Rock on, Bear! That's really awesome! Great time and it sounds like it was fun too!

BTW, darn achilles tendon won't let me run (AGAIN, and I swear I wasn't diving in too fast or anything), so reason will prevail and no spring marathon. If I don't get this all straightened out, maybe no fall one either. :-( Told ya I'm fragile....

Bear,

Didn't recognize you without the fur.  Congratulations on finishing!  That's awesome.

Great Job Bear! Wish I would have known what you looked like! Would have smacked you over the head with one of those inflatable "New Balance" noisemakers!   ha ha... just jokin' **AND** I didn't know you were running yourself... I thought it was just your friend you were going to watch! 

Anyway, Congratulations on a fantastic finish! Nice work. Will you be back next year?

What did you think if our fair city?

Oh, and regarding the photo... I don't think there's any way to improve them... short of ordering them... They do that on purpose, so we DON'T lift them, I think...

Congrats again!

LW

I didn't know you were running yourself... I thought it was just your friend you were going to watch! I'm not much of a "watcher," and marathons (and triathlons) really suck as spectator sports IMHO. Sure wouldn't travel that far just to watch, although Chicago would be more interesting than most!

Will you be back next year? Probably not for the marathon. Loved the city, loved the event, but I doubt I'll ever run the same marathon twice. My LONG range goal is to run a marathon in every state, since I can only do three or four a year I hate to "waste" one on a repeat. Chicago was my tenth marathon in nine states (two in Louisiana).

Besides, there was no lipstick in the goody bag.

What did you think if our fair city? Loved Chicago, was particularly impressed by how clean it was. My "big city" experience revolves around New Orleans and Houston, which each have their own unique charm but leave you feeling like you need a shower afterwards. Chicago was much cleaner, a good mix of the old and new. The old wasn't decrepit, but historic and aesthetically pleasing. Great architecture, like the whole city was a museum showcasing the last 100+ years of building design. City appears to be in constant renewal, i.e., Millenium Park and the whole Riverwalk. We relied on public transportation the whole time and found it to be clean, efficient, safe, and convenient.  Restaurants were nice (pizza at at Gino's and Uno's), shopping fantastic, museums spectacular, yada, yada.

Pictures look better on mf's website, but when I post them here they are a lot bigger, so that you can see the pixels.

Great job bear!  For whatever reason, I did not put together that you were doing this one with TEAM as I know you have in the past.  If so, I would have told you to talk shop with Charlie (he should have been the coach for this event on the trip) as he is a big Tri-guy here in Nawlins.  Just completed Ironman Wisconsin (around 11 hrs) and is doing IM Florida as well.

Any hoo, good job! and congrats on a good run!

Yes, Charlie was along on the trip. First time meeting him, pretty nice guy, he's done like 14 marathons plus several Ironman events.This was probably his longest marathon as the coaches are required to see the participants in, he finished in just under six hours as he waited for my wife, who is a walker. He ran with me and another participant for a couple of miles around Mile 10, through the gay part of town with guys twirling to Macho Man" and carrying signs like "Marathon Boys Are Hot,"

Do you know him from TNT or from triathloning in general?

Chicago was my 14th TNT event (8 marathons, 1 half and 5 centuries), looks like we may be doing R'n'R Arizona in January as well.

Good deal!  I am already doing the asst. coach thing, so hopefully we will meet soom.  At the latest, I am sure I will see you in Feb for the Mardi Gras Marathon.

How is that area for Tris.  I am trying to get them to take on a Tri team here.  I think it will go over good in this area, but still have some convincing of the staff to do.

i can only dream of a pace that fast.

I don't know, autumn, your paces (sans stroller) were pretty impressive. Just need to build your base and your endurance and a sub-4 could be in your future!