AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT LISA! Great report.
Maybe Ultras are your calling?
Continued success in 06
Willie

--- In theroadsscholar@yahoogroups.com, Lmtaxihat@a... wrote:
>
> Hi Scholars. Been a busy month so I haven't been around much.
Congrats to
> all the great marathon and race times. Isn't the fall great?
Work hard in
> heat all summer. Temps cool and ta-da! :) Gotta love it.
Congratulations
> to everyone. Michael - happy birthday. :)
>
> Anyway, I just ran my last goal race of the year, the Chicago
Lakefront
> 50k/50 Miler. No, not the 50 miler. I don't run that crazy
distance. Well not
> yet anyway. :) I ran this race last year for the first time.
And here is
> my report for '05.
>
> What a day....  Beautiful.  Perfect temps.  Blue sky.  A bit of a
south wind
> that picked up.  But nothing compared to last year's 50 - 50 -
50.  50K, 50
> Miler, 50 MPH winds....  This year was letter perfect conditions. 
>
> Coming off St. George, I rested.  Once a week I did a hard, longer
tempo
> workout.  No other speed work.  Reduced mileage.  Just trying to
get my legs back
> under me for the 50K.  Last year I had three weeks between my
marathon and the
> 50K.  This year I had 4.  Last year I was just recovering from
terrible
> anemia.  This year I was coming off a marathon and a 5K PR.  Last
year conditions
> were terrible.  This year, perfect. 
>
> So I went in thinking, here are my goals... Goal #1.  Sub 4:06
(which is what
> I ran last year.)  When I got to the race, Race Director Pat
Onines had given
> me bib #1.  I didn't really want it... But he said, you have a
shot at the
> course record - 4:03.  I thought, ok, why not.  So goal #2 - sub
4:03.  Goal #3
> - sub 4 hours.  Anything after this was gravy.
>
> I was a tad nervous as I was heading into this race a little sleep
deprived
> and not tapered quite as much as I wanted because of work.  But I
couldn't
> worry about it.  I just wanted to enjoy the run and have some fun.
>
> Last years splits - loop #1 (roughly 12 miles) - 1:38, loop #2
(shorter loop
> of roughly 10) - 1:15, loop #3 (same as 2) - 1:11.  No mile
markers out
> there... just a split clock at the start/finish/end of loops. 
>
> Gun.  We are off.  I run EASY.  Conversationally.  And just like
last year -
> people take off.  I say no way to myself.  There is a woman who
moves past
> me.  Fine.  I wasn't going to run her race.  I just settled in. 
By the turn
> around of loop 1, I had passed her.  But she remained close for
the rest of the
> loop. 
>
> I felt good.  Took my gels at the predetermined spots.  Enjoyed
the beautiful
> day.  And continued to pass people.  Loop #1 - 1:33.  Whoohoo!  5
minutes
> faster than last year.  No further effort.  Loop 2 I decided to
pick it up a bit.
> Still feeling really good.  Making sure I hold back.  I have put a
gap on the
> woman in 2nd and have worked my way into the top 5 overall by the
end of the
> second loop.  1:10.  Holy crap... I can't believe my eyes.... I am
still
> feeling really, really good.  LOVING the beautiful day and the
shouts of
> encouragement from the other runners. 
>
> I am running alone as I start loop #3 and I can see I am in third
place
> overall. As I get about 3/4 of the way through the first half of
loop #3, I see the
> second place guy.  He was the leader earlier... He is slowing
down.  I pass
> him and pick up the pace.  I see the first place guy as he hits
the turn around
> and comes back.  We high five and I tell him we are #1 and #2.  We
are
> wearing those numbers... We laugh.  He is also slowing a bit.  But
still has some
> room on me.... I hit the turn around and say to myself - go go go
go go!!!!!!!! 
>
> Now I am in full stride.  I feel really good. The miles are flying
by and I
> am scared I will bonk, but I feel soooooo freaking good.....
WHY!??!?!?!??  I
> pick it up some more.  Take my last gel and can see the first
place man now,
> about a minute or so up on me.  I get on my toes.... Close the
gap.  But didn't
> have enough real estate to close the deal.   I am in a full sprint
as I
> approach the end of the last loop.  I look at my watch......
>
> OH MY GOD!!!!!!!  One more gear.  First place man finishes.  I am
30 seconds
> behind him and I cross in 3:49:38 (loop #3 - 1:05).....  Arms
raised.  A yell
> escapes from my lips and I am greeted with a finish line hug from
the Race
> Director..... I am beside myself....  What a day.  PR, course
record, second
> place overall, first woman, first overall master. 
WHOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
>
> I am sooooo grateful for the year I have had....  This race was
the perfect
> ending to it. 
>
> I will run a 10k for the team I am on this Sunday, and then I
REST. :) 
> Before I have to start riding again and get back on the horse to
start training for
> 06.  Big plans for 06.  Hard to imagine it will top 05. 
>
> Oh and there is a pic at the Chicago Athlete website...
www.chicagoaa.com.
> Please cut me some slack. Not very glamorous after 31+
miles... :) The
> editor has the course record listed as 3:54, which is the one from
the spring 50K
> here in town. The record was 4:03:06. Gotta get every second,
you know?
> :)
>
> Anyway, for those of you considering an Ultra, go for it. I love
this
> distance. It is a totally different feeling than a marathon.
More relaxed. The
> energy around the race is more laid back and it is a wonderful way
to push the
> limits on yourself and see what you can do. Great
experience.... Thanks
> for the inspiration, Nicky.
>
> Best of luck to all RS's racing this weekend.
>
> -lisa m.
>