Chicago Athlete Magazine May/June 2018

MARATHON TRAINING TIPS

FROM TOP LOCAL RUNNER KRISTEN HECKERT

chicago athlete ENDURANCE SPORTS AND FITNESS

magazine

MB BIKE THE DRIVE RAISING MONEY FOR ACTIVE TRANS, LAKEFRONT TRAIL SEPARATION + REGISTRATION DISCOUNT CODE INSIDE!

+ 6 REASONS COMMUNITY

TRIATHLON WWW.MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

+ Road

+

TO SUPPORT YOUR

MAY/JUNE 2018

vs Trail

Where to Log Your Miles this Season

START & FINISH PATRIOTIC POST-RACE PARTY ON THE FIELD OPENING CEREMONY

15TH ANNIVERSARY FINISHER MEDAL

2018 4/29/18

5/05/18

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2018 9/08/18

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10/20/18

11/04/18

11/22/18

You Can Do This.

The Chicago Triathlon - where the world comes to race in, around and under this historic city’s architectural masterpieces. It’s where beginner and elite athletes alike come to be challenged, as well as inspired. It’s Chicago’s only triathlon, with 35 years of premier venues, premium amenities and awe inspiring spectating. Don’t miss your shot at glory. Commit today at ChicagoTriathlon.com

August 26, 2018 ChicagoTriathlon.com #ChiTri Distances

Swim

Bike

SuperSprint .23 miles 6.2 miles Sprint .47 miles 15 miles International .93 miles 24.8 miles

magazine

Run

1.5 miles 3.1 miles 6.2 miles

EDITOR’S NOTE

Wish Me Luck – Sincerely, A First-Timer Although this winter in Chicago seemed never-ending, with snow and cold temperatures through mid-April, the time that so many have been waiting for is nearly here: fall marathon training.

If you’ve followed my other notes, you know I am training for my first marathon this year, which will be the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, of course! Before training even begins, I have a lot of emotions running through me: I’m nervous, because the farthest I’ve run is 13.1 miles, which was an extreme challenge every time; I’m paranoid that I’ll get injured and won’t be able to do it; I’m scared about how I’m going to train myself to eat while running; but mostly, I’m excited. Ever since I started running in high school and would watch my coaches run marathons, it was always something I thought I’d do one day. It’s crazy that day is only about 18-weeks away.

When I first registered for the Chicago Area Runners Association’s fall marathon training program in January, I felt like I had so much time. I’ve been focusing on building my strength in these off months, and when that first Saturday morning long run comes, I know I’ll be ready. I feel so lucky to be immersed in such a supportive and motivating community as the one of Chicago runners, and I can’t wait to meet more of you throughout this journey, and high-five you on October 7 at that finish line.

If you have any training tips or resources, please, please, PLEASE send them my way! While I know I’ll be in good hands with CARA, no advice will go unappreciated. Tweet at me at @holly_petrovich or email me at editor@mychicagoathlete.com Enough about me, though. This issue of Chicago Athlete is for all athletes in our area, seeking goals this summer. If marathon training is on your agenda, too, check out CARA’s tips to prepare for it on page 26. Plus, get the ultimate advice from local pro Kristen Heckert on page 42. Dig even deeper and find out what types of training environments are best for you, when we weigh the pros and cons of road and trail running on page 34, and gravel cycling on page 24.

Triathletes, we haven’t forgotten about you! With the Transamerica Chicago Triathlon in August, take advantage of the early summer months to get the feel for the sport. On page 38, we talk about why local community triathlons are so valuable, and provide a list for you to “tri” some out.

While this issue covers everything you’ll need all summer long, let’s not forget that it’s just beginning, and we don’t want to wish it away. Kick off the season right with the annual Bike the Drive event on May 27; not only does this event provide a unique opportunity to ride on a carless Lake Shore Drive, but it actually helps support several area projects, including the Lakefront Trail separation. Learn more on page 32.

Regardless of what you’re doing this summer, do the best you can!

Happy Running!

Holly Petrovich

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Make your miles more meaning ful Make your miles more meaning ful Runners from across the country and around the world

October 7, 2018 October 7, 2018

unite on the streets of Chicago every October to conquer 26.2 Runners from across the country and around the world miles and call themselves Bank of America Chicago Marathon unite on the streets of Chicago every October to conquer 26.2 finishers. Join us in 2018 and make your marathon experience miles and call themselves Bank of America Chicago Marathon more meaningful by running on behalf of a charity. finishers. Join us in 2018 and make your marathon experience more meaningful by running on behalf of a charity.

Learn more at chicagomarathon.com #ChicagoMarathon Learn more at chicagomarathon.com #ChicagoMarathon

Start Line

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MyChiCagoathLete.CoM

Chicago Half Marathon

Pamela Stamataky (right) happily runs along Lake Shore Drive at the 2017 Chicago Half Marathon on September 24.

Photo by: Ali Engin

MyChiCAgoAthlEtE.CoM

may/june 2018

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CONTENTS

05.01.18

ON THE

COVER

2017 MB Bike the Drive Participants

Photo by: Active Trans

chicago athlete magazine

PUBLISHER Eliot Wineberg | x201 gorun@mychicagoathlete.com

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Holly Petrovich | x208 editor@mychicagoathlete.com Active Kids Christine Palmquist chrisorjeff@sbcglobal.net Cycling Highlights Lindsay Knight lindsay.knight@gmail.com Ever yday Athlete Mark Buciak theroadtoboston@rcn.com

ART/PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR

Kelli Lambertsen | x206 kelli@mychicagoathlete.com

+ 32

Raising Money for Active Trans, Lakefront Trail Separation FEATURES

34

12.

Nutrition

ROAD VS TRAIL

14.

Scoop

Which is Best for You?

19.

Product Review

38

21.

Athlete of the Month

6 REASONS

22.

Everyday Athlete

To Support Your Community Triathlon

24.

Cycling

26.

CARA

28.

Active Kids

44.

Race Results

48.

Calendar

42

MARATHON TRAINING TIPS From Local Superstar Kristen Heckert 10

MAY/JUNE 2018

DEPARTMENTS

MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

PHOTOGRAPHER Ali Engin

ADVERTISING SALES

Jonathan Cain | x210 jcain@mychicagoathlete.com

NATIONAL SALES Jeremy Solomon | x202 jeremy@mychicagoathlete.com

CHICAGO SPORTS MEDIA, INC. 7842 N. LINCOLN AVENUE, SKOKIE, IL 60077 PHONE: 847.675.0200 | FAX: 847.675.2903 WEB: www.mychicagoathlete.com The entire contents of Chicago Athlete magazine are copyright 2018 by Chicago Sports Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Chicago Athlete magazine is published five times per year and is available through paid subscription and newsstands at more than 500 locations. Visit www.mychicagoathlete.com for our distribution list.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSION: Unsolicited materials are welcome and will be considered for Chicago Athlete magazine. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Chicago Athlete magazine is not responsible for returning unsolicited materials.

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NutritioN

Gluten Free Fueling Options for Marathon Training

Up Until last year, i was blessed with a body that only felt pain in my mUscles and joints. then, seemingly oUt

of nowhere, i began to experience intense, crippling, stomach pain. i figUred it was some type of mUscle pain and, as rUnners do, i tried to mUscle throUgh it. it wasn’t Until i had to miss a race becaUse of the pain that i realized i needed to see a doctor. sues. Because I am a morning runner, I find it necessary to fuel before heading out to train. The Stroopwafel is the first fuel to hit my body and normally keeps me satisfied for the first half of my run.

In early January, I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

The Celiac Disease Foundation defines celiac disease on their website as “a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. Two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed and are at risk for long-term health complications.”

GU offers three celiac-friendly energy Stroopwafel flavors: Coconut, Salted Chocolate, and Wild Berries. The Stroopwafels are blended with organic flour, derived from gluten-free sources (tapioca, rice, potato) that tastes delicious and holds up on-the-go.

It took a while, and about a million texts to my lifeline sister, who also has celiac disease, but I eventually got the hang of eating gluten free meals and avoiding cross-contamination in my everyday life.

However, then March hit, and so did the beginning of marathon training season. I began to research and experiment with different types of gluten free fueling. Not only did I need products that were gluten-free, they had to be made in facilities that were certified gluten-free, as any cross-contamination sent my stomach into knots, a feeling I never want to experience again.

After some trial and error, I found three different products that both helps my performance and fit all the dietary restrictions for celiac disease.

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GU Stroopwafels

This is my go-to, pre-workout fuel. I absolutely love the wild berry f lavor and even find myself keeping a spare in my purse in case there are no gluten free options at the local lunch joint. This is a safe meal for me before my longer training runs and races because it does not weigh me down and does not create any mid-run, digestive is-

“Our goal at GU Energy Labs is to make products for athletes that deliver the right ingredients, at the right time, in a form that’s easy to carry and digest,” says Roxanne Vogel, MS, EP-C, CSCS*D, CISSN, GU Energy Labs Sports Nutritionist. “For athletes with a gluten intolerance, this means creating gluten-free options that don’t sacrifice great taste or nutritional performance. Our Energy Gels and drink mixes are also gluten-free along with many of our other products.”

GU was one of the first companies I relied on for safe, good, fuel, and it hasn’t let me down.

In fact, I’ve found many food companies do not take steps to ensure their products are

Recipes

safe for individuals with celiac to consume; having a production facility that safely produces gluten free foods is expensive and does not always provide a financial benefit to the company. However, there is a great source of comfort that I, as a newer celiac, find if having a label that explicitly states gluten-free, with no disclaimer that the product was also made on a plant with wheat.

Before the Start Line menu option

What you put inside your body is just as important as what you make your body do during training.

Honey Stinger Chews

I have come to rely on the caffeinated varieties of these bad boys to push me from miles 20-24 of the marathon distance. The sweet chew is a nice texture change from the small crunchy jelly bean I had been relying on for the middle miles, and the caffeine gives me a much needed mental boost to power through the last few miles that always seem to feel longer.

Jelly Belly Sport Beans

These beans pack a powerful sugar punch that I found most helpful at the mid-point of my longer runs. I felt the energy kick in almost immediately, plus they taste great. There is a slight difference in taste from the traditional Jelly Belly jelly bean, as the electrolytes and vitamins have been added to assist in performance and recovery, but there’s nothing like a piece of candy at mile 13 to push you through to mile 18.

In a study conducted by the University of California, Davis School of Medicine Sports Program, Sport Beans were proven just as effective as popular sport drinks and gels in maintaining blood sugar levels and improving exercise performance in competitive endurance athletes.

“Sport Beans were specially formulated with sports performance in mind,” stated Jana Perry, Jelly Belly Communications Manager. “They are a source of easily digestible carbohydrate for fuel, along with electrolytes and vitamins.

We take pride in our flavors, drawing from our experience with Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a tasty sports performance product.”

“At Honey Stinger, we are passionate about using wholesome, organic, non-GMO ingredients and are proud to offer fuel options for our athletes in the gluten-free community,” stated Jordan Edwards, Honey Stinger Marketing Manager. “Our Energy Chews, sweetened with organic honey and tapioca syrup, provide a sustainable source of energy for everything from your next half marathon to ultra-marathon and every distance in between.”

Honey Stinger also offers organic gluten-free flavored waffles, for athletes looking for a sweeter, more breakfast-y option to fuel their runs.

Not only do these products provide the fuel and mental stimulation to get through longer training runs and performance races, but they also keep my body safe and pain free. I no longer have to worry about eating foods that tear up my intestinal track, or send me into malnutrition by blocking absorption of nutrients and vitamins; knowing they are prepared in a way that is safe and sensitive to the celiac community, where even a crumb of gluten can negatively affect our bodies, allows me to focus on my runs rather than my stomach.

Skinny Enchilada StuffEd BEll PEPPErS

This meal, high in Vitamin C, is a great post-run meal for after your marathon training long runs. Vitamin C plays a critical role in collagen formation, and collagen is the primary component of connective tissue. This is a quick and easy meal that’s packed with flavor to keep you full for several hours after the run. ingrEdiEntS: 5 large bell peppers, I used and array of different colors 1.5 lb. ground turkey 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup corn 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 10 oz. can enchilada sauce 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. salt dirEctionS: 1. Carefully cut off the tops of the bell peppers and hollow out the insides. Place in a greased 7x11 baking pan and set aside.

2. In a large skillet, brown turkey until cooked through and juices run clear.

3. Place turkey in a large mixing bowl and add black beans, corn, cheese, enchilada sauce, cumin and salt and stir to evenly combine ingredients.

4. Stuff each bell pepper to the top rim. Once each bell pepper is stuffed cover pan with foil.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Remove pan and foil and sprinkle tops with cheese and return to oven to bake uncovered an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melty on top.

By Mandi Florip MyChiCagoathlete.CoM

may/june 2018

13

SCOOP

NATIONAL

BIKE MONTH

Stephen Sambu

WINS BANK OF AMERICA SHAMROCK SHUFFLE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW On March 25, Stephen Sambu became the fi rst person in the 39 years of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k to win four consecutive times. Sambu, 29, of Tucson, Ariz., fi nished in 23:10; Sambu also holds the 8k world record of 22:01.1.

“I love running in Chicago and look forward to racing here again in October at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Sambu, according to a press release from the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.

Laura Thweatt, 29, of Boulder, Colo., was the women’s winner on Sunday. Thweatt finished with a time of 26:02, propelling her and her Boulder Track Club teammates to victory of the 10th annual Deloitte Elite Club Competition.

“I’m coming off a pretty big injury and it was my fi rst time racing in 11 months. All in all, it was a fun environment and a great reminder of what I love about racing,” said Thweatt.

Champaign, Ill., residents and University of Illinois teammates Amanda McGrory and Brian Siemann took first place for the women’s and men’s wheelchair competition, respectively. McGrory, Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion, came in at 23:00, and Siemann finished at 21:41.

The 2019 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k will be held on March 24.

GET CONNECTED! Are you following Chicago Athlete on social media? Join the conversation today to stay up to date on everything in the Chicago endurance scene.

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www.facebook.com/ChicagoAthlete @ChicagoAthlete @chicagoathlete ChicagoAthlete

Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try. Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.

