running with champions
My 2023 running year consisted of 10 races. I pushed hard and was rewarded with several PRs. However, my most gratifying moments came when I volunteered as a Chicago Marathon Course Marshall. I was stationed in Lakeview around mile 9. Taking in the grand event from the sidelines gave me a deeper appreciation for all levels of dedication and determination. Also, it was an unforgettable moment watching Kelvin Kiptum zip past on his way to break the World Record. Mostly, my volunteer tasks were to safely escort people across the street while dodging runners. However, a runner from Mexico City came limping over early in the race. He did not speak very good English, but through Google translate he said he tore a muscle in his groin. I called in medical aid and a golf cart rushed him to a tent.
One of my top highlights of the year was meeting Meb Keflezighi, Galen Rupp, and Emily Sisson at the annual ‘Bank of America Play It Forward Clinic’ in Chicago. It was a two-hour event which connected more than 100 young runners (ages 7 through 11) with elite coaches and running legends. The young athletes received world-class running instruction as they rotated through several stations to learn skills like stretching, pacing strategies, warm-up techniques, endurance, and sportsmanship. Covering the event for WGN-TV allowed me to interview the Olympians and also chat about running off camera. You can watch my report here.
My favorite quote that I heard this year was from 49ers Hall of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis. “You can not cheat the grind, for the grind knows what you put in.” It can be very challenging for runners to juggle work, training and a personal life. Balancing these are essential for overall well-being and ensuring that your passion for running enhances, rather than hinders. I have chose to run only one marathon this year and 6 total races. I am back running the Chicago Marathon for the second time joining the Parkinson’s Champions. A group raising funds and awareness for the Parkinson’s Foundation. My father-in-law Rick Muck was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Every dollar helps improve care and advancing research toward a cure. All six of my races are in the city of Chicago. And I came up with the team name of “Run A Muck.” Now it is only fitting that 2024 is the “Run A Muck Chicago Tour” (see poster at bottom).
Race 1 – F^3 Lake Half Marathon
Race one of the year was the F^3 Lake Half Marathon. It’s Chicago’s Original Winter Half Marathon and the F3 stands for F^cking Freezing Frozen. This year the race partnered with Girls in the Game hence the purple bib. The community-built event celebrated its 15th annual running this year. The lakefront path route started and ended outside the hallowed grounds of Soldier Field. Maybe it’s the gigantic columns or the 12-foot bronze statue of Walter Payton…but there is special aura surrounding the NFL’s oldest stadium.
I started the morning walking my dog Zoey in our neighborhood boulevard. We strolled across leaves covered in frost and people scraping car windshields. But race start time was not until 10AM. Typical races begin much earlier to avoid the midday heat. Runners checked gear and stretched inside the stadium’s United Club. The weather was in the upper 30s and sunny. The most ideal conditions for a February long run in Chicago. Previous years dawned single digit temperatures and snow. I purchased a light jacket made by On. It’s wind proof and very breathable with built-in airflow vents. It was a tad cold standing with the 2,500 winter warriors when the National Anthem played, but I purposely dressed on the lighter side knowing my body was going to heat up. I was actually more worried about overheating. The 13.1-mile out and back course had a turnaround at the 63rd beach house. I ended up ditching my gloves around mile 6. The sun tucked behind the clouds for the second half which made things cooler, but overall the race was very comfortable. The groups of cheering crowds never get old and provided motivation to push towards the finish line. This race wasn’t about trying to PR. I wanted to challenge myself in a new climate. Overall, the atmosphere was fun and I had a solid run finishing with the 1:40 pace team.
Race 2 – Shamrock Shuffle
Sea of Green – Over 24,000 runners lined up on Columbus Drive for Chicago’s 43rd Annual Shamrock Shuffle. This was my very first shuffle and I decided to not push it because of a lingering knee issue. At 8:30AM, my friend Grace McGann and I departed from corral D..the middle of the pack. We ran at a conversational pace which was a new experience for me during a race. We saw participants dressed in kilts, as leprechauns, and countless green tutus. The short distance typically attracts casual runners sporting humorous costumes. Running the downtown streets through the Chi-town skyscrapers is an experience that never gets old. Also, the post race mini green donut from Stan’s was a top notch delight.
Race 3 – Cinco de Miler
Chicago’s ‘Cinco de Miler’ was nacho average race! A 5-mile run that started at Montrose Harbor. A mariachi band pumped up the 2,600+ runners at the starting line. We took off north to Foster Avenue and Hollywood Beach before heading back along Lake Michigan to Montrose Beach Park. There were countless colorful costumes like runners in luchadors, sombreros, and even a man in a full Star Wars Mandalorian suit. My right knee was feeling stronger, but not at 100% yet after a couple months of physical therapy at Athletico. My stamina was also weak from taking so much time off to rest the knee. I earned a Tecate beer after crossing the finish line under a 3-story piñata arch and a unique finisher medal that doubles as a can opener.
