Cowboy Hazel

Change in Plans

~ I have not been able to stop thinking about Chicago lately. I originally decided not to run it because I shouldn't be spending the money. But the allure of the big city, World Marathon Majors event was too much for me to resist. I finally relented to my impulsive side today and registered for the Chicago Marathon.

~ So, now there are 2 marathons on the calendar for sure (Delaware and Chicago). Not sure which of the other potential 3 (San Francisco, NYC, and Philly) I'm going to end up running. I can decide all that some other day.

~ There are corral starts at the begining of Chicago. I'm going to be in B. That sucks. If I had done what I planned to at the Bronx, I'd be in A. Maybe that's a blessing in disguise though... It might help to keep me from making too quick of a start.

~ One bummer about Chicago is that it's the same day as the Staten Island Half. That kills my dream of finishing the Grand Prix this calendar year. (Although, it might have been thwarted by the * that's still next to Brooklyn on NYRR's calendar.)

~ I'm not going to make my travel plans until later. Things are just so up in the air right now that I can't really commit to anything. Of course, I'll do everything within my power to make it to Chicago now that I'm registered, but if something happens, I don't want it to be a complete financial distaster.

12 Comments

The Laminator
March 3, 2009, 11:51 pm · Reply
I'm in the same frame of mind today, trying to pick a summer marathon being Boston and NYC. Nothing is sticking out as a good possibility right now. I'll keep plugging away.

Chicago should be nice though. Good flat course. As long as the weather cooperates. Good luck!
Xenia
March 4, 2009, 5:13 am · Reply
I really want to run Chicago someday, but I don't think this is my year. Good luck to you and I hope everything works out.
Jess
March 4, 2009, 12:17 pm · Reply
Oh wow! So exciting!
Jess
josh
March 4, 2009, 1:02 pm · Reply
Maybe if you go to Chicago you can visit the Great Dakotas. I hear they have great trails there. Or was that trail mix? Eh, either way, the Dakotas are as awesome as the sandwich formerly known as the Big Montana.
Jess
josh
March 4, 2009, 1:42 pm · Reply
I know someone in Chicago if you need a place to crash at. Free of charge. *

*Dry cleaning bills not included.
eliz
eliz
March 4, 2009, 1:51 pm · Reply
this is GREAT< I am sure you'll figure out a way and it'll all work out!
eliz
josh
March 5, 2009, 12:25 pm · Reply
Sometimes it just never works out as planned. Sometimes you walk into a German bar and meet new friends who pass out at bars. Then they throw your business card away when they regain consciousness.
Joe Garland
March 7, 2009, 8:41 pm · Reply
Chicago should be one well worth doing. But why even consider doing 2 fall marathons?
TK
March 9, 2009, 1:47 pm · Reply
Cowboy, you sound more stressed than excited about all your races. Am I projecting or am I kind of right?
TK
Robert
March 9, 2009, 9:32 pm · Reply
Joe, actually I'm almost sure I'll do at least 2 fall marathons. Chicago and NYC are 3 weeks apart and I think that would be plenty of recovery time. If I don't get picked NYC, I'll probably do Philly instead. I had originally toyed with the idea of running all 3, but I think that's being overly ambitious.

TK, I'm stressed and excited. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes at the end of a race well run, but getting there requires a lot of pain and work. I guess I stress about that a bit. I also stress a lot about not performing well. (Although I really am trying to work on that...)
Joe Garland
March 10, 2009, 1:02 am · Reply
Cowboy,

That doesn't make sense to me. I agree with the sense of accomplishment that comes from a task well done, and well prepared for. But to do that in a marathon means focusing on a marathon and if you do Chicago properly, there's no way you can do NY or Philly except as a lark. You must give your body time to recover. And your mind.

I think one can be a quality or a quantity marathoner. (Listen to me; I've done 2, 23 years apart.)

You seem to be doing awesome stuff now and I saw elsewhere that you're kind of taking it unstructured through Boston. For the fall, my suggestion -- and you get what you pay for -- is train for Chicago and then relish some time off. That does increase the stress because that's where all your marbles are. But you've go to just, well, Cowboy Up!

Joe
TK
March 10, 2009, 12:44 pm · Reply
I agree with Joe. Hone it down.

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