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For those of you who have qualified for the Boston Marathon...congratulations. You’re in the club.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, there were no places on the internet more divisive than the Twitter, Facebook and blog feeds of runners who saw a barrage of opinions on the pending running or cancellation of the New York Marathon earlier this month.

There were the race-registered runners who thought it best not to run with so many locals without homes, power or who grieved with the loss of loved ones. There were also the racers who who thought it best to carry on in honor of the same  victims - as a tribute to the tenacity of New Yorkers.

It’s that time again! Chicago Marathon 2012! Here are just a couple simple reminders for Sunday’s race...

Cool Temps & Wind
The first week of October has been notoriously hot, humid and sunny in Chicago. But this weekend it looks like Tom Skilling is giving racers a reprieve from the heat with cooler temps and some wind. The near-perfect marathon temp conditions will be slightly below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at the start line according to Accuweather forecast.

It’s midnight on a gravel road somewhere deep in the mountain forest between Mt. Hood and Seaside, Oregon in almost total darkness, and I’m wearing a shoddy headlamp, racing singlet, Lunar Racers, two-inch tempo shorts, a reflective vest and carpenter’s dust mask.

Three weeks ago during leg 21 of the Hood to Coast Relay, my second leg, it occurs to me several times that this run is, in fact, the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.

The sun sets behind the scoreboard of my hometown Benedictine University track and the day slowly loses what mid-summer light it has left. The stadium bleachers are empty and, seemingly, I’m the only one on earth grinding out mile repeats.

Dathan Ritzenhein is there. So is Galen Rupp. And Ashton Eaton, too. At least in spirit.

These are a few of the more memorable runners I saw compete at June’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon - the winners who qualified for a chance to compete in London this past week.

The “Summeriest” Winter Ever

When it came to running this winter in the Chicagoland area there’s no better way to describe it than a Tweeter did on my Twitter feed this week: “It’s the ‘Summeriest’ Winter EVER.”

In fact, this post was supposed to be about helping you through the last days of winter running - and the cold early spring days Chicago is known for.

Well that blog post idea went away, when we had our first 80 degree day last week. Went away as quickly as the 30 degree temps and dri-fit winter running jackets off the backs of the runners along the lakeshore.

It’s almost here. The chill in the air, the early darkness, a few passing snowflakes…

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!!!  

Chicago is particularly festive this time of year. We see department store decorations, pretty lighting in the streets and buildings, and food…Food…FOOD!

So there was this other life. The one before my official ‘running life’ began – the first 24 years when I was an elite hockey player in juniors, college and professional ranks.  And the one that eventually ended in shattered NHL dreams, a bruised ego and more combined injuries than I could count on four hands.

The marathon training headmaster taps you on the shoulder. You look behind you. She’s wearing horn-rimmed glasses, her eyebrows raised and lips pursed. She’s holding a ruler. She’s judging you.
 
She’s judging you because it’s time to start training for your fall marathon and you’re still in CupcakeLand.
 

2:46:06.