The LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic

This past weekend was the 30th Anniversary LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic. Over 8,700 runners participated in this 13.1 mile race event. Read mile-by-mile race coverage, race results, and interviews with participants in this article by the Chicago Athlete posted on the Complete Running Network.

Top finishers in this event were Greg Costello with a time of 1:09:54, and Claudia Becque with a time of 1:21:20. Not bad times for a 6:30 AM start and for a race in the middle of a Chicago heat wave!

Anyone race in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic over the weekend? Post your racing experience with us!

--Cassie

How do you Beat the Heat?

I believe we've covered this topic before, but as the temperature in St. Louis climbs to 102 degrees today, it might be another good topic to address. This past week, the topic of beating the heat has popped up over numerous message boards and running chat forums. Yesterday on Cool Running, the topic of beating the heat while trying to maintain adequate mileage was a main concern. The thread was enormous and is still growing with comments.

Many suggestions and ideas were discussed in this "heated" forum: some runners in the forum talked about sticking to treadmill training in the hotter months, some take off before sunrise to get their miles in, while others stay hydrated and run in the heat of the day.

Some of my favorite suggestions:

• If you are a morning runner, drink plenty of water the night before so you're hydrated for the AM workout.


• Don't force your pace, do what you can. Don't try to break records in the heat of the day.


• If you are running in the heat of the day, carry identification on you at all times. And always let someone know where you are running and how far.


• Turn to the treadmill or indoor track if it's just unbearable.

Do any runners like running in the heat? A few of the runners in the forum talked about how they actually liked the heat and loved running when it's hot. I don't mind the heat, but once it hits 85+ degrees, count me out. Have I missed any tips for "heated" training?

--Cassie

Shoelace Day at Shea Stadium

Tonight, Thursday August 9, get free shoelaces at Shea Stadium for the Mets-Braves game. Sesame Street and New Balance are teaming up with the New York Mets to present "Mets Shoe Lace Day at Shea." The first 12,000 kids, 12 and under will receive a free pair of New Balance orange and blue shoelaces.

The theme of the night is "Healthy Habits." Sesame Street and New Balance have formed a program called "Healthy Habits for Life." Together they want to improve the well-being of children and teach better ways to live longer, healthier lives!

Check out this news bite for more information on the festivities.



--Cassie

Self Inspiration - What is Your Inner Pep Talk?

This morning I stopped in one of the Runner's World chat forums. They were covering an interesting topic, "do you talk to yourself when you run?" And if so, "what do you say?" Last weekend I ran 4 miles at my favorite indoor track and even though the track was crowded with people, I would catch myself saying "you can do a few more, a few more," and "no stopping, no stopping." I would make sure no one was in sight while saying these phrases to myself, I wouldn't want someone to turn around and see me talking to thin air.

But I tend to have different phrases and "talks" to myself when running outside, they get a little more intense. In high school, I had an incredible cross country coach; Coach Jim Davis (no really, that was his name...not the New Balance Jim Davis but the Parkway West High School coach/English Teacher Jim Davis). He had a series of excellent pep talks and phrases he would say (or shout at us) while running a race, workouts, sprints, etc. He would point to the runner in front of us and say "go get 'em!" and "you see her? Go get HER!" At each point of the race he would have a different phrase and he would run next to us in his straw hat and shades. It was pretty motivational to see your coach screaming and running beside you shouting "GO! GO! GO!" My favorite 'shout outs' of his came towards the end of the race, I loved this one: "Now is the time!" and "You can see it!" Meaning now is the time to go all out, start your kick, and bring it home, you can see the finish line. The most inspirational "talks" always came during that middle second mile in a 3.1 mile cross country race. At these critical moments he would jog right along side you , almost in the trail and say "look at me...you can do this...you can do this...GO!" Now that was motivation. Very intense, but it always gave me the extra push to keep going.

So, when I'm running outside and the sun is beating down and I have already run to my limit, I try to picture Coach Davis screaming and running along side me in that straw hat yelling "You can see IT! Go Cass!" Memories of the Coach Davis cheers are my personal pep talks.

What do you say to yourself while running? "lookin' good!" maybe "keep it up!" or even song lyrics..."Eye of the Tiger!"

--Cassie

Blog Your Training for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon

If you are currently training for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and have a story to tell, now you can start your own LBCM Training Blog! And it's FREE!

As a Blogger, set your own goals, monitor your progress, share your ideas with other "like minded" marathoners, and other runners can comment and post suggestions. It's one way to start and establish your own running community. Think of it as your personal sounding board, diary or running journal.

If you decide to start your own training blog for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, please let us know and send us a link!

--Cassie