Race Junkie

So many races, so little time.  Really, on a beautiful May morning, with all kinds of options, what's a runner to do?  I have to admit I didn't decide until about 10:30 Friday night to do the Race to Wrigley.  I had signed up weeks before and forgotten about it.  Meantime, my local running club was having it's annual spring gathering/run at the same time Saturday morning.  I was torn.

But I remembered this phrase from my friend Tera Moody (world class marathoner from Wheaton) a few weeks ago as she justified some of the races she jumps into, even though she's often using them as little more than training runs.  She called herself a 'race junkie' (Hey if I could run like her, I'd do it every chance I got!).  Anyway, I kind of like that, probably because it describes me pretty well.  I may not be really fast, but I enjoy running in races.  

So, guess which option won out?  Yes, even as I was leaving home bound for Wrigleyville, I thought about turning in the direction of the Prairie Path where the club was meeting.  But I kept going and continued on to site of the baseball shrine to experience a race I've never run before.

My inexperience showed when I started to line up in the wrong area.  They had a non-timed 5k walk/jog starting on Clark.  I went there until I realized at the last second that the timed 5k run was lining up down the street on Addison.  I jumped the fence toward the back just as the starting horn sounded.

There was no room to run my pace at first, so I darted my way through the crowded pack for the first mile or so until it opened up a little.  By then I realized this was not going to be a fast race, just a workout, so I resigned myself to a 7:20/mile pace and enjoyed the familiar sights and sounds of the Lakeview neighborhood.  

The race raises money for Cubs charities, and is chaired by Cubs board member/co-owner Laura Ricketts.  While the course doesn't go on the field or inside the park, it does travel through the concourse from the left field entrance to the home plate entrance just before the finish.  It was a beautiful morning for a run, and I enjoyed it.  

The only challenge for me in running a 5k on a saturday morning, is making sure I get my longer run in.  Saturdays are usually reserved for a run of 10 miles or longer, and this was the only day I really had time to do it.  So after the 5k finish, since I was still pretty fresh, I decided to run to the Lakefront about a half mile away, and get a some more miles in for the day.  

It was amazing to see  how many runners were out on the lakefront path in training groups or by themselves, oblivious to the thousands of runners racing just down the road.  It was a reminder of just how vibrant Chicago's running scene really is.

It was also a nice break for me after running pretty hard half marathons the last two weekends.  I've been reminded recently that you can't go hard all the time without a little rest.  And I want to be able to run well the rest of the season, including the Soldier Field ten mile race on Memorial day weekend.  And two weeks later the 13.1 half marathon.  Entries are still available to both races by the way.  Here are links to each: http://soldierfield10.com/?gclid=CP-P6tLNk7cCFcXe4AodCB0AOg and http://www.131marathon.com/chicago/

Which brings me to this week's suprize.  The good folks at the 13.1 race are offering a free entry to one of my readers who comes up with the first correct answers to my little quiz.  This one will include questions about running and news (running newsguy.  Get it?).  I will see the winner at the South Shore Cultural Center on June 8th!

1.This year's Chicago marathon will mark the ____ anniversary of Chicago's entry into the World marathon majors.

a. 30th?

b. 40th?

c. 50th?

d. none of the above

 

2. Which is the oldest race?

a. Shamrock Shuffle

b. Chicago marathon

c. New York marathon

d. Boston marathon

 

3. Which sports anchor never worked at ABC-7?

a. Mike Adamle

b. Tim Wiegel

c. Johnny Morris

d. Mark Giangreco

Ok, first one to send me an email with the correct answers wins an entry. My email address is John.f.garcia@abc.com  

Good luck and I'll see you on the roads.........

 

Half Crazy?

My mantra was far from original, but it was the first time I'd used it.  It was about the sixth mile of Sunday's First Midwest half marathon in Palos Heights when I started to feel like it was work.  It was
just about a perfect day for running, and I was feeling good.  My pace was even, right at about 7:30/mile.  But in just about every endurance event you are bound to have times when you feel like you are dragging.  And I was at that point. 

