As you know I am not running the Chicago Marathon tomorrow because I will be running the Hartford Marathon next Saturday.  I love the Chicago expo and made my way there after work.  Love it!!!  I did not plan to be there too long but ended up staying there till about 6 or so.  I bought some great things as you’ll see below.

The best part of the expo was the Brooks Pure Heaven area.  So nice.  They had people doing gait analysis and then they gave you suggestions on which pair to buy.  I know I overpronate but was told that it is was a slight one.  Oh well, I still overpronate and was recommended to wear the Adrenaline, Ravenna, and the Pure Cadence.  I walked over to the next booth (Fleet Feet) to try them out.  Love, love the Ravenna!!!  So comfortable!!!  I was tempted to buy them (only $85) but realized that I still had a few hundred miles left on my Asics Kayano.  I fell in love with the Pure Cadence.  Such a beautiful shoe!  The only thing is that it is $120.  I think it is a bit pricey but still love it.  My birthday is next month so maybe I can treat myself to these.

Other things that I bought are:

• Balega running socks.  I already own pairs of Smart Wool and Thorlo but still like Balega.  I guess a runner can never have enough socks.  Oh year, and I own a fair pair of compression socks.
• CW-X capris.  I get pain in my quads and hamstrings when I run so I am hoping these will provide support during the race.
• SnuggBuds.  These are the BEST headphones.  I have tried quite a few sets and they all slip out with the sweat.  These come with 3 different inner ear buds to properly fit your ear.  I bought my first pair last year and have had a great experience with them.  They are a bit pricey but worth it.  However, within the last month or so there was no sound coming out of the left side.  At the expo I told the vendor about it and she told me that if I return that pair I could get 50% off the next pair.  Of course I forgot to take the pair with me!!  I even tried to talk her into giving me the discount but no luck.  Anyway, I still bought a pair for next week’s race.

I saw Dean Karnazes.  He was there for a book sign.  Wow!  He looks a little too thin but I guess that is what happens when you run a marathon every single day.

Looking forward to seeing the runners tomorrow at the Chicago Marathon.  I plan to get a picture or two of Ryan Hall.  I hope he wins or at least places in the top 3.

Yes, I ran 20 miles again.  How did it go?  Much better that two weeks ago.  I got to the lake around 6am but waited a little because it was still very dark and I was not going to run alone in total darkness.  Ten minutes later I was cruising along.  Great weather.  I wore a long sleeve shirt because it was chilly but yet perfect for running.

I did make a few stops along the way but managed to finish in 4:06:20.  The best part was that I ran without my iPod.  It just so happens that something is wrong with the headphones and I cannot hear the music on the left side.  So annoying!!!  I was “entertained” with the lakefront view, the sounds from the cars along the lake front, and of course the conversations by the other runners.  However, I don’t think I will have all of this at the Hartford Marathon so I definitely need to get a new set of headphones.  By the way, my legs feel fine.  A little sore but I can actually walk around without limping.  Definitely a good sign.

I can’t believe that the marathon is in less than 3 weeks.  Yes, I am ready to tackle this race!!!

On a different note, I am making beer bread from “Tastefully Simple”.  Yes, it is made with beer and it is THE MOST DELICIOUS bread and so easy to make.  Just add a 12 oz. bottle of beer to the mix, stir for 20-30 seconds, spread batter in a loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.  I love eating this with spinach dip.  This bread is for my book club this afternoon.  I will do a taste test and hopefully I won’t eat it all.

I ran 20 minutes yesterday.  I was up a little before 5am because I wanted to get to the lake early to begin running.  Well, I did not know that the lot “officially opens” at 6am.  I could have left my car in the lot but you see the wonderful city of Chicago charges its residents to park in the lots by the lake.  It is not too expensive but still.  I paid for 6 hours which came up to about $3.75.

It was just a WONDERFUL day for running.  It was just the kind of weather I would like to have on October 15 for the Hartford Marathon.   As usual I started too fast but I still managed to run more than walk.  Once I completed 10 miles I turned around and mentally told myself “going home, going home”.  It was around mile 14 that my quads were hurting really bad and I had a nasty blister on my right foot.  I have to remember to put band-aids or something for my next long run in case I get another blister.  I struggled the last 4 miles but managed to keep on running.  Overall finish time was 4:12:37 (12:35 pace).  Not as fast as I would have liked but still pleased with completing 20 miles.  I am planning another 20 mile run in 2 weeks.

Once at home it hurt to go up the stairs.  Sigh.  Why did I agree to live on the 2nd floor?  Since I was too tired to stop at the gas station for ice, I partially filled the tub with cold water and sat there for about 10 minutes.  Not too bad.  I had my iPad so I caught up on Facebook and email.  I told myself that next time no excuses and I will stop at the gas station for ice.

I am happy to say that I am not as sore as I thought I was going to be.  Sure my quads are still sore but not too bad.  Was it the chocolate milk?  The cold bath?   Was it all the walking done yesterday?  Well, whatever it was simply worked.  Hopefully in two weeks I will share a similar or better story…no pain at all!!!  Or maybe that is asking too much.

What are your thoughts on ice baths?  How soon after a long should you take one?  I ask because I want to be ready for when I complete the Hartford Marathon.  Obviously the first thing I would want to do is eat, eat, and then eat some more but should I do the ice bath first?

Hello friends!

I have been MIA but am glad to say I am back.  Yesterday was my last day of school!  Yay!!!  No more kids for 2 months but I know that I will miss my kids.  But anyway, now it is time for relaxing, running, and taking vacations.  Yes, I will be going on vacation for 3 weeks to Mexico, Ecuador and Peru.  So excited!!  Below is a photo of my backpack!  Yes, I have to pack L-I-G-H-T-L-Y!!

I know Chicago is called “The Windy City” for obvious reasons.  We also have some silly and crazy weather…hot for four days and then cold and rainy for two days.  Yesterday’s race was the worst race day ever.  Originally I signed up for the half marathon and changed it to the 10K.  I am so very glad I did.  I took the train downtown and waited for about 5 minutes for a coffee shop to open to use the bathroom and of course to get some coffee.  It was the BEST coffee I have ever had.  I then made it to the race site, used the bathroom again, added another layer, of clothes, dropped off my gear and went to look for the start line.  This is the third year I run this race and of course I did not read the instructions indicating the new start line.  I followed the other runners and found it.

The beginning was really nice.  I had plenty of room to run, the sun was shining, and there was no wind.  At some point around mile two I could feel the wind pushing me.  Yay!  I am running faster!!!  However, I knew that I was going to pay for it on the way back.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  On the way back it was windy, cold, and raining.  I could not believe it.  I would run but had to stop a few times because it was just so bad.  I was running behind these girls that were running about a 10 minute pace but I just could not keep up.  I was running along the lakefront and could see the waves crashing.  I would have enjoyed the view on another day but at that moment I just wanted to get to the finish line.

My goal to finish the race was 1:06.  However, I finished in about 1:07.  I guess it was not a bad finish time considering the wind and rain.  I was so cold that my face and hands were so red.  At the end there was a breakfast for all finishers but I did not stick around.  I am SO GLAD I changed my registration to the 10K.

So my running friends, how do YOU run against the wind?