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Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports
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 2015-03-19 2:13 PM |
Champion  6993      Chicago, Illinois |  Subject: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance SportsI am moving to the city in May. I am all signed up for the Chicago marathon and looking for a training group. The only 2 groups I know are Cara and Chicago Endurance Sports Cara. I never ran from Montrose beach but I done Cara before from a suburb site. The beach not far from where I will live but sounds like I will have to either drive or leave way early because the bus sounds like will take 45 mins to get there even though its 3 miles from my apartment. I tempted to walk but little far when you doing a long run before and after and not that great of shape right now. I might have a lot of people to run with for sure with the Cara group. If parking is free or pretty easy to get free close by then it might be ok. CES. Sounds like they have training in the Lincoln square neighborhood. This would be nice because its close by but not sure if the training group is as nice and costs a lot more. Good new is they have a pace that is also more my current pace and I know I should be able to walk to that running group for sure. Anyone have experience with CES or Cara and the montrose beach location? |
| 2015-03-29 7:35 PM in reply to: chirunner134 |
| 57 | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports I have experience with both clubs. CARA for marathon training and CES for triathlon training. I'm not sure of costs, but I think they are comparable. Personally, I prefer the CES programs, as the members tend to be more socially oriented. Not that CARA isn't or can't be for you, but for me at least I found my "people" at CES. Mike Norman, who is the CES founder is a super cool and personable guy and is very accessible to the athletes in the program. He is one of the Iron program coaches, so I'm not sure if he is quite as involved with the marathon programs as he is with the tri programs. I think both programs are good and worth the money, but for me personally I lean towards CES. However one program might be a better fit for you than the other...I think if you drop in on a training session and introduce yourself and let them know you are trying out the program it shouldn't be a problem. |
| 2015-03-29 11:28 PM in reply to: ginger1981 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports I was thinking about CES because one of there location is .5 miles from the place I will live. Cara will be on the lake front but according to google it will take 45 mins to get there via bus. I think walking vs long bus ride will be more desirable. Plus the group is more my speed. God I gotten slow. |
| 2015-04-27 9:11 AM in reply to: chirunner134 |
New user 6 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports So I've done programs through both groups. I did the winter 13.1 with CARA and marathon with CES in 2013. I also have done beginning running with both. Here's the thing. If you're looking for a more social experience with pace groups, regular runs, a training plan, and some other workouts, either would be fine. They're comparable. If you're looking for actual coaching, I would go with CARA. When I did my marathon training I rarely had any interaction with any of the coaches. They seemed much more focused on the faster groups and would check in with the slower groups as they ran by. My pace group leaders were OK but they were hardly coaches and often not very good at keeping pace. One couldn't do the longer runs because she kept falling out needing her inhaler, one thought his job was to push us faster than we wanted to train. Another thing about CES was that it was HUGE. I could have bandited the group runs each week no problem. CARA's program is a bit smaller and I think much more focused on coaching rather than simply organizing group runs. |
| 2015-04-27 9:53 AM in reply to: 0 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports Thanks for the info that was very useful. I just need a group to run with to make sure I can finish the marathon. When you struggle training by yourself is not always as good. I think I will go with Chicago Endurance Sports. Close to home is important too. Edited by chirunner134 2015-04-27 9:58 AM |
| 2015-04-28 11:46 AM in reply to: chirunner134 |
Regular 265 | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports For those who have done group training programs before - what are the pros to doing it with a group? I feel the company and motivation would help but my speed is terrible, terrible, terrible. I am not sure if I would qualify for their slowest pace group. |
| 2015-04-28 12:04 PM in reply to: 0 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports Looks like Cara slowest group is 12 min mile and CES has a 12:30 to 13:30 group. Right now I am trying to catch up to the 13:30 mark. Since it starts may 31st I am making May my I must lose weight month. If I can drop 12 to 15 lbs by then I should be ok since that should take me from 14:00 to 13:00. If you can run with a group I would highly recommend it. I know it helps alot. I have ran with groups before. My running club has there own marathon training group and it really helps. Edited by chirunner134 2015-04-28 12:05 PM |
| 2015-05-08 10:14 AM in reply to: chirunner134 |
Regular 641 Chicago | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports Chiming in late, but fellow CES-er here and I love it. Although I have never used its marathon training program, just the half- and full Ironman ones. And I have to echo what was said, it's like I have found "my people." I'm seriously talking BFFs - people I talk to every single day. Of course, you get out of group training what you put into it, so if you are looking for the social aspect you have to make an effort to get to know everyone - don't show up with an iPod, talk to those in your pace group instead. Other reasons why I like group training is that it holds you accountable - if I miss training you bet someone is going to call me out on it. It also, I think, pushes you to give a little bit more in your training, especially on days where you don't feel like it. |
| 2016-02-08 5:06 PM in reply to: doxie |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports Update. I went with CES and I liked it so much I think I will not only do the marathon training but the 10 miler in the spring. Hopefully this will help make my marathon training a little shorter since I will ideally be faster. |
| 2016-02-08 9:41 PM in reply to: chirunner134 |
| 1731 Denver, Colorado | Subject: RE: Cara marathon training vs Chicago Endurance Sports Originally posted by chirunner134 Update. I went with CES and I liked it so much I think I will not only do the marathon training but the 10 miler in the spring. Hopefully this will help make my marathon training a little shorter since I will ideally be faster. Yay! I'm glad you liked it  Good luck!! |
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