Halfwits & X2 Shirts are Ready!

Please go by the Springfield Running Center to pick up your running shirts.   They should have your shirt by name.  I gave them a list with your style, size and logo preference.

NOTES:
1. Venu your shirt had to go back to the embroiderer's to get the X2 on it. So give them a couple of more days.

2. I ordered two women's shirts and failed to give them the name.  One small and one large. So don't be alarmed if they don't have your name...its probably one of these shirts.

3. Derek ordered two extra men's shirts with Halfwits logos in size XL.  So if anyone wants one of these its first come first served.

4. There are a couple of checks I couldn't cash because they weren't signed.  You might ask about that if your check hasn't cleared your bank.  I asked Derek to have you sign the check when you picked up your shirt.

Next year we'll get these ordered a few weeks earlier so they are ready by race day.

All the best,
Bill

Saturday April 10th Route for Half Marathoners

For those Halfwits continuing on to the Illinois Half-Marathon in Champaign, you can run with other half-marathoners tomorrow (April 10th) at 7am at Panera West.   They are starting off with the X2's and running 10 miles of their route.  Here's a link to the X2's blog where the route is posted:  http://spfldhwx2.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure the X2's will be prepared to "hydrate" the extra runners so you might consider running with your own hydration belt.  

Have a good run!
-Bill

Post Race Thoughts

Hello Halfwits,
The picture is me approaching the end of mile 10 and I'm still smiling!  I'm sure glad I trained with the Halfwits!  I made it and set a PR (2:23:18).  I know in my heart that all the Halfwits had a good time and many of you set a PR!  You might post a comment to this blog entry and let everyone know how it went for you. 

Those of you that participated in the week day training runs probably felt the tempo run muscle memory kick in those last couple of miles.  I know I did.

Post race plans:  Those of you going on to the Illinois Half Marathon can continue running with Cassie Pollard on Tuesday and Thursday in Washington Park at 5:30 pm.  She's planning on being there with water and Gatorade.  Also she will be keeping up her distance running on the weekends with 3 more long runs before the May 1st Half Marathon.  I'll post her routes here as well.

Also, next week when I get back in town (I'll be in Orlando the rest of the week) I'm planning on starting back with my 5 miles (more or less) at 5 am training on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  We start at the Koke Mill Medical Center at the corner of Old Jax and Koke Mill.  If you are an early bird please feel free to join us.  The more the merrier...

Long Runs on Saturdays:   If you want to keep your distance legs tuned up you might consider running with the X2's  The X2's have 3 more long runs planned for May 1st. 

Also, I will post routes from time to time for those looking to join a group throughout the spring and summer.  Stay tuned.

Thinking of running a marathon this year? I'm sure that there will be several fall marathon groups forming so look for postings related to those on this blog. I'll post them here as I become aware of them.  An 18 week training program is recommended so by the end of May there should be several groups forming to train for a fall marathon.

All is well that ends well.  Thanks again to everyone that made the Halfwits a success this year!

I'll see you on the road!
-Bill

2010 Halfwits
http://2010halfwits.blogspot.com

I'll see you at the finish line!

Marcus Aurelius, the last of "Good Roman Emperors" and a philosopher who considered destructive emotions to be the result of errors in judgment.  He once said, "If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

When you are running in the race tomorrow you might remember this quote because - believing you have the ability to revoke the power of negative self talk and the emotions they bring - is what it will take to overcome those challenges.

All of you have trained yourself to go the distance and tomorrow is no different than any other long run we have completed.   If negative self-talk and/or emotions interfere with your running, see it as Marcus Aurelius sees all destructive emotions.  Its just an "error" in judgment and you have the ability to revoke its power at any moment.

As I've said to many this past 12 weeks, "Run with Pleasure, Confidence and Pride".

I'll see you at the finish line!

All the best - all the time!
-Bill

Your 2010 Halfwits Leader
http://2010halfwits.blogspot.com

Last Training Run -Thursday Evening Plus Helping To Stuff Packets

Well Halfwits its finally here, after 12 weeks of training, the final run before the race is here.  Seems like just a few weeks ago we started out one cold winter evening on this 12 week journey together.  I'm thankful for the new friends and grateful for the opportunity to serve such a dedicated group of people.  We will all finish on Saturday knowing we have achieved what many dream of doing and what few even attempt.  We will stand before those who aspire to this lofty goal as a living example of what is possible when you have "intent" and a plan!  Congratulations to everyone who played a role in making "Halfwits" the best half-marathon training in Central Illinois!

