This is the time of year when the mileage is all over the place.    Novice and intermediate runners have longer weekday runs than the advanced.  Next Saturday the novice do 14 miles while the rest are only doing 12.   I love saying that:  ONLY 12.  Did you ever think you would say only 12?  That’s nice!!!  Pay attention to your body, this is the time when all kind of aches and pains will surface.  Keep doing what you’re doing no heroics.  Even if you feel a little behind you will do more damage then good trying to catch up.  You might think about scheduling you pre or post marathon massage. 

I won’t waste any space talking about all the events coming up you can check them yourself.  I will tell you save the date of Friday October 23.  This is when we will have our post marathon awards banquet.  The cost will be $19.00.  I will send Jen the update to put on the events page soon, but now I am going a family picnic where we will enjoy the freedom and prosperity you can only find in America.

May God continue to bless America!!!!

We have reached a critical point in our training.  On Sunday, September 20 we will be up well before the sun.  We will drive to the South Shore Cultural Center and board buses to the Foster Avenue beach.  Our day won’t be a day at the beach it will be far better.  We will join our friends, get into our groups and run south.  We will gain confidence with each step of every mile.  When it is all said and done we will have completed 20 miles and THEN WE WILL BE READY.  Let me say good luck to all of you.  The only words of advice I can give at this point are COME STRONG OR STAY HOME.  The best directions I can give are exit the Dan Ryan at 76th street go east to Yates.  Go north on Yates and it will lead you right there around 71st street.

You will need your ticket to board the buses.  Don’t forget them.  Also put some thought into what you will eat afterwards.  We will have grills for cooking up to 2:00pm.

Please check the events for many things we have coming up.  I think the bike ride is the most enjoyable event we do.  I think the run to the finish is the most beneficial.

There is still time to join us at Bartolini’s on Friday.  Let me know.

If you missed Runner’s Ultimate Network special focusing on “our” race watch for repeats between now and the marathon on Comcast Sports Channel.

On Friday, October 23 we will have our post marathon awards banquet.  We will give our awards for fastest male, female, fastest first time male, female, most improved runner, group leader of the year and runner of the year.  Ticket will be $19.00 and will be sold on the following Saturdays:  September 26 and October 3.  I won’t be selling any tickets on race day.  In the past it seems like many runners wait until after the race before they decide to attend.  This complicates things because we have to give a hard number to Micadoons in advance.  As I always have I will try to make every effort accommodate everybody, you can help me if you purchase your ticket in advance.  I will send Jen the details of our banquet before this day is over, check for her to update the web site.  Don’t you love Jen?  I know I do.

October 11, 2009, 7:30am, that will be your moment, that will be your day.  It will be a magical day, but the magic won’t come from the day.  The magic will come from all the weeks and months of training before the day.  The magic will come from the days you ran before the sun was up, or after it had set.  The magic will come from all the laps you did on the track during speed work.  The magic will come from the times you ran in the heat or in the rain.  The magic came from the way you ran out there today.

On the bus ride I asked you to go out there and let the enemy know who you are.  Let him know you are coming.  At the conclusion of the run you received a shirt that says what I already knew and what the enemy now knows you are READY TO RUN.

My alarm was set for 3:00am at 2:50am I couldn’t wait any longer I had to get going.  I went through my routine; the car was packed at 3:53am, seven minutes ahead of schedule I was on my way to the SSCC.  With the help of a few early birds the grill, table and chairs were put in place.  The grill was filled with charcoal now we had to get the buses loaded on get on our way.   We left the SSCC a few minutes behind but we had built in a few minutes in so there were no worries.  Our runners lined up in their waves and soon we were running.  I had the pleasure of running with a great group of runners who knew nothing of the Yankee Runners.  They do now.  Besides telling them all about YOU I was able to tell many of my stories that you guys are bored with.  We finished in 2:58:51 one minute and nine seconds ahead of schedule.  Ric the 5th overall finisher was waiting for me at the finish line. 