So I started reminding myself that, "anything worth doing is worth doing well."  It's hard to argue with that sentiment, of course.  But as it applied to this race, it seemed to fit pretty well.  There was no pressing reason to run the race.  I had done another half marathon the weekend before.  The night before, I was involved in a gala downtown that was far from an ideal pre-race routine.  And sleep sounded very appealing as opposed to getting up early for another race.  Nevertheless, I had decided it was worth doing.  So I was doingit.

I have heard great things about this half marathon, and was anxious to get out and run it.  So I managed to find a sitter, got out of bed, and drove out to Palos Heights for the 7:30 start time.  At the starting line, I ran into my friend and occasional member of my training group.  Bob Jungwirth is a really strong runner who is generally a factor in his age group in most races he enters.  He was lined up next to a guy who was pacing a group at 1:38 pace.  Yes, 1:38 pace.  Not 1:40, or 1:45.  1:38 works out to 7:30/mile pace.  This is a 'runner's race'.  And Bob is a runner.

It reminded me of the half marathon I ran a week ago.  The conditions were also ideal.  It was the Drake Relays half marathon in Des Moines that finished in the stadium.  It's my alma mater, and always fun to run in that race because it reminds me of how long it's been since I ran in college, and how much slower I've gotten!  This is also a pretty fast 'runner's race'.  I started out at a good pace that morning, but ran of gas about half the way through, and slowed down considerably for a dissappointing 1:45.

. 

I was determined not to let that happen again in this race.  As we broke from the starting line, I kept Bob and the guy carrying the 1:38 pacing sign in sight.  They were pretty close for the first few miles, but eventually pushed a little ahead and out of range.  So I was left to find my own motivation.

Which brings me back to the mantra.  The idea, of course, is to find some sort of inspiration to keep you pushing when the race gets tough.  In the past, I've tried thinking of my kids and the example I hoped to set for them about sticking to a goal.  Recently, I used my friend's advice 'race, don't spectate' for a half marathon in march that I was very happy with.  All of these have worked.  But for this race, I needed something new.  So the mantra 'anything worth doing is worth doing well' just came into my mind during the race, and I stuck with it.

Eventually the rough patch gave way so a smooth downhill stretch.  Of course it was followed by a few more rough patches before the finish line was in sight, but the mantra seemed to help keep me going. My goal for the race was to run about 1:40 or under.  And as the finish line clock came into view, I realized I was not going to break 1:40, but I was going to make it.

My official time was 1:40:32.  I crossed the line satisfied and looked for Bob, but somehow missed him.  That's because he finished more than two minutes ahead of me.  Bob stayed true to the pace leader and finished a few seconds under 1:38.  Second in his age group.  Good job!

Next time I've got to find out his mantra!

See you on the roads......

 

Shoe Tester

Growing up I was (and still am) a shoe geek.  Well, running shoes anyway.  I always thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to be one of the testers for Runner's World magazine in their annual shoe survey.  

They pick out random runners to give new running shoes, test them out, and record their observations.  It always seemed like a pretty good deal.  First they get to try to latest creations from the shoe companies, and second they get them free!

Unfortunately, Runner's World has never asked me for my opinion about anything.  But recently the makers of the ON running shoes, which include the Cloudsurfer series, sent me a pair and asked for my thoughts.  Me?  Really?  Sure!

The shoe pictured is their training shoe.  If you look closely you will see the little hollow tubes on the sole.  These are the most distinctive feature.  They provide much of the cushioning, but also stability, and help the foot move through the ground and your stride in the ideal running motion.  

The founder of the company started to develop the concept after he actually cut up pieces of hose and glued them on the bottom of his shoes.  That didn't last long, but eventually he developed the built-in clouds on the soles.  Hey, the origin of Nike shoes started out with Oregon coach Bill Bowerman experimenting with his wife's waffle iron!

