Month: September 2025

Wild weekend: Illini beat USC, I improve (slightly) in the half marathon

It is now Sunday. And I had some flashbacks to the past. And here is the truth:

USC football is not what it was during the John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carrol days. The colors are the same, the fight song is the same, but the team is not.

I am not what I once was; my lifetime PBs for the half marathon are 1:34 as a runner and 2:17 as a walker. And for a period in my life, 2:20-2:40 was an all but guaranteed result as a walker. Those days are over. Completely.

Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun this weekend.

Saturday: Harry was my “date” for the USC game.

Note where they put the USC band.

The parachute team was spectacular.

Oh, the game: it was an interesting one. USC got the ball, promptly marched it into Illini territory and fumbled it away. The Illini drove it for a touchdown; the Illini offense was to rack up 500 yards of offense today. The Trojans promptly tied it with a march of their own; the teams were to punt one time apiece. The Illini retaliated 14-7 and, after a 4’th down stop, were threatening to make it 21-7, when the Trojans got a controversial fumble recovery. Then they marched it down to make it 14-10 at the half.

Second half: Illini got a field goal, and interception and then hit a swing pass to go up 24-10. No problem: USC drove it again to make it 24-17. The Illini got yet another touchdown to make it 31-17, which was the score going into the 4’th. The Trojans: once again, they used their excellent receivers to score and hit a 2 point conversion to make it 31-25.

Now it was the Illini’s turn, but they fumbled going into the Trojan end zone. This would have iced the game. Instead, the Trojans took the lead on a nifty pass and were up 32-31 with about 2 minutes to go.

That was too much time: the Illini promptly drove it to field goal range and their excellent kicker nailed it from 41 yards as time expired.

What a game! What a bounce back performance from the Illini after last week’s massacre at Indiana.

Yes, the Illini defense got shredded; that will be an ongoing problem.

Sunday

I drove to Quad Cities last night and stayed 4 miles away. I was to do the half marathon. The morning started at 59 F and was to get warmer, but the half marathon course managed to feature quite a bit of shade. That helped.

The result: 3:01:27, which was 2 minutes faster than last year. What cost me sub 3 hours: not enough training miles AND being around 200 lb. That is too heavy: I should be in the mid to high 180’s

I got into rhythm early and mostly ignored my watch. With the exception of that LOOOOONG pedestrian bridge next to I 74, I mostly maintained high 13s. The course was very intelligently designed; mile 2 was on the bridge and the marathoners reached it later, hence it never got crowded. I was treated to seeing the faster marathon runners.

Yes, at my walking pace, I was mostly the old, lame (I had knee braces) and heavier than optimal (see my remarks about my being too heavy). But, I am grateful for the longer time limits and for the opportunity to walk the course.

I admit that I teared up before the start; I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to do these. But I smiled at the finish; even though I did not have the reserves to take the final 1.1 miles fast. I was mildly surprised that I beat my last year’s time .

What I did right: 18 ten mile walks over the previous 20 weeks, heat conditioning. I also had a good attitude: “just walk; don’t be a slave to the watch.” And orange juice at mile 5 helped: I never got sick.

What I did wrong: too heavy, not enough training miles, and my 5k walk is too slow.

splits: 13:39, 14:22, 13:23, 13:42, 13:57 (1:09:05)
14:12, 13:47, 13:44, 27;33 (2 mile) 2:18:22
13:19, 13:49, 15:58 (14:30 pace)

My half marathon walks: (no running at all in any of these) Note: most links are broken.

September 2003: 2:17 (Appleton Fox-Cities powerwalk division)
January 2008: Austin 30K 3:50:56 (about 2:40 for the half marathon split)
September 2008: 2:25:13 Quad Cities
September 2010: 2:39:13 Quad Cities (surgery that summer)
September 2011: 2:40:53 IVS
September 2011: 2:22 Quad Cities
January 2012: 2:34 First Light
June 2012: 2:30:18 Galesburg
September 2012: 2:24:46 IVS
April 2014: 2:25:26 Peoria Heights
May 2014: 2:19:15 Peoria
September 2014 2:35 (IVS)
September 2014 2:24:17 Quad Cities
September 2015 2:38:13 IVS
June 2017: 2:47:24 Galesburg
July 2017 2:42:19 Chicago RR
August 2017 Mahomet Half marathon 2:52:33
October 2018 Whisky Daddle Half Marathon 2:29:23

August 2024: Mahomet Half Marathon 3:05:09.

