26.2 MILE MARATHON

Friday was the 54th consecutive day that my caloric intake was in the neighborhood of 1000.
It was another day of intensive walking...
I walked a 'marathon'
In the morning I set out for a long walk and logged 13 miles.
In the afternoon I needed to get to my daughter's high school to drop something off, 4 miles.
In the evening, I walked to the High School Football game where my daughter cheerleads, 5 miles
Walked home from the football game, 4.2 miles
TOTAL MILES WALKED 26.2
I AM NUTS.
(so don't bother telling me)

SATURDAY IS THE DAY I WEIGH MYSELF.....

CHICAGO MARATHON

On Sunday I walked 26.2 miles to start off my day. More than 75% of my route mirrored the Chicago marathon course. My time to complete this distance of 26.2 miles was:

5 hours, 39 minutes, 16 seconds 

After I completed this first phase of exercise for the day, I then walked an additional 10+ miles before midnight. Monday, by necessity, was a day of rest.  Lots of rest. I did take my bicycle out for a quick one hour ride with my daughter.  However, I must admit that my joints were a bit stiff during much of the day - and it appears that even today, Tuesday might be a day of rest as well.

My walk yesterday mirrored more than 20 miles of the official course.  It made me want to find out a bit of history regarding this race.   Wikipedia.com provided this information below:

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago. Alongside the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo Marathons, it is one of the six World Marathon Majors. The October 11, 2015 running [was] the 38th anniversary of the race. The first race was held on September 25, 1977 under the original name the Mayor Daley Marathon, which drew a field of 4,200 runners. The race has been held every year since, except in 1987 when only a half-marathon was run. It is among the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances. The race has achieved its elite status among marathons by developing relationship with sponsors who provide prize money to lure elite runners who have produced American and world record performances. The race is limited to 45,000 runners and only runners who finish within 6½ hours are officially timed.

I was very surprised to learn the that the fees collected in order to be officially registered for this event was $185 for United States residents and $210 for those residing outside of the U.S.  I did see scores of marathon runners proudly wearing their medals after the race. The medals did appear to be beautifully crafted. Those that wish to officially participate in the event must enter a lottery.  I have no idea what percent of marathoners are rejected due to overwhelming demand.  It was great fun to walk much of the race route on the sidewalk on Sunday.  It was also fun to see how Chicagoans greeted the thousands of marathoners cruising through their neighborhoods.  In past years, I was one of the people who found a spot on the sidewalk and simply watched and cheered others. It was fun to be a part of this event - even if my participation was way out on the fringe.

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 Monday MENU

breakfast  steel cut oatmeal, center cut bacon, two eggs             790 calories
lunch        apples, granola bars, Chili Turkey w/beans                980 calories
dinner       salmon burgers, clam chowder, spinach, baby corn   630 calories
SNACK   MULTIGRAIN RICE CAKES                                   360 calories

TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 2760 CALORIES

MONDAY'S WORKOUT - NOT APPLICABLE
Perhaps it looks silly that I write calories burned for the day was Zero.  What I mean is that I did not burn many more additional calories over and above the calories burned based on my Basal Metabolic Rate.

Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories one burns if one stayed in bed all day.


CALORIES BURNED 0 CALORIES 

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Monday net calories 2760 calories

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fitbit day 40

10349 steps

a few minutes spent marching in place insured that I did not log a day south of 10000 steps. 
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My daughter joined me for the short bike ride to Northerly Island on Monday.  It was extra special to have a riding companion. 


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...one more final word about my marathon day on Sunday...

I received an automated email  from my FitBit application near midnight on Sunday evening when I stepped my 75000th step of the day.  It is very hard to imagine earning this 'badge' again. I must concede that I have done quite a few things this past year that I could never have imagined one year ago: for example, losing 85 lbs, climbing Half Dome, and waking up and walking a marathon distance of 26.2 miles.

Awesome!

You've walked 75,000 steps

With a number like that, you can skip the magic carpet! For your supernatural steppage, you just earned the Genie Shoe badge. Good work!

MARATHON MAN

When the day started on Sunday, I had no desire to ever train hard enough to run a marathon. By the time the late afternoon arrived, that lack of desire to run a marathon was still secure.  However, I did walk much of the Chicago Marathon route yesterday.  I started my normal walk at 8:00AM and after nearly 40 minutes or so, I spotted the runners from the Chicago Marathon running on the road adjacent to Lincoln Park where I was.  My research about people who join races without paying the entrance fees  had educated me enough so that I knew it would have been unethical to join the roadrunners.  I did however follow the course on the sidewalk.  There were only a few spots where the sidewalk was impassable where I had to detour around an extra block.  I did not take a drink of water, Gatorade or accept a banana that I was not entitled to nor did I accept an accolade or cheer that did not belong to me. I was not a marathon bandit.  What I did was 100% within the bounds of ethics.  With about one mile to go to the finish line, I veered off the course completely and stopped my workout after MayMyWalk Application had indicated that my trip was 26.2 miles.

