Early one October Sunday, while the sensible half of the world is still comatose, a great serpent is winding its way round a frozen Chicago. The 25th Marathon is happening. I’m somewhere in the hindquarters of this snake. Unknown to me, it’s been steadily shortening for the last forty minutes, since Khalid Khannoucchi crossed the finishing line. Now it’s almost 10:30, and we’ve just meandered across some Interstate towards Mile 16.… READ MORE.... …
Month: October 2002
Leaving Heathrow in a few hours, and the excitement has started to kick in at last. Feeling dangerously undertrained, but too late to get stressed out about it. I don’t know if I’ll be able to update this until I get back to the UK, in two weeks time, but a report will go up as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone for their emailed good wishes, and a special thank you to all who have pledged donations to the UK Brain Tumour Society.… READ MORE.... …
What a day. Up at 6:30 to get out for a final longish run. Only 8 miles, which doesn’t seem like any great feat at this stage of the game. It’s too late now to worry. A week from now I’ll be lining up in Grant Park, sandwiched between Lake Michigan and the forest of skyscrapers that’s the Chicago Loop, wondering what the hell I’ve talked myself into this time.… READ MORE.... …
Haven’t run since Tuesday. Too much work to do. Working 12 hours a day including Sat and Sun, and dining on Burger King, cans of beer and giant Mars Bars. Wish I was joking. It’s pretty grim when you have to look forward to a marathon for relaxation. But I’ll get there. Tomorrow, Sunday, I’m working but hope to get a run in in the morning.… READ MORE.... …
It’s here. October. Marathon month. Hot damn… After the success of last night’s run I decided to seek out some more dark, quiet lanes for further, flotation-tank-like contemplation. I started out on the canal towpath which perhaps wasn’t a great idea. The path is just too narrow and too uneven to run in pitch blackness. But at least I had a good excuse for taking it very easy indeed.… READ MORE.... …