National Bike Month includes an ever-expanding diversity of events in communities nationwide — but the biggest day of the month is Bike to Work Day. In 2018, Bike to Work Week will be May 14–18, with Bike to Work Day on May 18.

In fact, 40 percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent.

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July 4

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Presented by: Prairie Path Foot & Ankle Clinic

EVENTS FOR TRIATHLETES AND OPEN WATER SWIMMERS

CARA RACE OF THE YEAR!

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A Long Swim offers competitive professionally-timed events designed for triathletes and open water swimmers.

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SCOOP

NEW RELAY

IN HONOR OF LEGENDARY COACH JOE NEWTON In December of 2017, long-time York High School boys cross country coach Joe Newton passed away at 88-years-old. Newton is often remembered for 45 State Championships in his 55 years of coaching, but even more so for the impact he made on each individual athlete.

Celebrating 40 Years

CHICAGO AREA RUNNER’S ASSOCIATION STILL RUNNING STRONG 2018 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Chicago Area Runner’s Association. In 1978, CARA began as an advocacy group, protesting to move the Chicago Marathon from September at 10 a.m. to a morning start in October. It then grew into a small running group in Chicago, eventually turning into the third largest local community of runners in America.

Employees of CARA are taking this opportunity to look back at the history; throughout the year, they will interview past members, put together historical timelines and share facts about the group to show the Chicago running community how it’s mission remains the same.

“We wouldn’t have gotten to the 40-year mark without our members and leadership,” executive director Greg Hipp says. “We started as a small group of people protesting to protect running, and that’s what we’re still doing today on a larger scale.”

CARA’s most recent mark on the running community is through its ‘Go Run series, which offers free races throughout Chicago parks during the summer and fall; Hipp hopes that in another 40 years, CARA members and local athletes will be able to recognize its value and impact.

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He really alludes the organization’s success to its member-driven structure, which sets CAR A apart from other grassroots running clubs. Every year, nearly 3,000 runners undergo training with the group, many of which train for a fall marathon.

In fact, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon also celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017, and Hipp really values the synergy between CAR A and the event.

“The Chicago Marathon really inspires our members, and we’re one of the groups that facilitates the opportunity to achieve that goal.” Hipp adds. “We hope to be as much of a contributor to their success.”

Hipp is using this milestone to look ahead to the new chapter; he explains that CAR A is working on a new strategic plan for making changes and decisions, all while keeping the same consistent vision of protecting running in Chicago.

“There’s a lot more that we want to do,” Hipp says. “If we’re going to be here in another 40 years, we need the people and support.”

To honor his legacy, former athletes of Newton’s are hosting a two-person 10k team relay event on July 15 at North Central College stadium in Naperville. The event, Endure It 10K Team Relay, is modeled after one of Newton’s famous workouts, where the athletes would take turns running on the track until completing a set distance.

“This was always such an epic day at practice, so we thought we would recreate it for the masses,” Dan Dziubski, Endure It race director and former athlete of Newton’s, says. “It’s the only event like it in America, maybe even the world.”

Each partner will run 12 laps on the 400-meter track, alternating laps, until each person runs a 5k. There will be live scrolling-lap splits on HDTVs on the infield to help track laps and let athletes know their split times.

The money raised from the event will be donated directly to the Joe Newton Scholarship of Excellence Award, which will be awarded to qualified high school senior runners. The event is open to anyone, with different race divisions of Open Age Group, Elite and High School.

“Newton was a mentor to thousands of young men who came through his cross country program,” Dziubski says. “I was one of those students who would have never even thought of joining cross country or track, but was recruited by him, an act which started a domino effect of events which changed the rest of my life for the better.”

For more information and to register, visit www.endureitsports.com/10krelay

MAY 20

MAY 28

JUL 21

SEP 8

Lake Forest Academy, 1500 W. Kennedy Rd., Lake Forest, IL, 9:00 a.m.

How to register: www.dash4debra.org. The dash4dEBra is a scenic, off road 5k run/walk to benefit dEBra of America - the only national nonprofit dedicated to funding research and providing supportive services and programs for those with EB (epidermolysis bullosa). EB is a rare, genetic connective tissue disorder. Can't join us at the event?

Run the race virtually and receive a race medal in the mail!

Essence Pilates, 849 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, IL, 8:45 a.m.

How to register: www.essenceoffreedomrun.com.

The Essence of Freedom Run is the signature fundraising event for Support Our Soldiers Freedom, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Proceeds from the run provide support to active duty military and veterans for expenses not covered by military benefits. The 2018 event is a 5k race that will include chip timing, t-shirts, goodie bags, music and food.

Lake Forest College, 500 N. Sheridan Rd., Lake Forest, IL, 7:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., How to register: www.venusdemiles.com. Venus de Miles—Illinois’ only all-women’s bike ride, 5k run and celebration of sisterhood. Participants enjoy a finish line festival featuring complimentary lunch, cocktails, spa services, and a unique vendor expo. The event is put on by and fully benefits Greenhouse Scholars, an education nonprofit that works with extraordinary college students from low-income backgrounds and inspires, supports, and drives them to change the trajectory of their careers, their families, and their communities.

Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, IL, 5:15 p.m. FREE Children’s Fun Run starts: 4:45pm How to register: www.glasatwilight.org. The Twilight 5K is one of the largest CARA certified 5k races in the Chicago-land area serving competitive and recreation runners and athletes with disabilities.

Proceeds from this event help the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association provide year-round, daily adaptive sports programming and financial assistance to individuals with a physical or visual disability.

This time iotn’sal

pers

racepal

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A new event calendar you can share with your racing pals

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SCOOP

GO THE XTRA MILE

AT NEW SCHAUMBURG RUNNING STORE

Coming to Chicago

10K AND HALF MARATHON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Byline Bank Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K, and Chicago Half Marathon & 5K produced

by Life Time® Healthy Way of Life, are partnering with the USA Track & Field (USATF) – Illinois Association to host state championships. Together with Life Time, the nation’s premier healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment brand, USATF – Illinois will be a driving force in providing a premier race experience for local developing athletes.

Set for May 20, the Byline Bank Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K will host this years’ USATF – Illinois 10K Championship. While on September 23, the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K will host the USATF – Illinois Half Marathon Championship.

TOP 74

“Whether an elite athlete or a beginner, Life Time and USATF provide a vehicle to foster athletes at every level along their healthy way of life journey,” says Life Time Run Brand Manager, Dan Lakin. “We’re excited to welcome the State Championships to Chicago at this years’ event and for years to come.”

An estimated 8,000 runners are expected to participate in this year’s Byline Bank Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K and another 13,000 are expected to take on the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K this September. To place in a championship race, registered participants must be a current member of USATF at the time of the race.

Marathons and Half Marathons

IN THE MIDWEST

Runners are creatures of habits; when they find a shoe, a trail or a race they like, they tend to stick to it.

Sometimes it’s good to switch things up, though, especially when it comes to a race schedule.

There are so many races in the Midwest, it can be hard to pick just a few each year. From scenic small-town suburban races to larger lakefront runs, we’ve compiled a list of the best marathons and half marathons in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. We dare you to try something outside of your borders and outside of your comfort zone in 2018.

Read our digital April issue to find out the Top 74 Half and Full Marathons in the Midwest now at http://www.mychicagoathlete.com/special-digital-issues/

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In April, a new running store stepped on the scene in Schaumburg, Ill. Xtra Mile Running is located at 1437 W. Schaumburg Road, just west of Schaumburg High School.

Owner Chris Schiel had a background in running and was looking for a more flexible job to accommodate his family life when he decided to open a running store, according to the store’s website.

After obtaining a business degree, Schiel made the dream happen.

On April 2, Xtra Mile Running opened its doors for a group run with Fast Track, and the official grand opening was April 23.

“At Xtra Mile Running, our mission is to provide you with the tools, knowledge, and support to help you achieve your goals,” the store website says. “We know finding the right running products can be complicated. We’re here to keep it simple. By getting to know you and your goals, XM Running employs a personalized approach to provide great support, help you stay injury-free, and help you cross the finish line!”

Xtra Mile Running has dozens of popular brands for runners, and offers a USAgain collection bin, where athletes can drop off old shoes to be donated to local charity, Back on My Feet. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, visit www.xtramilerunning.com

PRODUCT REVIEW

But wait, it gets better. The app itself is a tracker that allows the user to follow along on their drinking achievements, and set goals for themselves. When first downloaded, Hidrate asks the user to enter in demographical information, including weight and activity level, and it then spits out a number of fluid ounces to be drunken each day.

Users can also sync it to their Fitbit, Apple Watch, Apple Health, Google Fit, Under Armour Record, and Nokia Health Mate to reevaluate hydration needs for their specific activity levels. The app also allows users to add water drunken from a different source to allow for more accuracy, and even has a “compete with friends” feature to push the motivation further.

As mentioned above, I need all the help I can get when it comes to proper hydration.

During the week when I’m at work, my water bottle sits away from viewing on my desk, and I forget about it. With the Hidrate Spark, though, I get updates on my phone from the app to drink, along with the fl ashing reminders. I still have yet to try and sync it to my Apple Watch, but I know that if I got reminders on that like I do on my phone, it will only make me drink more.

After using this water bottle for a couple of months, I honestly fi nd myself being more conscious about my water consumption. I check the app several times a day to make sure I am on pace to hit my goal, and make sure I drink every time the bottle flashes. I even have the high school girls track team that I coach letting me know when my bottle is flashing, and a few of the girls have even bought the water bottle after seeing mine.

Hidrate Spark Water Bottle

THE NEW GO-TO-BOTTLE FOR MARATHON TRAINING

With marathon training in Chicago comes hot weather, and the need to hydrate before runs drastically increases. If you’re like me, drinking water doesn’t come easy; I try and drink it with every meal, and obviously during and after my workouts, but I definitely struggle to force the tasteless fluid down my throat.

Even if I wasn’t a runner or active person, I know I am not drinking as much water as I should be.

According to Web MD, a person should drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. Divide that by 8 ounces (the standard size glass), and that’s how many glasses you should drink a day. It’s safe to say I’m nowhere close to my daily requirement, and I am pretty active.

This seems to be a common problem among athletes, common enough that Hidrate Spark created a product to help you reach your goal of water intake every day. The Hidrate Spark 2.0 water bottle looks like your standard water bottle, and can be just that, but hooked up to its Hidrate app, it is arguably one of the most useful products for those lacking on their water drinking.

Inside the twist-off cap is a long white stick that reaches to the bottom of the bottle, and inside that is a battery. This battery then hooks up to the Hidrate app via Bluetooth, and tracks the amount of water being drunken at all times. If a user is behind on their daily requirement, the stick then blinks a bright color to remind you to drink more.

The biggest perk in my mind, though, is that it never needs to be recharged. The battery provided lasts forever, and if it does die, a replacement is included in the package. Oh, and the bottle fl ashes once you hit your goal too, so that’s exciting.

No, I’m not hitting my goals every day, and I think I could definitely drink even more than the number given to me (the app gives you the minimum f luid ounces of water you need), but I have definitely prioritized hydration more since I’ve gotten it. I mean, if a f lashing water bottle can’t get me to drink water, what will?

The Hidrate Spark comes in six diff erent colors and is $54.95. It is available at Target or on https://hidratespark.com.

By: Holly Petrovich MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

MAY/JUNE 2018

19

SCOOP

CHANGES HANDS AND REPOSITIONS AS A SHORT COURSE EVENT The city of Racine, Wisc., has partnered with Ohio company HFP Racing to announce the Real Racing International Triathlon. The race date, set for July 15, was originally occupied by an IRONMAN 70.3 event but recently ended their partnership with the city of Racine.

The race is set for July 15th and is open to licensed professional triathletes and amateur triathletes. There will be a $25,000 purse prize for the professional division in the Olympic distance triathlon. The event is offering a free individual race entry to all professionals with a valid license card from their home triathlon federation. All registration

Intelligentsia Cup p/b SRAM

TO PAY EQUAL PRIZE MONEY ACROSS GENDERS

For the 2018 series, running July 20-29, the Intelligentsia Cup powered by SRAM will be paying equal prize money across genders — same amount of money for the same amount of places. As well, both of the pro omniums have an increased prize purse totaling $5,000 each. This brings the total purse more than $83,000 in cash prizes for pros and amateurs.

“We are proud to offer equal prize money across genders within all of our categories, both pro and amateur,” said managing partner Tom Schuler. “We

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hope that this will help further the trend of more women racing bikes, not only in our series but in bike racing everywhere.”

While the series already had equal prize money for podium places across genders in the past, the increase in female participation means field sizes are becoming closer to equal and justified the decision. For the third year the series will have three separate women’s categories, including the very popular Women’s Category 2/3 race.

closes in late June.

The course will start off with a swim in Lake Michigan, followed by a bike ride through downtown Racine and the surrounding communities, finishing with a run along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and through the North Bay and Windpoint communities.

The bike and run courses are completely closed.

SuSan niSwander

“I’ve always run as a way of clearing my mind and keeping sane during crazy times. When my run times reached a plateau I started triathlons hoping the cross training would improve running and increase longevity. After some Olympic distance triathlons, I was intrigued by the Ironman distance and signed up for Florida in 1999. The satisfaction of crossing the finish line always brings tears of joy and has driven me to complete 10 Ironman 140.6 races. I’m fortunate that my husband enjoys training and racing with me. That doesn’t make the training easier, but we do motivate each other, particularly for those 3 a.m. bike workouts. After years of racing, this past year and a half was particularly special; I qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon, placed third in Ironman 70.3 North Carolina to qualify for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga; I won my age group in Ironman Mont Tremblant to qualify for and race the 2017 Ironman 140.6 World Championship in Kona.

Niswander’s PRs Half Ironman: 5:31 | Full Ironman: 12:02 | Marathon: 3:40 | Half Marathon: 1:45

ryan JaSkiewicz

“I started running as an adult in 2007 when I ran my first marathon here in Chicago. I was always athletic throughout childhood and ran in high school, but wasn’t very focused. After qualifying for Boston in 2009, it really started to become an obsession and part of my lifestyle. I started getting faster and was able to actually compete in races as time went on. I am on DWRunning as well, where I ran on the team for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k and we placed 26th overall. I also won the Bolingbrook St. Paddy’s 5k this year. I’ve made some solid strides over the past five years or so, but more importantly, I’ve made some great friendships in the Chicago running community. The Chicago running community has given me way more than I can ever pay back.

