An elite runner named Patrick Makau raced to a new record at the marathon distance in Berlin last weekend... an almost unfathomable 2:03:38!!! His average pace per mile -- 4 minutes and 43 seconds.
Just to compare, my fastest mile ever was somewhere around 7:30 and that's when I was in tip top shape! I can't run one mile under 5 minutes, let alone 26 of them!
Congratulations, Patrick!
Run started with a "little" roadblock... tree down in Duncan's Woods
On to the beach... not a soul on the volleyball courts today.
Almost the end of the season for campers.
I still get a little jolt of adrenaline when the waves are big. Love it!
These are the waves the surfers wait for. Lake Michigan: UNSALTED!
Wish I could capture how big these waves really are...
Feels like summer again! Which is a good motivator to get out the door. That, and the HUGE lunch I had at Olive Garden with Breck today!
I even made it out to the end of the pier again. This is probably my favorite running route, and it involves lots of hills to and from the beach... good for building my muscles and stamina again!
This week was the first week back to school for the fall. I had good intentions of getting a few runs in, but between the holiday on Monday, babysitting Tuesday and Wednesday and doing Jacob's paper route while he's training for cross country... today (Thursday) was the only day that it all came together. I guess it's time to get used my new schedule.
It's been a busy, productive day. All the better to keep my mind occupied!
Friday update: I just got back from a really fun run with my husband...
Michael... RUNNING???
Well, no. He rode his bike, and I ran. It was very pleasant, though. Nice to have some company, and a gorgeous fall evening, the sun beginning to go down over the Lake, the moon rising over the trees, a small wedding ceremony by the Bil Mar. Just a short run, but so full.
And... as Michael put it at the end of my run... "Now, just do that 5 1/2 more times. Right?"
I'm filled with gratitude, can't help but let a few tears fall. I sent out one last beseeching email this afternoon, hoping for a few more dollars to trickle in. God is great, and you are all SO good! I've just surpassed my fundraising goal, thanks to the kind and generous donations from all of YOU... so many people I respect and love.
Thursday update: No run today. Decided it was better to rest the ol' legs... kind of nice to do it purposefully. Lots of thinking about the Big Day. Lots of thinking.
I'm trying to wrap my brain around the course. You can click HERE to see a map of the full layout.
Why 26.2 miles? According to Greek legend, a herald named Pheidippides ran 240 km (150 miles) in two days from the town of Marathon to Sparta to request help against the invading Persians... and upon conclusion of the battle then ran 42 km (26.2 miles) from Marathon to Athens. He announced the Greek victory... and promptly DIED. Historically, it is improbable. Poetically...
Pheidippides, by Robert Browning, immortalizes his feat thus:
So, when Persia was dust, all cried, "To Acropolis! Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due! Athens is saved, thank Pan, go shout!" He flung down his shield Ran like fire once more: and the space 'twixt the fennel-field And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through, Till in he broke: "Rejoice, we conquer!" Like wine through clay, Joy in his blood bursting his heart, - the bliss!
You can learn more about the marathon's history HERE, including its evolution and inclusion in the Olympic Games, beginning in 1896.
Did anyone else watch the Olympic marathons this year? It was the first time I've been interested... for obvious reasons. I watched, riveted, as Constantina Dita-Tomescu blew away the rest of the competition in the Women's Marathon in Beijing. And I learned from one of the marathon updates, she's going to be running in Chicago! Miles ahead of me, but still...
The Chicago Marathon has been an institution in the Windy City since 1977. You can find a fascinating slide show (check out the Fun Fact on each slide) featuring 30 years of pictures celebrating its history HERE. In 1977, there were 4200 participants and the entrance fee was $5. This year, the cap for registrants was set at 45,000, and the entrance fee was... more than $5. Ha ha! How the times change.
That's kind of an illusion, though. I was going through my insurmountable mental checklist of tasks to complete before we leave on Saturday... but in reality, all the most important preparation is done. I haven't packed, I still need to finish cleaning the house, I've got e-mails to send and people to call.
In spite of it all, I am ready. 16 weeks ready.
$1,010 raised so far for Team World Vision (THANK YOU!). 14 long runs done. Countless shorter runs, speed workouts and intervals logged. Hotel booked. Dozens of articles and newsletters read. Marathon clothing purchased, broken in. Shoes laced.
Mental readiness complete.
I think I'm as ready as possible! Since the River Bank Run in May, I've logged 764.10 miles with my Nike+ chip. Some of them are triumphant, others painful. I suspect that's a bit what the marathon will feel like. Again, I remind myself: Have fun!
Wednesday update: My run today was damp.
I decided to see how my iPod and gels fit into my new race belt. They fit well, and I can put my chapstick in there, too. My race bib will attach to loops on the belt as well, so that I don't have to worry about pinning it to the outermost shirt or changing it when I shed a layer of clothing. It bounces around quite a bit, but I think it'll be better once I use up the first gel or two. Since I was running with the iPod in the belt, I didn't wear the headphones. It was a nice time to think about what it will be like, running without music during the race. I'm sure the experience will be very different, running with thousands of on-lookers, but I still enjoyed the preparation.
In the damp, grey day, I almost had the pier and boardwalk to myself. It was intriguing to hear the wind and the waves over the sound of my own breathing. The wind was coming from the northwest, and the waves in the channel were gulping hungrily at the edge of the pier, while the waves on the Lake side were menacing, deadly, as they rolled silently toward the shore. The water was a dark, murky grey. It was beautiful.
Very different experiences await me in Chicago. I can't wait!