I'm no expert on running shoes, I'm just a fan.  But I can tell you about my experience running in them.  They sent me their nuetral, average mileage trainer.  They say they want the experience of running in them to feel a little like running barefoot while still providing support and cushion.  I believe they succeed.

When I first put the shoe on, I was surprised that it seemed to fit firmly, and provide strong support.  It feels like a glove on my foot, yet when I start to run, it feels like it has a nice feel and encourages a mid-foot strike.

I've had a few injury problems in the past, especially with my feet.  So I'm pretty careful about what I run in.  I need support, cushion, and a good fit.  The Cloudsurfer provides all that and more.  While I'm reluctant to go more than five or six miles in the model I have right now, I imagine they would hold up just fine at longer distances.  I rotate them with a couple other pairs of shoes, and they provide a really nice change of pace.  They are also fast!

I'm told they are available in only a few stores in the area right now, but should be more widely available soon.  I say give em a try!

So that's my review.  You think Runner's World is gonna call me?

See you on the roads....... 

 

A Sad New World

At first I noticed a crawl accross the bottom of the screen on ESPN last week.  I was at the gym, paying little attention, but aware that many of my friends were running the marathon last Monday.  The message got my attention.  Something about a bomb at the Boston marathon. 

Then came the video, and wall to wall coverage on the cable news channels.  I was stunned.  I will admit my eyes got a little moist.  How could this be?  Why would anyone attack something as beautiful and innocent at a marathon?  Especially the oldest and most prestigious one in the world?  It felt like a direct attack on all runners, myself included.

Next came the text messages and emails asking if I was there and ok.  The answers were no, I was not there.  And yes, I'm physically ok.  Psychologically, however, I feel like we are all a little scarred by this attack.  All the usual cliche's apply.  It was senseless.

I'm sure that's why so many were moved to support the victims Monday evening by joining one of the numerous Honorary Boston runs.  The above picture is from Elmhurst, where about 250 runners gathered in the City Centre to show their support, and run 2.62 miles.  In Lincoln Park, hundreds more gathered by the Grant statue for a run with Fleet Feet Sports.  A mile north, many more associated with other running stores including Running Away and Universal Soul gathered to run.  These are just a small sample of the many runs that took place around the Chicago area, and throughout the country on Monday.  There was little any of us could do, but this was a statement.

Many also bought T-shirts like the one above, that support the victims by making a contribution to the One Boston fund.  I know the shirts sold out before monday, and they raised tens of thousands of dollars. 

I happened to not be working Monday when the attack happened.  It was strange for me to be a news consumer rather than being involved in reporting the story.  But in retrospect, I was glad.  This was an emotional event for me even though I was not there.  And talking about it was difficult.

Like a lot of runners, I spent years trying to qualify for the Boston marathon.  It has always represented the pinnacle of the sport for me, and the two times I ran it are the among most memorable of my many races. It is a pure runner's race.  The fans are incredibly knowledgable and supportive. And while other marathons offer wonderful, unique experiences, nothing I've ever experienced compares to Boston. 

I worry about what this means for the future of big races.  There is clearly no way to secure 26.2 miles of a marathon course.  There is no way to completely prevent a determined terrorist from wreaking whatever havoc he or she might want.  Unfortunately, I suspect there will be changes on the way from race directors and security experts to minimize the risk.  I'm sure it will be to the detriment of the race and fan experience.

I'm still struggling to understand all of this.  In mere seconds, so much changed forever. It's just very sad.

See you on the roads...... 

Seconds Count!

My friend Rick and I were recounting our race experiences at the Shamrock Shuffle over the phone Sunday afternoon when I told him the time I recorded on my Garmin.  I had set breaking 35 minutes as my goal for the race, and despite running about 20 seconds behind that pace for the first four miles, I somehow made it up in the last mile and finished in 34:59.  Talk about a close shave. I don't know where that last mile kick came from, but I was happy, especially since my pre-race preparation included going to the Bob Seger concert the night before!