I live in La Grange Park, IL with my wife and three kids; I have two girls and a boy. I am the founder of 12five Capital, a commercial lender based here in Chicago.

Save Money on race entry feeS

Jaskiewicz’s PRs 5k: 15:12 | 8k: 25:13 | Half Marathon: 1:11:18 | Marathon: 2:27:27

editor@mychicagoathlete.com

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EVERYDAY ATHLETE

Kathleen Hooper CHARITY: ERIKA’S LIGHTHOUSE

Last October, Kathleen Hooper trained for and successfully completed her fi rst marathon at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Th is year, she is back for more.

“It was an amazing experience on race day. The crowds lift you,” Hooper reflects. “Running through all the distinct Chicago neighborhoods, you see the diversity of our great city.”

In 2018, Hooper will again run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on the Erika’s Lighthouse Charity Team. Erika’s Lighthouse is an organization that educates and raises awareness about teenage depression, striving to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Hooper has been on the Erika’s Lighthouse Council since 2015.

“I fi rst learned about Erika’s Lighthouse in August 2014 when my family moved from Connecticut to the Chicago area and settled in Winnetka,” Hooper says. “I met Ginny and Tom Neuckranz, the founders of this wonderful charity, and was moved by their 22

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story and strength to give back amidst such difficult circumstances and wanted to be a part of it.”

whether it be how to hydrate, fuel, or gear. Plus, my family has been behind me 100 percent from start to finish; I couldn’t do it without them.”

The organization began in 2004 after 14-year-old Erika Neuckranz committed suicide; Ginny and Tom decided to help prevent similar occurrences among youth, teens and their families by starting an educational program. They founded Erika’s Lighthouse that same year, and 14 years later, the charity is impacting over 60,000 individuals a year, with programs in 18 states. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the organizations third largest charity event.

For her first marathon, her goal was to just finish.

Now, Hooper wants to beat her previous time, and have a stronger finish.

Originally, Hooper started running to challenge herself; long distance running was not easy for her nor did she think she would be the best at it. She ran track in high school, and continued shorter distances in college, but a marathon never seemed to be on her radar.

“I expected running to be lonely, since I like team sports, but it’s not,” she says. “I received so much support and advice, from all the people I ran with,

In 2018, Hooper will be sharing the experience with her niece, Nikki, who is also on the Erika’s Lighthouse charity team and will be running her fi rst marathon.

“What I enjoy most about running are the kinds of people it attracts. They are generous, encouraging and committed,” she adds.

For more information on Erika’s Lighthouse, and to help Hooper’s fundraising efforts, visit her webpage: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/ team-erikas-lighthouse-2018-bank-of-america-chicago-marathon/kathleenhooper By: Mark Buciak

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cycling enthusiasts

Perks of Gravel Riding Gravel ridinG and racinG has Grown immensely over the past few years; Gone are its days as a weird-third cousin of road, Gravel (or “Groad”) is now a discipline unto itself. predominantly a sprinG and early-summer sport, you can find events both near and far.

The Chicago area has some great gravel events within one to two hours of the city (Rough Road 100, Midwest Gravel Championships); Western Illinois is notorious for its long, rocky roads with thousands of feet of climbing adding up over roller, after roller (Grumpy Grind, The Ten Thousand); Michigan’s sandy loam makes for some great and messy Midwestern ‘classics’ (Barry Roubaix, The Lowell 50); and those near-ish plains states have a number of epically long clay and gravel-coated long-distance slogs (Oklahoma’s Landrun 100 and Kansas’ Dirty Kanza being two of the most infamous). So why the recent uptick in gravel’s popularity? Accessibility.

It’s All About the Bike

As with all things cycling-related, bikes and gear take center stage. However, unlike road proper, the entry point for a gravel race is whatever you want to make of it. Want to splash out on a $4,000 specialty gravel bike?

There are some super lux options out there for you to choose from. Canyon and 3T’s gravel ranges are made for bike snobs and weight weenies of the roadie world. Though ‘aero’ and ‘adventure bike’ might seem like a contradiction in terms to some, if it’s your jam then you can easily acquire a new bike for your line-up.

However, the really great thing about gravel racing is that you can ride any bike you want.

Repurpose your cyclocross bike with some file treads, a double chainring, and two bottle cages, and it’s a gravel bike. Have a road frame 24

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that you can fit 30mm tires in? Frankly, on most of the terrain in the Chicago-area, that’s doable as a gravel set-up. (Though I would recommend you also tweak your gearing. Add a 32T cassette, and potentially pop on a compact crankset—it’s called gravel ‘grinding’ for a reason. No need to destroy those knees, chugging away on a 53T chainring.) Have a single speed bike? Perfect! Just be sure to check out the elevation map prior to the event and make sure you’ve got a good gear ratio going on. You’ll also see people on fat bikes, mountain bikes, and touring setups in the gravel scene. Ride ‘em if you got ‘em, folks.

Despite the multiplicity of gravel bike options, if you’re contemplating what upgrade has the biggest impact on performance, definitely focus on the tires or wheelset. You’ll never regret going tubeless when faced with 100 miles of sharp, jagged rocks. Likewise, if you’re on the cusp of a new frame decision, go disc. You will have zero regrets if there’s any amount of descending in your race schedule.

...But It’s Also All About the Experience

The diversity of the gear also means you get a huge amount of diversity in the racers. Cyclocross racers do gravel for handling practice and pre-season base building; roadies have flocked to the gravel scene in the Midwest, at least partly due to the dearth of long road races in the area; mountain bikers are drawn to gravel as a fitness check before their season gets into full swing. As a result, the

front of the (generally) mass start events is fast, surge-y, and absolutely reminiscent effort-wise of any bike race.

That said, gravel is as competitive as you want to make it. If you don’t want to ride at threshold, three inches off a stranger’s wheel for the first 20 miles, you can simply opt out of that wave of racers (i.e. don’t line up at the front). Uniquely, gravel also offers the opportunity to try racing without investing in a license, or having the stress of worrying if, as a newbie, you’re “race ready.”

Most gravel races are structured so that you pick the distance and the category that seems the best fit for you. No USAC license? Then sign up for the Open. Never ridden 100 miles before? Well, you could register for the 30-mile course, or you could register for the 100 mile distance, knowing there’s a bailout option on the course that allows you to cut it short if need be.

The other perk as a woman racer is that gravel fields (and all mass starts) are essentially co-ed race events. If you’re looking for experience handling, drafting, pacelining, and reading a group of 30+ people at race pace, then gravel is an awesome option. All the results are separated by sex, but the racing experience is essentially co-ed. Racing gravel makes you more aggressive and smarter, tactics-wise, for whatever your ‘home’ cycling discipline may be.

Get on your bike. There’s no reason not to.

By Lindsay Knight

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Training to Train FEEL READY ON WEEK ONE

With marathon season approaching, the traditional 18-week build-up is on the minds of many first-time marathoners. To ensure you are ready to tackle your training plan, be sure to prepare your body, your mind, and your life for marathon training with a pre-season plan.

Build a Base

Building a base is training to train. That is, getting your body ready for the true marathon build-up.

Most novice marathon training plans call for four days of running per week during the main training cycle. If you are not doing this already, your first step is to get accustomed to that both physically and mentally.

At the Chicago Area Runners Association, we advise runners that, prior to marathon training; they should be able to run at least three miles three days per week, plus one additional long run of six miles. Runners who can do this reasonably are likely able to execute a novice 18-week marathon-training build-up without a high risk of injury.

CARA has helped 10's of thousands of marathoners get to the 26.2 finish line. Join us for a fully supported experience this summer and fall!

If you have never run before, your first step is to walk, more than run. Get your body used to being active and on your feet for an extended period of time. The simple act of putting in 45 to 60-minute brisk walks can help prepare your body for running. The next step is to progress to a walk/ run program. Starting with cycles of two-minutes running, two-minutes walking for three miles.

Then gradually increase your run minutes and decrease your walk minutes until you can complete your runs without walk breaks. That said, a run/ walk marathon plan can be an effective plan for many. Many CARA training sites offer run/walk groups. They are not just for beginners either!

ChicagoMarathonTraining.org 18-Week Plan Group Training 11 City & Suburb Sites Pacer Led Runs Hydration Support Runs NovaCare Rehab. Injury Hotline Ready to Run 20 Miler Marathon VIP Experience

As you progress into more regular running, be patient and take your time. Six weeks out of your marathon build-up it is perfectly acceptable if your long run is still only three miles. Use those final six weeks to progress that long run to four, five, then six miles. A run does not have to feel easy before you progress, but you should feel in control and able to reasonably recover within a couple of days after each long run before you increase distance.

Aside from building up your miles, use the base building cycle to get a strength training and flexibility routine started. Whether that is through a cross-training activity, or traditional weight lift-

CARAStars.org

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ing and stretching, the best runners put time into becoming a better athlete, not just a better runner.

A training plan with some diversity of work will help you become more injury resistant.

Start a Routine

Getting your body adapted to running routinely is part of the process. The other is getting yourself prepared for the routine of training on a schedule.

CARA’s group training long runs start between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., depending on location. Most folks do not wake up that early on weekend mornings on their own; waiting until week one to start waking up early may leave you looking like a zombie on the trail the first few weeks.

Our bodies respond best when we commit to a routine. The saying that we are “Creatures of Habit” is undoubtedly true. In your lead-up to marathon training season, getting yourself accustomed to waking up early and being active will go a long way when those group runs begin. You will wake up easier, your body will not revolt against you when you do, and you will feel more alert and ready to train at those early hours.

Create A Support Team

The marathon is important to you. Make sure it is important to those around you, or at least make sure they know what you are doing and why.

For 18-weeks you will need to get to bed earlier, and you will need some extra personal time on the weekends to recover from your long runs.

That may mean telling friends or significant others that you cannot stay out as late on Friday nights. Or, that you cannot go straight from the long run to an all-day to-do list of errands and household work.

This is your time to do something unique and special. Be ok with having to be a little selfish for a few months, you can make up for it later. This marathon is worth some sacrifices, and you may need your friends and family to make some too.

If you are lucky they will want to be part of your support team. Find ways to actively engaged them in your process. Whether that is them being accountability partners who motivate you to be your best, or going for runs with you or riding a bike alongside. Maybe they will even give you post-run massages and make you some special reward meals. They are more likely to be on board if they feel like they are part of your goal.

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Active

kids

kid Preparing Kids for their First triathlon TriaThlons can seem daunTing, buT They are simply Three differenT acTiviTies done consecuTively. The naTure of parTicipaTing in a swim, Then a bike, Then a run is exacTly whaT kids love. here are suggesTions for how you can sorT ouT The equipmenT and skill requiremenTs of youTh TriaThlon and help your kid To prepare for a fun and successful experience.

Equipment Basics

Although some kids race with expensive bikes and sleek tri-suits, none of this is required for your kids to enjoy their first triathlon experience.

You will want the following equipment: • Swim suit • Goggles • Bike (in good working order) • Bike helmet (approved for cycling) • Running shoes Other optional equipment includes a swim cap, a race belt and elastic “speed laces.”

Skills Basics

It will be important for your kid to have enough skills to be able to navigate through a youth-oriented triathlon safely and confidently. If not, wait to sign up until your child is ready so that they have a positive first experience that leaves them wanting to do it again.

Minimum skills:

• •

• •

Can swim the race distance Can handle a bike safely (braking, steering, mounting, dismounting, climbing, descending) Likes to run Can put on a bike helmet and running shoes

Swim Preparation

Before signing up for a youth triathlon (do not sign up for an adult tri), look for a race with an appropriate swim distance. For triathletes aged 7-10, swim distances should range from 50 – 100 yards/meters. Pool swims are less 28

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**

athlete o f the m ont h

* Xavier Garriques

*

eleven-year-old xavier garriques is

stressful than lake swims. Once you have picked the race, have your child practice swimming the distance and take lessons if needed to acquire the confidence for the race.

finishing up his fifth grade year at

Bike Preparation

middle school’s boys cross country

Fun family bike rides develop good riding skills.

Braking is a skill requiring practice. When your young rider can control their speed, carefully try some easy uphills and downhills. The ability to mount and dismount a bike is something that elite triathletes practice regularly and kids will need help mastering.

Run Preparation

deer path middle school in lake forest. last fall, he was one of the top five runners on deer path team. also, xavier plays select

1

indoor soccer and ayso soccer on northshore fc; he plays hockey

on the winter club hockey Team, which won first place in nwhl division 1 squirt hockey.

*

Kids are natural at running. Go over how to pace in a race so that they don’t tear off at a max sprint and then walk a large portion of the run.

xavier has also excelled as a

Transition Preparation

usaT youth national champi-

Practice putting shoes onto wet feet without socks; practice pulling on a race belt or t-shirt and learn how to put on a bike helmet without help. On race day, they may have to set up their transition spot without you at their side, so help them to practice this at home before you go.

Triathlons are a wonderful way for kids to be active in three different sports and kids love the variety. The Chicago area has many youth-specific triathlons and “Splash and Dash” (swim-run). Ultimately, your goal is to have fun with your kids through a sport that they will be able to enjoy for a lifetime..

By Christine Palmquist

1

*

youth triathlete. during the last

four years, xavier has won the

onships three times and placed

second once. he has won two seasonal triathlon series for his age group hosted by riproar and ironkids, and he was part of a young age group relay team that won the chicago Triathlon. xavier also loves to play chess, read and ski.

To nominate a Kid of the Month, email editor@mychicagoathlete.com

Custom tech participant shirt CHICAGOHALFMARATHON.COM On course entertainment & Legendary Finish Festival

Huge finisher medal Age group and team awards

Post-race pizza Lagunitas Beer

SEP. 23, 2018

Photo gallery

1

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3

4

1. It was a wet and wild time for the first ever Faraway 5k Obstacle Race. The untimed event featured man-made obstacles like balance beams, tire crawls, and a climbing wall.

