Louis' Running Adventure

Shamrock Shuffle

Yesterday I ran the Shamrock Shuffle along with 30,000 other poeple.  It was very crowded.  At the one and only water stop it wasn't easy to get gatorade or water.  The finish was even worse. In spite of this  it was good experience.  The weather was warm and not too windy.   I finished the 5 mile (8K) course in 58:10- that's 8:12 slower than my last 5 miler before the surgery.  I hadn't trained at all so under 1 hour is ok for me.

Today I started physical therapy for my right foot.  I have tendonatis. The prognosis is good.

Season 07 starts Sunday

Well, I am running the Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday.  I've partially recovered from foot surgery.  My foot still aches but that can't stop me.  It's only 5 miles.  How hard can it be ??

The Running Adventure is Back

Well, after a winter which was too long Surly Lou is back out running. He ran the Shamrock Shuffle on April 2 and finshed in 56:36 and placed 17653 out of 20,408. Good going SL.

Goal Attained !!

My goal was to finish the marathon.  I am happy to report that I finished in 5 hour 46 minutes and 26 seconds.  I felt ok even at the end.  I am tired but not really all that hurt.  JW offered to meet me at Goose Island.  I called him after I finished the race and he said he was there waiting.  I told him I'd take the Red Line and see him shortly.  While on the Red line I started to feel a little ill.  It was nothing to major but the thought of moving around much really did sound appealing.  I called JW and left him a VM saying I was sorry to have to cancel.  He called me back and said that was ok.  He said he thought I'd like a chance to gloat about my achievement.  JW is a good friend.  I told him if there were any gloating to be done I could do it at work on Monday.  I'll post pictures taken during the race sometime next week.  Bottom line is I survived.  Now I just have to figure out how I am going to run the race next year in UNDER 4 HOURS.  If you "do the math" this means I'll have to go from my current pace of 13:12 per mile to 8:35 per mile.  Sounds like a nice challenge to me :<) 

I'm off to the race

It's time for me to go.  I weighed in at 229.  That's a bit heavier than I'd like.  I feel good.  My head is a ltille congested.  I think this might just be related to the change in temperatures.  If it slows me down that's a good thing.  I just need to race within myself to succeed.  I am off the the Walgreens to get a couple Red Bulls and a disposable camera.  I wanna take pictures along the way.  I figure this might make me slow down and that's a good thing.

Next post will be after the race.  I WILL BE POSTING THAT I FINISHED. 

Thanks for all the support

Surly Lou

Marathon Day Morning

The big day is finally here.  I am up and ready to run 26.2 miles.  Weather here in Chicago is cool(about 50 degrees).  Weather.com says it should stay in the 50's for the entire race.  Could we see a world record ??? Maybe, I think the 11 mph wind forecast might be a problem. 

I keep telling myself I can do this. I have trained for this and know how to accompish my goal of finishing.  I need to run 12 minute miles.  It's so simple.  It works out to 5 miles per hour so at 1 hour I pass mile marker 5 and at 4 hours I'll pass mile marker 20.  At mile mark 21 my "coach" said she'd be there with a sign with my name on it.  i has said repeatedly that if I could get to mile 21 in reasonably good shape that I could finish the race and not collapse in a heap at the finish.   I am determined to make this happen.  I have a pacing watch so "I'll I gotta do is " ....keep the pace at 12 minute miles.  If the pace drops below 12 i MUST SLOW DOWN.  No exceptions !!!  Time to shower and change into race gear.

just 2 days til race day

I am looking forward to the race.  i feel ok.  My noise is a little running but it's no big deal.  I am eating lots of carbs and drinking buckets of gatorade.  The weather here has cooled off nicely.  Race day temps should be in the lower 60s. 

4 days and counting

I think the running of the marathon thing will be fine.  I am going to run 12 minute miles and walk thru the 17 water stations.  If I keep my pace at 5 miles an hour I'll be at mile 20 in 4 hours.  If I run 15 minute miles for the last 6 miles I'll finish in just over 5.5 hours.  I think I can do this.

After I accomplish this I wanna  to this

http://www.runtheplanet.com/pages/refer/bullsrun.php

come on !! how hard can it be ????

news and notes

I can be tracked here http://www.chicagomarathon.com/page_L2.aspx?subMenu=3&Page_ID=287&Nav_2_ID=301&Page_Title=Runner%20Tracking%20&%20Updates

I am running to raise $$ for ACS.  Please donate here http://register.charityrunner.org/site/TR?px=1091946&pg=personal&fr_id=1040

12 days and counting

as of this posting there are just 12 days left til race day.  I feel ok and should be able to finish without heading to the medical tent at the finish.  I think my running will take me 5 hours 30 minutes from when I cross the start line to when I cross the finish line.  I estimate the actual time for me to complete my first marathon at 335,275 hours 30 miutes.