Dear Bank of America,

It's called the SHAMROCK SHUFFLE because it's supposed to be around or near St. Patrick's Day. But for the second time in the last few years, it's in April. Lame! Hmmm, debating if I will do this or not. See for yourself here. I don't know why this bothers me so much, but it does.

Sincerely,

Some random chick whose opinion doesn't matter anyway, I suppose

If you think YOU had a bad week...

I noticed two articles on the same restaurant today...

First, I'm sure this review by trendy hipster magazine TimeOut Chicago was none too pleasing for the owners of Ole Hardwood, a new restaurant in the Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. Note the subtitle: "Sure there's smoke, but it feels like getting burned."

And then there's this: "South Loop barbecue goes up in smoke."

Be careful what you pray for

This is ridiculous. And Focus on the Family is a fairly common show in the religious right. Ironic that they prayed for rain for Obama's big speech and now the RNC is being shortened due to Hurricane Gustav. Proof (in my eyes) that God has a sense of humor.

2007 Chicago Marathon Re-Hash; subtitle: Race Director Carey Pinkowski Can Kiss My @$$

Try this before running a marathon (article/blog from Chicago Tribune)
Here's a sensible and intriguing idea: Require that all 45,000 Bank of America Chicago Marathon entrants run a 13.1-mile half-marathon before the Oct. 12 race.

It wouldn't matter how fast runners went or whether they finished. But it would give first-time racers a small taste of what it takes to get through a 26.2-mile marathon.

Right now, the idea is only a suggestion from Bank of America Chicago Marathon race officials, who have done some soul searching after the 2007 race was canceled prematurely due to excessive heat.

This year, they've added aid stations and supplies, installed an event alert system and beefed up participant communication, targeting "debut" or first-time runners.

But I think the most significant change is the formal recognition that a marathon is not a parade or a race to be taken lightly.

"There's nothing casual about it," said race director Carey Pinkowski. "You have to prepare, not only physically but mentally. Fifteen years ago marathoners had more of a running background. But with the popularity of the marathon, we have the responsibility to educate and inform (debut runners)."

Unlike the Boston Marathon, which has qualifying standards, The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is well known for drawing thousands of first-time marathoners, who often run to raise money for charity. It also attracts those who have never run an organized race, which is like trying to walk before learning to crawl.

For example, if you don't know what a water station is--or how it's laid out--you might cause problems for yourself or others on a crowded marathon course. Group training runs are helpful, but race experience is even better. It gets you used to running with others when the adrenaline is pumping, navigating aid stations and figuring out how your body responds to certain conditions and elements.

Are you a salty sweater who needs to replenish electrolytes? Or do you have a tendency to go out too fast early in races? What happens to your body--and your mind--when you don't drink enough water, or you drink too much?

I applaud Chicago Marathon officials for reaching out to the newbies via e-mail newsletters and visits to running clubs and training groups. But ultimately, it's up to runners to be prepared, whether they're running in a heat wave or a snowstorm, two definite possibilities in October.

Fortunately there's still plenty of time to get experience. You can find a half-marathon at Chicago Athlete or the Windy City Sports event calendar.

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Aww, gee whiz, thanks for the fucking tips, bitch! I sent a comment...with no cursing or anything that would lead them to believe that I'm a certified lunatic....we'll see if they post it.

The Chicago Distance Classic-How to Ruin A Perfect Race!

I am sooo ANGRY! They TOTALLY changed the course of the Chicago Distance Classic (CDC), which until today, July 23rd at 10:45 am, was my favorite race in the city. EVerything that made it different about the other half marathon, known as the Chicago Half Marathon (CHM) has been erased, barring the medal...and that might change too, since the CHM has been sold to a new company, thereby ridding this race of its shady owner known for his shenanigans and crappy race goings-on in the running world. Maybe the CHM will have a medal that looks less like it came out of a crackerjack box! One can only hope! (Anyway, that's another interesting story, be sure to read here and here--after you finish reading my post, of course!)

I'm so mad...no more downtown running, no nice mix of downtown AND lakefront running, which was part of the magic of the CDC...it's ALL lakefront, which, my friends, if the course is on the actual Drive (Lakeshore Drive for you non-Chicagoans) like the CHM, it's ALL FRIKKIN CONCRETE with is a bitch-and-a-half to run on! And on an August morning, BAKING FRIKKIN HOT and not a tree in site until you're on the actual path. It's gonna be like "Oh, bye-bye Grant Park! LaLaLaLa, oh what a nice day for a....DAAAAANG that morning sun is sizzling hot and bouncing up off the concrete somethin' fierce!"

In past blog entries I've described my love affair with the CDC and the awesomeness of the course. I mean, what could be more awesome, on a hot summer morning, to run the first mile or so on the same course of the Chicago Marathon that you will be running in two months later? How cool is it to run under the shade of the el tracks for another few miles, down the middle of a downtown street where on a regular day you'd be hit by three buses, five taxis, and maybe a bike messenger or two??? So you mean I have to wait til the Shamrock Shuffle to run under the el tracks again???? When the awesomeness factor is not as great b/c you're doding rain or snowmelt dripping down b/c it's frikkin March?

JOHN BINGHAM I've totally respected you, tried to look past the missing Gatorade at Mile 8 last year...tried not to bug out when I didn't get my icy CDC towel at the finish line b/c you all ran out...IN A RACE BILLED FOR PENGUIN RUNNERS? WTF?!?! But to finalize the course with a completely different route less than three weeks away from the race? TWO THUMBS DOWN, swaying my arms loudly while booing like a maniac! That is ROTTEN. My desire to try and run this despite not having decent mileage over the last month due to my knee issue has gone down a few pegs.

I mean, for real...if the only thing different from the CDC and the CHM is the start/finish being on opposite ends of the drive, then why wouldn't most normal people just do the one in September when you have a better chance of good weather, and as a nice "stepdown" in mileage the weekend before your 20-miler run? And further...when Runners World named the CHM as one of the best half marathons in the country, everyone I knew was like HA, CDC is way better-and for a multitude of reasons STARTING WITH THE COURSE. It was like Chicago runners' dirty little secret...but caving in to this bs notion that the a whole frikkin half marathon should be on the lakefront means that you, John Bingham, must have agreed with this notion of the other half marathon being better. The CDC better step up their game with the course issues they had last year, or the CDC will fade into mediocrity.

BOO!!!

My girl Lou feels the same way.