2. Sierra McGrew and Martin Roche helped kick off the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the Oak Forest Fleadh on March 3.

2

3. Costumes of all sorts were seen on the course of the Oak Forest Fleadh 5k and the parade that took place afterwards.

4. Jean Wescher tackles one of the area’s toughest half marathons, the March Madness Half Marathon in Cary, Ill., on March 18.

5. The rain and water at the Faraway 5k made for some difficult conditions before, during, and after the race, but the crowd seemed unfazed and was happy to just be able to participate in an event they won’t forget.

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BY HOLLY PETROVICH

MB Bike The Drive

BENEFITING CHICAGO ATHLETES YEAR-ROUND RAISING MONEY FOR THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE HELPS SUPPORT MAJOR PROJECTS IN CHICAGO, LIKE THE LAKEFRONT TRAIL SEPARATION AND THE CHICAGO RIVER TRAIL PROJECT. Every Memorial Day weekend, 15 miles of Lakeshore Drive are closed down for five hours to allow residents of Chicago and surrounding areas to experience the carless road from their bikes.

After Lake Shore Drive is back open and all the bikers have headed home, many might assume the benefits of Bike the Drive are done; however, this event is the largest annual fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance.

So what, you ask? Many might not even understand the magnitude of the work the Active Transportation Alliance does for the city of Chicago. Dubbed as “ Ch ic a g o l a n d ’ s voice for better

biking, walking and transit,” a lot of the improvements regarding transportation throughout the city and its suburbs can be attributed to Active Trans.

“We’re really about giving people transportation options beyond their own personal vehicle,” says Kyle Whitehead, Active Trans Alliance Advocacy Director. “It’s healthier, more sustainable and more equitable.”

Specifically, Active Trans works to educate the different communities about the benefits of using alternate forms of transportation, including reducing carbon and boosting the local economies.

“MB Bike the Dive is a great way to get people on their bikes at the start of the warm weather season in a car-free environment, and we hope they’ll be more likely to ride their bike throughout the summer,” Whitehead adds.

THE LAKEFRONT TRAIL SEPARATION PROJECT WILL CREATE SEPARATE PATHS FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ALONG 18 MILES OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

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Photo by: Active Transportation

One of Active Trans’ main focuses is of course, the Lake Front Trail. In fact, when Active Trans was founded 30 years ago, the employees recognized that the trail was not well-maintained, well-lit or safe; since then, they have been leaders in the developments, including its most recent project of the Lakefront Trail Separation.

After years of working with the Chicago Park District and improving the conditions of the trail, the number of people using it spiked. Eventually, congestion became an issue, again putting user’s safety at risk.

In 2014, one woman was out on the trial training for her first full marathon in the fall, got hit by a biker, and ended up in the hospital with brain injuries. When Meghan Williams was told she would probably not have a full recovery, she realized there was a greater issue that needed to be addressed. After months of disability and talking with others who had similar experiences, Williams synched up with Active Trans and shared her story. They agreed that something had to be done.

“I thought maybe they’d put some arrows and signage, but I didn’t expect the snowball effect of things actually changing,” Williams says. “But my face became the face of the campaign, and all good things came out of it.”

Once Ken Griffin came into the picture and offered his $12 million donation to build separate 18-mile paths for bikers and pedestrians along the lakefront, the city and Active Trans started work almost immediately.

“The public often liked to frame it as a runnesr vs. cyclist issue … but its neither’s fault it’s the design of the trail,” Whitehead explains. “People were avoiding it during the busy times of the year, which is disappointing, because the lakefront trial is one of Chicago’s most valuable assets. This investment will ensure those numbers will continue to grow.”

Once this news broke, runners and cyclists throughout the Chicagoland area rejoiced; other groups, including the Chicago Area Runner’s Association, jumped on board of the project too, proving its significance to the all communities within the city.

“When people aren’t comfortable using the path, then they won’t, and there isn’t a lot of other options like that,” Greg Hipp, CARA Executive Director, says. “Without this trail separation, we wouldn’t be able to see running and biking how it is. I think this is going to contribute to the growth to an already popular activity in Chicago, and it’s going to make it easier for newcomers to get involved.”

Work on the trail began in Spring 2017 and is expected to be completed around August 2018. Construction is moving fast and users will be able to experience the first portions during Bike the Drive; as Lake Shore Drive is reopened, participants will be shuttled off onto the Lakefront Trail to get them home safely.

“We also encourage trail users (walkers, runners, cyclists) to share news about conditions, events, and other things happening on the trail with #chiLFT on Twitter and Facebook,” Whitehead says.

Another project Active Trans is working hard towards is the Chicago River Trail; right now, there’s several miles of trail on the north branch of the river, and then by the Riverwalk downtown, but it’s patchy. Whitehead says his team is working with the Metropolitan Planning Council to build a continuous trail for mixed use.

“The river is more embedded in all of our communities than the Lakefront Trail is, and we think it is an undervalued asset,” Whitehead adds. “The city is already pursuing projects along the river, so we want to unite those projects.”

When a runner or cyclist sets out for their daily excursion, they may not realize that Active Trans was likely involved in some part of their trip. Without the group, endurance athletes would not have the constant support and advocacy we do today.

In order to keep these projects rolling and improving the overall transportation in the city of Chicago, support Active Trans at the 17th annual MB Bike the Drive on May 27 from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

For more information on MB Bike the Drive, visit www.bikethedrive.org.

To learn more about the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org.

SAVE $5 ON MB BIKE THE DRIVE

REGISTRATION WITH

CODE CHIATH5

THROUGH 5/27!

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ROADVSTRAIL

BY CONSIDERING THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF ROAD AND TRAIL RUNNING, YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR UTMOST POTENTIAL AS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT MARATHON.

BY CHRIS LEWIS | PHOTOS BY ALI ENGIN In some ways, comparing road running to trail running is like comparing apples to oranges; it’s nearly impossible to do. After all, the similarities are quite limited, while the differences are, to say the least, wide ranging.

“If you have a test in algebra, you aren’t going to spend time studying trigonometry,” says Michael Lucchesi, head coach and owner of Second City Track Club. “A marathon is no different.”

Like apples and oranges, they each offer a considerable amount of benefits. Yet, at the same time, it is important to be cautious of potential negatives. Simply put, like nearly everything—even eating apples and oranges— moderation is key.

And, fortunately, nothing is more accessible than roads; you don’t have to travel to gain access to them. In fact, if you live in the Chicagoland area, you probably just need to walk past your front yard.

Not to mention, roads also provide a flat, consistent surface that leads to faster running times.

Just as you relish the benefits of preparing your apples and oranges—cleanliness, vitamins, tastefulness—if you take your time to enhance the positives of road and trail running, while also learning about the possible negatives, you’ll reap success before, during and after your next marathon.

ROAD RUNNING:

SPECIFICITY, ACCESSIBILITY, CONSISTENCY

Perhaps the most significant positive of road running is that it is specific to marathons. To adequately prepare for marathons, you must train specifically for the 26 miles of roads you’ll likely be running on.

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“When a runner’s foot delivers a force to the ground, it is delivered back to the runner equally and opposite, according to Newton’s Third Law,” states Janet Leet, owner of SUB5 Performance Center. “With cement and asphalt, there is little force lost because of the ground compression and diluting the force. Namely, it is easier and more efficient to run faster on a harder surface because the energy is maintained better.”

Of equal importance, when compared to trail running, less equipment is necessary. After all, roads are generally more lit, so less visibility gear is required at night.

Bugs, blisters and cuts are also less common, so bug spray and first aid kits aren’t usually used very often on roads either, according to Lori McGee Koch, head running coach at Chicago Endurance Sports.

The socialization and sightseeing opportunities of road running can’t be overlooked either. Since roads are usually wider than trails, it is much easier to run with a group of friends and carry on conversations. And, if you are able to run on a road without much congestion, especially in a city you haven’t spent much time in, you’ll create memories that will last for a lifetime.

“When I ran in cities like London, Paris, Rome and Stockholm, I had the chance to see landmarks in a much different way than if I had been on tour buses,” explains Brendan Cournane, a Chicago-based running coach. “Seeing a city from a road—without traffic or congestion, if possible—is a tremendous experience. It gives a different feel than any other type of transportation.”

PACE YOURSELF AND BE CAUTIOUS

Although running on the flat, consistent surfaces of roads typically leads to less ankle turning and tripping, according to Leah Bohr, director of training for the Chicago Area Runners Association, roads can be very hard on your body. Not only do they often have higher ridges in their centers (with angles for drainage), which may lead to extra stress on your outside leg—as it’s typically lower than your leg that’s towards the middle of the roads—but their hard surfaces are also absorbed by your body. Over time, that absorption can have a negative impact, as the stress on your joints and muscles may result in short- and long-term injuries if you don’t work out properly.

“There are incredible positives associated with trail running—mainly getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life,” says Dan Walters, head coach at DWRunning. “As a result, you’ll have a much better connection with nature than you could ever have on the roads, even if you live in quiet suburbs.”

Although the tranquility and connection with wildlife, along with time away from typical city living, are often the most motivating factors of trail running, runners tend to also enjoy the challenges of trails’ terrain. Since no two trails are the same, runners not only test their skills on trails, they’re also forced to run at a bit of a slower, more leisurely pace. And, in doing so, they truly enjoy the present moments, and absorb the beauty around them as they learn to achieve more than they ever thought possible, while running on far less consistent—and, in turn, much more difficult—terrain.

“The trails provide a good break from the surfaces of roads too, as the ground is also more forgiving on the body than asphalt or concrete,” Cournane adds. “I enjoy the variety of trails as I vary my training. It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone.”

This variety is not only ideal for added excitement; as Cournane mentions, it is also critical for your body.

According to McGee Koch, trails allow runners to “recruit a wider variety of stability muscles,” which make runners feel stronger over time, as the onset of fatigue in larger leg muscles is typically delayed.

“Roads are harder on your body than trails. It’s just a fact,” Lucchesi says. “But injuries can be reduced. I see too many athletes run too fast on days that should be used for easier training, which is why many get hurt.”

If you don’t pace yourself out—mainly by avoiding the temptation to run your absolute fastest speed nearly every day—you may overuse certain joints, ligaments and muscles, while under developing others. At the same time, you must not only be cautious of cars running red lights, but you should also keep in mind the impact that traffic lights have on your workouts; such interruptions, especially when they’re consistent and frequent, can be detrimental to your rhythm.

TRAIL RUNNING:

IMPROVE YOUR AGILITY IN COMPLETE TRANQUILITY

Of course, unlike running on roads, where you have to constantly be aware of cars, stop signs and red lights, trails offer a unique running environment, which is best summarized by one primary word: tranquility.

“If you want to improve your focus and awareness of meaningful surroundings, hit the trails,” Leet stresses.

“They cut down on the noise and bring us back to simplicity—nature. And they allow us to relax and lose ourselves in the moment.”

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“The variety of surfaces will prepare your system to adapt with more coordination, strength and power,” McGee Koch says. “In addition, the trails provide runners more opportunities to increase their balance and core stability, as well as the strength of their ancillary muscles.”

At the same time, the variability of trails’ running surfaces results in equal distribution of your landing forces. Therefore, some joints, ligaments and muscles aren’t overused (while others aren’t used at all); consequently, due to the hills, turns, twists and uneven surfaces of trails, you’ll be able to improve your agility, balance and overall strength more than you ever could on a road.

OVERCOME THE ELEMENTS WITH ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT

Of course, the variability of trails can have some negative impacts as well. You’ll not only be more vulnerable for falls, but you won’t have the specificity you need as you train for a marathon either, especially if you’re interested in running quickly.

“If you run on trails too often when training for a road marathon, you’ll also lack the muscular endurance you need for the pounding on the road you’ll encounter with each step—for 26.2 miles,” Walters adds.

This lack of specificity is also noticed with regards to weather, especially on rainy days, as most Chicagoland trails aren’t nearly as well maintained as roads. Since they hold moisture longer than roads, mud is practically unavoidable.

With that in mind, you must dress for the elements you’ll be facing—weather-proof trail shoes with robust outsoles, high-quality socks that can wick moisture and adequate clothing that can protect you from rain, mud and heat and be easily cleaned (an extra pair of shoes, socks and clothes are always helpful too).

Furthermore, Leet, Walters and Cournane advise you to carry additional supplies if you’re planning to run on trails.

A handheld bottle or hydration pack should be considered, along with gels or other athletic fuel for your caloric needs.

And don’t forget to bring a towel—so you can stretch on a clean surface before you run—and a plastic bag to store all of your gear if it’s muddy.

“On the other hand, one of the great things about running is that you don’t necessarily need much,” Lucchesi says.

“Running is a simple sport—one that allows you to leave all of your technology at home, if you prefer.”

“Whether you choose to run on roads or trails, you won’t need much equipment at all,” Bohr adds. “When it comes to equipment, shoes are probably the biggest difference— different shoes are necessary for different surfaces, of course—so you should consider asking your local running store what’s best for you, as you strive to achieve your unique goals.”

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Christmas in July Races

5K Race, 6-Hour Relay*

July 13, 2018

Lilse, IL

Fessve Night Races, Swag, Medals, Nutcracker Awards, USATF Cersfied Course, Chip Timing

Race Details

http://bit.ly/CiJWeb

Use Promo Code CHICAGOATHLETE for 10% Off *Or challenge yourself to one of our timed events. We offer fully supported 24/12/6-Hour Solo Endurance Runs. A great venue for those first-time ultramarathoners ( > 26.2 miles)

SAVE MONEY ON RACE ENTRY FEES

Sign-up for our weekly eNewsletter and receive discounts on local events

www.mychicagoathlete.com/ news/e-newsletter

6 R EASO NS

TO SUPPORT YOUR

COMMUNITY TRIATHLON WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE STILL HOVERING ABOVE FREEZING, LOCAL COMMUNITY TRIATHLON RACE DIRECTORS ARE WORKING ON THEIR EVENT CHECKLISTS, FINE-TUNING DETAILS SUCH AS ORDERING FINISHER MEDALS, T-SHIRTS AND AWARDS, AS WELL AS RAMPING UP MESSAGING TO BOOST AWARENESS. THESE DIRECTORS TAKE THEIR JOBS SERIOUSLY, POURING IN HOURS OF PREPARATION AND PLANNING TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE, FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE IN THEIR PARK DISTRICT THAT WILL APPEAL TO NEWBIE AND SEASONED ATHLETES ALIKE.