Rick told me he looked up the results for the group of us who train together.   He started to read my mile splits when I asked him to stop.  I am good with what my watch said, and have the feeling the official time might be a second or so slower.  And there's a big difference between 34:59 and 35:01, so ignorance is bliss!  But if you'd like to check the results, you can here: http://www.shamrockshuffle.com/race-results/searchable-results/

In addition to being the largest 8k road race in the world, the Shamrock Shuffle is the unofficial kickoff to the summer running season in Chicago.  I can't recall how many times I've run it, but it's a lot.  And it's always fun.  But the weather rarely is as perfect for running as it was Sunday.

The temperatures were nice and chilly for the start, but as we got going, our bodies and the mercury warmed up nicely.  Some of my ABC-7 colleagues, including Karen Jordan and Michelle Gallardo and I were taking part in the 'Media Challenge' race against other local media.  The winning team got a donation in their name to the charity of their choice.  I was hopeful for our charity, 'A Safe Haven', but I was not optimistic.

WGN's team, led by my friend Dina Bair, had a strong group of runners, including Dan Ponce.  Dan and I ran the first three miles of the race together before he took off and finished some :40 or so seconds ahead of me!  He led their team to a nice win and I congratulate them!  We will all be running together at many more races during the season, and I look forward to a great summer.

As for my race, it's been a while since I tried to run a little faster, but last week's session on the track was a confidence booster.  We got out the first mile in 7:06, and basically held that pace for the next four miles until I passed my kids in the crowd, and got a little jolt of extra adrenaline.

This was actually a race that required quite a bit of coordination for me.  I had to get the kids up and in the car to drop them off at a friend's house in the south loop before heading to the race.  Then I had to run the race in pretty much the time I predicted, because I had to meet one of the media coordinators at the finish line, so they could get me back to the starting area a half mile away so I could do a live shot on the race for ABC-7.  We made it to the live truck with less than a minute to spare, but the shot went off without a hitch!   Here's the link:  http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=9055137

Then I got to get the kids and enjoy the post-race festivities.  They loved taking a picture with 'The Green Guys', who I see at a lot of races, but now have their own business cards.  And I really enjoyed the concert after the race with one of my favorite groups, The Freddy Jones Band.

It was the perfect way to start what looks to be a great summer!

See you on the roads........

Shamrock Week

In running, like in many aspects of life, I believe we tend to allow ourselves to do as well as we believe we should do.  So hopefully, this weekend will go well.

Happy Shamrock week!  It's the traditional start of the racing season in Chicago, though the Shamrock Shuffle has grown into a huge event in and of itself.  And I'm excited to be running it this year.  Though it presents some challenges.

After following my stated goal of running a half marathon every month this year (for each month I can find one), this week brings kind of an abrupt change in focus.  The Shamrock Shuffle, with a stampede of 40,000 runners through downtown, is a race I like to do well in.  But because it is a much shorter race than the half marathons I've been doing so far this year, 8k (4.97 miles), the training, and mind-set are entirely different.  

five miles is normally a good distance for a former middle distance track runner like me.  I can usually focus on running hard for five miles, whereas I find it a challenge to keep that focus for longer races.  

I've been concentrating my training so far this year on strength and endurance, which are great for the longer distances like the half.  Many of our weekend long runs have been on the hills in Barrington.  But I have not been on a track in quite a while.  I've done no speed work recently.

It's not like I don't realize speed work is important.  And it's not like I don't like the track.  I love the track.  I love to run fast.  But it takes a little more effort and planning, neither of which have been my strong suits lately.

