26.2 on st patrick’s day anyone?
Congratulations, this email serves as official confirmation of registration for the LA Marathon taking place March 17, 2013.
the chicago marathon is this sunday in case…
the chicago marathon is this sunday… in case you didn’t know?? it’s also known as #cm11 or @marathonchicago to many #runnerds.
many of my friends…yeah…those online/twitter friends…will be in town or are here already. so, i’m REALLY excited about that.
where are the mixed emotions?
this is the 1st year i haven’t run chicago since 2007. am i jealous right at this VERY second. DUH! YEAH! of COURSE, i AM!
at the same time, though… i’m glad that i’m not because if i was, it would have meant my training (and whining to my coach during the process) in the this summer’s awful heat! and, to be TOTALLY honest, my head still wasn’t in a good place for training…
my coach called me mentally overtrained… the reality is that in 2007, i jumped in headfirst into running and barely came up for air. i let myself try to do that and it messed with my head immensely. i think i’ve found a good sense of stasis overall. however, i did find that i needed to sign up for a race (hence, this blog) in order to get back into my rhythm that i need!
ANYway…
the flip side is that i get to see a bunch of friends, motivate them, cheer them on, and celebrate with them! OH, AND i finally get to meet my coach, josh (aka @speedysasquatch). he’s from NYC and i’ve never met him. yeah, it sounds weird… but, believe it or not, it’s not all that uncommon! so, get over it! 
i also still have a key role this weekend by managing the start corrals of the race followed by hopefully witnessing the elite finish in person for the first time ever! …and then i’ll make my way down to mile 24 to cheer and then, hopefully, run at least 1 friend in. i’ll be cheering with universal sole & nike while sporting my f^3 singlet and then hopefully @heathbar6 (aka heather w) will find and drag me in to push her a$$ to the finish line!
CHEERS RUNNERS! ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY ON SUNDAY…BUT…DON’T FORGET THE JOURNEY THAT GOT YOU TO THAT START LINE! =)
the start of daRevoluCHIN!
i did a quick google search for “darevoluchin nike blog” and it actually found this post about how i went from the couch to running in 2007:
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_humanrace-en_US/2009/08/27/the-start-of-darevoluchin
don’t want to click & read? no problem! i’ve copied & pasted it here:
………………………………………………………
The Start of daRevoluCHIN!
August 27, 2009
It started in February of 2007 on an icy Chicago day. The temperature was an aggressively mean negative twenty wind chill. In our loop condo, I suited up to go for a run in cotton socks, a cotton shirt, a cotton hoodie, sweat pants, long johns, the outer layer of a winter coat, a hat, huge mittens, a scarf, and shoes that weren’t meant for running.
Why would I do such a thing? Why didn’t I wait until Spring? Why would I subject myself to that?!?
The answer is simple…
Ever since 1998, I watched the Chicago Marathon and was always envious of the swarms of runners of all shapes and sizes. As I watched, I thought to myself, “I’m going to do that next year!” Now, keep in mind, I was thinking this while I was becoming more dehydrated from the coffee I was sipping after the previous night’s revelries. So, could I really do it? Could I actually stay in on Friday nights because of the following morning’s long run? Could this big kid, whose most active sport to date was starting tackle freshman year of high school, REALLY do it?
Well, it seemed like I really couldn’t at the time. That scene actually repeated itself for about eight years before I took action. Perhaps, it was because I was finally done with school and settled into a regular working schedule. Nevertheless, I finally just went for it.
I was tired of being a professional couch potato that starved for several brands of chips. Those types of bicep curls didn’t necessarily cut it if you want to be in shape!
So, I just did it…
My goal was to get from our downtown home to the Starbucks in Old Town three miles away using the Chicago lakefront path. I braved the icy, desolate, and dark route trudging along while thinking to myself, “What the HELL am I doing?!?” and “Why does this SUCK so bad?!?”
But, I made it! When I walked into that Starbucks, my glasses fogged up and my face started to sweat profusely. I distinctly remember a gentleman looking at me and he asked, “Are you really sweating after coming in from out there?” I answered with pride and out of breath, “Yeah…I…just…ran…” I have no idea what he said or what happened next except that I had a hot chocolate in my hand and was shortly on the train back home.
