In the early miles of a recent half-marathon, I was sure something was wrong with my heart monitor. That or I was picking up the signal of a runner near me. How else to explain 180 BPM, a level I rarely reach even in the latter stages of speed workouts? Sure, the course had a few hills in its first half, but none steep enough to explain these readings. And the temperature was only in the upper-60s. I felt fine and wasn’t struggling at all in spite of the puzzling numbers. Then, halfway through the race, the course exited a park setting and took to the streets. And instantly, my heart rate came down. In hindsight, there could be only one cause: humidity. A pre-race rainstorm combined with the heavily wooded park created very high humidity. And if you’ve been reading any previews of the upcoming Olympic marathons, you know competitors will be facing even worse conditions. And we’re not talking about something remedied with a little extra hydration. Performance will suffer, period. Elite runners who’ve faced similar conditions as Beijing seem to have a universal refrain: I simply couldn’t run as fast as usual. Some think this may even the field. Some think it will only increase the East African advantage. But one thing is sure for Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor and everyone else toeing the start line. Running at this level is about managing pain. And this one promises a whole new level of hurt.
Race report #4: Chicago Distance Classic
How is it possible to enter this 13.1 mile race online just a few days before the event? There are plenty of similar half-marathons – with vastly inferior ambiance and scenery – that fill up instantly. Maybe it’s another Chicago half-marathon coming up next month. Or the Chicago marathon the month after that. Whatever the reason, it’s hard to fathom why anyone would miss this. Starting in Grant Park and running south along Lakeshore Boulevard before circling back along the lakefront path, the 2008 edition saw cool (for August) temps and very little humidity. The course can get slightly cramped at times, but organizers did their best to ease the congestion by breaking the start into staggered “waves”. And, if nothing else, this race is worth it for the stunning view of the Chicago skyline just after the turnaround.
The Art of the Ugly Race T-shirt
It must be part of the race director’s code: For shelling out their hard-earned cash to run your event, participants must be rewarded with a t-shirt from the pit of Hell. How else to explain the drawers full of 100% cotton monstrosities we all seem to possess? How else to explain why someone deemed incapable of manning a water stop suddenly acquires a degree in graphic design? Here at Lactic, the biggest race of the year is the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in early May. And it’s become tradition to see how unspeakably hideous the commemorative t-shirt will be. Plus, it’s always long sleeve, the perfect option for the hot summer ahead. And just how long will it be before the glut of sponsor logos grows so large they’ll have to start silkscreening the armpits? But there is one positive development. A lot more races are now providing technical t-shirts as their giveaway. Proving that we runners will put aside our fine art sensibilities and wear paint-by-number masterpieces or one of John Wayne Gacy’s clowns as long as you offer the solemn promise not to chafe our nipples.