My path to 26.2 Miles (just slightly altered from the official course)

This screenshot shows my time, 5:39:16

Yesterday, Sunday, 11 October, I was a Marathon Man.  It was a tremendous accomplishment and I am glad that I completed the 26.2 mile walk.  The 26.2 miles were completed in 5 hours, 39 minutes, 16 seconds. The MapMyWalk application indicated that this particular workout had burned 5210 calories. When my 26.2 miles concluded, I reset the MayMyWalk application for the 5 mile walk home, in which my walking speed was dramatically reduced.  This five mile walk lasted an additional one hour, twenty-five minutes & 54 seconds.  This time, the application recorded only 740 calories burned.

In the late afternoon, I went grocery shopping with my family.  When we returned home, I noticed that the FitBit had recorded approximately 57000 steps.  Naturally, I wanted to bring that total up to 60000 steps.  A short walk to downtown Chicago was in order.  My daughter volunteered to accompany me. The thing is, my daughter thought that if 60000 steps was an accomplishment, then 65000, 70000 or 75000 steps would be a far greater accomplishment. I was very amenable to this type of thinking. Our walk did not conclude until the FitBit had stopped at 75000 steps for the day.

After walking more than 30 miles, I took a long hot shower and got dressed.  I  happily know that I have never felt better or fitter.  I am wearing the skinniest jeans that I own.  Remember, this is the same guy who needed to squeeze into 50 inch waist slacks just 9 months ago.  This particular day would not end until I had walked nearly 40 miles.  I was very active for more than twelve hours. I unquestionably burned more than 6000 calories yesterday.  By the time I went to sleep, there is no question, I was feeling pretty good about myself.

This chart shows by the hour of the day when my 75029 steps were earned yesterday. The solid green block represents just a bit more than 7 straight hours stepping (walking).   First the marathon, then the 90 minute walk home.

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast  Harvest Strawberry Crunch, Apple, Energy Chews, granola  1240 calories
lunch        fruit & nut bar, Chili Turkey w/beans                                       800 calories
dinner       Mariano's Spinach Salad                                                           750 calories
SNACKS Ginger Chews, Wasabi, Mango slices, cherry vanilla granola 1050 calories

TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3840 CALORIES

26.2 MILE MARATHON, 340 MINUTES                                          5210 CALORIES
   5.0 MILE WALK HOME FROM MARATHON, 86 MINUTES        740 CALORIES
STEPS CALORIE ADJUSTMENT ACCORDING TO MyFitnessPal  606 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED 6556 CALORIES 

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Sunday net calories 2716 calorie defecit

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fitbit day 39

75029 steps
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It is likely that I will never attain 75000 steps walked in one day ever again.  Surely, I have never walked nearly 40 miles in one day prior to today.  It is hard to imagine a day when I would walk more than 40 miles.  

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Here are a bunch of pictures from the nearly 10 mile walk my daughter and I took to cap off the day from 7:30PM until just before Midnight.  (Today, Monday, is Columbus Day - which means no school, so I had no issues keeping my daughter out and about extra late.  We saw parts of Chicago that we had never seen at night - Riverwalk, Millennium Park, and Maggie Daley Park.

Sara in front of the Chicago River

Sara checks out her reflection at 'The Bean.'

Daddy and daughter in Millennium Park posing in front of 'The Bean' (Cloud Gate)

Maggie Daley Park (You cannot imagine how many thousands of kids enjoy this park each day) It was great fun to visit at night with just a handful of other people around.

Sara is standing under the whale's tail.

Clowning around at Maggie Daley Park

Daddy and daughter take a 'selfie'

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and finally.... a blog entry about the Chicago Marathon should have the official results of the top ten finishers among the elite men and women competitors.  

MEN 

1. Dickson Chumba, Kenya - 2:09:25
2. Sammy Kitwara, Kenya - 2:09:50
3. Sammy Ndguru, Kenya - 2:10:06
4. Girmay Burhanu Gebru, Ethiopia - 2:10:07
5. Luke Puskedra, United States - 2:10:24
6. Wesley Korir, Kenya - 2:10:29
7. Elkanah Kibet, United States -  2:11:31
8. Lucas Rotich, Kenya - 2:13:39
9. Abera Kuma, Ethiopia - 2:13:44
10. Fernando Cabada, United States - 2:15:36

WOMEN

1. Florence Kiplagat, Kenya - 2:23:33
2. Yebrgual Melese, Ethiopia - 2:23:43
3. Birhane Dibaba, Ethiopia - 2:24:24
4. Kayoko Fukushi, Japan - 2:24:25
5. Mulu Seboka, Ethiopia - 2:24:40
6. Meskerem Assefa, Ethiopia - 2:25:11
7. Deena Kastor, United States - 2:27:47
8. Diane Nukuri, Burundi - 2:29:13
9. Jessica Draskau Petersson, Denmark - 2:30:07
10. Sara Hall, United States - 2:31:14