Bret

Chicago Marathon - Not sure I should call this a race report - because it did it as training workout ....

Got an invitation from Richie on Thursday to run under an alias - his friend had to bail for the Chicago Marathon and offered me his race number - 

Richie was planning to use this as a workout for NYC and to help pace our friend Justin to a sub 3:30.  

So this was really a bit "last minute" - but I was able to used frequent flier miles and bunk with Richie and Justin.  So I flew up last night.

Plan was to run 8 min pace with Justin for 16 then drop to 4 miles at MP - fast finish. Richie was going to hang with us until 12 then do 6 at MP then another 4 at MP +.   Really a nice day - great event.  Everything went as planned more or less.   We paced Justin really well.  Richie took off at 12 and planned to reconnect at 22 to pace Justin in. I paced Justin for the next 4 miles through 16 and then did the next 4 miles at just over 7 min pace.  I eased up and waited a bit for Justin until mile 22 where I hoped to see Richie. But with no sign of Richie or Justin - I decided to "cool down" for a few miles.  And then, when I got to 24 I figured I might as well finish.  Got a little excited and ran the last mile at MP.  Ran 3:28:36.

PM - easy 7.5 miles on the golf course after work. Legs did not feel too bad. 

PM - 7 miles on the treadmill at lunchtime.  Kept it aerobic - so it wasn't hard, but I felt a bit flat. 

PM - 6 easy miles on the golf course after work.

PM - 10 miles easy on the treadmill at lunchtime.

PM - grinder workout.  12 x 800 alternating 3:10 / 4:10 pace per segment followed by 1 x mile at 6:05 pace.  Just a mile warm up and really no cool down.  Solid effort.  Tuckered out now.

AM - Riley was home for the weekend - so a light easy run and conversation with her on the Milton Trail was in order.  Beautiful morning.  Legs felt fine after yesterday's workout.