BY: BETSY NOXON 38

MAY/JUNE 2018

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PHOTO BY: ALI ENGIN

Benefits of local TriaThlons MyChiCagoathlete.CoM

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39

Support Your Com munit Y triAtHlon

Aside from appreciating the amount of work that goes into these events, participating in a local triathlon as either an athlete, spectator, volunteer or sponsor delivers several benefits. Here are six reasons to support the event in your community:

transition, where to stand in their wave and where to spot buoy’s.

If swimming in a lake makes you a bit nervous, have no fear; the race directors for the Lake in the Hills Triathlon, Matt Kidd and Shane Firsching, lead open-water swim sessions Wednesday nights. On the two Saturdays leading up the race, they hold group rides and runs (a brick workout) on the course. Kidd and Firsching are there for the workouts and love to connect with the athletes, who can ask them questions about the race and course to help put all athletes at ease.

1 Newbies Welcome

If you are new to triathlon, a community event is the perfect opportunity to jump in, try the sport in a non-intimidating, friendly, small, yet familiar environment. Plus, these events typically offer several pre-event preparation opportunities to help newcomers feel at ease with the sport.

Seasoned athletes are usually more than willing to help support and teach new athletes, pointing out how to set up their 40

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In a small venue, racers tend to know other racers and have the chance to meet new athletes; the atmosphere is friendly while community and healthy competition tend to build.

The announcer for the Glenview Triathlon, the well-known Dave Kappas, announces names at the finish line, while volunteers hand them water, cold towels and a medal.

The song, “Chariots of Fire” is played for the final athlete who crosses the line. Kidd and Firsching built new personalized bike racks with name plates and race numbers to make each athlete’s experience special. These are common strategies that can be incorporated into a smaller race, making each participant feel important and supported.

3

Joe LoPresto, race director of the Batavia Experience Triathlon (ET), organizes and leads multiple tri 101, 90-minute seminars, pre-race day practice and sessions at the venue.

“We follow up with swim review at the venue the day before the race, complete the bike course the week before, then Friday of race weekend, conduct two two-hour walk throughs of race logistics including bike rack procedures and parking,” LoPresto says.

Wauconda allows for 600 for both sprint and Olympic distances. On the opposite spectrum, the Transamerica Chicago Triathlon is one of the largest in the world, with around 8,000 athletes registering.

Volunteers

Volunteers are key to comfort and ease of race day, and for local races, the volunteers are often community members who know the area and event well. Plus, if you’re nervous to try a smaller race, volunteering is a great way to check out the scene and learn about the race before participating.

2

It’s Personal

Small venue races cap the number of participants who can enter, since there is limited room in transition and on the course. Glenview and Lake in the Hills caps entrants at 400, while

Mike SanFaçon, a Naperville resident, dipped his toes into the tri waters at ET Batavia after stumbling upon the Naperville Triathlon three years ago. He was intrigued by the bikes and tri outfits and decided he wanted to learn how to swim so he could experience a triathlon.

“At the Batavia tri, the volunteers were familiar faces and very helpful. They explained where to go to set up transition and what I needed to do, leading people through fundamentals,” SanFaçon says. “I was super nervous, but volunteers helped to ease my mind and make me comfortable. I had a smile on my face at the swim start.”

Kathleen McInnis, race director for the Glenview Triathlon since 2004, personally trains the local volunteers on how to rack a bike and provides them a handout with answers to common athlete questions.

“Each athlete is greeted, lead to the check-in, marked with their race number, and directed to the race talk. We minimize confusion for the athlete,” says McInnis.

4

Bring the Fan Club

Community courses are prime for cheering.

Bike courses wind through neighborhoods so residents can cheer on participants curbside, sometimes setting up music stations or turning on sprinklers if it’s hot.

The Lake in the Hills bike course takes riders through three communities; Lake in the Hills, Lakewood and Crystal Lake, bringing together those residents in a single event. The Glenview Tri run loops through Gallery Park so spectators can hang out on any part of the course to cheer on runners and see them multiple times.

After racing 25 times, SanFaçon’s family finally came to see him at the Naperville Triathlon in 2017 during his transition from the bike to run.

Seeing his wife and three kids at the finish was great motivation.

“The sport trickles down. There things like this for kids. Mine now do kid races for fun,” SanFaçon adds.

5

Give Back

Because of the smaller participant numbers and condensed race site, local triathlons often have a charity aspect. What better way to support your community than by doing the sport you love while raising money for a good cause?

Working with charities also creates great relationships within the community itself. ET Batavia has a history of supporting charity organizations, with its original founder being a coach from a Team-In-Training. Last year, ET Batavia donated all of its profits to a combination of charity and community organizations, including the bike commission, fireworks commission and Batavia food pantry, who in turn helps with volunteers. The Glenview Tri included a Chicago girl’s track team one year offering them entries.

Have Fun in Your Backyard 6

Waking up an hour before a triathlon is nearly unheard of, but with a local community race, the dream becomes a reality.

Avoiding long trips to the city or another state to get in all three disciplines, walking to your local community center makes for a fun and efficient race day.

Plus, events put on by park districts and local organizations typically end with a fun post-race party. Celebrate your hard work and the community itself with music, food and mingling with other athletes, and who knows, maybe you’ll meet your next training buddy!

Find a loCal

Tri

Near You: Gateway Triathlon | May 12 | Carlyle, IL Sullivan Civic Center Triathlon | May 12 | Sullivan, IL Tri Festa Sprint Triathlon | May 27 | Carterville, IL Tinman Triathlon | June 2 | Deerfield, IL Tri-Shark Classic Triathlon | June 2 | Hudson, IL Fox Lake Triathlon | June 3 | Fox Lake, IL Sparta Municipal Sprint Triathlon | June 3 | Sparta, IL The Prairie Triathlon and NorthPointe | June 9 | Roscoe, IL ET Batavia | June 10 | Batavia, IL Espirit de She Triathlon | June 10 | Naperville, IL Lytle Park Triathlon | June 10 | Mattoon, IL Railspillter Olympic and Stovepipe Sprint Triathlon June 16 | Petersburg, IL Lake in the Hills | June 17 | Lake in the Hills, IL Tremont Triathlon | June 23 | Tremont, IL Twin Lakes Triathlon | June 24 | Palatine, IL Oakland Freedom Celebration Veteran’s Triathlon July 7 | Oakland, IL ET Lake Zurich | July 8 | Lake Zurich, IL Freeport Classic Triathlon | July 14 | Freeport, IL Wauconda Triathlon Series | July 22 | Wauconda, IL Oregon Park District, Triathlon | July 29 | Oregon, IL Splash, Pedal, Dash Triathlon | July 29 | Schaumburg, IL Glenview Triathlon | August 5 | Glenview, IL ET Naperville | August 5 | Naperville, IL Sage City Triathlon | August 11 | Monticello, IL

Woodridge Roatary Mini-Triathlon | August 12 | Woodridge, IL Clinton Lake Sprint Triathlon | August 18 | DeWitt, IL Dr. Dan Adair Memorial Triathlon | August 27 | Springfield, IL Tri to Help Sprint Triathlon | August 19 | Quincy, IL Litchfield Triathlons | September 9 | Litchfield, IL NorthShore Triathlon | September 16 | Winnetka, IL Last Chance Tri | October 7 | Mattoon, IL MyChiCagoathlete.CoM

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M a r at h o n t r a i n i n g t i p s f r o M

LocaL SuperStar

By Holly PETRoviCH

KriSten HecKert

Kristen Heckert, runner for Second City Racing Team teaches full time, coaches cross country, runs nearly 130 miles a week, and has a 2:38 marathon PR. Even though she seems to have 36 hours in her days, Chicago Athlete wanted to get her marathon training tips.

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You may have heard of her when she finished as the 16th female at the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Or maybe you saw her name in headlines when her New Balance team came in first at the 2017 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k. Or, you’ve seen her at high school cross country meets. Chances are, you know the name, and know she’s amazing.

Every day, Kristin Heckert gets up early in the morning, meets her coworker at Plainfield South High School, and the two teachers run for about an hour before the school day starts. Then, she teaches for eight hours, runs with the boy’s cross country team after school, and gets in even more miles after that. Each week, Heckert logs about 130 miles.

She stresses the importance of practicing with the water and Gatorades provided at the aid stations, and trying different gels and fuel options to see what works best for your stomach.

“I really like UCAN; I’ll do a mix of their pre-workout and electrolyte drink because it gives you slow burning sugar so you don’t have spikes. I also like their recovery drinks for after long runs,” Heckert shares. “You need to figure out what you like though, so those little things don’t inhibit your race.”

“FOr FIrST TIMErS,

THE MOST

It wasn’t always like that though; she started running cross country in middle school simply to just follow her brother’s footsteps, and continued at Murray State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Upon graduation, though, Heckert didn’t feel fulfilled with her seasons, and took on the half marathon.

“I totally loved it … it gave me a lot of time to think and reflect during the longer training runs and races,” Heckert says.

She then started training with Michael Lucchesi and New Balance, who eventually became her husband. In 2011, she ran her first marathon, and fell in love.

She has run nine marathons since.

“It’s by far my favorite distance,” Heckert says. “The challenge of it; all the training for one race and knowing it’s going to go well if you put in the time for it.”

Clearly Heckert does put the time in for it, and it pays off. At the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, she ran her fastest marathon at 2:38:54. However, she realizes that she is a high mileage runner, and not everyone needs as intense of a training plan to be successful.

IMPOrTANT THING

IS TO LEArN

BEING ON YOUr

FEET FOr A LONG TIME.

IT’S dAUNTING TO COvEr 26.2 MILES, SO dO YOUr LONG rUNS, BASEd ON

dISTANCE Or TIME, TO GET USEd TO IT.”

For those who have never tackled a long-distance race, tapering might be a new concept. Heckert and her team really cut back their mileage about two weeks before race day, by adding a few extra rest days and lighter workouts.

However, she also finds adding a few medium runs and a speed workout the week of the race to be extremely beneficial; it reignites the faster paces, and on race day, makes it feel easier and more natural.

Building your own training plan can be difficult, especially for first timers.

That’s why Heckert really stresses the importance of finding friends or a group to run with.

“I love running, it’s a stress reliever for me, but if I don’t have someone to meet up with for the long runs, it’s a lot harder to get myself to do it,” Heckert adds.

She suggests looking at local running stores for groups, or asking coworkers to run with you before work.

Heckert is again training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2018, which is by far her favorite race.

“The people there are so wonderful, and my whole family is in the Chicagoland area so they can come watch,” she says.

“Plus, since most marathons are during the school year, not having to travel is a big plus.”

“For first timers, the most important thing — KrISTEN HECKErT is to learn being on your feet for a long In past years, Heckert has put a lot of time,” Heckert advises. “It’s daunting to stress on time goals; this year, however, she is working on cover 26.2 miles, so do your long runs, based on distance or enjoying the process and training in order to be in the best time, to get used to it.” shape on race day.

She also suggests running on various terrains to help get your legs “I get hyper focused, and if one mile isn’t right, I spiral out and used to the pounding they’ll feel on race day. don’t enjoy it.” Heckert adds. “But I know I do my best every day, so when race day comes this year, I really want to just In fact, Heckert agrees with the common advice of “don’t try anyenjoy the experience.” thing new on race day,” specifically in the nutrition department.

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RACE RESULTS

TO SEE MORE RESULTS VISIT: WWW.MYCHICAGATHLETE.COM

March Madness Half Marathon

Oak Forest Fleadh 5k

SATURDAY, MARCH 3 | OAK FOREST, IL

By Erika Olaskovic

This was the ninth year for the CNB Oak Forest Fleadh 5K, which kicks off a day of events celebrating Irish culture and heritage, including a parade down Cicero Avenue shortly after the race. The race attracted about 300 runners, with people wearing some great costumes, as well as many families with young children.

I love seeing parents running with their kids, teaching and embracing a healthy lifestyle.

This fast-rolling course takes you through the heart of the celebrations as you race up and down Cicero Avenue. The course starts at 159th and Cicero for about a mile before turning into a neighborhood for another mile, and back onto Cicero for the last mile.

There were several spectators cheering along the course which is always great.

Male 5k Results 1. John Penland 17 2. Jonathan Cain 36 3. Suhayb Froukh 20 4. Pete Mathis 47 5. Francisco Guerrero 40 6. Garett Sillanpaa 50 7. Rick Rodriguez 24 Name

44

MAY/JUNE 2018

Age

Clarendon Hills, IL 16:19

Des Plaines, IL Midlothian, IL Tinley Park, IL Chicago, IL Kenosha, WI Oak Forest, IL City

MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

17:52 18:38 18:46 19:32 20:19 20:44 Time

8. Carlos Viramontes 53 Tinley Park, IL 9. Eric Wedow 59 Batavia, IL 10. Erik Andrews 26 Westmont, IL

20:44 20:47 20:51

through the scenic and historic parts in the heart of downtown Naperville. All participants received a technical shirt at packet pick up, and bead necklaces as they crossed the finish line.

