You guys! It was such a fun and full week! I am just back from a Chicago Marathon spectating whirlwind and I can’t wait to tell you all about it, but first the week in workouts as I train toward the Indy Monumental Marathon. Spoiler alert: Except for the 20 miler my workouts kind of sucked:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday Blog Field Trip
Wednesday: Run 5 Miles w/Hill repeats
Thursday: Run crappy 4 Miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 20 Miles
Sunday: Spectated Chi Marathon #likeaboss
Summer returned to Chicago last week, with more rain and, just in time, a cold front. The one I ordered directly from Mom Nature for my friends (that’s everyone) running the Chicago Marathon. I ran two ridiculously hot Chicago Marathons (’07 and 10), that doesn’t mean everybody else has to.
It was time to close down the garden, so I did. It was kind of sad to pull up all the pumpkin and squash vines. It was a very good year. It was also time to throw down a 20 miler. In a perfect world, I’d have already done a few of these. This is not a perfect world. Since Mom Nature has been on my side lately, she gave me perfect weather to bust out 20. The day dawned 42 and clear. Barely a whisper of breeze. The 40’s are my running sweet spot. I felt pretty great until 15 or so. 15-18 were a bit of a mess then I got a 3rd wind at 18. Done and done!
I was invited to celebrate National Taco Day with Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet and make some taco deliciousness on their amazing K750 grill. Seriously I’ve experienced nothing like it. It’s more a work of art than it is a conventional grill. They call it the Rolls Royce of grills. That is no exaggeration. I need one of these for my patio. Need.
Friday I headed to the Chicago Marathon expo where I met up with Wendy, Sharon, Sherry and Holly. I’d been invited by Generation UCAN to a Facebook Live interview with the iconic Meb and elite marathoner Sara Crouch who are both UCAN athletes. This experience was so amazing, I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow after I’ve had a chance to process all of it. I’ll also have a play-by-play of the highlights from the Chicago Marathon blogger press box. It was a magical day. So much awesomeness! Congrats to all!
How was your weekend? Did you race? Spectate? Fave tacos?
I’m linking up with Tricia and Holly for the Weekly Wrap…
…and with Ilka and Angela for the Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup. Join us!
oh I can’t wait for the marathon play by play! I had such an amazing day just cheering for Lacey and everyone else virtually! -M
Such a fun weekend–I couldn’t hold it in! My training recap can wait. I’m so glad I got to spend all this time with you!
I do want to learn more about the RR of grills, tho…what did your hubs have to say about that anyways?
Jealous that you got to spend time with Wendy and meet Holly.
Sounds like such a fun time.
It is amazing how much weather can make or break a marathon day! That scares me!!!! It is so nice you shared your invite with your blogging friends 🙂 I think we will have lots of fun in December .
oh and great job on the 20 miler!
I ran it in 2010 and agree that it was unnecessarily hot! I watched it today on TV and was so glad everyone had nice weather. I also ran it last year and while not sweltering, was still warmer than ideal. Can’t wait to read you spectator post! Sounds like a great week despite the weather – any week where you can get a 20 miler in is good in my book 🙂
I spanked out a 16-miler in great weather as well, but didn’t get to see any of Chicago other than through my computer screen. Glad it was an amazing day!
Soooo freaking cool you met Meb. 🙂 Hey I love your hair!!
LOVE this & I would have loved to be at the Chicago Marathon event to meet so many of my favorite bloggers 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up at Sunday Fitness & Food.
Nice job on the 20, Lou! I am forgoing anything over 18 this round; I’m getting the long runs done okay, but am paying the price for a week or more after.
I was thinking about you all morning as I watched the Chi Marathon. Oh such fun memories with Mr. Pumpkinhead….
What an awesome week! Glad the weather cooperated for your 20 miler and for the Chicago runners. And what a great experience it must have been to meet Meb and Sarah!
Sounds like a awesome week! I can’t wait to hear about your spectating adventures!
Sounds like an amazing week and weekend! Can’t wait to hear more about it! Meeting Meb is just way too cool!
Jealous that you got to meet Meb! Thank goodness the cold front came in because hot races are never fun.
That UCAN event looks so cool! Meb seems like such a nice guy. Great job getting that 20 miler…I can’t wait for temps to get down in the 40’s, my body is loving being in the 60’s, lol!
You are such a teaser lol, I can’t wait to hear all the details of your weekend and especially spectating!
My hubs would love a grill like this, oh and I’d love a grill like this cause he’d do all the cooking on it! 🙂 So glad the weather was great in Chicago for all the runners too!
I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for more. 🙂 🙂
That sounds like a fun weekend! I’ve never actually been just a spectator at a race- normally I’m running it and then I stick around to hang out afterwards and watch friends come in. I should try it one day!
Can’t wait to read all about the spectating experience. I spectate Paris every year and love it. Glad you had some decent weather too. We have been having perfect fall weather and it changes everything.
Marcia – I loved seeing you on Instagram along with Wendy, HoHo … and oh yeah Meb of course! How very awesome! You look beautiful! Great training week as well! Your big day is almost here!
Visiting relatives means a lot of unnecessary sitting around & eating out. 🙁 Always frustrating!
Sounds like you had a great week — even with a slight 20 mile struggle. My fun begins soon (I think!).
I was in chicago for a bachelorette party and the weather was amazing!
The weather was PERFECT on Sunday – I was so happy for everyone running 🙂
OOO how awesome is this!!! I love the pic of you and all the bloggers. I worked this past weekend, but I may or may not have had the marathon streaming on my computer hehehehe!!!
If there is a 20 mile run in the week and you ran it- I’d say it was a great week! Taco Tuesday looked like a lot of fun!
What a fun week! I bet my son would put that grill to good use. He is so into cooking and not afraid to try new things. Me, I’m intimidated by anything more than burgers or salmon fillets. 🙂
Sounds like you had a great weekend! can’t wait to hear all about it!
It was so great meeting you Marcia!! Thanks again for getting us to see Meb and Sarah! That was amazing!!!
I completely forgot to thank you for the wonderful Chicago weather. I didn’t even feel warm until late in the race — somewhere in the 20s. Looking at that picture, wow how cool was Meb? And I’m touching him! EEK. You are going to be fabulous as your marathon. Most times, less is more, right? Thanks for linking, Marcia!