So when my Elmhurst Running Club friends planned a track workout one morning last week, during spring break, I realized it was time.  They ran a little later than they normally do (6:30 am), which allowed someone like myself who works nights, to get out of bed in time to make it.  And the timing worked perfectly as a tune-up before Shamrock.

It's a little like taking your vitamins.  It's good for you, and you know it, but sometimes you just don't feel like it.  That's kind of how I feel about speed work.  It's good for me.  It's gonna help me run faster times, but sometimes I just don't feel like it.  

The workout was also perfect for me.  They planned six 800 meter repeats, with a 2 minute rest.  800 meters was my favorite distance to race in high school and college, so it was right up my alley.  And six is not an especially heavy work load.

So I showed up with the six friends in the picture above, put my head down, and ran them all in about 3:15.  That figures to be about my 5k race pace, which is running pretty well, but is from all out speed. 

I don't think one track workout is enough to get me in optimal shape to run a really great 8k sunday, but it was a confidence builder at the very least.   And the experience of getting on the track will hopefully help me believe I should run well Sunday.  I'll let you know how it works out!

See you on the roads...........

 

How and Why?

I heard about him a few months ago.  It was a curious story about a middle-aged guy who burst onto the running scene as a masters runner, and ran some fast times, winning or placing in his age group for various marathons around the country.

Just one problem.  It seems, he likely didn't really run the entire races.  Think Rosie Ruiz, only more crafty.

Then my brother lent me the full story in The New Yorker from several months back that documented the story of Kip Litton.  He's a dentist from Michigan who claims to have goten bit by the running bug several years ago.  Like a surprising number of runners, he says he discovered a talent for it, and became dedicated to marathons.

He recorded some pretty impressive times, including a number of sub-3 hour marathons in places like Boston.  I say 'recorded' because how much he ran is very much in question.  As is documented in the New Yorker story, he is very good about activating his timing chip at the start line of races, and recording his finishing time at the end.  And the chip is usually recorded at the various mats along the course as well.  Here is a link to the story: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/06/120806fa_fact_singer

But there are usually no photographs of him along the course.  Just at the start and the finish.  And on several occasions, he is wearing different clothes at the start than the finish.  Yet he managed to place in a series of races without scrutiny until, in a smaller race several years back, he finished ahead of a runner who never saw him on the course.  That runner started asking questions, and others joined in, discovering a pattern of similar stories at other races.

It's a fascinating story, if only because there's really nothing at stake but pride.  You rarely win anything of value for placing in your age group in a race.  Yet we runners often place tremendous focus on training to meet such goals.  So if we cheat to achieve the goal, we are really only cheating ourselves.

I have given a bit of thought to trying to figure out the 'how'.  How can you get around a marathon course with the timing chip, manage to get it near the mats, and still be able to jump back in the race a short distance from the finish line without being noticed?  It really seems impossible, especially in a big, crowded, point to point race like Boston.  At one point he even made up a race in Wyoming that he, of course, won.

But the more interesting question is why?  What would be the incentive for someone to perpetrate this fraud?  Why risk the embarrassment of getting caught?  What's the point of it?  Runners, more than any other people I know, are goal-oriented, and hard-working.  The point of racing, for most of us, is to challenge ourselves to see what we can accomplish, whether it's finishing the race, or meeting our goal time, or placing among the leaders.  As I mentioned earlier, there's no incentive to cheat.

If you search the name Kip Litton, you will find quite a lot has been written about his exploits, and none of it is complimentary.  Well, with one exception.  I read one commentary that suggested, somewhat like the late Andy Kaufman and his wrestling matches, that Litton is doing some kind of ironic performance art, and the joke is on us runners who take our sport too seriously.

We might never know the truth, because Litton doesn't seem to be talking much to reporters.  

See you at the next race.  I'll be the one running the whole thing........

 

Don't Spectate. Race!

