I made a pilgrimage to [run] this Human Race…

… never comprehending the race had long gone by.

- With apologies to Modern English

Time until marathon starts: 40 days, 20 hours, 40 min., 17 sec.
Miles run since last post: 23.7
Race t-shirts acquired since 01 Jan., 2008: 9

WEEK 6, SOLDIER FIELD ( 01 Sept., 2008 ) – Last night, I took part in running history. I joined 13,999 other people to run the Nike+ Human Race 10K at Soldier Field – one of 25 10Ks taking place in cities around the world on the same day. It was touted to be the world’s largest running event, or as Nike put it, “the day the world stopped to run.”

Yesterday was a milestone for several of my colleagues too – Amy and Archie made their racing debuts at the Human Race, and the Human Race was Evangeline’s first 10K in seven years. Amy, pictured with me above, ran a 10:35 pace to finish in an impressive 65:42, and Archie finished with a 57:04 time. Evangeline tore it up with a 64:05 finish. Way to go, guys!

As for me, I started out running sub-8 minute miles for the first third of the race, but averaged an 8:32 pace for a 52:57 finish.

Doing the Hustle (up the Hancock)

STREETERVILLE ( 24 Feb., 2008 ) – At 8:17AM this morning, I found myself in a more utilitarian set of surroundings than what one ordinarily sees at the John Hancock Center – inside a cinderblock and steel stairwell, bound for the 94th floor observatory. Today was my annual running of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago’s Hustle Up the Hancock.

Update (25 Feb.): I received word of my official score: 17 minutes, 18 seconds.