Female 5k Results 1. Megan Brewczynski 2. Amanda Heller 3. Paige Galvin 4. Kellie Cahillane 5. Lisa Dubs 6. Jessica Roessler 7. Calista Stefaniak 8. Valerie Soderlund 9. Veronica Romero 10. Heather Gordon

19:42 20:29 21:30 21:54 22:02 22:05 22:18 23:00 23:10 24:48

Male 5k Results 1. Damon King 2. Ryan Jaskiewicz 3. Tommy Ferguson 4. Kyle Brady 5. Sean Choate 6. Kyle Somerfield 7. Ryan Gooding 8. Nate Kennedy 9. Aaron Ford 10. Connor Matheson

28 34 30 29 26 30 24 32 32 24

Northbrook, IL Warrenville, IL Villa Park, IL Wheeling, IL Chicago, IL Winfield, IL Naperville, IL Chicago, IL

15:52 16:00 16:00 16:09 16:20 16:23 16:50 17:01

Naperville St. Paddys Day 5k

Female 5k Results 1. Kristina Aubert 2. Lauren Zumbach 3. Jamie Herfshang 4. Laura Krasa 5. Vanessa Righeimer 6. Elizabeth Panke 7. Kaytlin St.Clair 8. Katelyn Draths 9. Lana Macnider-Lazaridis 10. Colleen Baker

26 27 25 18 25 27 24 30 35 27

Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Urbana, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Lisle, IL Chicago, IL Schaumburg, IL Evanston, IL

16:53 17:22 17:49 17:52 18:04 18:30 18:30 18:35 19:07 19:11

35 27 26 29 37 37 19 35 40 48

Midlothian, IL Glen Ellyn, IL Posen, IL Westville, IN Oak Forest, IL La Grange, IL Chicago, IL Midlothian, IL Burbank, IL Orland Park, IL

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 | NAPERVILLE, IL

By Suzuka Hetterich

St. Patrick’s Day brings more than luck to downtown Naperville every year; Saturday was the St. Paddys Day 5K, put on by The Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise. Close to 2,000 runners and walkers, mostly in green, gathered in the town’s popular downtown area to kick off Irish celebrations.

The race started at 8 a.m. and was followed by a parade at 10 a.m., both of which weaved Name

Age

City

Time

Name

Age

Chicago, IL

15:01

La Grange Park, IL 15:12

City

Time

Get Lucky 7k/14k/21k

Saturday, march 17 | chicago, iL

By James Gubbins

March usually offers a break from the polar vortex and the opportunity to get the running season underway. This event is part of the Monster Run Series organized by Team Ortho, a Minnesota-based charity organization. Unfortunately, this year their website provided little information and even less email communication.

6. Cindy McManus 7. Jenny Kaminski 8. Aleksandra Mihailovic 9. Mary Mulcrone 10. Courtney Hatcher

The Chicago Get Lucky lived up to its name this year as they were lucky to have volunteers and committed athletes who stuck together to make the event successful. The nice swag and free event photos almost made up for the lack of communication and post-race celebration.

Male 7K Results 1. Issac Vasquez 2. Javier Sotelo 3. Payton Marx 4. Paul Cassidy 5. Jason Stevens 6. Brian Sheridan 7. Ross Peters 8. Mike Pekara 9. David LaPalomento 10. Joe Wohlgemuth

Male 21k Results 1. Ryan Moncrieff 2. Robert Bruns 3. Charlie Ogilvie 4. Marc Lemmons 5. Greg Chaganos 6. Ryan Duffy 7. Patrick Doran 8. Matthew Dickinson 9. Victor Uruchima 10. Adam Greenstein

Female 7k Results 1. Carrie Smith 2. Stacie Justice 3. Nancy Nelson 4. Sarah Peterson 5. Margie Connelly 6. Caroline Barnwall 7. Rosalia Miller 8. Karen Greer 9. Laura Baker 10. Karen Liebert

Marysville, OH Elgin, IL Unknown Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

1:11:35 1:15:32 1:16:06 1:18:43 1:19:07 1:20:56 Cambridge, MA 1:21:14 Pleasanton, CA 1:25:07 Chicago, IL 1:26:01 Chicago, IL 1:26:15

Female 21k Results 1. Fiona Carlon 2. Amy Campbell 3. Melissa Landers 4. Janessa Juarez 5. Kristin Kotara 6. Vanessa Kenny 7. Iris Taylor 8. Amanda Poirot 9. Kate Ander 10. Jessica Hanley Male 14k Results 1. David Trizzino 2. Daniel Landers 3. Jon Price 4. Dominik Hajverov 5. Ryan Zwijack 6. Erik Widestrom 7. Mark Buettner 8. Lanny Robinson 9. Billy Fortin 10. Robert James Female 14k Results 1. Rachel Price 2. Karen Frum 3. Evance Stalley 4. Marta Keller 5. Shari Newland Name

Chicago, IL Dunlap, IL

1:26:27 1:27:15 West Lafayette, IN 1:27:24 Chicago, IL 1:29:37 Mokena, IL 1:29:42 Frankfort, IL 1:32:24 Chicago, IL 1:34:43 Chicago, IL 1:35:22 Chicago, IL 1:35:28 Iowa City, IA 1:35:39

1:09:20

Western Springs, IL 1:09:23

Lemont, IL

1:09:43

Western Springs, IL 1:09:52

Chicago, IL

1:10:26

Mount Prospect, IL 29:12

Chicago, IL Huntley, IL Chicago, IL Akron, OH Chicago, IL Saint Louis, MO Chicago, IL Boston, MA Wheatfield, IN

29:24 32:09 32:20 33:00 33:10 34:10 34:28 34:38 34:44

Saint Louis, MO 34:09 Hyde Park, MA 34:38 Chicago, IL 36:58 Chicago, IL 37:30 Western Springs, IL 37:57 Chicago, IL 38:14 Minooka, IL 38:33 Chicago, IL 38:39 Chicago, IL 38:55 Salisbury, MA 39:14

March Madness Half Marathon

Saturday, march 17 | cary, iL

By Jacqui Giuliano

Have you ever woken up by 6:25 a.m. on December 31 to register for an extremely challenging half marathon? If so, you probably know that this race recap is about the Cary Hillstriders’ race: The March Madness Half Marathon.

Chicago, IL Des Plaines, IL Unknown Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

54:47 1:00:55 1:04:18 1:07:15 1:09:17 1:10:27 1:11:44 1:12:14 1:12:16 1:12:28

This race was created 40 years ago by running group Cary Hillstriders as a way to raise money for their club funds while also giving back to the running community in the form of putting on a stellar race.

For the past 10 years, the race has sold out in under an hour. Yes, over 1,000 people wake up bright and early on New Year’s Eve simply to sign up for a disgustingly hard half marathon. In fairness, many of these runners use the race as training for the Boston Marathon. But those who get suckered into signing up for the race without being able to preview the course are in for quite a surprise on race day.

South Elgin, IL Northbrook, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Iowa City, IA

58:11 59:27 1:04:45 1:07:40 1:07:57

Male Half Marathon Results 1. Ryan Giuliano 33 2. Emisael Favela 40 3. Jeff Hojnacki 43 4. Justin Simard 34 5. Joseph Dadabo 29

Hinsdale, IL Chicago, IL South Elgin, IL Chicago, IL Saint Louis, MO

Age

Geneva, IL

City

Time

Name

Age

City

1:09:27 1:16:01 1:16:08 1:16:14 1:16:14 Time

6. Nickolaus Early 7. MJ Moore 8. Tony Bleull 9. Eleocadio Jimenez 10. Daniel Stanton Jr.

38 29 55 37 34

1:17:13 1:17:55 1:19:25 1:19:41 1:20:06

Female Half Marathon Results 1. Jacqui Giuliano 31 2. Sarah Mahaney 36 3. Emily Raykovich 34 4. Kati Petry 33 5. Lana Macnider-Lazaridis 35 6. Lisa Oleksak 42 7. Becky Patch 34 8. Shawn Johnson 37 9. Donna Birschbach 49 10. Meg Donakowski 33

1:24:46 1:28:39 1:29:01 1:29:21 1:30:21 1:30:55 1:31:15 1:31:57 1:32:49 1:33:11

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k

Saturday, march 25 | chicago, iL

By Erika Olaskovic

Chicagoans know the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k as the official start of the racing season. We often joke that everyone comes out of hibernation to participate in the largest 8K in the country or the 2-mile walk.

Both distances start and end in Grant Park. The 8k course takes runners downtown Chicago, much like the route of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The energy around the city and the spectators cheering makes this race a one-of-a-kind event and a must-do for anyone who wants a little taste of the marathon but does not want to run 26.2 miles.

Male 8k Results 1. Stephen Sambu 2. Isiah Koech 3. Ian La Mere 4. Andrew Colley 5. Zach Zarda 6. Joe Moore 7. Brogan Austin 8. Evan Landes 9. Aaron Easker 10. Oscar Medina

23:10 23:10 23:10 23:25 23:48 23:49 23:50 23:51 23:53 23:54

Female 8k Results 1. Laura Thweatt 2. Janelle Lincks 3. Anne-Marie Blaney 4. Olivia Pratt 5. Kristen Heckert 6. Alyssa Schneider 7. Maggie Callahan 8. Danna Herrick 9. Gabi Anzalone 10. Kyle Blakeslee

26:02 26:46 26:48 26:55 26:58 26:58 27:00 27:31 27:34 27:35

Name

Age

City

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RACE RESULTS

TO SEE MORE RESULTS VISIT: WWW.MYCHICAGATHLETE.COM

Susannah Scaroni, second place overall female wheelchair finisher, from Illinois.

2018 Boston Marathon MONDAY, APRIL 16 – BOSTON, MA

Top Male Finishers 1. Yuki Kawauchi 2. Geoffrey Kirui 3. Shadrack Biwott 4. Tyler Pennel 5. Andrew Bumbalough 6. Scott Smith 7. Abdi Nageeye 8. Elkanah Kibet 9. Reid Coolsaet 10. Daniel Vassallo

JPN KEN USA USA USA USA NED USA CAN USA

2:15:58 2:18:23 2:18:35 2:18:57 2:19:52 2:21:47 2:23:16 2:23:37 2:25:02 2:27:50

Top Female Finishers 1. Desiree Linden 2. Sarah Sellers 3. Krista Duchene 4. Rachel Hyland 5. Jessica Chichester 6. Nicole Dimercurio 7. Shalane Flanagan 8. Kimi Reed

USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA

2:39:54 2:44:04 2:44:20 2:44:29 2:45:23 2:45:52 2:46:31 2:46:47

Name

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Age

City

MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

Time

9. Edna Kiplagat 10. Hiroko Yoshitomi

KEN JPN

2:47:14 2:48:29

Top Male Wheelchair Finishers 1. Marcel Hug 2. Ernst Van Dyk 3. Daniel Romanchuk 4. Masazumi Soejima 5. Patrick Monahan

SUI RSA USA JPN IRL

1:46:26 1:47:14 1:50:39 1:54:16 1:54:22

Top Female Wheelchair Finishers 1. Tatyana Mcfadden USA 2. Susannah Scaroni USA 3. Sandra Graf SUI 4. Aline Dos Rocha BRA 5. Arielle Rausin USA

2:04:39 2:20:01 2:26:32 2:31:18 2:32:24

Top Male Illinois Finishers 1. Matt Marol 26 Chicago, IL 2. Jackson Neff 25 Chicago, IL

2:29:12 2:29:43

Name

Age

City

Time

3. Austin Hendrix 4. Stephen Clevenger 5. Travis Buse 6. John Butcher 7. Dan Stanton 8. Brian Wakefield 9. Andrew Kaehr 10. Jeffrey Hojnacki

28 31 24 24 24 42 28 44

Chicago, IL Decatur, IL Chicago, IL Mahomet, IL Chicago, IL Vernon Hills, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

2:35:40 2:35:42 2:38:50 2:39:50 2:41:29 2:41:31 2:42:33 2:44:24

Top Female Illinois Finishers 1. Kayla Brown 30 Edwardsville, IL 2:57:20 2. Jillian Blondell 33 Woodridge, IL 2:59:02 3. Jennifer Every 34 Peoria, IL 3:00:13 4. Amanda Porter 27 Chicago, IL 3:00:33 5. Alana Kopelson 23 Chicago, IL 3:02:05 6. Tory Hislop 31 Chicago, IL 3;07:35 7. Katherine Wichmann 32 Hawthron Woods, IL 3:09:10 8. Anneliese Schulz 21 Elk Grove Village, IL 3:09:27 9. Lena Josifi 28 Arlington Heights, IL 3:09:48 10. Danika Simonson 26 Chicago, IL 3:10:13

Name

Age

City

Time

Training PROGRAMS

Ironman legend ChrIs hInshaw recommends crossFitting 2x/week Call us now to fInd out why

312-643-0406

Chicago, IL

This time itn’sal

perso

racepal

your personal race calendar

A new event calendar you can share with your racing pals

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calendar events

More Calendar events at: YOUR PERSONAL RACE CALENDAR

adventure racing

05/12/18 MiSSiOn adventure race & MiSSiOn Lite Beginner ar Columbus IN www.dinoseries.com/adventure-racing 06/09/18 Streamwood Stride race Streamwood IL www.spdcares.com 06/10/18 Michigan adventure race: caberfae edition Cadillac MI www.miadventurerace.com

cycLing raceS

03/10/18 death March ride Norman IN www.dinoseries.com/death-march 05/18/18 Fat & Skinny tire Fest 15 Winona Lake IN www.fatandskinnytirefest.com

cycLing tOurS/rideS

05/16/18 arlington Heights ride of Silence Arlington Heights IL www.cyclearlington.com 05/20/18 arlington 500 Barrington IL www.cyclearlington.com

05/27/18 MB Bike the drive Chicagi IL bikethedrive.org

may/june 2018

06/01/18 Moonlight Over the tippy Winamac IN panhandlepathway.org 06/03/18 the udder century ride Crystal Lake IL www.mchenrybicycleclub.org 06/09/18 tour de coulee Sparta WI www.wisconsingranfondo.com 06/10/18 Honor ride chicago Helping our Healing veterans through cycling Skokie IL ride2recovery.com 06/16/18 Peninsula century Spring classic Bicycle ride Baileys Harbor, WI www.peninsulacenturyspringclassic.com 06/23/18 nite ride: navigate indy this evening Indianapolis IN niteride.org 06/23/18 Bike MS: tour de Farms St. Charles IL www.bikemsillinois.org 06/24/18 Swedish days ride Burlington IL www.fvbsc.org

05/21/18 triri May training camp Mitchell IN www.triri.org

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06/30/18 tour deWitt Clinton IL www.tourdewitt.weebly.com

duatHLOn

05/06/18 rock river multisport screw city duathlon Loves Park IL

MyChiCagoathlete.CoM

05/06/18 Powerman Michigan Frankenmuth MI 3disciplines.com

05/05/18 run to remember Chicago IL give.classy.org/run2remember2018

06/10/18 et Batavia duathlon 2018 Batavia IL www.bataviatriathlon.org

05/05/18 don’t tell Me to Slow down 5K and Family Fun run Evanston IL

running

05/08/18 Six Series - chicago’s Premier Social run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series 05/12/18 Journeys Marathon Eagle River WI 05/12/18 apple Blossom run 5k & 10k Bartlett IL

