"Music is the weapon of the future"

I am actually *borrowing* this quote from one of Emily's old-school, vintage t-shirts. But I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly!

Sometimes, music IS all it takes...at least in running and Craig's life, I have found that it is!

Craig's love of music began when he was a baby when Mom and Dad bought him a "tape deck" on which to play their tapes for him. Even though he was blind, they knew he could enjoy using his other senses, especially his hearing. Their idea was worth more than anything in this world because nothing energizes and revives Craig's spirit more than music. No matter if it's Whitney Houston or Barney singing, Craig becomes extremely verbal with a lot of "hey"s, and "yeah-yeah-yeah"s! Music simply makes Craig happy!
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I once was a runner that never laced-up without also having an i-Pod in hand. But in the past year or so, I've left the music at home on runs. I found that by not listening to music while I was training, I was able to "feel" my effort and cadence, and be more in-tune with my body and what it was telling me.

Most post-marathon plans prescribe no running at all for at least 5-7 days, and then a return to racing 6 weeks later, at the very earliest (I'm certainly cutting it close with the next Marathon about 5 weeks away now). And even though during recovery it is crucial to listen to your body just like in training, it's also a time to return to relaxed running for a bit...to take the serious-ness out.
Recovery from Chicago has been somewhat of an up-and-down journey. After taking 5 complete days of rest, I began with a run that was broken down into two parts, each around 2.5 miles. Overall it went well, even though it was hard to run any faster than about a 9:45-10:10 mile...but that was expected on the first day back. In fact, that Saturday was actually the first day I had wanted to run again because I had felt so wiped out. But over this last week, my runs haven't really felt a whole better. The effort that it takes to run 4 miles, now feels like the effort that was required for a long run a few weeks ago. Recovery has just been tough...mentally and emotionally. My physical self isn't quite ready to turn on all the engines yet for more training, yet my heart wants it to. I'm pretty sure all this adds up to a little "post-marathon-blues" because I've felt a loss of motivation, too. So, my prescription is still the same...continue to run easy, not pushing my pace, not pushing the distance build-up too soon, etc.
BUT, enter music...

On my 5th day back to running, I decided to take my i-Pod out with me...and what a difference music makes! I'm convinced that's all it takes sometimes! This particular run was my first 6-miler since the marathon. I was (honestly--and I know this is negative) not very hopeful that it would turn out to be a "good" run, just like the others up to this point. But 52 minutes later, I came back feeling like a different person...energized...refreshed...renewed...re-acquainted with my previous runner-self! From the moment I pressed play, to rounding the corner back to my house, the music was my weapon!

Craig had it figured out already!

*CHICAGO*

Mural on the wall outside Niketown on Miracle Mile in Chicago
Every single Chicago Marathon runner's name is listed
too cool

From the minute I arrived in Chicago, I was taken in by all that I could see...tall buildings, the busy-ness of passers-by, and taxi-packed streets. It was, by far, the biggest, prettiest city I've ever been to. I think I walked around with my mouth wide open. Chicago is what New York must be like on a smaller, much smaller scale.
Arriving midday Saturday afforded me and Emily just enough time to go to the Expo to pick up our race numbers and timing chips for our shoes. The Expo is like a fair for runners...seriously... free samples of granola bars, Oikos yogurt, Muscle Milk, Clif Shot Blocks, and Luna Moons. There was also a designated area for every major running shoe and apparel company, hydration product, nutrition supplements, etc...again, a fair!

Here's the stash along with the race shirt!

After the expo, the main priority was eating dinner to ensure an early bedtime, so we made our way to a (too fancy-for-our-style!--they sat us downstairs and in the back by the kitchen-ha!) seafood restaurant called Devon--best Salmon I've ever had. And honey biscuit. And rissotto. And asparagus. Period.
By 8:00pm that night, we were fueled-up with a nutrient-packed dinner and ready to wind down and save all our energy. Sleep came easier to me than I thought it would, because I anticipated being too excited to get any shut-eye. The night before a marathon (or any race, really) is like Christmas Eve for a kid!
The morning alarm sounded at 6:00am. The first thing I did was check the weather: I think the forecast said it was 30 degrees at that point...the decision on shorts or not was an easy one at that point! Em and I sat up and looked at each other with what had to be sparkles in our eyes because of the anticipation of what was to come!

Race-ready for a 32 degrees-RIGHT before we walked down to the Marathon start!

This marathon provided a lesson in having confidence in yourself! My official time was 3:44:42, and was the best race I've ever run! Crowd support was absolutely unreal...not one stretch of the 26.2 mile route wasn't covered with cheering moms, dads, friends, husbands, wives, daughters, sons, sisters, and brothers. But even more encouraging than cowbells and whoops, was a man racing on crutches and only one leg. My eyes started to swell with tears because I was so moved. How courageous, tenacious, dauntless. What determination, commitment, and guts. A winner. A champion. One word: "in-freaking-spiring!"

We finished!

A goal that was in the back of my mind was crossing the finish line in 3:40 or faster, which would have earned me a ticket to the prestigious Boston Marathon. I was bummed that I didn't accomplish this, but was more than happy with how I had ultimately performed.
Em and I were able to start the race together and hugged-it-out in Grant Park when we saw each other after the finish. We will have this memory forever and I will treasure it.

Next up is the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa Beach on November 29th!