Bret

Chicago Marathon - I had a pretty good result today.  Richie and I had planned to run together after having missed a couple of opportunities to run earlier this year.  He ended up with a pretty bad cold but insisted that he was up for the race. He sounded terrible and was coughing a good bit.  Nevertheless he was running 8 min pace - which was probably slightly slower than my fitness but I wanted to enjoy the event with him.  I could tell though around 12 miles he started to “yo-yo” and when we approached the 15 mile mark - he told me that he was at his limit and was not going to finish.  We talked about it a bit but I think he could tell that I was feeling well and so we agreed that I would not hang back or coax him along.  

So - feeling the opportunity to maybe get down to a 3:25 finish - I did some quick math and thought I needed to run 7:30’s for the next 10 miles.  I proceeded to do that for the next 3 miles but seeing the strain on my heart rate - I moderated to mid 7:40’s.   Around mile 23 - the wind and the rain and the miles slowed me down a little.  When I could calculate that I was not going to get down to 3:25 - I ran the last 2 miles just around 8 mins - finishing at 3:27.   

I am pleased with the race.  Part of me thinks that I might have run a bit faster if I had not stayed with Richie as long as I had; but maybe the lighter effort helped me to sustain later in the race and negative split.  

I connected with Richie afterwards and he was fine and happy that I continued on and ran as well as I did.   All in all - a good day.  

No running - had to travel to Baltimore for a conference yesterday afternoon following the race and my flight was delayed - got in late - plus my legs needed some rest. 

AM - 3 mile run very slowly around the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  Two Navy ships were preparing to head out as I made my way around.  

PM - lunchtime - 3 miles on the treadmill at a recovery effort again.  Nothing really hurts or is sore, but definitely have some deep tissue fatigue in the upper legs.  Good stretching and rolling afterwards.  

AM - 5k in the rain with Finn from the remnants of Hurricane Michael.  Still feeling fatigue from the race on Sunday, but Finn really needed the exercise.  

PM - 3.5 miles outside at lunchtime at the office.  Weather is really nice - dry and cool - autumn-like finally.  Feeling a bit better gradually each day.  No more fatigue in the legs though still feel a bit like I need some more recovery days until everything gets back to normal.  

PM -  6 easy miles - no watch - with Finn.