Chicago Marathon: Cold Hands, Warm Heart

By Ross Forman

(Sunday, October 11, in Chicago)

The 32^nd annual Chicago Marathon was a case of good news, bad news for me as I was running in my sixth marathon in less than two years.

Scratch that, the Chicago Marathon was alllll good.

I had a time goal and was on pace until about Mile 23 or 24. I ultimately missed by pre-race goal by 7 minutes, so for a split second as I wrote this, I was bummed. But still, I set a PR by about 15 minutes. Meaning, it was my best marathon time of the six I’ve run.

It also was the coldest.

The temperature when the race kicked off at 7:30 a.m., was 33 degrees. The thermometer eventually hit the low-50s and the sun shined. Sure, ideal running weather, but cold nonetheless.

My finger tips were numb for about three-quarters of the race, and even for an hour or so after crossing the finish line. So much for the snazzy black cotton gloves that I bought for $10 at the Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, held Friday and Saturday at the McCormick Place Convention Center.

The Chicago Marathon was everything I hoped it would be, a weekend-long spectacle that I never will forget. Just consider:

- 19,444 registered female runners.

- 25,056 registered male runners.

- 34,792 started.

- 33,411 finished.

- There were 291 runners from Brazil – and I had to laugh at the fan, who was serving as a DJ in his area on the course, who broadcast, “Don’t trip the Brazilian; it wasn’t his fault that we lost the (2016) Olympics.”

- Among the countries with one entrant were: Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Gabon, Fiji, Jordan, Namibia, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

- 114 countries were represented, for 6,232 runners.

- Following Illinois, the most domestic runners were from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. The fewest came from Hawaii, North Dakota and Wyoming (21 each).

I had an emotional, spirited Pasta Party on Friday night with the entourage from the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, held at a church located at Mile 14 on the course.

Saturday was a pasta dinner at Rob’s for my marathon group of 5, along with some family and friends. Then it was an early bed-time at the Chicago Hilton, located steps away from the Starting Line.

Come Sunday, I knew I was running solo since Chuck, David and Ernie opted for a different pace. No worries, I thought, since I train so much year-round by myself, so, I knew running the marathon by myself wouldn’t be a problem. Good thing for the iPod and the estimated 1.5 million fans who spanned the course in support of those of us willing to run 26.2 miles on a Sunday morning.

Including my dad, who I spotted at Mile 4, then Aunt Linda and Bob at about Mile 10.

What and who else did I see on my 26.2 mile journey? Let’s see …

- Signs featuring Hulk Hogan and Susan Boyle, among others.

- Cups of beer offered to runners at about Mile 20. I did not indulge.

- Music in Pilsen that was incredibly loud.

- Runners in New Mexico shirts, so I had to wonder if they were from Las Cruces, my old stomping grounds.

- Two sets of female-impersonating cheerleaders along Broadway in Lakeview.

- The United Center and U.S. Cellular Field.

- The water was ice-cold; it tasted great.

- I ran with Yurbuds earphones (http://www.yurbuds.com/) which I purchased at the Expo. I’d give ‘em a grade of a ‘C.’ Though company COO Richard Daniels gives a great presentation and I do think they work, they just didn’t Sunday for me. First, I wasn’t certain exactly how to get the fitted rubbery piece onto the ear-phone and ultimately I had trouble with the left one; I now know how to use them and look forward to using them in the future.

- Dan spotted me at about Mile 22 and ran with me for 5 or 10 minutes. I needed his encouragement at that point; that helped.

- I urinated only once, next to a tree near Mile 17 and not far from a female squatting behind a bush.

- Ryan was supposed to have Rice Krispie treats for me after the marathon. He didn’t, but hopefully because he ate all of them himself after finishing in under 3:30. Congrats, Ryan.

- Congratulations to everyone else who finished, including Joe and Carlos, and of course Rob (sub-4), David (his first), Ernie (nailing his goal time, 4:59) and Chuck. And don’t worry, Chuck, you won’t hear that I beat you by more than 30 minutes for two years, as we’ve been hearing it from you.

I’ve said it before and will say it again, running a marathon isn’t for everyone. But everyone can do one, and should. I’m a strong supporter of the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. Chicagoans definitely should give it a run – great program, exceptional coaches and a worthwhile cause.