That was the advice in an email from my running partner and high school coach, Rick, the day before the March Madness 1/2 marathon in Cary.  Don't spectate.  Race.  I've been running quite a few races lately, and haven't really run hard in the last few.  In fact, I've had training runs with Rick the rest of our group that were better efforts than some of my recent races.  

Rick is right.  I have run some of these races casually for the experience rather than treating them like races.  I tend to spectate even as I'm participating.  That can be enjoyable, but at some point I need to put it on the line.  So I took the advice to heart, and set my mind to 'racing' mode.  That means coming up with a plan for my pace, when to try to surge, and what to be mentally prepared for.  Cary is a really good place to 'get my head in the game'.  

This is an incredibly popular race with a small segment of the Chicago area running population.  For many, it is a great training run for the Boston Marathon in April.  It tends to attract what some might call masochists.  The course is very hilly.  The weather is notoriously bad.  And it's a long drive to get there for almost everyone who runs the race.  Neverthless, it sold out in 18 minutes this year.

It's relatively small field.  About 1000 runners.  When I walked into the gym to pick up my number before the race, I felt like it was social hour.  There were friends everywhere, including a large contingent from my Elmhurst running club, as well as three of my regular training partners, and lots .  So from the perspective of peer pressure alone, I needed to try to run well in front of so many friends and acquaintences!

It was cold.  About 28 degrees at the start (some 50 degrees colder than last year's race).  But I wore shorts, if for no other reason than to remind myself I wasn't here for a comfortable run.  We took off at the start and quickly settled into a 7:30/mile pace, which was right where I wanted to be.  My friend Tom and I ran the first 4 or 5 miles together at that pace.  It felt really good.  In the back of my mind, I was a little worried that I haven't run much at that pace recently, but my plan was to hold on as long as I could and then try to push through the last three miles of hills.  

The first few miles of this course are mostly downhill, so getting out well is fairly easy.  The big uphill climbs come later.  But we kept the pace through the big hill at ten miles, where, in my mind, the race starts.  After climbing this quarter mile hill, you enter a neighborhood, where you find several more big, rolling hills.  You might be cruising along through nine miles, but if you don't keep something in the tank for the the big hills in the last three miles, you will find yourself in trouble.

As we entered the neighborhood, Tom came running up from behind and passed me.   Seems he was not far behind the whole time.  If you look at the picture at the top of this post you can seem him wearing white a few people behind me.  Turns out Rick's advice for Tom was to stay strong and wait til his 'big engine' kicked in about ten miles.  According to my watch that's exactly what happened.  I knew I wasn't slowing down, which meant he was running really strong.  In fact when I hit the ten mile mark, I figured if I could hold onto the pace, I would run 1:38.  That is four minutes faster than my fastest 1/2 so far this year.

So with Rick's advice echoing in my head, "Don't spectate.  Race", I kept my head down, dug deep, and kept the pace.  Before I knew it, the finish line was in sight, and I was crossing the line in 1:38:53.  I was ecstatic.  That's my best time in the 5 or 6 times I've run this race, and my best half marathon in a couple years.  But I was even more excited for Tom.  He really ran well.  As did many of my other friends I heard about as we shared stories after the race.

This is a grueling race, if you run it well.  And I'm a little sore today as I write this.  But I feel good about the experience.  Not the spectating experience, but the racing!

See you on the roads......

A Wet One

About a half mile into the 5k in Lisle Sunday I saw the first 'water hazard', and realized there was no good way to avoid it.  I was gonna get wet. The course followed a path around the park near the high school in Lisle, winding through wooded areas, over a bridge and back to the high school.

It was scenic, flat, and on this day, wet!  The puddles were 3-4 inches deep, and
surrounded by snow, ice, and mud if you wandered off the path.  Initially I tried to run around the puddles, but I soon realized I needed to just give in, and run right through them.  

Yes, my shoes would be soaked.  Yes, it would be cold.  But it was the fastest way to get through the course, and I begrudgingly had to admit, probably the most fun.  Once you let go of your inner voice telling you not to tromp through puddles, you just do it and start to feel like a kid!

