Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 6 — 16 Post-run Requirements
David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel

Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 6 — 16 Post-run Requirements

Running is as much a mental game as it is physical. My trick to placing well in races when I ran cross-country in high school was to tell myself, “The faster you run, the sooner it’s over.” That doesn’t work when there are 26.2 miles ahead of you. You have to take each mile on its own or group a few together. Make the marathon bite-sized. Savor it. Until that last mile. The faster you run, the sooner it’s over. But even when you’re done running, you’re not done quite yet. 

Here are sixteen post-run requirements every distance runner must complete after each long run.

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Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 5 — Thoughts Per Mile
David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel

Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 5 — Thoughts Per Mile

The decades that have passed. The experiences that came when I was tender and new. Experiences that have happened since and may happen again, but they’ll never feel quite like they did when they were the first time or when there was less to lose and far, far less scar tissue. As I clip past the miles, it becomes clear to me that life experience can have a way of dulling life’s experiences. Like running a marathon, it takes a lot of strength and self-awareness to overcome that mopey thought and figure out new ways to enjoy familiar wonder.

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Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 1 — Ready, Set, Ouch
David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel David Himmel

Long Train Running: A Chicago Marathon Story | Chapter 1 — Ready, Set, Ouch

What was I thinking?

I’m running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Why? Because I’m forty. Because I haven’t run a marathon before. Because I need an excuse to get off my writer’s ass and move so I can live long enough to not die. Because I believe in the mission of Gilda’s Club Chicago and fundraising by running seems to be a pretty great way to get money out of your friends and family. So I am running as a member of Team Gilda.

But my god, I’m behind the ball on this.

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Great Music and Good Times Make Cancer Less Awful
Sponsored Content David Himmel Sponsored Content David Himmel

Great Music and Good Times Make Cancer Less Awful

On Thursday, July 19, Gilda's Club Chicago hosts Gildapalooza 2018 at Reggies Chicago. Featuring rock/soul band Local Motive, all-female Beastie Boys tribute band She's Crafty, and Blink 182 tribute band Blank 281, the concert benefits Gilda's Club Chicago and its mission to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.

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