Moonshot 7

I wanted to capture my 2020 virtual Chicago Marathon experience when it was fresh on my mind. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Chicago Marathon was cancelled. I had run the Chicago Marathon for the past 8 years since 2012 and I was eagerly looking forward to the 9th one, but 2020 had other plans.  Chicago Marathon is one of the six world marathon major races. Others are Boston, New York, London, Berlin and Tokyo. I consider it a privilege and a great honor to live and run in this race for so many years. The Chicago Marathon is usually the second Sunday of October in the beautiful fall weather which attracts around 40,000 runners from around the world. There are usually over 1.5 million spectators packing the streets of the city and the race runs through 29 neighborhoods. You can feel the diversity and the various cultures as you float through it. "Ah, the sun is finally out!" It's 3:45 am and I was ready to hit the road Things that were the same this year: The nostalgic feeling ...

PROLOGUE Do you like to run? I have a race for you where you wear 3, 4 or 5 layers of winter jackets, winter tights and snow pants, and winter running shoes.  And a winter hat, balaclava, many winter socks, base layers, etc.  If you think, 'OK, I just need to layer up before I run because it will be cold, cool!', this might be the race for you... You also need to wear a reflective vest, one powerful 30-lumen or higher red blinking bike light in the front and two red bike lights on your back throughout the race, day or night.  You have to carry 'required gear' like a below-zero sleeping bag, a bivy (don't worry if you don't know what this is. I didn't know it either until I needed to buy one), cash, headlamps, extra batteries, a reflective vest, etc.  Previous years had additional required gear like a stove, Esbit tablets for fire, stormproof matches, 3000 calories of food.  The idea is, in case you get stranded, you need all these to survive until you fee...

I don't know what I was thinking, I chose to run a 100-miles on my Birthday this year!  Well, it sounded like a good idea when I signed up in January for a September race.  A lot had happened since  I signed up, including Badwater135.  This was my first race after Badwater135 at Death Valley in July.  I was still mentally and physically recovering from that humongous effort, and wanted to run the Hawk100 with my heart, enjoy the experience and most importantly, have fun. Hawk100 in 3 words: community, trails, joy! Pre-race: It was an easy flight to Kansas City, MO and a short drive to Lawrence, Kansas.  The preparation and days leading up to the race felt very relaxed.  I was not worried about the weather, flooding, trail conditions, my conditions, etc.. as I have been pondering, I like frequently do, on where life has brought me and what was ahead of me.  We had lunch with a colleague who retired in July and lives in KC.  It is alway...

Sunday 9 am: It was mile-88, temperatures were heading to over 100F heat index, the sun was blazing down on me,  I have been running for over 27 hours by now, without a crew or pacer, and a major shin injury in my right leg! I can feel myself staggering on this cement side walk that was going up a bridge... a lot had happened until then.... All smiles, but this is within the first 25 miles Pre-race: I flew to Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday before the race weekend, as I had planned a few days off from work around Keys100 ultra-marathon.  I will be going to the Florida Keys for the race any ways, why not stay a few extra days.  My friend Melissa Kaiser from the Chicago area ultra-running community had joined me for this trip as she had also signed up for the race.  We drove to Key Largo and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott, which was conveniently positioned next to the packet pickup and the race start line. A relay team we met before the race We went around K...