Who's In: Who is Running Chicago and What is Your Goal?

I started another thread where you can post advice/tips on running Chicago: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6050913

I have set a modest goal of breaking 2:50.

I was a 1:58/4:01 (1500, duh) guy in college, and have discovered post collegiately that I'm not really suited for stuff over, say, 8k. My marathon PR is 2:58. But I wanted to try one last marathon this year in Chicago, since it's my hometown race and I've never run it.

Averaged about 75 mpw in this buildup with highest week of ~86 miles. Longest single run was 21 miles at about 7:05 pace. No doubles, due to schedule. Both tuneup races went poorly, but possibly due to weather and course conditions, along with training load. Ran 13.1 at goal pace during my heaviest training week and finished in 1:23:45, feeling strong. Fingers crossed.

Running the last 13.1 as a visually impaired guide. The runner who I am guiding wants to break 2:40.

It'll end up being a good recovery week long run for me. I ran Twin Cities last weekend as a workout with my goal race of Indianapolis in 3.5 weeks.

Hoping to run 2:42-2:43 (which would be a pretty solid PB). Had a good 13miler at 6:12/mile (with 6miles before and 3 miles after), which felt comfortable. avg about 65miles/wk. Most of my long runs were done at 6:55-7:05 pace (two 24 milers). Overall, feeling optimistic.

Hoping to run in the 3:15 range. Averaged about 55 mpw for 18 weeks with a peak of 72. Ran a 1:29 half about 5 weeks ago. Did a long run of 22 at an average pace of 7:50 which felt easy until the last 1-2 miles. Hoping to go out conservative and not bonk! Good luck to all.

I am hoping to run 2:02:55.

I can't decide if I should go out in 1:02 or 1:03. This is only my second marathon and I have a strong track background.

I would love advice from people who have run Chicago before. It is my first time to the Windy City. It wasn't very windy when I arrived today.

ill be watching at adddison and broadway...ill hand out vodka shots instead of water

I'm racing on Sunday, and if all goes well I'm hoping to scare the Trials qualifier. I have a PR of 2:22:44 that I set last year in Chicago (with a bathroom stop of about 1:30). I have run 1:06:33 for the half (ran it last year at US half champs; also ran 1:06:44 this summer) and have had a solid training block this year. I've averaged 110 mpw for 12 weeks leading up to the race, and I followed a Canova-inspired training plan, which means I did a lot of nasty long workouts (the man is a genius but he also might be a sadist). Maybe the most important session was 24 miles at 5:33 pace on a hilly trail loop about 4 weeks ago. I followed that up five days later with a 15:08 5k plus 6 x 1 mile @ 5:07 avg. That was a good confidence booster for me as it showed I was able to recover well from the long session. I did some other somewhat absurd sessions too, but I'll spare you all the details.

To be honest, I have no real clue if I'm in 2:18 shape, but it seems pretty reasonable to me based on the work I've done. Any thoughts (positive or negative) are welcome. I really just want to run a good race and that's about it.

Good luck to everyone who is racing on Sunday. I am a Chicagoan, so I want to wish everyone a fun stay in the city. I'll be out celebrating (hopefully) after the race on Sunday so if folks want to meet up, let me know. Cheers.

I'm not racing, but my sister is and she is going for 3:30. She was sedentary for most of her life (until after college) and then picked up running casually. She recently tried a Jack Daniels training plan and got under 3:35, qualified for Boston (but got shut out), and got hooked. Now she's really starting the train, get faster, later, rinse, repeat cycle and I'm excited to see how much better she gets.

So I will be rooting for her 100% and when the 3:30 pace group runs by it'd be cool for any of you watching cheer as loudly as you can. She's not really into the internet thing and wouldn't recognize my username but you can cheer for "Talia's sister" or just yell "Go Terps." It'd make me really happy to have people rooting for her.

I'll be looking to run around 2:25 (hopefully just under if all goes well). Coming in with a best of 2:27:40 from last fall and have had a solid training block this summer/fall. Feeling good and ready to get after it. Good luck everybody!

damn, tell us some more of your nasty workouts? 5:33 is 2:25 marathon pace, and on hilly trails... that's gotta be a good sign. get that OTQ! what was the rest for that 5K + 6x1 mile?good luck sunday to all!

