Signed up for Illinois marathon today, consider Peoria Heights 1/2

I've done that race before.  It's not really "hilly" but there are a couple of spots that are a little steep by Illinois standards.  Nothing to be worried about though.  Great race!  It's really epic to finish on the 50 yard line of the U of I football field!!  The finish is not really spectator friendly though.  They can't really get near you and have to stay up in the stands.  Well supported course too.  It was really windy when I did it, but there were big pace groups and you didn't really feel the wind much drafting in the group!  GOOD LUCK!

It sounds like a well run event. I am only about 1 hour 15 minutes away so I will probably pick the packet up, and come back home only to drive back the next morning.

I have enough time to train for the full marathon, its just keeping swimming and biking time for the tris this summer. We will see, should be a good time either way.

You mentioned my fear and my issue as well. I ran a 10K last year as my first "race", knee started hurting and hurt off and on for a while. Then knee didnt hurt bad but popped and moved a lot... I read if your hamstring is weak from a desk job (which I have) along with another muscle I cant name it will cause that (stronger muscles pulled knee cap from weaker ones.

I am doing a couple little hamstring strength things everyday and the knee cap issue is pretty much gone now.

SO with several running events, 2-3 Triathlons, and a century charity bike ride on the 2013 schedule do I risk pushing a marathon and putting myself back out of action?

I want to do it. Like you I have never done one and want check it off the list... That said even with the 1/2 I probably wont try to push super hard and risk injury.

I'll have to try and add some more hammy exercises and see if that helps.  It's a wierd injury.  I got it from running a 4 mile run one day.  Didn't do anything different just went for a nice run.  Got done and my knee was hurting.  It's on the inner side of my right knee.  Doesn't feel deep or anything but here lately it doesn't hurt anymore.  Just feels stiff/tight/awkward after I've ran a couple miles.  Time will tell I guess.  I have to start ramping up milage here soon due to a winter survivor series I signed up for and of course the Illinois marathon in April.  Hopefully everything goes well.  I think I can possibly push through this as I have with other injuries.

Taking it slow and steady though.  I am not going to jepordize my IMWI debut with getting injured.

Good luck! Hopefully whatever is bothering you heals, loosens up, etc. It sux being nervous like that.

I just signed up for a sprint Tri in Morton IL, maybe another 1/2 marathon, looking hard at adding an Olympic tri. If my knee problem comes back and I get derailed I will probably end up depressed!

Just started a ramp up last week as I am trying to follow a marathon training ramp up. 4.5 miles today and it felt really good!

Well to tell the truth BAMBAM I have been considering the Delevan Frostbite 1/2 as my warm up to the Illinois marathon instead.

Talked to a guy over the weekend that said the same thing you did, hills were killer. Also that Peoria Heights 1/2 is pretty close to the Illinois, were the Delevan is a full month before. Not to mention flat.

I am close to both, only 20 minutes or so to either one (Morton). Will have to see. I work with a guy that wants me to run the Peoria Heights one with him.. If I do it I will take it nice and easy. No pushing it up the hills. Think I have a good shot at under 10:00 pace for the Illinois if I dont blow anything out before then

Hope to see YOU at the Morton Pumpkin classic 10K in September!

I don't think there is a Delavan Half this year...

I figured that since I hadnt seen anything on it. I am signed up for so much already I would have probably skipped it. Actually heading to a Frostbite 5K shortly!

I did the Morton tri for kids sake last year.  It was my first tri ever.  I won my age group (25-29) and placed 8th overall.  It's to bad it's a pool swim and slow swimmers can put in whatever times they want and us faster swimmers have to pass them.  I passed 3-4 people in the swim that had no business being towards the front.  Probably won't be doing that one this year due to scheduling conflicts and having the Effingham Half IM like 1 or 2 weeks after that.  Really need to figure out the rest of my season though since it is really starting to creep up on us now.

I'm signed up for the Half marathon down in Champaigne.  Decided I better not push my knee this early in the game.  Funny thing is I have always said the first marathon I ever run will be after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112....

I saw and considereg the Effingham HIM but decided it was to soon. I ended up signing up for the Evergreen Oly mid year, and Pigman HIM in Iowa late August. The half IM will probably be my last this year. I should be in top shape by then so how I feel/do will help me decide on doing a full distance IM next year.