Next up for me on the Marathon trail: the 37th annual

Honolulu Marathon on Sunday, Dec. 13. I know there won’t be any talk of cold temps at that race.

Thanks for your support,
Ross.

Chicago Marathon: It's Race Day!

The day I've been waiting for has finally come - the day of the Chicago Marathon! I will post a new entry here soon with all the highlights. Wish me luck!

The Road Warrior ... Talking Road Trips, Marathons & Food-Fests

By Ross Forman

When I worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), we had this tradition called the Monday Night Food-Fest, though it often extended into the wee hours of Tuesday. And it almost always included Twizzlers, Reese’s, Pop-Tarts and, well, plenty of other junk-food delicacies. Calories were never an obstacle.

Kevin Nash was driving the rented Cadillac the vast majority of the time as we drove to the next city, or quite often back to Atlanta, following WCW Monday Nitro. We spent countless hours on the road, telling stories, telling tales of what we’d do if we won that week’s multi-million dollar lottery, listening to rap music, quizzing each other about some of the most obscure sports trivia … and eating junk food.

OK, Kevin usually just wanted cashews and an ice-cold Coors Light, but I ate just about anything and everything.

I think Monday, Oct. 12 will be my next official Monday Night

Food-Fest. Or maybe I’ll wait until Sunday, Oct. 18, if Kevin and Mandy from Tristar Productions – since the three of us will be together in Southern California – are willing to indulge in some high-calorie desserts like the old days.

The annual Bank of America Chicago is Sunday, Oct. 11, and I’m super excited for my sixth-ever marathon. Yep, this is my first time running the Chicago Marathon, but my sixth time lacing up my Brooks Beast shoes for the 26.2-mile journey – and my fourth marathon as part of the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. My first marathon was in Florence, Italy, on the Sunday after

Thanksgiving, 2007. And for those scoring at home, here’s the break-down since that first marathon on Nov. 25, 2007, right up through

Oct. 11, 2009.

- 687 days.

- 1 year, 10 months, 17 days.
- 59,356,800 seconds.
- 989,280 minutes.
- 16,488 hours.
- 98 weeks (rounded down)

I have a time goal for the Chicago Marathon, but really am not too concerned if I hit it. I think I can, though. I really feel strong and have had good runs over the past couple months. I ran 6 miles on Saturday, Oct. 3, along my normal part-residential, part-industrial route through

Buffalo Grove. I finished strong, which has been my standard practice over the past few months, at least as much as possible.

I’ll probably start the Chicago Marathon with Chuck, David, Ernie and Rob. Who knows when we’ll all finish. But we will finish. That’s second-most important on the marathon slate, behind our health.

The five of us have run hundreds of miles in training, as have the other 45,000 marathoners.

Yep, I’ll be running the streets of Chicago with some 45,000 of my closest friends, while thousands of others will stand along the course cheering. They also will be dispensing water and Gatorade. Or in bands. Or in cheer groups.

The Chicago Marathon is a spectacle; that’s why I’m really looking forward to it.

I’ve done the training, and with five marathons under my belt already, the nerves are somewhat gone. This time, I really want to have fun, enjoy and experience everything that is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I got a text today asking if I was going to run with a camera. I’m sure the sender was joking, at least I think she was. I’m not going to have one with me, though kind of wish I did.

I’m not sure what my first big post-marathon meal is going to be. After the San Diego Marathon in late-May, I had a steak and mashed potatoes, certainly nothing Jenny Craig would yell at me for.

Next Sunday night, believe it or not, I’m flying from Chicago O’Hare to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., in preparation for “Bound For Glory” from Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling on Sunday, Oct. 18. I really hope I can get a first-class aisle seat on my United Airlines flight, and hopefully my main post-marathon meal is not catered by United. (Sorry, United.)

That’s why I’m thinking about indulging in a Monday Food-Fest on Oct. 12, or maybe I’ll wait till Nash comes to California … for old-time sakes.

The Chicago Marathon is my major fund-raiser for 2009 to support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Please consider donating to support this worthwhile cause as I push my body on yet another 26.2-mile grind – my 6th marathon in less than two years. Click here to donate and all tax-deductible contributions are sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Ross.


















Chuckie is going to sit this marathon out. Maybe next time.... But it's good to see that he's already enjoying pumpkin season!