Bonkless Lovefest

You know what I really like? Raising money for a great cause while training for an event. In fact, I feel like I don’t really pick my next race, but that life has a way of picking my next race for me. By that I mean, sometimes issues appear in our lives and we’re made aware of opportunities to raise money for said cause. I’m all for that. Sometimes, we just feel prompted to act on behalf of a cause without a personal event prompting us to do so. I’m all for that, too.

So, here’s what we’re going to do today, folks. Who is raising money for a running, walking, cycling or other endurance event right now? Let’s hear it. Leave a little info in the comments section below about the event, perhaps share with us why you’re participating in this event, along with a link to your fundraising page. Seriously, just shout it out. I’ll update this post with your info as you post. Sound good? Great.

I’ll even start, in case you’re shy.

In December, I’m running the St. Jude Half-Marathon on behalf of a very tiny member of my family, who is being treated there currently. I’m fundraising here.

See, that wasn’t so hard. Who else is fundraising for an endurance event?

Gear Check: The Must Haves

So, this morning was the very soggy and chilly Chicago Half-Marathon & 5K and I’m thinking about the things we rely on, as runners, to feel comfortable, both mentally and physically, because Friday at the expo, I heard a woman say, “Well, it is my first race ever, Cindy! I should buy a brand new outfit and shoes to wear tomorrow.” Everyone within earshot, myself included, responded in a slo-mo “nooooooooooooooo!” sort of way and we all began talking at once about how it is essential to not vary your routine on race day. Nerves, excitement and the crowd of other runners will be wild card enough on race day; do not do anything else to deviate from how you have trained. The shoes, socks, food, sports drink/water combination, shorts and singlet all need to be tried and true and reliable and off your mind so you can be free to focus on having a good race. This applies, really, whether it’s your first race or your hundredth. Using tried and true items and routines on race day helps build a mental foundation, in a sense.

I found the cold weather running clothes I like, with a few of each in rotation, and ditto for the warm weather running clothes. But, for every race I have run since early 2005, in hot and dry weather and in cold and wet weather, I have worn Asics Kayano socks (the yellow-toed ones) and eaten peanut butter beforehand, without exception. A friend of mine makes sure she has a GU Energy Gel in strawberry-banana at a certain point in a marathon, every marathon, and another friend has a thing about wearing red, a la Tiger Woods. So, my question for you, readers dear, if this: What is the one specific product (besides the brand and make of shoes that you trust) do you consider essential and absolutely non-negotiable on event day? Is it something practical that eases your work or something for personal superstition or both?

Nissan Quality of Life Expo in Chicago

I spent a little time in the afternoon at the Nissan Quality of Life Expo at Chicago’s Navy Pier. I have so much to report back, that I think a list might be the way to go:

• The best t-shirt is a tie between Montees “In My Mind I Am A Kenyan” and the official Chicago Half-Marathon & 5K shirts that read simply “I Run This City”.

• Chatted with Bobby Overton of Overton Fitness about his Spibelt. Loved the product, and bought one in olive after trying it out by shoving my BlackBerry and all sorts of other crap in the pouch and hopping around. I’m keen to also pick up one of their reflective Spibelts, too. I’ll run with it for a week or so and give it a proper review here on Bonkless after. Spibelt seems to have addressed the age-old issue of having keys, ID and mobile device flopping around during a run.

• Talked with a guy associated with both the Geist Half-Marathon & 5K and the Indianapolis Marathon & Half-Marathon. The Indianapolis Marathon is of particular interest, folks, because it’s a marathon, half-marathon, 5K run/walk, and marathon relay, which is cool if you’ve never done a marathon relay. Also, it’s got low crowd numbers, is really a pretty flat course so it’s a good Boston qualifier.

• Talked with two women associated with the Disney Endurance Series. I have it on good authority that the Disney Marathon is a fun race. Plus, say the words “Florida in January” to a Chicago resident and our eyes turn to pinwheels. Their Tower of Terror 13K night race sounds kind of fun, as well. Speaking of escaping to Florida when it’s cold in Chicago, I also chatted with both the ING Miami Marathon and Publix Escape Miami Triathlon guy and entered to win free race registration, and then met a rep from Team Challenge, who, much like Team In Training, trains runners of all skill levels to run the ING Miami Marathon and others while raising money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, and you know I’m all about combining endurance sports and philanthropy whenever possible. Then, I met the ladies from the ING Georgia Marathon, which is not only a pretty race, but one of historical interest, as runners pass civil rights landmarks and the birthplace of MLK.

• I met the wonderful ladies of the Chicago chapter of Girls on The Run, a program that uses the skills and confidence of running to help young girls develop healthy habits and a positive self-image. They offer a coaching program for women that I’m really keen to do at some point. They’re behind the Wonder Girl 5K races, too.

• The guys behind Tru02 gave me a sample can of their oxygen-enriched air to test out post-run. Will report back on that a little later, too, once I’ve had a chance to try it out.

• Chatted with the Chicago Endurance Sports folks for a fast moment, about their running programs from beginner to fine-tuning the intermediate runner, triathlon programs, cycling clinics, yoga and pilates for runners, and core performance for athletes programs. Now that is awesome. I’m a big advocate of core strength as a foundation, so I’m glad to see the yoga, pilates and core strengthening programs being offered. Also Illinois Runs was on hand with info about their runner training programs, with emphasis on the Chicago Half-Marathon and the full Marathon races next year. And, CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) was around, too, of course, with info about their training programs, clinics and injury prevention hotline.

• I met and talked for a while with Erik McClain, director of development for Pancreatica Running Team, and found the work they’re doing to be of great interest. They’re a small organization, to be sure, and so they make the absolute most of their budget, devoting almost all funding to research, as opposed to say advertising, public awareness and research. What I found particularly cool about the organization, aside from it being an organization supporting pancreatic cancer research is that athletes can do whatever events they want to raise money for them, not just participate in certain designated races. Sure, some races are on their website, races in which several other Pancreatica team members are participating, but any race is good in their view. And, I think that’s really cool. Apparently, a guy in Arkansas thinks this is very cool, too, and he is sleeping to raise money for pancreatic cancer. Hey, whatever works.