Retrospective: The Runner's Guide to Chicago & Suburbs

A quick Google search reveals very little about Tem Horwitz's The Runner's Guide to Chicago & Suburbs (ISBN 0-914090-54-2).

Published in 1978 by the Chicago Review Press, the book was clearly intended to be somewhat disposable. A 1978 directory of all things running in Chicago it includes descriptions and maps of favorite runs, sundry information about running in general, equipment recommendations including a list of Runners World's top 25 shoes, addresses and phone numbers of various shops and clubs servicing runners, and tear off copies of the maps of the runs to take on the go. Its eclectic, exceedingly specific contents have not aged particularly well, but for a Chicago runner 36 years later, it provides a peek into the gestalt (did I just use that word?) of Chicago running as well as the psyche of a particular Chicago runner of the past.

I tend to bring this book up in conversations primarily for the power of the photos which some what eerily mimic those flooding my Facebook and Twitter feeds on a daily basis. My friend, Lynton, asked for more information about the book after our run today, but since there was nothing really on the interwebs, I decided to write a bit about the book and share a few of the iconic photos I had described:

For many this spot is instantly recognizable.

photo credit: Tem Horwitz

It's too bad this area is nearly impassible at the present.

photo credit: Tem Horwitz

I'm pretty sure this is Belmont Harbor.

photo credit: Tem Horwitz

I think that it would probably interesting to include some of the locations that Horwitz describes where I've had the opportunity to run:

Chicago Parks

Lincoln Park (Foster to Grand)

Burnham Park (Monroe to 55th)

Grant Park

Jackson Park

Horner and California Parks

Humbolt Park

Washington Park

Suburbs

Skokie Lagoons

Des Plaines River Trail

Evanston Lake Front

North Branch Trail

Schiller Park

Palos/Sag Valley

Despite this experience, there are still quite a few notable places I have yet to run:

Garfield, Marquette, or Riis Parks

Green Bay Trail (I've biked this, but not run)

Morton Arboretum

Oak Park

Illinois Prairie Path

What is your favorite Chicago & suburbs run?

Whoops Already Behind! (Training 1/13-1/19)

I won't labor too much on this as I'm already a week late on posting, but here's what I did for 1/13-1/19.

Monday

am - 2200 yards swimming

A conservative estimate on my yardage. I tried to use the Suunto Ambit 2S I'm demoing to track the workout, but it wasn't exactly on point. I also was distracted as there were a lot of other swimmers in the pool and it freaked me out. The last 40 minutes I did: 300 free, 3x100, 6x50, 3x50 pull buoy, 3x50 kick board, and 300 free = 1500 yards.

pm

After my pool workout, I had a massive headache. I ended up becoming extremely nauseous at work, tossing my cookies in the middle of a vendor meeting :D, and leaving early. Got home and stayed in bed for 16 hours.

Tuesday

pm - 8 miles easy, The Long Way Home

After a very eventful Monday and 16 hours of rest, I powered through work and ran an easy 8 on the lake just like old times. I turned a half mile early and ran home instead of back to work.

I don't usually carry a phone with me, but since I was carrying my phone home, I decided to capture a rare running selfie:

Check out those Aframes

Wednesday

pm - 1x1 mile, 4x800, Boston 365 workout in the Zoo lot

It was pretty cold out so I suggested we add a mile at tempo to this workout prior to the 800 reps. Did 1x1 mile at tempo (5:39), 4x800 at ? (2:32, 34, 37, 39). Started way too fast. Happy to have survived.

Thursday

am - 2200 yards swimming

Swam with Team LT Dream's Eric B. 300, 3x100, 6x50, 300, 2x50, 2x25, 200, 2x50, 2x25, 100, 2x50, 2x25 + 50

pm - Brooks PureProject Collection Fashion show

This whole ordeal stressed me out. Felt a lot of anxiety about this for whatever reason.

Friday

Destroyed after Thursday's stress/anxiety and late evening celebrating birthdays.

Saturday

am - 12.3 w/ 3 miles at goal MP in 1:23

Ran with Boston 365. 3rd 3 miles at marathon goal pace. Hit 6:13, 5:58, 5:47 with Peter M. blocking the wind on the last half mile.

Sunday

am - Ran 2 miles to/from the LSAC Pool, 2500 yards swimming

My leg felt really good thanks to proper rest (16 hours on Monday night and taking Friday off after a lot of anxiety were key). I decided to run to the pool just to see how it would feel the day after a long run it ended up being okay.

300, 3x100, 6x50, 300, 2x200, 4x75 hard, 3x50 pull, 3x50 kick, 300 easy. Felt very tired that last 300.

~7 hours of activity including some faster than goal MP work and 4/7 days of running!