Hows my little Half-Runner?

On Saturday Laura and I set out for what seems like an annual tradition down here, participating in the Illinois Marathon weekend. This all started in 2010 when I got coaxed into signing up for the 5K. Three more 5K races and three more half marathons equals three I-Challenges completed since then.

Every year at the expo there a cool device which measures a person's vital stats. I like seeing the progression of things so here are my results (I didn't post them last year):

Weight: [2010] 199.4  [2011] 198.4 [2013] 198.6
Height:  [2010] 6'4.7"  [2011] 6'4.3" [2013] 6'3.5"!!!
BMI:     [2010] 24        [2011] 24      [2013] 24
Fat %:   [2010] 16%     [2011] 15%   [2013] 22%
Fat:      [2010] 31.9 lb  [2011] 29.9  [2013] 44.3 lb
Fortunately I don't trust anything like this to be accurate. But still pretty shocking results, I'm getting shorter, I've gained more fat and apparently have lost muscle which makes sense I guess due to...

This year Laura and I both did a pretty crappy job at training for this race. I probably ran about 1/4 the miles/runs I should have. Unfortunately I've been working out a calf injury that I haven't quite figured out and running aggravates it. Switching shoes isn't an option, because then I'd be rebattling a knee injury. Also I got a case of the poopies right when I was planning on working out my longest runs (pun happily found). Fortunately we've been running in Kickapoo on the hills which I think was my saving grace for the race. Also this year I wanted to mix in quite a bit of High Intensity Interval Training into my workouts to keep my runs shorter in duration. I foolishly thought I could make my own workout plan, I got overwhelmed and didn't make any schedule, which usually helps me stay on track. Next time I'll just look up something online. So break out the tiny violins, yeah, I didn't work hard enough this year.

The race itself was great again this year. I think there was more music along the course and the crowd along the road was more vocal than ever. Due mostly to my calf issues I decided to run with Laura for both races. Initially I had planned to run with her for about 10 miles and maybe break off if I was feeling antsy. That antsy feeling never came and right about mile 10 my legs decided that they were pretty sore/tired and we ended up finishing the race together, holding hands. Aww :)

5K Times: Tony - 34:08 Laura - 34:09
Half Times: Tony - 2:38:50 Laura - 2:38:49

Laura set a new record for her Half Marathon this year by 7 minutes.
I on the other hand ran significantly slower than last year by 46 minutes.

Our three I-Challenge Medals.

It was fun to have a running partner. Like all of these running events the people watching is incredible. Runners are starting to wear some excitingly funky clothes and I like that. As usual I love watching all the fit bodies running around me. Thanks to running with Laura I saw quite a few more of the blooming flowers in the neighborhoods than I have in the past. My favorite was the CrossFitters who ran the 5K with weight vests and giant medicine balls stopping throughout the course to do various workouts with them. We got to the starting line late this year and got to see the fast runners zip across the line including the staple guy dressed as Abraham Lincoln holding a (full sized) Boston Red Sox flag instead of his staple american flag from years past.

Which brings me to the other portion surrounding this weekend's marathon events. The tragedy at Boston Marathon is still fresh in everyone's mind. The event organizers sold stickers with all proceeds going to the Boston One Fund. There were signs all along the route with inspiring words to remember the events that unfolded just a few weeks ago. Laura and I noted that there was a significantly increased visible security presence throughout the race with plenty of armed and prepared police with (extra?)paramedics all over Memorial Stadium.

This was an awful thing to happen anywhere and fortunately Americans aren't used to it. When I was reading the details of the event unfolding all I could think of was who targets runners? But after thinking about how dense any race is packed (especially in the beginning and end) its easy to see how someone can destroy a lot of lives in a small space and time.

After closely following the Botson events unfold I wanted this race to symbolize something for me. I had a hard time deciding on anything because I wanted to prove something. Remembering Boston wasn't enough, #RunForBoston won't prove anything to any terrorist (unless I'm facebook friends with one). I understand everyone's heart is in the right place with these phrases but I wanted proof that people can't ruin my life because of their actions to me or another. I wanted to show that I'm not afraid, and I settled on that for my symbol. I didn't wear it outright, I didn't tell people, but I thought by treating this event like the usual great weekend it is and by only worrying about whether or not my body will allow me to finish. I was doing my one in twenty thousand part of showing up and thinking, I'm not afraid. Life is too short to worry about every stranger that walks by, people must pick up, bravely grieve and eventually move along with their head higher than ever.

So we had a great time, we ran with thousands of other smiling people who were taking pictures, involving their kids, and celebrating new life milestones. Will I do it next year? I'm not sure. My Dad raised a good point last year about this race, while an incredible experience with a great crowd and fun times, its a race through a town without a lot to look at. The biggest highlight is finishing at the 50 yard line of a stadium that houses a team/college I don't care much about. The greatest positive to this race is it gives me incentive to work out in the winter/early spring. Next year I'd consider doing the marathon relay, or maybe volunteering, but overall I think I'm ready for something new.

Our legs held out to the finish!

Bring it on Big Mudder!