Chicago Marathon : Official Thread

So I'll start
I'm ecstatic to be doing this race with my sister and brother-in-law; will be their first marathons. This will be my 3rd stand-alone marathon but 6th if you count the two IMs and 50K I've done.

My planning dilemma is this:
I would like to do a late season Half Ironman to keep my swim/bike fitness up, and Redman (Oklahoma City) is two weeks prior. My plan is to do WELL at Chicago - for me - so I don't want to jeopardize that by doing too much two weeks beforehand. However, looking back at my past marathon training, two weeks beforehand has called for runs more than 13 miles, so the run part won't be an issue. My question is, will the bike + overall race pace for a HIM be too much for 2-weeks before Chicago? Any advice appreciated

Cool.  Welcome.

Well I done Chicago 4 times and hopefully this will be my 5th Chicago Finish.  If you add in my marathons and ultras and this will hopefully be my 22 at that distance and beyond.  (ideally it might be more by race day).  I have not have good luck even starting Chicago since last 2 years I either moved right before race day or gotten so sick I was bed ridden for a month. 

Since I am finally healthy enough to train again my simple goal is to finish.  I doubt I will PR but as long as I finish I really do not care.

Thanks for starting this up!

This will be my first marathon - I was one of the thousands sitting at their computers as the clock stuck noon on opening day, I was too stressed about fundraising for my 1st so I wanted to be sure I got in!

I'm in week 2 of my training plan and really excited about the journey!!

~lisa

This will be my fourth marathon, two chicago and one marine corp. I have yet to have that great marathon feeling. Part of that is my training has kinda lagged. This year is different. I have already dropped twenty pounds and hope to drop another twnty by Oct. I am running faster and longer already. I am focused on Muncie HIM first.

I also did not register in time, so I am running for a great charity that helps veterans. The other good thing is that they only require 750 in fundraising and they still have some spots. It is called team salute.

Good luck to all and remember to have fun, its about the journey not the destination.

Mike

I have ran with cara and other training groups before.  I find it nice especially if you are a social person.  Seems like runs are less taxing and more enjoyable. 

If you miss a couple of weeks you will not miss out on the group I found.  It is really nice on those 20 milers. 

Only real issue is you run the risk of running with the same people on race day and get overly competitive with them which can be good/bad.

Thanks for starting this Lisa!!!

I am SUPER excited as this will be my first marathon as well!!

Same for me, first timer on this distance.

I'm actually moving to Chicago and figured it out it would be nice to do Chicago as Marathon

This will be a long year, but I see more Chicago as a reward to myself for this year weither as a A race I must be insane...

I am running Chicago as my 11th marathon and 6th time at Chicago. 

I am running for the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation.   Please follow this link to help me out.

http://www.active.com/donate/TeamBear2012/davidclough

This will be my 4th consecutive Chicago Marathon!!    

Will be a fun weekend with friends, PR's and the celebration drinky

Anyone participating in the CARA training plan?  I joined and I'm going to be down @ UIC on the 2nd for the training kickoff-

http://cararuns.org/Training/2012%20Summer%20Marathon%20Training%20Program/~/media/Files/2012%20Super%20Clinic%20Agenda.ash

This will be my second marathon--first Chicago.  First marathon was Marine Corps last year.  If all goes as planned this year, I'm also going to run Marine Corps again a few weeks after Chicago.  Glad to have this thread---looking forward to hearing how everyone's training is going.  (Hi Matt!)

Robin

Robin -    Awesome!  I want to run Marine Corps one day.    If you run a 3rd marathon after that you'll be eligible to become a Marathon MANIAC!!!!    www.marathonmaniacs.com

Dave- MM #3186

Wow. I can't believe I just noticed there was an official thread for this race already.  This will be my fourth stand alone marathon (last was Marine Corps last fall), first Chicago, and first real attempt at Boston qualifying.  Been spending the last few months building up the mileage with the official 18 week plan starting up on Monday.

Lisa- Did you decide on your HIM dilemma?  It really all depends on how well you recover.  Two weeks may be enough to recover if you keep a restrained pace at the HIM.  Personally I wouldn't do it, but I have a hard time holding back in races and typically take a 2-3 weeks after a HIM to start feeling normal again.  In 2009 I did an Oly a week before the Twin Cities Marathon and didn't feel any ill effects so you may be okay

Early early early.  When the weekends are too crazy, I head out at like 4 to start long runs.  Sux but what can you do?

Hilarious.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/im-truly-sorry-for-this-but-youre-about-to-hear-al,28995/

I was this on twitter yesterday morning and died laughing.... its stuff like this that makes me bite my tongue with non-runners

I had a successful 16 miles last weekend, furthest run ever ... slow but I felt good at the end... 9 weeks and 3 days