ILLINOIS MARATHON course map

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Runner Beats Computer In A 20 Mile Race

It's hard to find someone to run with in a town with so few runners, so I have been training with a computer. My Garmin 101 (the Apple IIe of running watches) has been my running partner for a while now. We have a great relationship, and despite the pressures of having to get the latest and greatest, my wristop computer does what I need it to, give me time and distance readouts though it's GPS brain. It has a setting on it called Virtual Partner. I set my goal time and distance, push go and run in an attempt to beat the computer strapped to my wrist. Instant companion.

On Saturday, at 4:28AM, I ran 20 miles for the first time and my virtual partner was by my side. I punched in 20 miles at 8:55 pace and off I went. The first three miles of the run were difficult and I was getting beat by a computer. I finally got it together and dusted my virtual partner. I had the benefit of washing down a brown rice syrup mixture with lemon lime gatoratde whereas my vitual partner had pure battery acid. In the end I was nearly a half of a mile ahead in the race against the computer. I shaved four minutes off of my goal time and I didn't have to run alone. Thank Virtual Partner.

End Result 20Miles @ 8:43Pace (2:54:20)

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Run 20 Miles. i'm going to try it for the first time saturday morning.