(IMPACT is my chosen word for 2025 - what was yours?)
Hello Reader,
History was made a few weeks ago at the 2025 Chicago Marathon.
Conner Mantz broke American Marathon Record at 2:04:43, which is 4:45 minutes per mile. The crazy thing? HE WAS FOURTH PLACE OVERALL EVEN AT THIS PACE!
The overall male winner came in at 2:02:23 - I'll let you do the math in case you want to train to win for next year.
Best part of Chicago Marathon - post race!
Top US female (Natosha Rogers) came in 6th at 2:23:28, which is 5:29 per mile. The top womens finish was 2:14:56.
The other record setting event was the number of participants - around 53,000 runners and a million spectators (unofficial). That's a LOT of humanity!
The higher numbers are due to several things:
Fast/flat course
World Marathon Major (one of the seven)
Increase in running popularity
My Chicago shorts have faded from 2018 to today
I've been fortunate to have completed this marathon two times - once in 2001, and again in 2018. When I did it in 2018, my goals were two fold: qualify for Boston, and have a great time with my friends. Both were attained, but one hurt more than the other:
Much has changed in seven years since I/we last completed this race - we've had a pandemic, a new marathon added to the majors (Australia), I'm now at 10:00 miles, and the entry fee has increased to $245. I still see the boys, but all of us haven't raced together in awhile.
One thing that hasn't (and won't) change? The enthusiasm, excitement, and energy around this race. It's a fabulous time of year, in an incredible city. I will continue to laugh at this photo as well, for obvious reasons.
Signing up for a race/training by yourself is great, but when you have a group to share it with, the experience is amplified. I'm grateful for the opportunity to race with these characters - if you have the chance to race with a "buddy", take it!
The pain from a marathon is temporary, but memories last a lifetime. Congrats to all of those who completed the Chicago Marathon (or any other fall race), and for those preparing for NYC - your time is right around the corner.
Here's to temporary soreness and lifetime memories!
Keep moving forward my friends, one step at a time.
Forty years after she WON the Chicago Marathon, Joan Benoit Samuelson zipped to a 3:36 finish this year at age 68!!!
Congrats Joanie - you're an inspiration!!
TRAINING TIP:
I was walking in the park the other day, and noticed this woman doing step-ups using the rocks! I wanted to tell her that SHE rocked, but thought I might get labeled as a "park weirdo".
The point is that it doesn't take a ton of time - get a few extra strength steps in during the day!
There are opportunities (and weirdos) all around!
TREAD TALK:
Guess what?? I'm going to be dipping into the podcast world! I decided to riff off "Treadmill Tuesday" and call it "Tread Talk".
I don't have the exact date, but before the end of 2025 - yikes!
You will be the first to know when I make my first attempt - right now, all I know is the name: "Tread Talk".
I need a few more weeks to prepare, but thought I'd still share a "Treadmill Tuesday-ish" video with you for this week - not about the podcast, but the possibility of doing something else...
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Let me know if you have any questions or requests for topics in these emails. Thank you so much for reading, and forward to your running friends as well!
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