05/01/18 Six Series - chicago’s Premier Social run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series

05/05/18 empowerun 5K run/Walk Libertyville IL asafeplace.dojiggy.com/ng

05/05/18 We go run West Chicago IL www.wegorun.org

05/05/18 cinco de Mile 5K Frankfort IL

05/12/18 groovin in the grove 5K race & Fun Walk - w/ Little groovers 1K,1/2K & 100 yd Downers Grove IL

05/05/18 Stride for a cure 5K and Fun Walk Elk Grove Village IL www.phaevents.org/Stride

05/12/18 dyslexia 5K run/Walk Bloomingdale IL cdc-chicago.org

05/06/18 village of Willowbrook’s 4th annual Spring Fling 5K/run Walk and children’s 1m run Willowbrook IL

05/12/18 Hope For Haitians 5k Walk/run Geneva IL www.hopeforhaitians.org

05/05/18 Wisconsin Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5k Kenosha WI www.wisconsinmarathon.com 05/05/18 dinO trail run north vernon North Vernon IN www.dinoseries.com/trail-running 05/05/18 15th annual run for the Kids: Superhero Hustle Villa Park IL eastersealsdfvr.org/runforthekids 05/05/18 cinco de Miler Chicago IL www.cincodemiler.com 05/05/18 door county Half Marathon and nicolet Bay 5k Fish Creek WI www.doorcountyhalfmarathon.com 05/05/18 Lake Monona 20K and 5K Monona WI

05/06/18 Kalamazoo Marathon and Borgess run Kalamazoo MI www.theKalamazooMarathon.com

05/12/18 the Pink 5K Oak Brook IL www.obparks.org/pink5k 05/13/18 run For Our Sons Wheaton IL

05/06/18 great Western Half Marathon Maple Park IL

05/15/18 Six Series - chicago’s Premier Social run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series

05/06/18 Southwest Half Marathon & 10k Palos Heights IL southwesthalfmarathon.com

05/17/18 the universal Sole Four Mile classic Chicago IL universalsole.com/four-mile-classic.html 05/18/18 reebok ragnar chicago Chicago to Madison IL www.runragnar.com

05/19/18 Surviving the Color Terre Haute IN 05/19/18 Juda Hill Climb New Lenox IL www.judaschool.com 05/19/18 21st Annual NOCC-IL Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Arlington Heights IL runwalk.ovarian.org/illinois 05/19/18 Greater Midland Dow RunWalk Midland MI www.greatermidland.org/races 05/19/18 Got2Run For Education, 2.62 Micro-Marathon Run/Walk & 8K Run Arlington Hts. IL www.Got2Run.org 05/19/18 AJ Arnett 5K Honor Run Fort Wayne IN VeepRaces.com 05/19/18 Sock Hop Hustle 5K Olympia Fields IL www.sockhophustle.org 05/19/18 Geist Half Marathon, 10K, & 5k Fishers IN www.geisthalf.com 05/19/18 Hops for Hope 5K Beer Run/Walk 2018 St. Charles IL www.hopsforhope5k.com 05/20/18 Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K Chicago IL www.chicagospringhalf.com

05/20/18 Chicagoland Spring Marathon & Half Marathon Schaumburg IL allcommunityevents.com 05/20/18 Heart Of The Fox St. Charles, IL HeartoftheFox.itsyourrace.com 05/20/18 Rosary High School 18th Annual Road Scholars 5K Aurora IL www.rosaryhs.com/5Krun 05/20/18 Dash for the Dogs Barrington IL 05/20/18 Cupcake Classic 5K & Kids One-Mile Run Downers Grove IL www.noahshope.com/cupcake 05/20/18 Willard 5K Run/ Walk & Youth 1 Mile Run Evanston IL district65.net/willard 05/20/18 Run With the Bulldogs 5K Waukegan IL 05/22/18 Six Series - Chicago’s Premier Social Run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series 05/26/18 Soldier Field 10 Miler Chicago IL www.soldierfield10.com 05/26/18 7th Annual Run For The Brave 5K Run/ Walk/Ruck Plainfield IL www.welcomeyouhome.org

Wisconsin Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5k Saturday, May 5, 2018 | KenoSHa, WI Join us for our tenth year for a marathon, half marathon, and 5k that exhibits all Wisconsin has to offer. Enjoy a beautiful, lakeside course, friendly people, a wonderful neighborhood feel, and don’t forget the brats and beer.

05/26/18 Run Madtown Madison WI www.runmadtown.com

05/28/18 The Essence of Freedom Run 5k/10k Deerfield IL www.essenceoffreedomrun.com

06/02/18 DINO Trail Run Brown County Nashville IN dinoseries.com/trail-running

05/28/18 Run for Sam 5k Elk Grove IL www.runforsam.com

06/02/18 6th Annual Spirit Sprint 5K Worthington IN

05/27/18 Race to the Flag 5K Westmont IL racetotheflag.org

05/28/18 Ridge Run Chicago IL papa.org

06/02/18 Comeback Trail 5K Chicago IL www.comebackstrong.org

05/28/18 Wild West 50K and 3 person Relay Lowell MI

05/29/18 Six Series - Chicago’s Premier Social Run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series

06/02/18 Sunburst Races South Bend IN sunburstraces.org

05/27/18 Salute, Inc. Run/Walk Arlington Heights IL saluteinc.org

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CaLendar events

More Calendar events at: YOUR PERSONAL RACE CALENDAR

06/02/18 Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5k/10k Wheaton IL wheatonparkdistrict.com

06/05/18 Six Series - Chicago’s Premier Social Run Chicago IL cararuns.org/en/Events/Six-Series

06/16/18 The Remembering Lauren 5K Run/Walk Villa Park IL www.rememberlaur.com

06/02/18 Mazon United Methodist 5K Mazon IL facebook.com/groups/MazonUMC5K

06/07/18 Race Against Gun Violence Chicago IL stridesforpeace.org

06/16/18 The Dash Through Des Plaines 5K Des Plaines IL www.dpparks.org

06/02/18 Gospel Run 5K/10K Chicago IL gospelrun.com/site

06/07/18 Strides for Peace-Race Against Gun Violence Chicago IL www.stridesforpeace.org

06/16/18 La Ponale Running (Garda-tavi futas) Riva Del Garda IN

06/02/18 National 5K SCADaddle for Research Wheaton IL www.firstgiving.com

06/09/18 5K Tractor Trot Malta IL www.tractortrot.com

06/02/18 Race to Market Opening Day 5K Batavia IL info@downtownbatavia.com

06/09/18 Block Party @ St. Norbert 5K Fun Run and Kids Dash Northbrook IL

06/02/18 2018 Chicago Undy RunWalk Chicago IL fundraise.ccalliance.org/Chicago

06/09/18 Greenwood Fire Foundation Fire Dash 5K Greenwood, IN firedash5k.itsyourrace.com

06/02/18 3rd Annual Love > Fear 5K Run/Walk Downer Grove IL www.reclaim13.org/lovegreater5k 06/03/18 Pure Pikermi Half Marathon & Relay Aurora IL www.runandachieve.com/pure-pikermi 06/03/18 North Shore Classic Half Marathon & 5k Highland Park IL www.northshoreclassic.com 06/03/18 Run Galesburg Run Galesburg IL rungalesburgrun.com 06/03/18 Run For The Zoo Chicago IL www.lpzoo.org/run-zoo

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06/16/18 The Micro Brew Mile & 6K Road Race Moline IL www.microbrewmile.com 06/16/18 Lighthouse Run Racine Family YMCA Racine WI ymcaracine.org

06/17/18 Prairiefest 5K and One Mile Prairie Dog Jog Oswego IL www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org 06/17/18 Father’s Day 10K/5K Cary IL www.ttcca.org/fathers-day-10k5k.html 06/17/18 Father’s Day 5K Kickin’ Grass Park Ridge IL 06/17/18 Father’s Day 10k/5k Cary IL www.ttcca.org/fathers-day-10k5k.html

06/17/18 Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate Evanston IL www.ywca.org/rah2016 06/21/18 ABC 7 Gibbons 5K Run and 3K Walk Chicago IL www.gibbons5k.com 06/23/18 Clothing Optional 5K Union City MI turtle-lake.net 06/23/18 Two Hearted Trail Run Paradise MI 06/23/18 10th Annual Joshua Kurby Charge for CHARGE 5K Warrenville IL

06/10/18 Tunnel To Towers Lake Zurich 5K Lake Zurich IL crowdrise.com/T2TLakeZurich2018 06/10/18 Coureurs De Bois Trail Run and Relay Kenosha WI www.xcthrillogy.com 06/10/18 6th Annual River Grove FOP 5K River Grove IL 06/10/18 Special Gifts Theatre - Northwest 5K RUn/3K Walk Elk Grove Village IL SGT5KNW.itsyourrace.com 06/10/18 The Universal Sole Summer Trail Challenge Chicago IL www.universalsole.com

MyChiCagoathlete.CoM

Soldier Field 10 Miler Saturday, May 26, 2018 | ChiCago, iL Enjoy a beautiful run through the city’s most scenic spots, including the Lake Shore Drive. The finish line is on Soldier Field, with a post-race party to follow. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the event.

06/23/18 Proud to Run Chicago IL www.proudtorun.org

06/17/18 A Long swim Crystal Lake IL www.alongswim.com

06/23/18 Lambs Farm’s Annual Fun&Fit Family Day 5K Run/ 2 Mile Walk Libertyville IL www.lambsfarm.org

05/12/18 Thunder in The Valley Triathlon olympic Distance Terre Haute IN www.crossroadseventsandtiming.com

06/23/18 Forest Park FireFighters’ 5K and Block Party Forest Park IL www.local2753.com 06/23/18 PNC Chicago Bears 5K Chicago IL www.chicagobears.com/5k 06/24/18 Waterfall 5K Trail Runs 5K/10K Lagro IN VeepRaces.com 06/24/18 Her Madison Half Marathon & 5K Madison WI hermadisonhalf.com 06/24/18 Chicago 10K Chicago IL www.chicago10k.run 06/29/18 Albion Run History Hustle Albion MI 3disciplines.com 06/30/18 Beat the Grandma 5K Grand Rapids MI www.beatthegrandma.mysite.com 06/30/18 Run the Runway at CEA (pwk) Wheeling IL runtherunway5k.itsyourrace.com

sWiMMiNG

06/03/18 A Long swim Lake Zurich Lake Zurich IL www.alongswim.com

TRiATHLoN

05/12/18 Thunder in The Valley Triathlon sprint Distance Terre Haute IN 05/12/18 Gateway Triathlon Carlyle IL 3disciplines.com 05/19/18 White Deer Triathlon Boulder Junction WI www.whitedeertriathlon.com 05/27/18 seahorse Challenge Triathlon Climax MI 3disciplines.com 05/27/18 MMTT Youth Triathlon Geneva IL 05/27/18 illinois state High school Triathlon Championship Geneva IL www.mmtt3.org 06/02/18 Cori’s KidsTriathlon Oak Brook IL www.obparks.org 06/03/18 Pleasant Prairie Cup Youth and Junior Triathlon Pleasant Prairie IL recplexonline.com 06/03/18 Lake Mills Triathlon Lake Mills WI www.lakemillstri.com 06/03/18 Fox Lake Triathlon Fox Lake IL www.foxlaketriathlon.com

ET Batavia Triathlon 2018 Sunday, JunE 10, 2018 | BaTavia, iL The ET Batavia Sprint Distance Triathlon, a USAT sanctioned event, marks its 15th running in 2018. The swim is 400-meters in Batavia quarry pool beach, the bike is a 14.7mi circuit with rolling hills and scenic prairie views, and the run is shaded along the Fox River Trail.

06/03/18 Tri County Tri series Fox Lake IL www.raceroster.com/15745 06/03/18 Leon’s Triathlon Hammond IN www.leonstriathlon.com 06/09/18 Elkhart Lake sprint Triathlon Elkhart Lake WI www.elkhartlakemultisports.com 06/09/18 Elkhart Lake olympic Distance Triathlon Elkhart Lake WI www.elkhartlakemultisports.com 06/09/18 Elkhart Lake Elite olympic Distance Triathlon Elkhart Lake WI www.elkhartlakemultisports.com 06/09/18 The Prairie Triathlon at NorthPointe Roscoe IL www.northpointewellness.org

06/10/18 iRoNMAN 70.3 Wisconsin Madison WI www.ironman.com

06/23/18 Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon Verona WI www.wisconsintriterium.com

06/10/18 Grand Rapids Triathlon Ada MI www.grandrapidstri.com

06/23/18 Pleasant Prairie Triathlon Pleasant Prairie WI pleasantprairietri.com

06/10/18 ET Batavia Triathlon 2018 Batavia IL www.bataviatriathlon.org

06/24/18 2018 Twin Lakes Triathlon Palatine IL saltcreekpd.com/active.com

06/10/18 Big Fish Triathlon Ortonville MI 3disciplines.com

06/24/18 Motor City Triathlon Detroit MI 3disciplines.com

06/17/18 Lake in the Hills Triathlon- Finisher Medal, Cash Prizes, Gender Specific Shirt Lake In The Hills IL www.raceentry.com

06/30/18 25th Annual optimist sprint Triathlon Winona Lake IN www.triathlon.warsawoptimist.org

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HEALTH/FITNESS LISTINGS

DR. MICHAEL P. DAVENPORT Clinic Director/Sports Chiropractic Physician dr.michael@runningiron.org www.runningiron.org Dean DiMaso | Lead Trainer | NASM Dylan Edwards | Master Trainer/Human Performance Coach | NASM Garrett Peterson | Master Trainer/Human Performance Coach | ACE 3350 Salt Creek Lane Suite 109 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 847-368-3200 We are a highly comprehensive performance center that offers both structural and functional care with gentle corrective spinal and wholebody care, physiotherapy, functional nutrition, posture care, exercise rehab and ART. We also offer comprehensive functional assessments, gait analysis, custom food orthotics designed specifically for athletes, lab studies, body compositions, personal coaching, and radiology on site. We also offer personal training, small group training, group classes, and athletic performance training.

