Marathon Factoids II -- Up Close With Constantina

Here are a few quotes from Thursday.
Constantina Tomescu-Dita on her motivation for running Chicago: "I'm very happy to come back here this year. This will be my fifth time. I enjoy Chicago and have been training here more than in previous years. The people are great here."
Tomescu-Dita on entering the Birds Nest stadium in Beijing at the end of her gold-medal performance in the women's Olympic marathon: "It was amazing. I knew the gold medal was mine. 800 meters from the finish, I could see the second group (was far enough behind). It was an honor for me. I was surprised to see so many people, about 93,000, at 8 or 9 in the morning.
Tomescu-Dita on her unopposed breakaway at the halfway point of the Olympic marathon: "When I pulled away (after a conservative first half), I don't know what they (the chasers) were thinking."
Tomescu-Dita on the possible effect of the heat on Sunday: "In Beijing, it was 74 degrees at the start.
Tomescu-Dita on how she feels: "It hasn't been the training, it's been the travel (that has been difficult -- trips to Romania, Boulder, Colo., Japan and elsewhere). Bit the legs are OK. I get two hours of massage every day."
Tomescu-Dita on Carey Pinkowski: "He is a great person. He is a little thinner. he must be training more!"