Return

Maybe it's time to revive this blog, just as I've revived running outside. I took my very clean (ie, little used) running shoes out for a 3-mile run today on the slushy sidewalks of this city. It also got me thinking about what my last blog entry was... and they were thoughts before the Around the Bay Race.... of  2010 (almost a year ago!). No follow-up entry. Short version: the race, as I recall, was a lot of fun and I achieved my goal to complete. Given that I hadn't trained that well for it, I still remember being in pretty good spirits the whole way through, even with the wet snow in the last couple of Ks, even with some guy dressed as the Grim Reaper taunting me, and even if my better trained friends had to wait more than an hour for me to cross the finish line. 

Over the last year, I haven't run very much except for a semi-consistent stretch in the summer when I was away for a few weeks on assignment. Alone in the city, running was something to do and nice way to see some neighbourhoods. Back at home, it's something to do as well but typically overtaken by no will. I even quit the gym that used to be such a regular part of the routine. 

So what's the inspiration to come back from the dead? Two friends are returning to Chicago this fall to run the marathon that the three of us each did as our first-ever marathon five years ago. The idea has some merit, although the US$170 entrance fee is quite the steep commitment. When I ran this marathon I was coming off a hacking cough and it definitely affected my performance. I've always wondered what I could do if I was healthy, having just stuck mainly to a handful of half-marathons and lesser-mileage races since. A couple of other friends have signed up for the race in the Windy City.... does peer pressure win?