Illinois Marathon -- Good Luck

Runners are set for the IM in Urbana and Champaign. Thousands have waited for this day. The 5K on Saturday was taken by Mike Ptack, 25, of Elnhurst, in 15:32, and Alysha Bartosh, 30, of Corapolis, PA, in 20:05. Good luck to everyone running Sunday.

Entries Open for Ravenswood Run 5K

The Ravenswood Run 5K on the north side of Chicago is one fine race. If you want to run a fast course for a good cause, give it a try. Race time is this Sunday at 8 a.m. at 4550 N. Hermitage (at Wilson). The 15th annual Ravenswood race is one of the best races not included on the CARA Runners Choice Circuit. Proceeds help fund the Ravenswood Community Services Food Pantry as well as the student health centers at lake View and Amundsen High Schools. For information, go to www.RavenswoodRun.com. Entry is $35. It is for a good cause. I have done this race a few times and can tell you everything is done well. I can't make it this year because of other commitments, but still recommend it.

First Midwest Half is Full

No doubt this is old news to CARA Runners Choice Circuit and other long-distance lovers, but the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon on Sunday in Palos Heights is filled up. Race director Mel Diab has a full house of 2,000 coming to the fourth annual race that is on the Circuit for the first time. With good prize money, there will be a strong regional feel to the lead pack. Here is the prize money structure:
Male and Female Top 5 Finishers: 1st Prize - $1,000, 2nd Prize - $800, 3rd Prize - $700, 4th Prize - $600, 5th Prize - $500
Master 40 and Over Male and Female: 1st Prize - $500, 2nd Prize - $250, 3rd Prize - $100
Veterans 50 and Over Male and Female: 1st Prize - $250, 2nd Prize - $100, 3rd Prize - $75
That is great money for a local race in tight financial times. But the prize money is the tip of the iceberg. All I have heard is this is a great race. I will not be there due to other commitments, but have it on my list for 2012. Location is Route 83 and 76th Avenue in Paolos Heights. Good luck to everyone who got registered.

Grete The Great

No doubt, you've read this week of the tragic passing of Grete Waitz of Norway, one of the great marathon runners of all time. Being the age that I am, Grete was one of the many special athletes who forged new horizons for all of us back in the 1970s and '80s. You'll never again see someone win the New York City Marathon nine times, and do it with a smile and humility. Down in my basement is a picture of Grete I had autographed back in the day. I will treasure it more than ever now. Some of you might remember that Grete once appeared at the now-defunct Motorola Half-Marathon in Schaumburg. The one thing she said then that I have never forgotten is "listen to your body." How right she was. Only you know exactly what hurts and what doesn't; all training programs do not fit all, etc. etc. She was a beautiful human being. She was a highlight-reel runner. She will be greatly missed.

Wiley, Marinangeli Illinois' Fastest at Boston

Robert Wiley, 35, of Gurnee, was fastst Illinois man with a 2:26:06, and Jean Marinangeli, 27, of Arlington Heights, was our top woman with a 2:54:24, on Monday at the 115th Boston Marathon. Running in what have been described to me as perfect conditions, Wiley placed 49th overall in a race in which the top two finishers eclipsed the existing world-best time. Marinangeli was 55th in a power-packed women's field. Our next four men were: Mac McCulley, 26, of Lindenhurst, 142nd overall in 2:34:34; Matthew Thor, 24, of Arlington Heights, 162nd overall in 2:36:50; Richard Heffron, 27, of Chicago, 210th overall in 2:39:42; and Kyle Monroe, 27, of downstate Carbondale, 223rd overall in 2:40:23. Our next four women were: Angelina Anliker, 30, of Chicago, 93rd in 2:58:35; Samantha Kirkham-Iteld, 35, of Hinsdale, 137th in 3:03:26; Jill Czarnik, 22, of Chicago, 149th in 3:04:33; and Heather Weis, 25, of Chicago, 166th in 3:05:51. Three other notable finishes were turned in by Doris Schertz, 72, of Lombard, who defended her title in the W70-74 group with a 4:28:23; Dave Walters, 55, of Lisle, who flew to third in the M55-59 group with a 2:52:12; Ann Schaefers-Coles of Cary, who was fifth in F45-49; Pedro Galva , who was seventh in M65-69 and Nancy Rollins, 64, of Evanston, who came in eighth in W60-64 with a 3:40:35. In the wheelchair division, Adam Bleakney, 35, of Champaign, was sixth in 1:26:03; Aaron Pike, 24,of Champaign, was eighth in 1:29:52; and Ryan Chalmers, 22, of Champaign, was ninth in 1:31:48. Finally, congratulations to Mark Buciak, 50, of Chicago, who completed his 32nd consecutive Boston Marathon in 3:58. Way to go, Illinois runners and rollers!

Verzbicas ALMOST Wins Boston Elite Mile

Lukas Verzbicas, 18, of Orland Hills, took second in the field of five on Sunday at the Boston Marathon Elite Mile, a three-lap run near the Boston Marathon finish line with lots of sharp turns. The high school phenom (Sandburg), who is skipping the Illinois high school season so he can run in big national and regional races such as this one, ran a 4:16.8, finishing just behind Andrew Baddeley, 28, of Great Britain, who won in 4:16.7. Craig Miller 23, of Madison, WI, was third in 4:17.4, Kyle Miller, 25, of Austin, TX, was fourth in 4:17.6; and Brian Gagnon, 23, of Hanover, NH, was fifth in 4:24.3.

Lakefront 10 Effect: Cold, Wet and Fun

Sorry I'm late. I've been in Internet purgatory, unable to post anything. Let's go back to Saturday at the Lakefront 10. It was cold and rainy, just as predicted. The puddles and wind added to the blend that kept everyone focused on running . . . and finishing! I personally felt pretty good for about 6.5 miles. Then I seemed to succumb to the weather a bit, but pulled it together at the end to finish smiling. There were 1,261 hearty souls out there with me as we braved the April elements. Leading the way was Chad Ware, 26, of Deerfield, who posted a 52:00.2, winning comfortably over runner-up Jesse Kleinjan, 27, of Chicago, who finished in 52:55.9. Third went to steady and reliable Emisael Favela, 34, of Berwyn, in 54:45.7; fourth went to former CARA Runner of the Year Dave Wilson, 42, of Brookfield, in 56:07.4; and fifth went to Mike Begich Jr., 28, of Naperville, in 56:39.8. Women's champion was Erin Moffett, 29, of Chicago, in 1:00:03.7. Columba Montes, 31, of Chicago, was second in 1:00:29.0. Heather Prekop, 29, of Chicago, was third in 1:00:39.2; Christina Overbeck, 25, of Chicago, was fourth in 1:00:54.8; and Blossom Marimpietri, 25, of Downers Grove, in 1:04:38.6. I have to say CARA pulled off a great race under very difficult conditions. Needless to say, with the race on the Runners' Choice Circuit, the field was loaded.