My main goal is Sub 3:03 to qualify for Boston (and likely not get shut out), my next goal would be sub-3 and my best case scenario is sub 2:57.

My first and only marathon was a 3:05:18 in May. Since then I have averaged 55 miles per week, with a peak of 68.

My tune-up race was a half on 9/14, I ran 1:22:36.

My longest run was 22 Miles @ 6:58 pace on 9/24 (First 12 @ 7:15 or so, last 10 between 6:35 and 6:42, finished strong, no fading). I did 3 other runs of 21, 20 and 20 all 7:15 pace overall or better.

My legs feel great, and I'm pumped for Sunday. Just going to have to keep my excitement in check when the gun goes off. Planning on running the first 16 at 6:45 pace and then evaluating from there.

Good luck to everyone running.

-gg1919

Damn, good stuff dude. That's some very stout training. I'd have to think you are in at least sub 2:20 shape and 2:18 should be a very realistic goal for you. Good luck out there man.

[quote]mrb wrote:

I did some other somewhat absurd sessions too, but I'll spare you all the details.

quote]

Please don't! I would love to read what kind of other sessions you did (if you have time). I always enjoy reading/listening to what types of training people do.

Apparently you guys are like me and actually do enjoy reading about how other people are training. In that case, here are a few more workouts that I did along the way:

10 miles alternating each 1k - 3:08/3:48

8 x 3k @ 9:53 avg (roughly 5:16 pace), 1k jog rest

4 x 3 miles (15:55 avg, 4:00 jog rest) + 1 x 2 mile (10:34)

10 x 1200 @ 3:40 avg, 2:30 rest (this was on an absolutely awful weather day - very hot and humid)

18.5 miles @ 5:32 avg

There were a bunch of other, shorter workouts in there, like fartleks and such, but the workouts listed above are some of the more significant ones. These are all adapted from Canova training plans that he has written for his marathoners.

And to answer the question about the rest on the 5k/mile repeats workout - I had to wait about 10-15 minutes after the 5k was over before I could start the miles because I won the race and had to get my award (it was a big glass boot that I can drink beer out of, so it was totally worth it). Once I started the miles, I did them on 2:00 rest.

Thanks for the responses, by the way. It always helps to have some unbiased people weigh in and give opinions.

And to the guy who is trying to get under 3:03, based on your half and your 22 mile run, I think you have it in the bag, so long as you run smart. Good luck.

I am shooting for 2:30. I have been burned in previous years by going out too hard, so I am going to save it for Chinatown and after.

wejo, since the other thread got mucked up, I would recommend the west loop for good food when staying in the loop. Uber works well in Chicago and getting there is easy.

I'm running my second marathon on Sunday. Last year I ran 2:26:43 at Chicago blowing up big time the last 5K. I was at 2:23:20 pace at the half and still about 2:23:55ish pace at 20-miles, but that last 10K sucked.

This year I'm going for 2:24 or faster. As long as it's 2:24:xx I'll be ok, but I'd really like to get in the 2:23 range.

I've done a good amount of mileage this summer/fall. About 7 weeks or so total over 100 with a high week of 115. Have had a few injury issues though so a few crap weeks as well.

My big workout was a 17-mile simulation workout which I did at 5:28 pace. It wasn't nearly all out as I ran the last mile in 5:16 just cruising it in, however I KNOW I wouldn't have made it to 26.2 that day. Think I could have made at least 22 at that pace though. That was just over 3-weeks ago, hoping I can go all the way now.

It's probably dumb, but I get more confidence from my weight (131 pre-run today, 129 post-run) which is the best it's been in a few years, and from a 2x600, 3x3200 workout I did 9-days out. 2:00, 1:57, 10:21, 10:13, 10:08 (2 and 3min rest intervals) feeling pretty smooth. Nothing crazy, but hadn't felt that comfortable with faster 3200 reps in a couple years since I was in good half shape (1:07:53 half at Houston 2012). Hoping the fact I did it off marathon training is a good sign of my fitness. But then I felt kind of "eh" on my easy progression run 3-days later so who knows.

Also, JK coaches me so I have that going for me.

Oh, and I will be reppin the LRC singlet.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/05/lrc-singlet-comes-retirement-employee-1-1-represents-2014-bay-breakers-12k/