Race 4 – Miche 5K
The inaugural Miche 5K was a 3.1 mile run through Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood starting at Dvorak Park. I finally completed several months of physical therapy on my knee and was feeling strong. Still not 100 percent and my endurance behind top pace, but I put in a solid effort which landed me a 14th place finish. The entire day was fun and celebrated Latin culture. Running down Pilsen’s vibrant 18th Street was a highlight and each runner was giving a complementary post race “michelada.” I enjoyed the Mexican drink made with beer, tomato and lime juice while listening to live music performed by Los K-Bros. There are always going to be some hiccups when putting on a large event for the first time, but the crew did a fantastic job nailing the essentials.
Race 5 – Dim Sum and Then Sum 10K
Year of the Dragon: What started with 200 has grown into over 2,000 runners, joggers, and walkers. The 7th annual ‘Dim Sum and Then Sum’ 5K and 10K both sold out. It’s the only race that runs through the Uptown Neighborhood. The vibrant event is put on by the Chinese Mutual Aid Association and it’s mission is to enhance the well-being of low-income immigrants and refugees. There was a Lao Baci blessing ceremony. White cotton string was tied around our wrists. The word “Baci” comes from Sanskrit and translates to “calling of the soul” or “mental improvement”. Colorful lion head dancers performed a traditional Chinese dance signifying good fortune to kick off the race. It was a hot, sunny, and humid 82°F morning. I had a solid sweat throughout the race with a good chunk of the miles logged on a gravel path along the lakefront. The finisher medals featured a fierce dragon. The highlight of the day was chowing down on yummy dim sum and drinking boba tea at the after the race block party. I placed 38th overall and…hey…you win some and you dim sum!
Race 6 – Chicago Marathon
Most runners select 12-20 week training programs to prepare for a marathon. No matter your level of experience it takes several months of exercise to ready the body for the 26.2 miles. The biggest lesson that I learned last year was the importance of cross-training days…DO NOT SKIP THEM! They’re key to staying healthy, strong, and injury-free.
In week 2 of my 18-week program, there was a heat wave that brought searing temperatures across the country. I was vacationing in northern Kentucky and battled 90 degree temperatures while climbing hilly terrain. I had to get creative selecting a route for my Sunday long run. Even though I was up early in the morning, the heat was still no joke. Luckily, I found a nearby park (Presidents Park in Edgewood) that had a public bathroom, water fountain, and large trees providing shade. The loop trail measured out to just over a half-mile. After the run to the park followed by completing 15 loops, and trotting home…I logged 11 sweaty miles. They were very beneficial runs because hills can help improve endurance and speed. My favorite training day of the block was a shorter run in my hometown of Quincy, IL. My dad paced me on his electric bicycle for 5 miles while I dashed up and down the beautiful hills of South Park.
CARA’s Ready to Run 20 Miler
In mid-September, fellow Chicago Marathon runner Reed Nolan and I signed up for CARA’s (Chicago Area Runners Association) “Ready to Run 20 Miler.” It was our last long run before the marathon. Over 2,000 participants starting at the Montrose Wilson Track on the Northside and finishing at Jackson Park on the Southside. The point-to-point course along the lakefront featured plenty of aid stations, porta-potties, and an official pacer. Shuttle buses brought us back to the start line. We punched our tickets to taper town at this wonderfully unique experience.
Game Day – Team “Run A Muck” crushed marathon weekend. My 4th overall & 2nd Chicago was a race for the memory books. So thankful for everyone who donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation helping us raise $3,295. According to organizers, this year saw the largest finisher field in Chicago Marathon history, with 52,150 finishers. Kenyan runner Ruth Chepngetich broke the woman’s World Record with the first ever sub 2:10 marathon. Crowds came out in full force too, an estimated 1.7 million people lined the 26.2 route. My knee started to hurt at mile 7 and I couldn’t believe it. How could this be happening?! My wife and her parents were stationed at mile 9, so I told myself to just make it two more miles. Miraculously the pain would go away. The course took us through 29 of the city’s 77 neighborhoods. Special thanks to my friends & family who came to cheer me on. I shaved over 12-minutes off my 2022 Chicago Marathon time setting a PR. I broke my six week sobriety streak with a Goose Island 312 Electric Beer. Running has taught me to challenge myself and push beyond where I thought I could go.
RUNNING BOOKS
Posted By
Kevin Doellman
Categories
by Kevin Doellman