September 2024: Quad Cities Half Marathon 3:03:37

September 2025: Quad Cities Half Marathon 3:01:27

Quad Cities History
1998: 3:55 as a runner (hot)
1999: 3:45 as a runner
2000: 1:40 for half of a relay
2001: 1:49 for half marathon (week after giving blood)
2002: 4:44 marathon as a walker
2004: 5:12 marathon as a walker
2005: 5:34 marathon as a walker.
2007: DNF at mile 23 (walker)
2008: 2:25 half marathon (walker)
2009: 5:28 marathon (as a walker)
2010: 2:39 half marathon (as a walker; knee surgery in July).
2011: 2:22:27 (half marathon powerwalk)
2013: 2:20:59 as a runner
2014: 2:24:17 powerwalk.
2016 DNF mile 20 (run/walk) heat
2017 DNF mile 20 (walk) heat
2018: Marathon powerwalk 6:14:11.
2019: Marathon powerwalk 6:42:06

2020: virtual 1/2 3:33:50

2024 Half Marathon walk 3:03:37

2025 Half Marathon walk 3:01:27

Onward to the weekend..almost

Wednesday: moderate weight workout.
Pull ups: 6 sets of 7, one of 8
Swiss bar bench: 3 sets of 10 x 134
Trap bar dead (wagon wheel) 3 sets of 10 x 200
high incline: 2 sets of 10 x 94, one of 5 x 110

commuter walk (2 miles)

Today: walk of 3.6 miles in 47:57 (13:37..ok Garmin called it 3.52) then a 1 mile commuter walk. Morning: very cool.

I am excited for the weekend: USC at Illinois on Saturday, Quad Cities Half on Sunday.

Weird weekend of football

First the obligatory workout notes:

Friday: weights, highlights were my trying the Swiss bar with 10 x 134, 4 x 150, 4 x 150, 3 x 150, 10 x 134. Usual pull ups, high incline (3 sets of 10 x 94 this time) and curls (3 sets of 10). 2 mile commuter walk.

Saturday flat 4 mile walk before the game 14:32 pace
Sunday: River front path walk: 6.4 at just over 15 minutes per mile. Did the various loops. Kind of disappointing.

Monday: pull ups: I did 6 sets of 7, one of 8 (all pull up style), wagon wheel deadlift: 3 quick sets of 10 x 200 lb (easy), bench: 3 sets of 10 x 134 Swiss Bar. high incline: 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110, 2 mile commuter walk.

Tuesday: 14:31 pace for my lower Bradley loop 4 miler.

Football:

Saturday’s game: North Alabama at Illinois St. The Redbirds moved to a nice 17-0 lead with 2 minutes to go in the first half when the first lightening delay came. Harry and I left and by the time I got home (45 minutes) the hour delay had just ended. North Alabama scored and turned around what was to be a close game.

There was to be a second delay with the score 27-14…and after the delay, North Alabama cut it to 27-21. Then they scored with under a minute to go..but missed the extra point!!!!! The Redbirds drove quickly but the potential tying field goal was blocked so regulation ended at 27-27.

The teams traded field goals in the first overtime. ISU got a touchdown on the second overtime and got the 2 point conversion. North Alabama got the touchdown but missed the 2 point conversion. And so ended the 6 hour game: 38-36.

The Redbirds are now 3-1 (loss to Oklahoma) but now enter a tough Missouri Valley schedule.

The Illinois game: well, Indiana was angry and ready. The Illini were neither. It ended 63-10 and it was even worse than that: the Hoosiers did not attempt a pass in the 4’th quarter and played a lot of guys.

So, what happened? Was it a case where the Illini came in, strutting, overconfident and unprepared for the intensity of an angry opponent? Or was it simply a difference in both talent and depth?

And what happens next weekend vs USC? Do the Illini come in down? Do they come in with an “us against the world” attitude? Does USC come in with something to prove, or will they take the Illini lightly?

Ultimately, the Trojans have more talent and should win. But that is not a sure thing.

In 2021, the Illini responded to a 42-14 loss at Virginia with a last second loss at home to Maryland. Later: they responded to a 24-0 home loss to Wisconsin with a 9 OT upset of Penn State on the road (and, ok, lost to Rutgers the next week). In 2023, the Illini got embarrassed by Kansas on the road (34-23), and then got embarrassed by Penn State at home (30-13). They got buried by Purdue 44-19 then lost at home to Nebraska 20-7. Last year: the 34-6 beatdown by Oregon was followed by a 25-17 loss at home to Minnesota. The 21-7 loss to Penn State on the road was followed by a (lucky) OT win vs a bad Purdue team the next week.

So..historically, with this coach, and embarrassing loss was usually followed by a bad performance, with the Penn State upset being the exception.

Quick catch up, yet again

Monday: sore shoulder weight routine: 10 sets of 5 pull ups, 3 sets of 10 x 134 some narrow grip (10 x 65, 10 x 85) Swiss bar, 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110 high incline, commuter walk

Tuesday: 10k walk in 1:28:49 (faster final 2 miles; 29:38 for 2.2)

Wednesday: pull ups: 5 sets of 6, 8, 2 sets of 6
bench: Swiss: 3 sets of 10 x 134, high incline 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110, trap bar: 10 x 134, 10 x 184 low, 10 x 250 wagon wheel

Thursday: flat 5 miles W. Peoria plus 1 extra mile at 14:15, final 3 miles at just about 14:00 (a couple faster than 14)

Illinois Football surges

Yesterday: nice 5k commuter walk, with 3 sets of deadlifts afterward:
10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 224 (all low handle)

We then drove to the game. When we got there, I reflected on how my tickets changed over the years. My current seats are my concession to the age of my friends and guests.

