Breaking Through Redux - Chicago 2014

Sunday morning started out by rolling over somewhere around 3:30 and realizing the Berlin Marathon was happening.  I really wanted to catch up on some sleep so didn't specifically plan to watch it.  But I took Twitter and found a stream in German.  After about 40 minutes of watching, I can say that my German is no better than when I started. But in that span of time, I witnessed history being made yet again as Dennis Kimetto smashed through the 2:03 barrier.  Shalane Flanagan's pursuit of the American women's record didn't pan out, but she still had a 48 second PR!  Not usually how I start a Sunday, but great inspiration to start the day.

At 8, I was out in Elmhurst with our Cancer to 5k crew for our Sunday group run.  Week 6 now as it happens to be.  The "intermediate" group ended up doing 30 minutes of straight running.  The "novice" group did a 30 minute 2/2 Run/Walk.  Both HUGE accomplishments when the goal is a 5k, still 6 weeks away!  Seeing the progress they're making also inspires me.  It's simply amazing to see people that had previously identified as "only maybe worked out a few times in the past year" not only stick with the program but now ask "what do you think if I ran from here to the finish instead of doing the walking part?"

Following our run, my next stop was Fleet Feet Old Town.  They held a seminar in preparation for the Chicago Marathon called "Breaking Through the Wall".  I attended it last year even though I knew Chicago wasn't going to happen for me. Much the same, the panel included a PT, a dietitian, a member of the CES training program, race director Carey Pinkowski, and two Olympians:  Meb Keflizighi and Deena Kastor.  Of course the discussion first started with what happened in Berlin hours earlier.  There was also talk of Deena's new world record and of course Meb's Boston win.  But the locus of the discussion was around tips for us make it to the finish line.  Lots of them are great advice for a first timer.  Nonetheless, good reminders for everyone else.  But there's one thing that really stuck with me; something that Deena said.

When I saw her in this same setting a year ago, there were but two words that really stuck with me:  "define yourself".  We all have the opportunities at any given moment to define ourselves to others and to ourselves.  We can chose to be mediocre or we can choose to be extraordinary.  We can "fit the mold" or we can bust right out of it.  Those two words are something that's weighed on me a lot this year.  They're something that's popped in my head during the tough times and the great, running related or not.

This year, her advice was this:  "I believe in a training, nutrition, sleep triangle.  But in the middle of that is joy.  As soon as you find your bliss, what makes you happiest, the success just comes."

3 years ago, I watched a local broadcast of the Chicago Marathon and became inspired to leave a sedentary life and lace up.  

2 years ago, this same race inspired me to run my first 13.1 on race weekend.  I parked somewhere by DePaul, followed Fullerton out to the Lakefont Trail and out and back toward Navy Pier.

Last year I recklessly did my own type of marathon training, and had to sit out.

But since then, I've finished my first.  And I discovered how to make it less of an individual pursuit.  Through countless pub runs at my local running store.  Through great people that I'm blessed to be able to call my friends that I've met in local running clubs.  Through organizations like Cancer to 5k and MyTeamTriumph.  I've learned to truly love the run.  I've reach a point where I HAVE found my bliss.

Chicago 2014 for me is more about an 18 week training plan.  It's about a 3 year dream finally coming true.  Its about celebrating the amazing people that have inspired me along the way, be they elite athletes, new athletes, or just someone that's wondering why I'm so enthralled with this sport.  It's about searching deep inside myself, and seeing yet again just how much I can push myself.  When you're this high, there's no need to break through the wall.  You just fly right over it.

I'm running the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a proud member of Team LiveSTRONG.  LiveSTRONG is committed to Cancer survivorship by offering programs and services to those affected by cancer that go way beyond their clinical treatments of this terrible disease.  My affiliation with LiveSTRONG was not for a post-close entry; it's simply something I wanted to do to try to raise something while I was training for this race.  I'm aware that there's many "great causes" worth of your donations.  But if you'd like to support me and Team LiveSTRONG, thank you!  And if not, your support on the course or remotely on October 12 would mean the world to me!

Soaring with The Flock

A little over a year ago, I started following (stalking?) a running apparel company out of Seattle named Oiselle.  "A French word for bird, it alludes to that feeling of weightlessness that most runners know and love. That sense of flight – when the legs go fast and the heart goes free." (About Us)  These people make some darn cute and functional clothes.  See for example the distance short with 2 (!!) zip pockets!

The more I followed, I came to find that they're not just about the products but also about fostering a community.  They're about supporting women's running whether they're elite athletes at the top of their sport, like Kara Goucher, or whether they're just normal people that share #RunLove while also holding down a career and/or raising a family.

In June they launched something called "The Flock".  On the outside looking in, I saw a bunch of "birds" connecting with each other through Twitter and Instagram.  I saw them meeting up at various races, like the Magnificent Mile Half, flying in formation with Lauren Fleshman (also a large part of their team and a downright inspiration!).  Wish though I may, The Flock sold out soon after it launched.  

Until they opened up a handful of more slots last week.  So I signed up.  I was lucky --it sold out in 30 minutes!.  Did you catch that?  Not "qualified".  Not "selected".  Just "signed up".

What happened next probably won't be justified by my summary that follows. Strava and Facebook group invites for the team and listed as part of The Flock Twitter list.  I'm not overly active on Twitter or Strava.  But the Facebook group alone is pretty incredible.  100 women from the Midwest instantly posting introductions, target races, injuries they're fighting.  Also instantly being met with "oh so I am!  We should meetup before" and various forms of encouragement that heal the wounded  runner's heart.  Some have known each other for a while through Oiselle's competitive team, many were just pulled together in June or with this most recent offering.  This outpouring of support for each other is beyond words.  And not a bit of that has been based on how much each person runs or how fast they run *insert distance here*.  Because that's not the point.  It's to support each other achieve our own goals and to have fun while doing it; the epitome of #RunLove.

I can't say I've ever joined a "virtual"  running group before.  I really haven't seen a place for it with the amazing people that I've met IRL.  But I don't think I'd consider this empowering group "virtual", rather "distributed". The fledgling community and love that's coming out it is way more than a line of clothing, it's a way of life!  And this is just the beginning.  I'm so very much looking forward to being part of this awesome team!

One thing's for certain, I'm looking forward to rocking this in two and a half weeks in Chicago along with a bunch of my newest friends, doing what we do best:  going fast, taking chances. <3