To kick off Chicago Marathon weekend, I was invited to a special Expert Panel Discussion sponsored by UCAN, featuring training and racing tips from a group of running elites. Meb was there, just like he was the last time I attended a UCAN event, so was Alexi Pappas, Chirine Njeim and more. The panel was moderated by Carrie Tollefson, a retired middle-distance runner and Olympian who now works as a sports broadcaster.
It’s never a picnic to get downtown from out here in the boondocks and this evening was no different. My trek began at 2pm when I boarded a Metra train bound for the city.
Not the prettiest day ever. Dreary and drizzly.
I got to Union Station about 3:30ish against a flood of people headed out, away from the city. I figured they got off work and made nothing of it. Seemed like every person walking around town was a runner. The vibe was electric and I was happy to be a part of it. Marathon weekend in Chicago is wonderful.
As I walked the mile or so from Union Station to the Conrad Hilton Hotel, I noticed police. Lots of them. Then I came upon a street that had wagon after wagon of police horses. Over a dozen of them. As I approached the Dirksen Federal Building I noticed it was swarming with not Chicago Police but a SWAT team. At that point I remembered they were awaiting a veridct on the Laquan McDonald case..
Another block or so up and I could hear chanting. There was a large protest in progress on Monroe. Was it for Laquan McDonald? Or the Kavanaugh hearing? I wasn’t sure but I’ll admit it gave me pause. If the protestors got between me and the train, I wasn’t sure how I’d get home.
I continued on, uneasy, but excited for the panel nonetheless.
Unlike two years ago when our UCAN discussion with Meb and Sarah Crouch was a private affair in a hotel suite, this time they had a ballroom and hundreds of runners were gathered.
Training & Racing Tips from Running Elites
Carrie Tollefson (google images)
Carrie Tollefson spoke about how we can find marathon training plans a dime a dozen on the internet all day long. What is more important, yet many of us pay little attention to, is how we train our brain to run the marathon. She confirmed how important and often overlooked mental training is. Amen sister!
Alexi Pappas (Google images)
This was Alexi Pappas’ first full marathon. Her coach is Andrew Kastor (Deena’s husband). You may know her from the 2016 Olympics in Rio where she ran the 10k for Greece. She recalled running 4x2mile repeats in the mountains of Mammoth Lakes. After the third repeat she was done. Wanted to stop. She told her coach she couldn’t go on. He talked her through it and she ended up squeezing out that final repeat. She said it was a “ceiling raiser” for her. I can so relate to fighting for (or skipping) those last repeats. Alexi ended up running Chicago in 2:41.
Chirine Njiem (Google images)
While I did not know her name at the time, I’d noticed Chirine Njiem running Chicago last year when she came through in one of the lead packs. Let’s just say she is a physical specimen. Erica filled me in that Chirine is from Lebanon, a former Olympic skiier turned runner. She competed in the Women’s Marathon for Lebanon in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. Chirine regaled us with her “hardest workout”: 50x400m. That’s right: 5-0. Alrighty then. Chirine ran 2:43 in Chicago.
Meb. I runfess I made no attempt to sit up closer. My bad.
And then of course Meb. He talked about his retirement and how quickly fitness is lost if we aren’t training. He also admitted to thigh rub, when he’s not at peak fitness. That I find hard to believe. Most importantly he advised the runners in attendance to honor their rest and recovery and reminded us it’s part of training. He said elites rest completely after a marathon for as long as several months. He said rest does not mean cycling or strength training or easy runs in the weeks following a marathon. There is no glory in not allowing your body to recovery fully.
We wound up the evening with Pete Rea, a coach from Zap Fitness in Blowing Rock NC. He gave some course tips, the first of which was the same one I give my athletes who run Chicago: There are 31 turns on the course. Run the tangents! He also spoke about the importance of planning out your race and at least looking at a course map so you have your bearings. Yes!