Dr. Michael Davenport has been a Sports Chiropractic Physician for over 20 years and has been involved in the Chicago running and triathlon community for 30 years. He has competed in ultramarathons and Ironman races. He is hoping to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona in 2018.

He has been involved in several local organizations that promote healthy lifestyles, and community involvement through training and competition.

Dean attended Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Management with a focus in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Throughout his time at college, Dean was heavily involved in fitness and prepared himself to compete as an NPC (National Physique Committee) physique competitor. Dean placed first in his height division and second overall at his first competition and then went on to compete on the National level. He spent two years after competing taking on aspiring physique competitor clients who would benefit from his knowledge and experiences competing. Dean has been in the fitness industry since 2013. Most of his time has been spent in a Fitness Manager role.

Dean prides himself on properly assessing an individual, developing and educating them of their needs and continuing to achieve their goals while always striving to create new ones.

Dylan’s passion for fitness started the summer going into high school. His older brothers trained him for the football season and he was hooked. Before long he began exploring the depths of fitness, martial arts and nutrition to optimize his mind and body. Dylan took advantage of an academic scholarship to pursue fitness and wellness full time. He has competed in multiple powerlifting events and looks to actively compete in Spartan and OCR races. Dylan focuses on utilizing his experience to find out exactly what a client needs and creates programs to fill those needs efficiently and effectively while maintaining a high energy, laid back and positive training experience. Dylan is an ACE certified trainer as well as a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach. He also holds a black belt in Bushido Kickboxing underneath his grandfather, Grandmaster Bob Beal.

Garrett began his fitness journey early on, after seeking to improve his personal athletic performance. Being a three-sport athlete in High School (football, track and baseball), he made the decision to pursue his passion of playing college football, at Carthage College. After having his college career cut short due to concussion related head traumas, Garrett shifted his focus to become a Human Performance Coach with a primary concentration on the optimization of the brain/body while forming a synergistic relationship between the two. Garrett currently competes in various National Powerlifting events, as well as competitively in Obstacle Course Racing. Garrett is a NASM certified personal trainer and holds notable certifications in DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization), Precision Nutrition L1, and FMS.

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RIVER NORTH: 600 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60654 LINCOLN PARK: 2105 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 HINSDALE: 230 E. Ogden Ave., Hinsdale, IL 60521 OAK BROOK: 3011 Butterfield Rd., Oak Brook, IL 60523 312-600-7716 | info@delostherapy.com www.delostherapy.com First time clients, contact us for a complimentary treatment when you mention Chicago Athlete Magazine.

THE PROBLEM Repetitive motions of day-to-day life cause muscles to contract and relax. Over time, these contractions become shorter. As they become shorter, muscles and fascia become chronically contracted, forming knots, congested tissue and muscle tightness leading to dysfunction, disability and pain.

TIMOTHY T. JANTZ, DPM, FACFO, PODIATRIST 388 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815.459.FOOT (3668) Board certified in Podiatric Orthopedics and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, Dr. Jantz is also a marathoner, ultramarathoner and duathlete. Providing comprehensive treatment for sports-related foot and ankle problems. Biomechanical examination, gait and stance evaluation and custom, sport specific, prescription orthotics. Conservative care of heel pain, tendonitis, pinched nerves, stress fractures, sprains, bunions, hammertoes. Surgical treatment as a last resort. Treadmill gait analysis, X-ray on site. On staff at Northern Illinois Medical Center and Memorial Medical Center. Evening hours are available.

The health of muscles is directly affected by tightness in the muscles. Blood and lymph volume is drastically reduced in hyper-contracted muscle tissue. Tremendous congestion and inflammation accumulate in the tissue from cellular metabolic waste, all due to ineffective circulation. As this stagnation progresses, the tissue suffers increasingly destructive pathological changes.

DELOS THERAPY Delos Therapy involves applied systematic pressure to the entire length of the muscle to stretch muscular fibrils, leading to elevated vascular and lymphatic circulation, improving the vital health of the affected tissue, eliminating pain and restoring function.

HOW WE DIFFER FROM...

Physical Therapy: Conventional techniques of stretching and strengthening are ineffective for hyper-contracted muscle tissue.

Delos Therapy addresses pain and dysfunction in a unique way by micro-stretching muscles and fascia with systematic and precise pressure.

Chiropractic: Rather than manipulating bones that may be out of alignment, Delos Therapy addresses the muscle tissue, which is the force that is causing the skeletal misalignment.

Deep Tissue Massage and Foam Rolling: Deep tissue massage is a superficial technique that glides over tightness. We believe it doesn’t hold tissue in a stretched position long enough to be fully effective.

Conventional Stretching: Tight tissue doesn’t stretch, so during conventional stretching, only healthy fibers are stretched. As a result, flexibility sometimes increases, but pain and stiffness don’t diminish.

Trigger Point Therapy: Rather than target predetermined points on the body, Delos Therapy targets specific patterns of muscle tightness that may or may not fall outside the trigger point.

CONDITIONS TREATED BY DELOS • Headaches/migraines • Back/neck pain • Shoulder pain • Arthritis • Sciatica • IT band syndrome • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Tennis/golfer’s elbow • Hip pain • Plantar fasciitis • Tendonitis • TMJ • Bursitis • Fibromyalgia • Knee pain • Shin splints BENEFITS OF DELOS • Elimination of pain symptoms • Reduced treatment costs • Reduced stiffness • Elevated athletic performance

• Reduced rehabilitation time • Restored function • Increased range of motion • Prevention of surgeries

To Advertise in our Health/ Fitness section

CONTACT

JONATHAN

847.675.0200 x210

Massage Envy - Streeterville 345 E. Ohio Street (Between Fairbanks & McClurg Ct) 3-hours of validated parking for $10 312-222-0808 Massage Envy - Lincoln Park Clybourn 1845 N. Clybourn Ave (Across from Buffalo Wild Wings) Free 2-hours of validated parking 773-904-1100 Massage Envy - Old Town / Gold Coast 1222 N. Wells (Across from Plum Market) 312-642-3689 All locations open 7 days a week.

We help people feel their best. Total Body Care at Massage Envy is an integral part of everyone’s well-being journey.

Massage Therapy Services Add massage therapy to your marathon or triathlon training program and enhance your performance and improve your recovery. Try your first 60-minute customized massage for just $60 or a 90-minute session for just $90.

With our focus on Total Body Care, we offer the following services in 30, 60, 90, and 120 minute sessions: • Deep Tissue • Swedish / relaxation • Reflexology • Pre-natal • Hot Stone Therapy • Enhanced Muscle Therapy • Sports massage • Hand and foot exfoliation treatments Total Body Stretch Service Introducing 30 and 60-minute assisted stretch at our introductory rate of $36 or $60 The ME Total Body Stretch is a new customizable therapeutic assisted stretch session that can help our guests do more with their own body by working to aid in restoring range of motion, mobility, and assisting in performance and recovery. These services are assisted by one of Massage Envy’s trained and licensed massage therapist or personal trainers.

Skin Care Services Massage Envy is all about health and well-being. These include our Murad Healthy Skin Facials and our advanced skincare services.

Benefit from our skincare services at affordable rates. We offer the following skin care services: • Murad Healthy Skin Facials • PCA Chemical Exfoliation • Microderm Infusion Membership Join over 1,900,000 members nationwide! We have over 1,300 locations in 49 states. Members enjoy our lowest rates on massage therapy and skincare services.

SAUGANASH WELLNESS CENTER

6160 N. Cicero Avenue, Suite 214, Chicago, IL 60646 773.283.4470 | FAX: 773.283.4473 info@sauganashwellness.com www.sauganashwellness.com

SAVE MONEY ON RACE ENTRY FEES

Sauganash Wellness Center provides quality chiropractic care and massage therapy — treatments that reduce pain and enhance your health. Whether you are an athlete in training or looking to maintain optimum performance, our non-invasive treatments will fit you and your family’s active lifestyle and individual needs.

Conditions we treat at Sauganash Wellness Center include arthritis, back or neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, disc herniations, headaches, muscular pain or injury, sciatica, sports-related injuries, whiplash and more.

The Sauganash Wellness Center has been recognized as a Corporate Citizen of the Year by the Lincolnwood Chamber of Commerce because they exemplify what the chamber represents – business, service and community. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Deanna Minkler and Rachel Shaffer, the center has become an important part of the community. Minkler and Shaffer have participated in and donated their services to Lincolnwood’s Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing, Turkey Trot and annual summer Fest, as well as many other events in Greater Chicago including the WTTW Family Walk and Fun Run, the Edison Park Turkey Trot and the Chicago Police Memorial Fund Run to Remember 5K Walk/Run. A licensed Chiropractic for more than 10 years, Dr. Deanna Minkler, D.C., CHt, specializes in sports rehabilitation and pediatric chiropractic.

To assist athletes recover from injuries at a quicker pace, Minkler has become certified in Kinesiotaping, the treatment of muscular disorders and lymphedema reduction, and the Graston Technique, which treats acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.

“Becoming a successful chiropractor has been my ambition since I was nine years old,” Dr. Minkler shares. “Being a part of a person’s transition from discomfort and impaired movement to pain free mobility is my greatest reward. My profession is challenging and stimulating and it inspires me every day!”

Rachel Shaffer is a licensed and certified massage therapist who has been in practice for more than 9 years. Specializing in assisting professional athletes, Shaffer has become an expert in deep tissue and sports massage. She also excels at prenatal and geriatric therapy.

Enhance your current health... and your future health with care from our certified and licensed doctors and practitioners. Sauganash Wellness Center is conveniently located at 6160 N. Cicero Avenue, just one block east of the Eden’s Expressway (I-94) and one block north of Peterson Avenue on Chicago’s North Side. Many insurance plans accepted. Now accepting new patients.

For more information, visit the center’s web site at www.sauganashwellness.com.

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MYCHICAGOATHLETE.COM

MAY/JUNE 2018

53

www.mychicagoathlete.com/ news/e-newsletter

Second Glance

doug Mcconnell Co-Founder oF a Long Swim

Q How did you first get involved with swimming?

A I was a swimmer since I was a little kid; I started with the summer league team at the East Dundee Park District, and not because I was a good swimmer but because I had older sisters who were both really good and they had a lot of fun with it. I felt like I had found my niche; I swam at the Elgin YMCA through high school, and did pretty well. After college, once I started building a career and family, I would swim periodically at masters meets to keep my hand in it.

All of that was pool swimming, though; about 10 years ago, I started open water swimming, which is very different but very fun.

Q Where did your idea for A Long Swim stem from?

Well, the disease ALS [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis] hit my family pretty hard. My dad was diagnosed in 1994, but he ended up living 12 years, which is much longer than the typical time of three to five years. At the time, it was something my family knew nothing about, but he reassured us that it wasn’t the type that ran in families. After he died in 2006, one of my sisters was diagnosed. Turns out, she also lived with it for 12 years, and just passed a couple months ago.

Along the way, I started learning more about the disease and got involved with a couple of foundations. ALS is a narrow disease – it only affects about 6,000 Americans a year. Not a lot of people know about it, so it doesn’t attract medial funding often. It’s also a neurodegenerative disease, 54

may/june 2018

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where the patient slowly starts losing function of their muscles. We thought because swimming obviously requires all muscles, it would be a good contrast; combining a niched sport with a niched disease. It was my sister who thought to capitalize on the acronym for A Long Swim.

Q What does A Long Swim event entail?

Well it started in 2011 as an English Channel Swim, and we set to raise $50,000. Then, in 2014 we introduced our open water swim series. There’s three a year: one in Lake Zurich, one in Crystal Lake and one in Winnetka, which really helps those participating in the Chicago Triathlon prepare for swimming in Lake Michigan. Each event has four different swims during the day: a 1500-meter swim for those training for an Olympic triathlon; a 1.2-mile swim for half Ironman athletes; a 2.4-mile swim for full Ironman-ers; and we added a 5k swim.

Q Have you seen a lot of success in fundraising?

Oh yes, we’ve done a number of other marathon swim events, and we’ve raised over $500,000.

What’s funny though, that because it is a narrow disease, most of the funding for research was raised privately through ALS foundations.

But then, in 2014, came the Ice Bucket Challenge. We in the ALS world knew it would come and go, but it was an avalanche of money and awareness; it raised nearly $200 million in six weeks. The best part about it is we don’t really have to explain what ALS is anymore; the pace of discovery is accelerating so quickly.

Q Why would you encourage triathletes to try out one of your swim series?

Most people come out to train because they want to get better at triathlon, and for most triathletes, swimming is their weakest sport. The number of training runs that a triathlete could go on are uncountable … and the cycling world is almost as packed, but for swimming, there are very few events. Everybody goes through the open water freak out factor – bumping around the corner marks and has their goggles ticked off – it’s just part of the sport. This is a great way to practice in a more controlled environment; we really limit the amount of swimmers we send off on a single gun, so you’re not overwhelmed by the crowd.

Q What does the future of A Long Swim look like?

We’ve been negotiating with the city for almost three years to see if we can get one of our swims in the Chicago River, which is something that hasn’t been done in anybody’s lifetime. In fact, we discovered that in the old days, there were competitive swims there all the time, and the last one we could find was in 1908, which was the same year of the last time the Chicago Cubs won.

Another thing we’re doing this year is sponsoring a handful of triathletes themselves. We’re looking at 15 to 25 triathletes this year, and thought we could raise some money through it. We have a lot of enthusiasm about it now, so we’re hopeful this program will take off a bit.

By: Holly Petrovich

THE PERFECT RUNNING SHOE. AND OTHER MYTHS. The Sensation 3

Truth is, there is no perfect running shoe. It’s pure fantasy. Because there are no perfect runners. There, we said it. Every runner runs differently — which is why our shoes use a foam that’s “alive,” able to last longer and adapt over time to the way you run individually. So does this make a great shoe? More and more people think so. But even we know perfection isn’t a shoe, it’s a chase. One that goes beyond your expectations.

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