Chicago Marathon 2015

Two more days until the Chicago Marathon! I've been training for roughly four months although it seems as if it has been year round since I ran the Illinois Marathon in April and haven't had much downtime since.

This past week I've kept my exercises relatively easy with minimal weight training to avoid being sore by start time and doing different types of cardio. I've mostly done the stair stepper although earlier in the week I did sprints and ran a few miles at a comfortable level.

There were a couple of things I've done much differently with this training versus previous ones such as incorporating weekly yoga into my schedule to help sore muscles, cut meat out of my diet (thanks to advice form my Uncle Jon), drank alcohol minimally, and truly have stuck to my goals I've set for myself.

I wanted to achieve dropping 20 pounds and finishing around 4 hours. Since June I have lost 15 which isn't necessarily where I wanted to be although improvement is improvement and I'm proud I've made it this far. In The Twin Cities Half Marathon I finished in ~1:55 which sets me up for a sub four for Chicago although my time my fluctuate a bit due to how I'm feeling day of.

Gear for the race:

Zansah Compression Sleeves
I'll use these the two nights before, the day before, pre-race, and post-race. Great to use if you have ever suffered from shinsplints. These were given to me as a "pass it on" gift from a worker named Clint from Often Running when I was buying my first real pair of running shoes. I've been extremely thankful for these, it was an surprising act of kindness I'll never forget.

Lululemon headband
I've worn this headband for each race therefore it's fitting to keep the tradition going.

Brooks Ghost 7 Running Shoes
I got these on sale for $70 from Often Running although the fit has been wearing and my feet slide now. I wore the vertex version for the Illinois Marathon and they absorbed too much heat. I probably will not buy this version again.

Marika Slim Waist Band
Awesome product. The fit is very light and doesn't bulge under your shirt while holding everything you need.

Balega Blister Resist Running Socks
Haven't used these socks much but my blisters are gross so I'm hoping they save my feet!

10 Ways to Keep Runs Fun

Run in different locations with varying mileage. Try diverse workouts, and do them with new running partners. Even better, find a local running group. Mixing it up helps get you out the door, keeps it fun, and boosts your fitness level.

It can help to plan your runs for the week ahead. Keep in mind that every run you do should have a purpose to it. Runs can be easy for recovery, fast for speed, long run for endurance, or hill workouts to build strength. Plan your route and distance of the run with the purpose in mind.

RELATED: Run your first—or fastest—marathon ever! Train smart with the Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training.

And, most important of all, keep it fun. Regardless of how hard or easy, or how long or short, the run should be fun. Experiment! Find the workouts and the running routes you enjoy the most and incorporate them, but keep searching out new options to keep it fresh, exciting, and interesting.


Here are some suggestions for mixing up your week:

1. Run to a destination. For example, run to the gym or run to complete an errand—like going to the post office. You can meet up with friends so you have a ride home or plan to run back home.

2. Easy/medium/hard run. For a speed workout, run easy for three minutes, at a medium difficulty for two minutes, and hard for one minute. Repeat this sequence for the duration of your run.

3. Landmark runs. After a warmup, run hard for a short interval to a landmark like a mailbox, a driveway, or a streetlight along the route; then jog easy for recovery to the next landmark. Repeat.

4. Explore a new running area. Go to a park, or a new neighborhood popular with runners.

5. Try a trail run. The concentration needed for trail running engages your mind as you figure out how to traverse uneven terrain, rocks, roots, hills, water, and other obstacles. It's a great strength builder, too. (Check out these 21 trail tips to get you started.)

6. Plan a hill repeat run. Find a hill in your area that is about a quarter mile in length with a nice incline. Run one mile for a warmup then tackle the hill. Run up the hill and jog easy down, then turn around and run up the hill again. Repeat several times. Run a one-mile cooldown afterward.

7. Try a track workout for speed. Run a one-mile warmup. Time yourself and run one lap at a hard pace; then, jog or walk one lap for recovery. Repeat four to six times. Set a consistent pace for the hard laps and stay within a five-second variance for each lap. Gradually increase the number of laps you run over the weeks.

8. Make running dates with friends. Nothing like good conversation to help pass the miles.

9. Running on a treadmill? Try using a pre-programmed hill run or interval run. The treadmill will automatically speed up or down or add an incline. Varying the pace and incline will engage your mind. (Our chief running officer, Bart Yasso, has a few favorite treadmill workouts you could try as well.)

10. Register for a race. There is nothing like making a race commitment to get you out the door and focused on training. Select a local race or go for a destination race. Finding a race somewhere you have always wanted to visit is a great motivator and a fun way to tour that area. If you have already done some races, select a race that presents a different challenge—like a new distance, a trail race, or an obstacle race.

From: www.RunnersWorld.com