All I Want For My Birthday

Perhaps it was the calm before the fall storm, but it was a pretty quiet weekend on the racing front. Or maybe it was just sheer exhaustion, as the Orioles played three games between Friday and Monday, which all finished midnight or later after a few lengthy delays. The atmosphere in Baltimore is great right now, and we'll keep supporting the Birds as they take on the Pinstripes in New York.

Chicago Marathon on Sunday was a thing of beauty, as Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede ran a perfect race, negative splitting a Course Record 2:04:38. Andrew Beef Jaffe didn't quite negative split, but still ran 5 minutes faster than he went earlier this year at Boston, crossing the line in 219th place overall in 2:43:45. Molly Eagen ran a big PR, finishing in 3:57:48.

Nationally there were some big events in the B.A.A. Half Marathon and Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Miler, but there wasn't much for us out here. As new editor-in-chief of the Washington Running Report/GRC runner Charlie Ban says, we need to get ourselves out to Great Allegany 15k next year. So let's put that on the schedule and get it done.

We haven't seen Seth Tibbitts' name in a while, but he finished 2nd at the Casey Cares 5k in 17:51. Only first place got any money though, and it was solid - $250. Megan DiGregorio was sneaky and made sure she didn't mention it to anybody, and got the win in 18:33. Fiana York was 3rd in 19:02.

Down in Columbia, the REV3 Half Full Triathlon, featuring an Olympic distance event as well as a half iron, went on despite some absolutely atrocious weather for triathlon. The pros were racing the Olympic, as were the college kids (it was the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championship), but the ballers were racing the half. And by ballers, I mean yours truly and Lance Armstrong. I have to give a shout out to Mike Zero, who the morning after his birthday and the Virgin Free Fest concert came out to spectate, and really helped me out at the end of the race when I was in rough shape.

Our Purple Drink Athlete of the Week went to Jim Adams, as he raced not once, but TWICE this weekend. Sunday he did the Harvest Harrier 5k in Columbia, after running the Blue Steel Stampede 10k on Saturday. Both were challenging trail races.

We've got the Baltimore Running Festival this weekend, the expo starts Thursday. I hope everyone has everything ready! I'll be on the course on Saturday, so if you need anything, be sure to let me know. I can't promise I'll be able to carry too much, like I won't be able to take your clothes probably, but if you think you'll need any support, holler.

And of course we have triathlon's biggest event this Saturday - IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS from Kona! Baltimore + Kona, the best day of the fall.

Big Boy Legs

Spotted: Remus, walking 100m of the 6th water stop (mile 6.5) of Army Ten Miler today.  He did not have his big boy legs on.  He told me was going to run 56 something.  Went out in 29:40 and popped, walked.

Not spotted: Joel Brusewitz.  Thought he was supposed to be racing.

Absolutely PERFECT day, a true Indian Summer (sorry Arjun!).  Gorgeous day down in the District to watch Army Ten Miler.  Thanks to Alex Waldt for getting himself up before the sun to join me from College Park.  Here's a few preliminary results from today's action:

Chicago Marathon: Perfect conditions lead to men's and women's course records.  Moses Mosop put down a 14:29 5k at 30k to break his opponents.  His 30-45km split was faster than the first 15k of his 30km record run.  2:05:30ish for him.  Blahblavia Blahblahovich, the Russian, ran a 2:18:20 and wrecked her competitors.  She similarly threw down a 16:15 5k split from 30-35 and put 50 seconds into 2nd.  Ryan Hall runs 2:08:04.  But it's cool, he ran 3+ minutes faster at Boston, so obviously there's no way that the wind helped on that day.

Ed Aramayo runs a great "debut" marathon, almost even splitting a 2:36:45.  He said he felt good until about 20, and expects his pictures will come out great.  Disappointed that he wasn't under 2:36, but already had two beers by the 3:15 mark of the race.  Alex Viana was on course and said Ed looked good.  Ed also had to work through some early hamstring issues, but they abated and he went on without a problem.

Steamtown Marathon: Bob Harvey runs lifetime best 3:03:45.  Absolutely perfect day out, he said.  Felt good through 23, then couldn't hold on.  A little disappointed he couldn't get under 3, but this is a 6 minute PR for the Harv.  Not to mention, he had his bachelor party last weekend and is getting married next weekend, so he's been a busy guy!

B.A.A. Half Marathon: From Coach Amy [paraphrased] "Felt great through 11.  Wicked hill right after 11 and there just wasn't anything in me to race it.  Really quite ok with the situation - bets I've ever felt through 11 of a half.  I thought I could do 1:26, this course was crazy.  Was on pace for 1:27, ended up with a 1:29."  (She finished 19th with a 1:29:03.)

Alex Battaglino finished 13th.  Great position in a competitive field, on what sounds like not a terribly fast course (1:03:36 winner).  At 5 miles Alex was at 25:48, at 10 he was 53:10.  Finished at 1:11:21

Marathon Mania!

It's late notice, but let's get some guesses going for Chicago Marathon winners and winning times this weekend!

Post in the comments section or send me an email if you want to play along. 

An elite athlete starting list, complete with personal bests, can be found here. 

The men's race features a number of <2:08 guys, including the very naked Ryan Hall (ESPN: The Magazine's Body Issue) and Moses Mosop, who both recorded blistering times at Boston earlier this year.  The women's race, meh, whatever.  Either way, make your top three picks (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and winning times for each gender.  I'll keep track of them and declare a winner after the race.

We will then use this to catapult ourselves into the NYC guessing game in a few weeks, and then can do Boston in the spring.  If you play in all the games we can have a series winner after the Marathon Majors are done. 

Cheese is also running, so if you think he is capable of upsetting the top guys and getting the win, you're welcome to write his name in.

Post Chicago Marathon Fun

My parents reserved a room at a bar starting at 1:00 post-marathon. We figured everyone would want to hang out with family and friends and get some food and drinks. The bar is located about 1.6 miles from the finish and it is enough off the direct course that it shouldn't be too difficult to get to. I will try to provide more details about transportation, but please spread the word in the meantime. All are welcome (even the GRC folks who read our blog :)). They would like us to guarantee 35 people, which I think we should be able to accomplish, but give me a heads up that you would like to stop by and estimate how many people you think might be joining you. The countdown begins - one month from tomorrow!

Beer Bistro
1061 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-2051
(312) 433-0013