2022 Year in Running

the restart

My entire youth was surrounded around sport playing three varsity sports in high school. My last competitive sporting event was in the Spring of 2009. I was an infielder for the Illinois State University Club Baseball team. After graduation my sole focus was my career as a photographer. In 2011, I landed a job in Chicago and moved to Lincoln Park with a former high school basketball teammate. We were both still in pretty good shape, but now in our 20’s living in the big city. We signed up for the Chicago Half-Marathon, but were not fully dedicated to it. We trained on a very beginner program and just finishing was the goal. I remember a couple long runs at night along Lake Michigan that triggered a feeling inside me. I was relaxed and having fun. Distance running was refreshing my brain and helping me relax. Race morning came and we finished. But I knew with more discipline that one day I could challenge myself more. The following decade of physical workouts were mostly sporadic and casual..until the winter of 2021 came around. After a pandemic and watching a co-worker finish a triathlon..I signed up for the Chicago Marathon. 2022 was the year I returned to running. My first year back to fully dedicating myself to a sport.

The first order of business was a 5:45AM wake up call. Embrace pain and win the morning. The only way to get in training before work. I replaced my sugary cereals with yogurt, granola, and a banana. The Hal Higdon intermediate marathon training program became my bible (click here for printable chart). I enrolled in cross-training classes at Crossfit Severance in the Avondale neighborhood to help build core muscles. Below are some highlights and proof you can achieve anything when you set goals than put in the work.

Chicago Marathon – 1st Marathon (3:32:50)
Chicago Lighthouse 10K – 2nd place (43:58)
Queen City Half Marathon in Marquette, MI – Top 20 finish (1:35:51)
Chicago Spring Half Marathon

MY FAVORITE CHICAGO OUTDOOR RUNNING LOCATIONS:

Lakefont – Free parking lot near Foster & Simonds
The 606 (2.7 mile trail) – Free street parking near 1806 N. Ashland or Rideway & Courtland

LESSONS OF BLISTERS & BLISS:

EAT MORE – Make sure to eat properly and hydrate with electrolytes before all of your longer runs. I blew up on mile 17 of a 20 mile run during marathon training. I was dehydrated and did not fuel my body with enough carbs & protein the night before
STRETCH – before bed or after runs
DON’T GET BORED – Mix up the running routes: My training partner Reed Nolan and I drove to Wisconsin to run 12 miles on the Ice Age Trail
MOTIVATION – I found David Goggins ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ book very inspiring
TAKE IT ALL IN – I always run with airpods listening to music while on a long run. However, during my first marathon I didn’t put them on until the 8th mile. I wanted to soak in the sounds of the crowds and footsteps while twisting through the streets of downtown Chicago.

GEAR:
Singlet – Tracksmith
Shoes – Saucony Endorphin Pro 2
Socks – Swiftwick
Hat – Hoka

“Marathon training started with some early miles along the 606. We ran a 18 week training program which I accidentally turned into 19 weeks. Both Kevin and I had early success setting PRs in the UP during a half marathon. Sundays were long runs and not always easy. I got myself completely turned around on the Ice Age Trail and turned a 12 mile run into a 17 mile slog. Learned a lot and had plenty of fun, ready to do it all again.” – Reed Nolan

Reed Nolan running the Queen City Marathon 2022

Posted By

Kevin Doellman