Overall it was a fun evening with an impressive group of running elites. As you may have guessed by looking at the pics in my post, I did not stick around afterward for photos.
Do you race with a plan? What running luminaries have you met? Ever found yourself amidst a protest?
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I wish more of the runners in my group would take their recovery and rest more seriously. It concerns me sometimes when I see people just keep going right after racing without resting. Sounds like you learned a lot from them
The mental part is so true
What a great panel
Did you ever find out what the police were for?
Sounds like a fun event! I totally agree about the mental training. I tend to race my best when I focus on that part of training.
You mean you shouldn’t go out for a recovery run a day or 2 after you run a marathon? I wish people wouldn’t do that. No matter how good you feel, 26.2 is 26.2 and you need to let your body recover. Fully.
You know I’m all about that mental training….
I’ve met Scott Jurek now, three times, in Berlin (where we ran on the tarmac together and chatted about New Mexico), in Paris (where he remembered me and gave me a big hug for good luck) and in Boston (where he remembered us AGAIN even though it had been a few years) – I absolutely adore him.
I always run with a plan, though with the chronic pain I’m looking into alternatives now for my next BHG.
I actually know Chirine’s sister, Nesrine – she is not as fast as her sister but damn near close. We’ve done several races “together” (obviously not together together) and have many running friends in common. I think I actually met her when she was pregnant with her 2nd child right after a 15K race we had run (where she ran it in like 1 hour…). She does got back to Lebanon occasionally to run with her sister where they are generally 1st and 2nd women in the race!
Oddly enough when we were in Greece, like 20 years ago (more, actually), we did find ourselves in a protest & yes, it was kind of scary (especially when you have no idea what they’re saying).
50 400s? I.can’t.even. I’m so happy with just 6 instead of 8 this training cycle and I’m always ready to call it quits early!
I actually remember a panel at my first half talking about how elites rest so much after their races & don’t do such an insane amount of them, either — it’s always stuck with me. OTOH, they also log way more miles than I ever will!
I didn’t realize you lived so far from downtown. That’s almost like going to my parents.And good luck to you & your MIL!
UCAN always puts together a good panel – I was sorry to miss them before Boston this year.
I like the point about mental training – I think a lot of people overlook that!
That is such a neat opportunity! I would have been kind of nervous with the protest crowd, too…but I’m glad you made it ok! I love the info these runners had to share – thanks for sharing with us! 🙂
That’s so awesome you got to hear all those elites speak! That is hilarious about Meb admitting to chub rub a bit too although I also find it hard to believe, too!
How exciting to get to go and listen to them! And, the added drama downtown make it even more so. LOL I’ve never been caught up in a protest but, after working for state prosecutors for several years, I’m definitely familiar with police presence while waiting for a jury verdict.
Several months of rest seems incredible to me but I guess when you train that hard for so long to run those paces, your body needs a serious break.
I’ve met Kara Goucher twice. She’s adorable and just so nice! I’ve also met Jeff Galloway but he rubbed me the wrong way with his comments regarding CrossFit and strength training. I get it that an elite runner’s training is focused but he was a little dismissive of the idea that strength training like that was okay.
I’ve seen Kara and Adam Goucher at separate times at my chiropractor’s office in Boulder. When I recongized Kara, i couldn’t say a thing! I didn’t even know what to say :-p
Oh my gosh…50-400’s?????? As someone who does not like monotony, I’d be a mess with that workout LOL This sounds like a fun evening, full of all kinds of valuable info.
What an interesting evening. You are so lucky to have this opportunity.
I am not good about resting but then again I don’t log a lot of miles or run marathons.
I agree about the mental game.
I remember reading Alexi Pappas story in I think Womens Running Magazine and was intrigued that it was going to be her first marathon. Even though I enjoy running, I admit that I dont keep up with what the elites do. I hope the race went well for her. -M
That sounds like a stacked panel – I wish more events had something like this!
Rest is so important but we forget it so much!!! And yes to mental- my husband always says that races are mostly mental.