roads of stone

… to everyone, especially those of you I met at last year’s party. I’m running the Great South Run in Portsmouth on the same day, and despite the 10 000 runners and claim to be the third largest 10 miler in the world, there’ll still be no soaring skylines, no see-through bridges, and the crowds will politely clap ‘Well done‘ instead of screaming “Go, marathoners !“

A poor substitute, perhaps, but just about the only way to resist cashing in those airmiles on another flight to O’Hare to repeat last year’s fantastic experience.

Have a great run. My feet and I will certainly be thinking about the streets of Chicago this Sunday.

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4. GO British ! Chicago Marathon 2002
27. A marathon is…
5. La vida latina – from Houston to Mexico
8. Lakeshore reflections - Chicago Marathon review
51. London Calling
110. The hands that built America - Houston skylines
30. Embarkation Beach: Great South Run 2003

… an excellent way for an Englishman to see a great deal of Chicago, all in the same day.

Related articles:
4. GO British ! Chicago Marathon 2002
8. Lakeshore reflections - Chicago Marathon review
29. Good luck from England…
10. My best run of the year
51. London Calling
24. Things I have learned… #267
116. London is Olympic - The London Marathon

Dear Andy
A marathon is such a huge experience. Afterwards, it is very hard to capture how you felt at the time, but it is so important to try. If someone asked you in a year’s time, you’d say, well it was great, or, it was fine, my knee got sore for a while but I made it.

But there is so much more to it than that, so many more moments which go to make up the marathon tapestry. You don’t want to forget them. Ever.

Chicago (sorry, “Shick-aggo”) has taken a long time to settle down for me. I don’t think it will, finally, for a long time. But in a way, it still continues. More than anything, the thought I share with you is that the marathon is a journey. It’s one I am so glad I made.
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We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got
‘Cause it doesn’t make a difference
If we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot
For love - we’ll give it a shot

Whooah, we’re half way there
Livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it - I swear
Livin’ on a prayer
Bon Jovi - August 1986

“4:18 in London and trying to crack four hours in Chicago - it’ll be tough, but I’m going to have the fun of my life trying !” - so I wrote last month.
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