I had to enter a swim time for the Morton tri, guess I had assumed they should start according to swim times. I am a decent swimmer and entered 8 minutes so hopefully I am not behind anybody struggling their way to a 15 minute.

I am sure I will see you at the IL marathon, shouldnt be a problem spotting you with only 5,000-6,000+ people..... (biggest race for so far was pumpking classic, think it was 1,200)

Heh.  Last year I think there was at least 15000 people doing one of the three races on Saturday.  It was insane!  I froze my off waiting to start the 10k since we had to wait for all the marathon/ halfers to start and then get ahead at least 4-6 miles before they would let us go.

If you have never been up to Madison during IMWI weekend I would recommend heading up there just to watch.  It's amazing and I can't wait to drag my over the finish line.

The Illinois Marathon is capped at 3,000, the half at 8,000 and the 10K at 3,000.  The 5K is the night before.  So, potentially 14,000 people - but they do have coral / staggered starts now so that really helps.  The only real hill is when you go through the park backwards.  Feels like it takes forever - and be warned - it's a sidewalk so at that point it is easy to get jammed up.  Look for the statue of the naked person (one year someone attached shoes to it)

The crowd support is great - and some of the neighbors on the race route set up their own water stations.  Official water/gatorade stations are marked with a big balloon type thing (or at least they have been in the past)  Pictures at the start, 10K and finish.  

Some people complain about having to climb up the stairs of the stadium to get food after the race.  It is tough, but, not much else they can do.  Get everything you think you want the first trip through as the food lines are long and you don't want to wait for a second trip.

Gear check is pretty seamless as is pickup.

My biggest complain would be packet pickup on Friday night.  It's not their fault - but - if you time it wrong - getting out of your parking spot can take a really long time.  

The assembly hall is open the morning of - which is great for those who do not want to use porta potties - or if it is a little chilly or raining (like last year)

Great race - I love doing it - I especially love the carb loading at Jupiters at the crossing afterwards.

I'm looking forward to it as well.  It will be my first Half and longest running race to date.  Hopeing to learn a lot from it to help me decide on pacing for my HIM and other events.  I do want to go under 1:30 mark for sure.  I can do over 12 miles in 90 minutes in zone 2 so I think 13.1 in 90 is very easily possible baring no unforseen GI or injury issues. 

Hopefully we all have a great race and the weather will be a tad warmer this year or at least less windy and rainy.

So are you in A gate? I think I entered 2 flat, but I think I will be under 2... 2 flat is D, I should have put 1:55 so I would be in the next gate up. Maybe I can still change.....

Yeah I wont be anywhere near your pace. Doing the Friday night 5K? I cant catch you there either but can maybe get within a few minutes Last was 22:54 and I know I can beat that easy. Havent decided if it is a good idea to run the 5K all out.

Read about "pacers" regarding another race. Interesting.... I dont have a real good plan right now. Was just going to run by the GPS watch for a 10K or so and if I feel good start cranking it up at 1/2 way. I do have a tri coach that may have a plan for me (hopefully not a super complicated one..)

Ran a practice 13.1 in the wind on a hilly route last weekend and did pretty well. This is suppose to be flat/fast course, cant wait!

yeah dude going out at 7:00 pace is about 2.5 minutes faster then I plan to head out at. I was thinking more 9:30 and work down to 8:50-9:00 pace. You will be way the heck in front of me.

You will have plenty of that great stuff called adrenaline courseing through your' veins come race morning.  Just remember not to blow up at the start!  I have to tell myself to do that as well with every running race I've done.  I had a terrible 5k trail race back in December that I didn't remember that and spent the last 2 miles dieing.  When I did the 10k last year here I held back the urge to go faster at the start and after about 1 mile in I was passing people left and right and I think I only was passed by a couple people for the rest of the 10k.

Good Luck!  Less than two weeks away now.  Hopeing I don't get sick.  My wife and kid have both had pretty terrible colds going on right now and I'm not sure if they are the same one I already got over a few weeks back or not.  This is an ongoing sickness this year it seems.