. It’s easy to follow, and there’s no HARD turns and not many places where runners run only two blocks before doubling back. It includes Chicago’s iconic CBD market segments, from Michigan Avenue to River North to the Loop, the West Loop and the South Loop. I only wish the mile 2 marker was bit more apparent. I think this is the second year I’ve missed it.

Overall, I’m happy with my clocked times at 6:57 at mile 1, 21:30 at mile 3, 28:45 at mile 4 and a finish at 35:47. Next year I hope to start a bit slower to make those go down instead of up as I move along. I’m pleased with my nearly ten second per mile improvement, and I feel like now I can take a bit of a rest and start thinking about what’s next: it’ll probably be the Soldier Field 10 mile on my golden birthday, May 24.

This post talked about
No Comments »

I recently joined the Chicago Area Runners Association on the recommendation of one of my co-workers, who used it to train for the 2006 Chicago Marathon. Probably one of the more solid decisions I’ve ever made.

My first training program started in mid-February and was geared toward the Shamrock Shuffle, which takes place this Sunday and starts on Columbus Drive near Millennium Park. Not only was it reasonably priced at $40 for members (which included one beer and unlimited appetizers for every weekly session during the six week program), I actually met some people that I enjoy running with.

Regardless of the weather, which varied from so-cold-I’m-not-sure-I-should-leave-my-aparment to I-heart-long-sleeved-tees-and-shorts, these people were there. They stuck together through almost getting hit by cars, speeding up, slowing down, bitching about work, trying to forget about work, you name it. The best part is when no one is talking, but you know you’re keeping pace with someone and you’ll get to enjoy a beer with them in less than 45 minutes anyway. I ran six miles each week and spent almost no time getting myself motivated to do so. Plus, I learned about some new Irish pubs in the areas around my apartment and workplace, and some new routes.

I plan on keeping up with these people and utilizing them again to keep my running up. They’re just another example of what a great city this is, with young people always on the move and always friendly. I used to think of running as my “me time,” a place to get away from other people and get my head straight; now I’m realizing it can be a two-function hobby– both social and contemplative.

I don’t think there’s any quesiton that I’ll sign up for one of CARA’s Marathon training programs this summer. (That’s right, I’m officially registered for the Chicago Marathon 2008!) It’s just a question of how early I can wake up on Saturdays.

Thanks to all of Tuesday’s six-milers for all your awesomeness!

This post talked about
No Comments »

So I haven’t posted in quite a while.

As it turns out, I’ve been out running and living life around Chi-town and by the time I get back to my apartment I’m usually wiped out and ready to go to bed.

But today, all I could think about was updating the blog. I don’t know if it’s PMS, weather changing or increased mileage, but I was IN PAIN for most of the morning today. I haven’t actually taken any medication, even over-the-counter, for pain in probably a year, since the last time my shin splints flaired in… I guess that was summer of 2006. My quads felt like there was no muscle fibers in them, just a solid wall of swollen pain. My left calf was in a pretty much permanently flexed state, which is not fun when walking up and down stairs or moving in general. Even my boobs hurt- hence the theory that it might be PMS.

I did six miles on a very poor quality treadmill downstate on Sunday, followed by 13 on the Lake Shore path on Monday post-work. That’s when I started noticing pain. I’m sure that’s typical. But rarely is it so bad that I can’t get off the couch, and it was on Monday night. Passed out during a DVD I was watching and could barely move the thirty steps from the couch to my bed, where it didn’t take me long to pass out a second time.

Tuesday I ran six on the path and in River North with CARA (which I’ll detail in the next post). The run itself had a pretty solid first four miles, we were cruising, talking, feeling good. Miles five and six felt like miles 12 and 13 from the previous day. Every step I had to cheer myself on with the promise of beer at the bar. Standing in a crowded room downing Miller Lite and noshing on fried chicken and potato products probably didn’t ease much of the pain, because by the time I got home I was quickly back down for the count.

This morning I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I asked my conference planner for some Advil and managed to get through the morning with naught but a little shin pain on the stairs.

But here’s the thing: I think I need a week off. By the time I realize I’m hurting I’m about to die from it, and that’s not cool. I don’ think I’m going to be able to make the marathon if I keep on destroying my body like this week after week. I think my muscles need a chance to heal and regenerate after a long run, and I think I need to restructure my schedule so I can put them back on the weekends, or at least Thursdays so they’re right before a non-running day.

This post talked about
No Comments »