March to Chicago: 25 Days to go.....

Injured my achilles during a long run this past weekend. I haven't run since Sunday. Still managed 96 miles for last week, but I'll probably have a big fat zero for this one.

My Chicago goals -- already lowered as a result of of a sprained ankle 3 weeks ago -- are starting to fade. At this point, if I can beat my very soft PR, I'll declare victory.

I'm running the Tucson Marathon in December too. I'll probably just run Chicago and try to have a decent day and save the full-out effort for Tucson.

Not a bad week for myself. 77 miles. Two good workouts. One a 30 minute tempo run, another 5x1600 session on the track. Felt strong. Long run of 20.

Hey, if anyone is looking for a ticket to the pasta dinner the night before the race at the Hilton Chicago, email me. I bought 3 tickets and now am only going to be using 2.

Training's been going well for me. I had my best long run ever last weekend - 22 miles, with the last 9 averaging marathon pace. Wasn't planning that, I just felt good once I got out there and got going, so it was a real confidence booster. I've been pretty wiped out so far this week from that effort though. I just did 2x5k on the track yesterday @ MP, and this weekend am supposed to be running a 1/2 marathon, which I was going to try and do @ MP. However, the race might be postponed to the following weekend b/c of the hurricane. Will be doing something @ MP this weekend either way. One of my big goals for these last few weeks is to practice taking fluids while running at MP. I've always struggled with that and need to get that down before the race. Hope your training's going well!

I had a total of 3 miles last week and none so far this week. My calf is still giving me problems. It is feeling better during the day when doing non running activities but I am still not able to run on it.

I am going to the doctor (a spors guy who works with runners)tomorrow and will see what he has to say. It sucks because I am in better shape than last year at this time, have put in so much work and to see it all go down the drain so close to the race just stinks.

If it gets better should I even run the race? My wife (also a runner) says that even though I missed some time that I have enough base behind me to still run the race (assuming the leg is OK) Even if it gets better I feel that the missed training will make the marathon miserable. I am in about 3:00 shape but would be happy with getting into Boston, which is 3:10.

Any thoughts about this? Bag the race and wait until another day??? If the leg gets better, run or still bag the race??? If I run should I stick to my original plan of going for 3:00 or due to missed training run a slower pace. Could I still pull off a 3:10?? (I ran a 1:03:13 10 mile race on Laor Day, 6:20 pace, very hilly course). The calf then went to hell)

Any help or suggestions would be great. Sorry for the long post. Hope things are better with everybody else.

70 miles last week including a 1/2 marathon on Labor Day and repeat miles on Saturday. Somehow managed to pull a hamstring and have not been able to run all week. Doing a few days on the stationary bike and will see if it is better this weekend. If not, may end up missing Chicago. Was not in the shape I had hoped and now am missing the last part of serious training. Hoping to at least get a decent week in next week and giving it a shot...

Tom, I don't know how bad your calf problem is, but you ran a 10 miler at 6:20 pace recently - so you could slow down 40 or more seconds per mile and still get in the 3-3:10 range at Chicago! Seems very doable. Of course, I don't know if you ran 3 miles last week b/c you are trying to rest, or b/c you got out there and just couldn't run - if the latter, that doesn't sound so promising. I think you have to go with your gut feeling about whether to race or not. You don't want to make that trip to Chicago, then be standing on the starting line worrying about whether your calf is going to hold up or not.

dmm13 wrote:

70 miles last week including a 1/2 marathon on Labor Day and repeat miles on Saturday. Somehow managed to pull a hamstring and have not been able to run all week. Doing a few days on the stationary bike and will see if it is better this weekend. If not, may end up missing Chicago. Was not in the shape I had hoped and now am missing the last part of serious training. Hoping to at least get a decent week in next week and giving it a shot...

the bike won't help your hamstring. it may not hurt to do but biking compresses the hamstring.

Average Joe,

What will you be looking to run at Tucson? I'll be running that and looking to go just under 2:30.

Dennis: good to hear things are going well. What was you 1/2 PR?

Things are going well here. Had to throttle back a little of the training over the last 3 weeks due to some traveling with work, but back in the routine and feeling good. 22 miler on Sunday, 5*2000 on tues, 15 miler on wed.

tucson runner wrote:

Average Joe,

What will you be looking to run at Tucson? I'll be running that and looking to go just under 2:30.

I think you're a little out of my league. I was initially thinking 2:40 at Chicago on a perfect day so maybe 2:37 at Tucson on another great day. But now I'll be lucky to to hit 2:45 at Chicago and even to approach 2:40 at Tucson, even with the 2500' drop.

Training is going well for me.

Did a 1/2 marathon at MP pace on the weekend and felt great. 4 X 2500 on wednesday. I hope the next few weeks I continue to feel as good as I do now.

For those in the competitive area for the start, do you know if there will be a place for us to leave our warm up gear? What will you be doing?

I am travelling on my own, and was not sure what I should do.

They will have a check bag area for your gear.

p b wrote:

Training is going well for me.

Did a 1/2 marathon at MP pace on the weekend and felt great. 4 X 2500 on wednesday. I hope the next few weeks I continue to feel as good as I do now.

For those in the competitive area for the start, do you know if there will be a place for us to leave our warm up gear? What will you be doing?

I am travelling on my own, and was not sure what I should do.

p b, you should check out this link (hope this works) from the marathon website:

bump

A good 21 on Saturday, wife left for Washington Sunday and got caught up in the FAA radio crap & didn't come back until yesterday. I have a 4-yr-old and I run in the morning, so basically I had to take 4 days off. 16 miles at MP with hills and a nasty blood blister. After the four days off I feel fat as f***. That lemon merangue pie didn't help either.