Our last run starts in front of Mason Street entrance to the Prairie Heart Institute (PHI).  It will be about a 5K out and back.  We'll run the Lincoln Memorial Route in reverse up to Lincoln's Tomb and back to the start point.  Here's the map:

www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=360389
Mason to & 7th and turn left.
7th to Enos and turn left go to 5th and turn right.
Go one block to Dodge and turn left. 
Go to 3rd Street and turn right.
Go to Eastman and turn left. 
Eastman west to Monument Ave and turn right. 
Go into Oak Ridge Cemetery and stay on the road that goes in front of Lincoln's Tomb.
When you reach the front most point, turn and face the monument to Lincoln - you might say a pray of gratitude - then turn back towards downtown and run the route in reverse finishing in front of PHI.


HELP WANTED We need volunteers to stay after the run Thursday night to help with putting together packets for the race.  Please arrange to stay for an hour or more to help with this task.

Halfwits Shirts:  Men's shirts had to be reordered because the wrong style came in with the first order so they won't be ready to pick up on Friday with your packets.  You'll be able to pick them up at the Springfield Running Center about a week later.  Hopefully the Women's shirts will be ready for pick up with your packet on Friday (and if not later at the Springfield Running Center).

12 mile run written directions March 27th

Hello Halfwits.  Carol Young will get you started tomorrow morning.  Thanks Carol!

Thanks to Kimee Armour, Amy Fisher and Sam Willamson for putting out the water!

Here's the map again: www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=357769

Starting at 6th and Jefferson go south.

South on 6th to Monrow and turn east (left).
Turn South (rigtht) on 7th to Capitol

East on Capitol to 8th and turn south (right) - this is the start of the Lincoln Home Site.

South on 8th to Vine and turn west (right) and go one block to 7th and turn north (right).

North on 7th to Edwards and turn west (left) and go to 4th and turn north (right)
Go to Capitol and turn west (left) then go straight to the State Capitol on 2nd and turn south (left).

South on 2nd to Edwards and turn west (right) and go to Spring and turn south (left).

South on Spring to Scarritt and turn west (right) and go two blocks to Pasfield and turn south (left) and make the jog over to south boulevard of Williams St. and turn west (right). FIRST Water Stop.

West on Williams into Washington Park where we stay on the southside of the Park and loop around to Park Ave and turn south (left).

South on Park to Ash and turn west (right) and go 3 short blocks to Wiggins and turn north (right).

North on Wiggins all the way back to Washington Park and turn left to head down the hill and around the pond to the north side of Washington Park where you'll be running east until the Lincoln Ave exit and turn north (left). Second Water Stop.

North on Lincoln for about 1.5 miles until you come to Calhoun and turn east (right).  East on Calhoun to Rutledge and turn north (left).
Go to Yates and turn east (right).
East on Yates to Monument Ave and turn right for a half block - go around median and turn back north (U Turn). Third Water Stop on Monument meridian at Eastman.
Keep on into the Cemetary and run the loop in front of the Lincoln Memorial and exit out the cemetary back onto Monument.
Turn right on Eastman (east). 
Go to 3rd St and turn north (left) continue all the way down the hill and when the road turns to right at the bottom of the hill turn around and go back to 3rd St. going south.
Continue to Dodge St and turn east (left) go one block to 4th St. and turn south (right) go down 4th to Jefferson and turn east (left) .  Go to 5th and Finish.

Have a great run!  You are ready!  Run with Pleasure, Confidence and Pride!
-Bill

Week 11 - Saturday Run - 12 Miles March 27th

Even though it was cold, it looked like everyone had a good time on Saturday's run.  It was nice to have the chip timing to give some extra "momentum" to our run. Thanks go to Linda Jones and Jim Elliot for their help on that.

The Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon has a few changes to the route since last year.  All the changes are reflected in this route for next Saturday's 12 mile run at 7am.  I'll post the written directions later. Take a look the route and see if you can find the changes.  This route mirrors the new LM route all the way to about the 10.5 mile point and then we turn around and head back to downtown where we pick up the final mile of the LM route on 3rd street.

www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=357769

I'll be out of town for this final training run.  So I'll need some help with the water stops.  Please let me know via email, phone or text if you can help.  We have 3 stops at the same places as this past Saturday.  The locations worked out well.

The Halfwits shirts should be ready to be picked up at the packet pickup.  We had about 45 orders!

If I don't see you at the mid-week runs I'll see you at the Lincoln Memorial,
-Bill
cell 553-7695

http://2010halfwits.blogspot.com