1999 Chicago Distance Classic 20k
Chicago Distance Classic 20k
Chicago, IL
July 11, 1999
As some have already reported with the Chicago Distance Classic today, the weather was unseasonably pleasant for Chicago--mid-70s and low humidity. I've run this race the past couple years and it is notorious for a hot, humid, performance-wrecking race. Also, the course changed this year, with the start at University of Illinois at Chicago instead of Grant Park, and a nice stretch along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan on the path. I was a bit weary that it might get a bit crowded on the path, but it was very manageable (which might have something to do with the fact that I'm in the back where it gets sparse). My plan for this race, more of a training run for me, was to do a conservative first half, speed up a little bit in the second, and finish strong.
Before the race, just south of the Registration booth I found some ChiADeads--Chris and wife Kim, Melita (who I'm sure has a great story to tell...), Prescott, Theresa, and Penny, and sat for a while in the grass. In the meantime I also said hi to a few of the many Penguins there--nice to see all of those pink hats. :-) I headed for the start about 10-15min before the race, and was able to wish luck to some fellow Penguins. The race started and off we went, as I kept just below 11min/mi, I felt comfortable and happy to be there.
The race starts going west, and then after a short while we go north, then back east into the Loop, turning onto Wacker Dr. and down to middle and lower Wacker, and then along the Chicago River on a path, part of the new (and improved!) course. This was about mile 3, and I started to see the elites coming back. After the stretch along the river, we ran along the lakefront on the west path along Lake Shore Drive with a great view of the lakefront and the museum campus, and you could see the people on their way back on the path that's right next to the lakefront. We passed the Shedd Aquarium and ran towards McCormick place, and turn around to continue on the lower path. Now you were able to take a good look at Chicago's amazing skyline--this race was definitely more scenic than in past years!
I guess the only problem was that mile 7 was short and 8 was long, which I had heard after the race, confirmed by my mile 7 10:02 and mile 8 11:31! The last miles were very manageable; before the race I was worried that with the two "long" (8mi and 10mi) runs that I've done in the past 1.5 months, I would start to fade. Luckily that was not to be; my last 3 miles were 10:35, 10:35, and 10:34. I was pretty happy with that!
Then the final stretch, the last .4, I waited a little bit longer to start really speeding up, but when I saw the finish I was sprinting like a mad woman (who seemed to have too much energy at the end!), passing people, waved to the huge flock of penguins, who then recognized me and started cheering wildly, which gave me the final push to the end. Actually, I sprinted so hard that I wretched (just once, though :-)) after I got into the chute, but luckily got myself under control to prevent any highly unwanted tossing of cookies. :-) The last .4 took me 4:01, and I finished clock time 2:14:57, watch time 2:13:55. Right on target! Also, my second half was 1:29 faster (actually using the clock time I was 2:31 faster) than the first half. I had executed the race exactly how I had planned. I am pretty happy about that!
After getting out of the finish chute, I grabbed a couple cups of water, then a cup of gatorage, passed on the greenest (Irish, as Dave says) bananas I've ever seen. I took a bagel stick and a little bag of nibbler pretzels and went straight to where I met the ChiADeads before the race. After about a 1/2 hour, which I used well for stretching and winding down, I was spotted by Chris and Kim. They led me back to where they were sitting with Penny and Theresa. I also was able to have a small chat with fellow Dead-Penguin Jeff Johnson. Unfortunately we never did meet up with Dave (who we didn't see before the race either) or Melita after the race. Penny and Theresa had to head home, so just Chris, his wife Kim, and I went to a small Gyro restaurant in Greek Town where I had a pretty darned tasty turkey pita sandwich.
I drove home, feeling really satisfied about the race. This was just what I needed to get out the funk I've been in; I'm now looking forward to building up again for Chicagothon in October! Yay!
Chicago, IL
July 11, 1999
As some have already reported with the Chicago Distance Classic today, the weather was unseasonably pleasant for Chicago--mid-70s and low humidity. I've run this race the past couple years and it is notorious for a hot, humid, performance-wrecking race. Also, the course changed this year, with the start at University of Illinois at Chicago instead of Grant Park, and a nice stretch along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan on the path. I was a bit weary that it might get a bit crowded on the path, but it was very manageable (which might have something to do with the fact that I'm in the back where it gets sparse). My plan for this race, more of a training run for me, was to do a conservative first half, speed up a little bit in the second, and finish strong.
Before the race, just south of the Registration booth I found some ChiADeads--Chris and wife Kim, Melita (who I'm sure has a great story to tell...), Prescott, Theresa, and Penny, and sat for a while in the grass. In the meantime I also said hi to a few of the many Penguins there--nice to see all of those pink hats. :-) I headed for the start about 10-15min before the race, and was able to wish luck to some fellow Penguins. The race started and off we went, as I kept just below 11min/mi, I felt comfortable and happy to be there.
The race starts going west, and then after a short while we go north, then back east into the Loop, turning onto Wacker Dr. and down to middle and lower Wacker, and then along the Chicago River on a path, part of the new (and improved!) course. This was about mile 3, and I started to see the elites coming back. After the stretch along the river, we ran along the lakefront on the west path along Lake Shore Drive with a great view of the lakefront and the museum campus, and you could see the people on their way back on the path that's right next to the lakefront. We passed the Shedd Aquarium and ran towards McCormick place, and turn around to continue on the lower path. Now you were able to take a good look at Chicago's amazing skyline--this race was definitely more scenic than in past years!
I guess the only problem was that mile 7 was short and 8 was long, which I had heard after the race, confirmed by my mile 7 10:02 and mile 8 11:31! The last miles were very manageable; before the race I was worried that with the two "long" (8mi and 10mi) runs that I've done in the past 1.5 months, I would start to fade. Luckily that was not to be; my last 3 miles were 10:35, 10:35, and 10:34. I was pretty happy with that!
Then the final stretch, the last .4, I waited a little bit longer to start really speeding up, but when I saw the finish I was sprinting like a mad woman (who seemed to have too much energy at the end!), passing people, waved to the huge flock of penguins, who then recognized me and started cheering wildly, which gave me the final push to the end. Actually, I sprinted so hard that I wretched (just once, though :-)) after I got into the chute, but luckily got myself under control to prevent any highly unwanted tossing of cookies. :-) The last .4 took me 4:01, and I finished clock time 2:14:57, watch time 2:13:55. Right on target! Also, my second half was 1:29 faster (actually using the clock time I was 2:31 faster) than the first half. I had executed the race exactly how I had planned. I am pretty happy about that!
After getting out of the finish chute, I grabbed a couple cups of water, then a cup of gatorage, passed on the greenest (Irish, as Dave says) bananas I've ever seen. I took a bagel stick and a little bag of nibbler pretzels and went straight to where I met the ChiADeads before the race. After about a 1/2 hour, which I used well for stretching and winding down, I was spotted by Chris and Kim. They led me back to where they were sitting with Penny and Theresa. I also was able to have a small chat with fellow Dead-Penguin Jeff Johnson. Unfortunately we never did meet up with Dave (who we didn't see before the race either) or Melita after the race. Penny and Theresa had to head home, so just Chris, his wife Kim, and I went to a small Gyro restaurant in Greek Town where I had a pretty darned tasty turkey pita sandwich.
I drove home, feeling really satisfied about the race. This was just what I needed to get out the funk I've been in; I'm now looking forward to building up again for Chicagothon in October! Yay!
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