How would I possibly do this again? Well, I did a few times. But, I started to feel like I may quit because it was so hard to go three miles especially in all that clothing. It was getting VERY cumbersome and I just didn’t want to deal with it. So, what was going to keep me going?
Answer: OTHER PEOPLE WHO RUN! DUH!
I went to a well-known Chicago running store’s fun run one evening. I felt REALLY awkward because I was SUCH a rookie! I was embarrassed to ask questions. I even hid and pretended I was shopping even though I was there to participate in the run. I hoped to find others running the same “pace.” But, what was that “pace?” I only knew it to be slow and hoped others would speak up or maybe ask ME what I was going to run. I think a couple gentleladies actually did speak up and then I quickly latched on.
From that point, I had a couple new friends. I remember one of them being Jillian. We kept each other going week to week at the fun run until we, unfortunately, lost touch somehow. But, I did find out more about the store’s racing team that was for all levels. And, I must say, after I joined that group, my running experiences multiplied to levels I NEVER thought possible. And, I soon found myself in a training program for that year’s Chicago Marathon (2007)!
Because of that team, I was able to get into Nike’s Northside/Southside Challenge for the Marathon. There were about 50 on the Northside and 50 on the Southside. It was a friendly rivalry and the team with the most Nike+ miles and fastest average pace on race day won a donation to a charity (Boys and Girls Club for the Northside team and the Chicago White Sox charities for the Southside team).
I ended up the team captain for the Southside. No, we didn’t win—sorry White Sox charities! Nevertheless, through that role, I got to meet runners of all shapes, sizes, experience, elite, non-elite, etc. I found myself in a naturally motivating capacity using a googlegroup to send email blasts to my team to hype them up for events, on the stage at Niketown and on the news. Isn’t this type of role reserved for some type of famous and fast runner? Or, at least somebody with lots of running experience and not in his or her first year of running? Apparently not and, I wasn’t complaining. I actually felt very lucky and fortunate.
Can I get myself out the door to get my run in solo? I’ll admit to you, as long as you promise not to tell, that the answer is usually no. I enjoy the new friends that have come out of my Nike Northside/Southside experience. That’s why I have done my best to keep as many of them from that time, along with new ones we’ve picked up along the way, together as a core group. It’s purely selfish too because the group is my motivation to get out and do my run. They keep me accountable even if there isn’t somebody running my exact pace that day. We meet and end in the same spot and cheer each other on no matter what. It’s funny that I basically play the role of motivating others in order to keep myself motivated and accountable but we all seem to benefit and I now have the closest and best-est friends ever!
I’ve continued to run because of those friends. I am VERY lucky to have them in my life and enjoy every moment I get to spend with them. And, what’s even better is that the group continues to grow as I share my story and encourage newbies to start their own story.
Even though I’ve done three marathons, including New York and Chicago back in 2008, I honestly could probably do without the actual running part of these friendships. However, if it comes with the territory, I’m all for it. I’ll run to keep this network alive!
That’s how daRevoluCHIN started and I look forward to bringing more newbies in—locally and virtually!
BE! CAREFUL! spectating an ironman COULD inspire you!
Image by robbyb via Flickr
on sunday, i spectated ironman wisconsin from about 8:30am until 8:45pm. i knew there were quite a few chicagoans (many #runnerds) that i knew racing. in particular, i wanted to be there to support my best friend matt’s girlfriend! (she ROCKED by the way!!!)
the day before, when i would wake up from not being able to sleep the night before, and DURING the race, i often thought about this video that i watched within the past year. i think it was shared with my running buddies and i at some point before our friend danny conquered the same race just a year ago. i can’t help but laugh EVERY time i watch this!
nevertheless…
that’s my first random thought that i wanted to share here…i promise that this will be a random blog. it will go off onto random tangents. it may not make sense a lot of the time. i’m not the best of writers. however, i simply want to share what’s in my head because many of you out there seem to be intrigued, are looking for some motivation, or you’re purely looking for something to laugh at and possibly create a parody blog. for the latter, PLEASE DO SO and let me know that you created it because it would be fun to hear somebody’s interpretation!!!
tonight at the gym, i thought about this blog that’s been sitting here gathering dust. should i actually use it? should i start sharing my stories again like i have in the past? will i keep up with it?
the fact is that i have stuff in my head that i want to currently share and i don’t want to feel bad for not sharing it later on. so, i’m going to go for it. and, i’ll do my best to keep it updated.
