Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Chicago (marathon)

Marathon mom is getting all the attention but the real story remains the weather. No matter what weekend in October they pick the Chicago marathon has had highs in the 70s three of the past four years and tragic highs in the 80s two of those years. Not sure what to do about it, but its not good.

This was the first year that I didn't either run a stretch (or all of it) nor cheer from the corners at either end of Wellington as the race goes north and then south. I slept in and then watched most of the second half. I wish the understandable fascination with Ryan Hall would just go away. He may be the fastest American born marathoner in a generation, but he isn't going to win any majors with or without a coach and will be lucky if he finishes in the top 8 in the Olympics.

The real story is Moses Mosup. He set a course record in his second marathon ever. He destroyed his rival after the other guy foolishly tried a break away at mile 19. He would be finished around 2:04 if he had eased up the last two miles because of heat and a dumb failure to hydrate at a couple of points. He can probably run a 2:02 in better conditions. He looks unbeatable for the foreseeable future.

All of which inspired me to finally get out there for a real recovery run in the late afternoon. Felt good but then I didn't have to run 26.2 and/or give birth in the heat of the day.

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