Run, Run, Run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfc6nZkIEQg
This is a link to the YouTube Video of the Chicago Marathon in high speed.  It is awesome and get's me pumped-up to run it again.  It also makes me tired as hell thinking that I am going to get crazy enough to do it again!

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/

This is (obviously) the link for the Chicago Marathon homepage.  This year I am running through a charity sponsor, as I was late to register and the marathon sold out of bibs in record time this year.  However, as a teacher, the charity I'm running for is a good one.  It is called "Rock for Reading" and it delivers books to libraries and students around the Chicago land area who are in need and lack these vital literacy resources.

I remember vividly the vast number of people in the marathon last year (roughly 45,000).  It is an overwhelming  crowd to say the least.  It took about 18 minutes for us to reach the starting line once the race began!  I found it almost frustrating initially to be in such a dense running group.  One of the greatest challenges for me was having to constantly maneuver around other runners and blocks of pace groups.  Running solo and training in the suburbs, there are not many times I find myself stuck behind another runner.  Before the marathon this year, I want to try a few races and warm-ups to help me adjust to movement throughout my race.  The Soldier Field 10-mile was a good first race of the year for me because of the 15,000 runners and widening and narrowing race track over the entire course.  This constant change forces me to be fluid and adapt quickly rather than get "lost" in the flow or running.

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400Min/uploadedFiles/Chicago_Marathon/Runner_Information/BACM_NIKE_TRAINING.pdf
This is the PDF training program that Nike has put out there.  I followed the beginner track last year, and I am thinking of moving into the intermediate and also grabbing parts of the Level 3 if I'm feeling ambitious this year.  I know very well that I am not an advanced runner, but I also want to improve and make adjustments after reflecting upon last year.  The two main components that I'm working on this year are nutrition and cross-training (including strength conditioning).  I never got to my goal weight (180lbs) largely in part because of my lack of nutritional focus.  As I move into summer, I have to get more lean proteins and cut-out the fat and other "junk" as much as possible.  I am starting to carry around a gallon milk jug of water and have the goal of drinking at least one every day.

The cross training and strength conditioning is also vital.  I hit my "wall" last year around mile 23, and I felt it more in my core and mid-section than anything.  I need to get my center solid and work on furthering my endurance.  I think this year at the final 20-mile run, I will double-back to mile 17 and then re-finish in order to complete an entire 26.2 mile run as part of my training.  Until then, keep running, eating, resting, and doing it all over again!