Mind you, I didn't run like a kid.  I ran like an old man!  But it was just the right work-out for a week before a half marathon I hope to compete well in.  And because it was a pretty small race with only a few hundred entered, I managed to win an age group award.  In fact, so did my other three friends who entered.

They call it the Lisle Spring Sprint.  And the kind folks at Dick Pond were nice enough to offer me an entry.  How could I refuse?  Clearly, I couldn't.  So I found myself lining up in front as the race started with verbal command, "Go".  And after a wet three mile loop, I was headed back to the school and the finish line.

It reminded me once again how much I appreciate the small, low-key races around the area.  They lack all the frills of many of the large city races, but they offer strong, competitve fields, and easy, fun running.

Not that I have anything against the large races.  They offer lots of fun and diversion.  One of the newest on the racing calendar is a pretty novel concept from the folks who bring us races like Hot Chocolate, and the Cinco de miler.  It's called the Arctic Blast, and it's coming up in July.  They promise to have fake snow, cold drinks, and lots of other surprises.  http://www.thearcticblast.com/.

I personally am looking forward to running through fake snow.  The real stuff is getting old.  And my shoes still need to dry off from Lisle!

See you on the roads.........

No Frills. Just Fun.

It is really a great idea.  Why not donate ALL the money from a race to a needy family?  Runners spend an enormous amount of money entering races.  Some half marathons can run more than $100.  Some of the big marathons can cost twice that much.  In fairness to race directors, these races are also costly to put on. Organizers often have to pay for the right to use the course, the police, the t-shirts, aid stations, medals and tons of other stuff.  But how much of that is really necessary?

I already have several drawers full of race t-shirts.  Another drawer is stuffed with race medals.  I don't really need expensive gear stuffed into a goodie bag, or rock bands playing along the course to keep me going.  Nor do I require much besides a couple drinks of water along the way, and maybe a little help making sure I won't get run over by a car crossing the street.  And, while I enjoy a fun party after a race, it's not why I choose a particular race.  All of those things are nice, and I like them as much as the next guy, but it's nice, occasionally, to strip it all back and just run.

Dawn Wheatland and Kristin Morrow, two moms from Elmhurst figured there are probably plenty of runners out there like me.  So they organized Elmhurst's first annual 'No Frills' race last year, and followed it up with the second over the weekend.  They promise nothing other than a couple volunteer-run water tables, crossing guards, and an accurate course.  They deliver much more.

Runners are asked to collect donations of at least $100 in order to enter the race.  And with 120 runners entered, that means they were able to donate more than $12,000 to the family. And thanks to generous sponsors, organizers were still able to offer tech shirts, goodie bags, post-race refreshments, and even a party.  Much the same stuff you get in a big-time race!

Call it my year of the half marathon.  I'm the one in the yellow jacket in the picture running with a couple of friends.  As I looked at the race calendar back in January, it occurred to me that I seemed to be planning a 13.1 mile race at least once a month for most of the year.  So far I've got January, February, and now, March covered.  But the race this weekend might be one of the most unusual races I've ever done.  It's also one of the most satisfying.

Organizers call it the 'No Frills' race.  Apart from the half marathon, they also have a 'half-half' race distance of 6.55 miles.  Not only is it run in the town where I live, Elmhurst, but the course involved two loops on the prairie path, which is where I do much of my training.  It was extremely familiar ground we were covering.

So, with a whistle at the start, we were off.  I ran the first lap with friends who helped work on the race, and settled into an easy pace.  For the second loop I decided to pick up the pace a little and run by myself.  The finishing time was nothing to write home about, but then there was no writing necessary. I was already home!  

Hats off the the organizers, volunteers and sponsors who put so much effort into making this race a success.  They get nothing out of it but the satisfaction of helping others.  This is our sport at it's best.

See you on the roads..........