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.

Stupid Adductor

I think it happened Friday when I was in the pool, on the kickboard. On Friday night I noticed my groin was kind of tight and on Saturday morning before my 15M run I popped a couple of Aleve and thought, i gotta get this run in so just go for it.

The Aleve did their job during the run, but hours later they wore off and the pain was there. I took an ice bath on Sunday for 20 minutes, hoping that would help things out. My groin still hurt this morning, so I did a little online research and found out I have a torn or strained adductor. Stupid adductor. Stupid me for running 15 miles on it. I'm not going to run and I am going to rest.

At least the top of my arthritic ankle isn't giving me any problems while running despite it hurting when I have my shoes off, but that is another story.

Trying for 15 in the morning (another first)

I'll have to run this three times to get 15miles, but it sure beats having to hit the treadmill.

31 Year Old Rebel Hops Gate to Run

Kennekuk has been my running spot lately. It's usually pitch black with a little moonlight at 5 in the morning, but with no sidewalks to trip over, it's a pretty great place to run. This morning I pull up to the gate and it's closed, so I just parked across the street and hopped the gate. When the park official came driving by a few minutes later I figured I was going to have to come up with some excuse but he just kept a goin'. He didn't want none of me! I got my 7 miles in at 17 degrees on top of some freshly plowed snow. Not a bad way to start my day.

My first 14 miler planned for tomorrow.