A Blog Born to Run

A running blog for the Chicago area? Why the heck not? Doing this has been on my mind for quite a while, and tonight, the gun finally has sounded. We're off and running, for better or worse.

I don't want this to be about me other than a quick introduction. My name is Bob Richards, and I've been covering running in Chicago and the Midwest for various media outlets since the early 1980s. My gigs have included more than 20 years at the Chicago Sun-Times and a stint as editor of Chicago Athlete magazine. I continue to write a column for Silent Sports magazine, but enough about me.

How about all those runners (more than 800) from Illinois who will toe the line at Boston on Patriots Day, Monday April 21? I don't know about you, but I get goose bumps just watching the famous race unfold on TV (VERSUS CABLE NETWORK). It's something very special, and so are the runners who make the trek each year from Hopkinton to Beantown's Boylston Street. And the women's Olympic trials the day before will be very cool.

Did you hear about the St. Pius 5K in Lombard last Saturday? I feel for the race director. The lead runners went off course not once but twice in a race that ended up being 2.14 miles. As national class 55-59 runner Sam Cortes said, "I just set a world record" as he clocked 12:09 for the bizarre distance. Sam was third overall. Two kids barely beat him.

CARA Circuit race No. 1 is Sunday in Oak Park. Want to see how a race is supposed to be run? This is the one to see. It's also one to dress for. It will be cold!

Quick tip: If you want to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, sign up now. There are close to 33,000 registered as I write. That leaves 12,000 spots. You go, Chicago!

Let's see where this goes. I look forward to hearing from you.