Zach Runs Chicago

Starting the 5K RUN! to End Homelessness I've lived in Chicago for six years and I've never been to Douglas Park . To be honest, I don't think I'd ever even heard of Douglas Park before I signed up for the 5K RUN! to End Homelessness . Which is actually too bad since it's a pretty nice park with little rolling hills, a pond, a swimming pool and some nice trails. Getting to experience Douglas Park this morning for the first time by running through it reminded me of a few months ago when I got to experience Warren Park for the first time by running the PAAWR to Empower 5K . So, the first thing I learned (or, more accurately, was reminded of) this morning, is that running really introduces you to cool new places that you otherwise would not have experienced. Even in a city that you've lived in for six years. The only issue with this location is that it's not that easy to get to from Lincoln Square early on a Sunday morning. Buses and trains run very...

This morning when I finished the Teb's Troops Miles for Melanoma 5K I finished the 30th race I've run this year. I don't think I've run even half that many races in any other year, and it's been pretty exciting being part of all these races this year. But aside from that, I also finally managed to reach my goal of breaking 21 minutes in a 5K, even if it was just barely (20:48). I honestly don't think I ever ran that fast even when I was running cross-country in high school. (How did I stay on the team with results like that you ask? 1. I went to a very small school in East Texas, 2. I was the slowest person on the team). So here are my splits from this morning. Again with the super high-tech html table showing that I have no steady pacing ability: Mile Time 1 6:15 2 6:41 3 7:07 Total 20:48 What was more exciting than hitting my ever-elusive goal was that because this was a pretty small race (and since Chicago Runner Girl wasn't there), my time ...