H.O.M.E. helps low-income seniors in Chicago live independently by providing home upkeep and repairs, a shopping bus, affordable housing and moving assistance! Will you help me raise monies for low-income seniors as I train for the Chicago Marathon? Donate Here. (See instructions)
Progress: $5,557.40 or 123% of goal! Let's raise even more to support Chicago seniors!
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Andrews and John on the Highline. |
I can't imagine a better way to prep for a marathon. I like running a marathon for all the indulgences one allows themselves to take because of it. I think this must be the mark of a continually novice marathon runner. I doubt the elites get so indulgent. I doubt even good athletes do. A cousin of mine is running an Ironman tomorrow. In case you don't know, an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim immediately followed by a 112 mile ride immediately followed by a marathon. Yes, the thing I've been training for, talking on and on about, and generally feeling terrifically proud about doing is just the final segment of his adventure. I doubt he treats a single marathon with the same ridiculous fanfare. But then he is fast and strong with a will of steel and I am always looking for the next slice of pumpkin bread. So there are a few differences.
Picking up the bib and t-shirt and all the extra freebies was a smooth process. Chicago knows how to run an expo. As I entered I checked in with the QR code and was told to go to a specific number to retrieve my bib. As I reached #24 the smiling man behind the desk asked if I was Andrew. He then handed me my stuff which he had already retrieved. It was quick. It was painless. It is the way to handle 45,000 runners.
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Goose Island Beer Bus. |
I then tried a few samples of salty and sweet running supplements before boarding the Goose Island bus for a beer. For some reason they had an old style city bus in the giant room. One could board at the front, walk to the back, grab a beer and then exit. It wasn't the fastest way to distribute beer, but it was clever, the line was short, and the beer was good.
Today, between snacks and coffee I will spend my time sitting and thinking about numbers. We will plan where my cheering team will stand when I will arrive (if I'm running well, fair, poor, or not at all). I will calculate what time I should pass the half-way point if I am on schedule to beat my previous time, to be under four hours, or even to beat a certain old man's fabled time - 3:52. In short the day will be spent with plenty of planning and excitement and looking ahead.
And then in a flash even tomorrow will be over. The race will be done and work will be calling and life will flow ever on. But for today and tomorrow, for a few hours with family and friends, I will celebrate running. I will celebrate your wonderful generosity. And I will celebrate this life God has given me.
And then in a flash even tomorrow will be over. The race will be done and work will be calling and life will flow ever on. But for today and tomorrow, for a few hours with family and friends, I will celebrate running. I will celebrate your wonderful generosity. And I will celebrate this life God has given me.
1 comment:
Best of luck Andrew. I'm sure all your hard work will pay off. And most of all, enjoy and appreciate your accomplishment.
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