lots of what you will read will include random reflections that i’ve been meaning to share about previous races i’ve completed; how my day is effecting my nutrition; how my day is going to effect or not effect my training for the evening; how my training in the morning is killing me during the day or actually giving me a kick in my step; random details about my training; updates on what i’m doing for the F^3 Lake Half Marathon as co-race director; etc; etc; etc…
i can’t keep it a secret very long once i post it here…
but, there is some HUGE news for me…
my first physical therapist (mike!) that healed my chondromalacia way back in 2007 when i first started running posted something on facebook about thinking about signing up for ironman wisconsin and whether anybody wanted to join him. this was on monday. the DAY AFTER the ironman this year. this is also known as a very irrational place, i’m sure, for many spectators who are even remotely related to ANY of the sports involved (swimming, cycling, & running) and would consider registering!
of course, i chimed in hours later because i’m not on social media as much as i would like to be nowadays. nevertheless, i responded in jest saying something like, “if you teach me to swim and ride with me AND registration is still open, i’ll run with you and i’ll register!”
THEN, i checked the website and saw that registration was STILL open. so, i IMMEDIATELY went back to the comments that i just posted and added comments to the effect of, “PLEASE DON’T TEACH ME TO SWIM! PLEASE DON’T RIDE WITH ME! REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN!!!” this happened to be close to my lunch hour and his clinic happens to be half a block from my office. so, i walked on over when i didn’t get an immediate response (C’MON, MIKE!) and had a little chat with him.
he recommended i ease into it and not go all in…
i walked out…
i sat in front of the new starbucks on michigan ave…
many thoughts were flying threw my head as the likelihood that the race would sell-out within minutes added pressure…
2011 has been a funk in general for me after i completed the rock n roll arizona marathon in january. this was the BEST experience of my life even though it wasn’t my best time. more details on this in a separate post.
so, i always knew that i had to sign up for a race in order to keep my a$$ training and getting out the door. it was like my days as a musician when i had to plan on taking an audition in order to practice.
i signed up for a 10k that went from the united center to us cellular (april?) and the magellan half marathon (mid-may). for both, my training was less than stellar. and, you could ask my coach about how whiny i was while training (or barely training) for those two races.
the last “race” i did was as part of team rat tail in the ragnar chicago relay at the beginning of june. i’ve probably run a total of about four times since then… and, we are now at september 15th.
did i miss training for the bank of america chicago marathon this year–the first that i had not trained for since 2007? kinda…not really…no… ESPECIALLY NO with the chicago summer heat that we had!
the reality is that there was a tad more to it so it worked out well that i had to focus on myself for a bit.
the end of june was when i ended my relationship of 9.5 years with my partner.
SO, it was definitely a time of transition…
i was couch surfing until i found my new home… i started smoking because it kept me company… i settled into my new place… and, i’ve been adjusting to being in my new home alone.
yeah…it sounds pretty sad… but, it all had to happen.
what YOU need to know is that my last cigarette was last thursday. what YOU need to know is that i made a commitment to myself to get back on track and get focused.
so, that’s where the completion of the long questionnaire for ironman wisconsin came into play on monday afternoon at about 2:07pm. going through my head as my heart was beating really fast and my hands were shaking a bit were thoughts of how i can barely swim and i how i hope that it errors out at submission because it sold out while i was filling everything out.
i hit submit.
my credit card was charged.
i got the confirmation email.
i’m still in shock.
yup! you heard it here!
i am not terribly excited about training in lake michigan. before i even think about that, i should probably focus on making it to the middle of the pool without stopping. i’m not TOO terribly worried about the bike (although, i need to learn how to change a tire!) and i’ve done seven marathons, so i know what that feels like already. right this VERY second, i’m just thinking about getting out of the water in under 2:20!
tonight’s workout with my best friend and his pep talk (because he may or may not be training too!) were a great reason to further turn over this new leaf and snap out of it.
i usually don’t like folks to know my plans because if i fail, only i will know. but, this journey i WANT to share with you all. i’m hoping that i can be inspired by your comments and maybe i can inspire you in one way or another as well.
Related articles
- Ironman Wisconsin: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (btothes.wordpress.com)
- September Goals, with a side of Vegan Mac & Cheese (betterwithveggies.wordpress.com)
- Summer Training Tips From Ironman Tyler Stewart (fitsugar.com)