This is not unusual Ric always cheers on our runners, but he wasn’t there to cheer me on.  He was there with bad news.  All our stuff was stolen.  After Ric convinced me he was not kidding I spent the next hour searching for our stuff and trying to come up with a back up plan.   In my searching I found two permanent grills that would work in a pinch.  They were a long way form our normal spot but I had no choice.  All the runners I found I asked to send all our runners south and to group up in the field.  Then I went looking for a hero.  I did not look too long when Mike Casey asked what I needed a hero for.  I told him I needed somebody to get into their car and go into the hood and buy some charcoal.  He quickly said he was on his way.  Jim Flanagan overheard and told me he had charcoal in his car.  Jim also had a grill stolen. Tommy got his tables and chairs out of his car and soon a new camp was set up. 

Chairs of all sizes and colors started showing up.  Food of all sorts was spread out and the cooking began.  We ate and drank until everybody had their fill.  I am upset because I fear some of our runners did not find us.  We did the best we could.  The event was winding down when a wonderful volunteer came to check if any of us needed to be bused back to Foster.  I had met her at 5:00am when we were dropping off the grill.  I told her we would not need a bus ride we had our cars.  I told her our stuff was stolen and Jim Quirk saw it in a Park District truck.  She was with the head of security.  Some calls were made and our stuff was located.  It seems our stuff was not stolen but confiscated.  A truck was sent and before we left we had our stuff back.  It should have been a lot less stressful but looking back it turned out to be a great day. Thanks to all of you for making today what it was, a day magical in it’s own right.    

Many thanks are owed to many people.  Frankly I am too tired to thank all of you by name so let me just say you know who you are and I know who you are.  God Bless you.

Don’t forget to check all our events coming up.  Next week I will start collecting for our post marathon banquet.  The cost is $19.00.  I feel like a Pastor always asking for money. 

Also don’t forget next Sunday we run the last six miles.  Details are on the web site.  This is a rain or shine event.  $5.00 as you board the bus.

Two weeks until we have the opportunity to face the enemy we have trained for all these months.  At this time in the training there is NOTHING you can do to improve your performance.  There is a lot you can do to hurt it.  Stick to the program.  Do what needs to be done but don’t try to make up for lost time.  The work has been done, do what has been working.  Keep stretching, if you have become accustom to massage therapy keep it up.  Call Cindy or Beth and make appointment.  DON’T TRY anything new.  Be boring the next couple weeks. 

On Saturday there will be a prayer said before we start our last training run together.  I always offer the opportunity to any other runner to lead, if I got no offers you will be stuck with me.

On Saturday I will be selling tickets to our post marathon party at Micadoon’s.  Details should be on the events page.  This is how we will handle the sell.  I will have name tags available, you will fill out your name tag (first and last initial) bring it to me with $19.00 and I will staple a ticket to it and you will pick it up at the door.  If it is raining I will be under the pavilion.  We need to get this done. There is no reason to put this off it will make my job easier. We seem to always get runners who decide to attend only after the race is over.  I will not sell tickets on race day.  If you miss this chance your job and mine will get harder.  We will give out several awards and it is always is a nice evening.

There will be a bus on race morning.  It will make two stops the first being 7130 W. 127th Street.  It will depart the Remax parking lot at 4:45am and proceed to 1901 W. Monterey.  That is near the Rock Island train line. There will be bathrooms at both locations. The bus will then head to the Congress Hotel at 520 S. Michigan Ave . There is CARA no tent this year, we upgraded to the grand ballroom of the Congress hotel.  No shoe tag no entry. This is where we will gather before and after the race.  Friends and family are welcome to join us after the race starts but not before.  The bus will cost me $200.00 and the driver will need to be tipped $20.00.  I have no idea how many runners will be on the bus.  I will need a volunteer to collect a donation from all the runners and pass the money to me after the driver is given her tip.  If there is any leftover it will be put toward the Hot Chocolate run in January.

I will be pacing 3:45 from Corral D.  If you plan on pacing with me you need to let me know.  I need to know how much support staff and supplies to have ready.  So far I have Ayanna, Tracy, Dena and Mary Dolan.