Chicago Recap #2

Saturday in the City


We were so lucky that we went to the expo on Friday night...It allowed us a small amount of time to explore the city...We went back to Niketown to do some shopping as well we hit up the Hershey store :)....Yummy...Yummy....

Over the lunch hour we took a Boat Ride on the Chicago River and into Lake Michigan...It was really nice to learn about some of the History of the City and the Architecture....



Jamie, Lindsay, The Hubby, Moi



The Wrigley Building


Trump Tower


The Corn Cob Buildings


Navy Pier


The Hubby at the Hershey Store...We did get some treats...let me tell you...they were DELICIOUS! After doing some shopping we headed out for our big Carb Load Party with our other friend Catherine, her mother and husband.


We had a great time and celebrated three birthdays (Catherine, The Hubby and Moi)


This was our HUGE bowl of pasta...super yummy!! After our early carb load dinner we went back to the hotel to rest up...we got our race outfits out and said goodnight!





Up Next: The actual Marathon!!!

Chicago Recap #1

Hi All,

After a much needed break I am back!! Thank you so much to everyone who read and left comments...It was such an amazing experience that I am going to break it down into smaller recaps!

Friday October 8, 2010:

We left London around 6:30am...It was really nice as we were able to drive down and share a a hotel room with our good friends Lindsay and Jamie...We made a few stops...including one to get Smoothies :)


We were lucky that we arrived early enough in the afternoon that we were able to get everything set up in our room... we relaxed a little then headed for a bite to eat before we were off to Nike Town and the Expo...





One of the many Banners around town...It sure got us excited!

Why is everyone staring at this wall?

To find their names of course!!

We were all able to find our names...This was outside of Niketown...They had a smaller version at the expo so everyone could get a picture of their name....there are over 40,000 names there!!

We got on the free shuttle bus to the expo...they had lots of great picture opportunities...

Loved all the 10-10-10 stuff...It was really neat having a birthday on that day :) Lots of cool Photo opportunities!

The expo was okay...quite frankly the Nike selection for women was not very great...they didn't have that many vendors...I did come away with a hat, capris/skirt and a shirt...



I picked up some more Bondi Bands....


I also got a new foam roller along with a box for Chocolate Mint Gu's....


We then headed to PF Chang's for some yummy dinner then it was an ETB (Early to bed)....

Next Up: Saturday in the City

I did it!!

Race Report to come after...


4:49:08.....Super happy with my time!! Had a blast....the weather was less than ideal...at the 35km mark it was 30 degrees or 87!!! It was hot...now time to rest...


Lish

"If you can dream it, you can do it!" ~ Walt Disney

4 more sleeps! Chicago isn't just a dream anymore...it is here!! I am so excited! I have mass amounts of laundry and haven't really even thought about packing...I actually feel that I need to write my Marathon Goals down and send them all over the internet before I can focus on the easy stuff (I like packing)

I have 3 goals...


c) I know I can: PR: Sub 5:39:48 (2007 Toronto Goodlife Marathon)

B) I think I can: Sub 5:00:00

A) I hope I can Sub 4:45:00 (This is a big dream for me...I do believe it will happen...it might not be on 10-10-10 but I know it will)


After the 30km race in August where I had a 3:09:53 McMillan Running Calculator says that I should be able to do a 4:33:31 ....I have done a 22.6km Run and a 16km at above Marathon Pace of 6:30/km and felt quite comfortable....but I am still relatively new to this whole Marathoning thing....I almost feel as this is my first Marathon all over again...I know there were be lots learned along those 42.2km's....

Things I need to remember:

• I have trained harder than ever before
• I have found a new love of running
• I have had great results (Tempo Runs, A Mid-Summer Nights Run etc)
• I am excited...Chicago Marathon is just the beginning...I know that...I NEVER thought I would run another Marathon after 2007...it was a really great experience...but I do know that Chicago 10-10-10 is just the tip of the iceberg...
• I trust my training
• I believe in myself

Good Luck to all of those running this weekend! Thank you so much to everyone who has read my blog, become a follower and encouraged me the whole way...Your comments are always so appreciated and the fact that you take time from your busy lives to read about some runner in London, ON, CANADA means a lot to me. I feel very luck to have such great supports.



Thank you to those who listened endlessly to my Marathon talk...I know it sometimes probably felt like this:




Happy Running....

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my (amazing, bike riding, handy, fun, loving and all around wonderful) Hubby! Hope you have a great day...You deserve it!

Shirt Reveal...

So last weekend my friends Catherine and Lindsay picked up our Marathon Shirts at the One More Mile booth at the Scotia Waterfront Expo.


With some minor modifications here they are: On the Front it has our names...Followed by 42.2km...Canadians do it Metric...





The "Eh" Team....We are a bunch of Crazy Canucks...after talking with multiple people who have run a Megathon (NY,Boston, Berlin, London or Chicago) they all said the best thing they ever did was put their name on their shirt....I opted for "Lish" as it is way easier to pronounce than "Alicia" A-LISH-A not A-LEE-SHA...sooo I thought if I heard my name wrong multiple times I might get a bit crusty so Lish it is!!

We have some other GREAT stuff to go with our outfits but you will have to wait to see those...

Yesterday was a steady 6km in the rain and today was 16.64km at Marathon Pace in the Rain...not a very nice weekend! It went well despite the nasty conditions...I can't believe that there are only 5 sleeps until I hop in the car to head to Chicago! Woohoo...I am not too sure what my training will look like this week but I do know tomorrow is a REST day!

Happy Running!

September Stats

So for this month: 226.48km

Pretty darn happy...my goal was 225...I continue to have to take rest days for muscle tightness/IT band issues...and to obtain 226.48 with all that stuff going on, I am pretty darn happy!

I don't have any goals for October just yet...need to get through the Marathon and then go from there...I'll post my Marathon goals in a few days!


Happy Running :)