The game itself: the Illini moved to a workman like 10-0 lead. Western Michigan tried to rally but missed a 46 yard field goal. And at the end of the first half, a quarterback run got them to the 1 on second down, but they were stuffed on 2 consecutive running plays.

During halftime, the Coach fired the team up, and in the second half, they put the game away as they should: 14 in the 3’rd and 14 more in the 4’th. The one cloud on the horizon that I see is pass protection.

So, how do my teams sit?
Illinois has yet to defeat at team that has won an FBS came. Duke lost to Tulane and is 1-2, WMU is 0-3 (close loss to North Texas, 23-6 lost to Michigan State), and Western actually defeated Pioneer League Valpo (Valpo lost to a D3 team the week before)

ND has lost to two good teams.
Texas lost to Ohio State and defeated dreadful San Jose St. and UTEP (no FBS wins between them)

Navy: wins over VMI, UAB (who does own a FBS win..over Akron), and 42-23 over Tulsa (rallied from 14-0 down)

Illinois State beat Eastern Illinois 42-30

This is tough to sort out but I see it this way:

Illinois: a lot like last year 9-3 or 8-4. Landmines include Indiana, USC, Ohio State, Washington and Rutgers
ND: 8-4 ish finish: USC and Arkansas are probably the biggest challenges
Texas: lacking the offense to compete at the top of the SEC but they MIGHT squeak into the playoffs
Navy: schedule is back loaded with games against ND, Memphis, USF and Army toward the end. 8-4 looks right to me.

Illinois State: definitely in the hunt for a playoff spot, but North Dakota State visits in a few weeks. They have a mediocre North Alabama team next week.

I feel blessed: I have tickets to see USC, North Dakota State and Ohio State in a 3 week period!

Today’s workout: I slept in and didn’t get going until about 9:30 or so. It was 78 F and was to rise to 90 F (46 percent humidity). I did a flat West Peoria course, adding a shady loop here and there when I could. I counted this as 10.1 (Garmin got 10.06).

About 4 miles into it, I thought about bailing as it was getting very warm. But I was NOT dizzy, I was not injured and I even wasn’t that stressed physically. I was just very annoyed by my 17 minute a mile pace (1:26 for the first 5) That was not a good enough reason to quit (I had plenty of water) so I stayed with it and actually picked up the pace just a bit. I am glad that I finished though this was 25 minutes slower than on cool weather pace of last week.

Last two days

Thursday my 5 mile course at 14:35; I was 15:15 at mile 1 so I did pick it up a bit. Then a 1 mile commuter walk.
Today: 2 mile commuter walk with weights in the morning (sore shoulder)
pull ups: 5 sets of 6, 10 2 sets of 6
bench: 3 sets of 10 x 134 with the Swiss bar
high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110

Tomorrow? We have an evening game at Illinois; do I go long tomorrow morning (say, 8 to 11) or push it off until Sunday? I will taper a bit for my upcoming half marathon.

Pushing through it

Saturday night: I saw the Illinois State Redbirds beat Morehead State 41-13. While the Eagles were overmatched, they did take the opening drive for a touchdown (and botched the extra point). After a fumble and a punt, the Redbirds got a field goal to pull to within 6-3, which was the first quarter score.
Finally the Birds got rolling and it was 17-6 at the half.
Every now and then the Eagles could get a short drive, but they did not have good field goal kicking and had to go for it when they got to the 30 or so.
The Redbirds have a better kicker and tacked on 10 to lead 27-6 going into the 4’th quarter.

But, somehow, the Eagles rallied and put together a nice drive to cut it to 27-13, which it remained until 4:28 when a drive netted an “ice the game” touchdown. A scoop and score on the next series pushed the final margin to 41-13.

Sunday: West Peoria 8 plus 2 miles of campus walking: 14:36 pace (2:26:25). This was my best 10 mile walk since last September (Quad Cities half). Go figure.

Then we had a little mini-hike at Forest Park Nature Center (lower loop with Barbara and Neil)

Monday: slow 2 mile commuter walk over lunch (like today). I was nursing a sore shoulder (bench presses on Saturday?).
pull ups: 10 sets of 5
bench press: 10 x 134, 3 sets of 5 x 150 (very cautious)
high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110

Tuesday: cool. 10K course in 1:28:18 (14:14); didn’t push the pace. Saw 3 deer.

Wednesday: 2 mile commuter walk.

pull ups 8 sets of 6 pull up style, set of 5 chin ups.
Swiss Bar bench: 3 sets of 10 x 134
high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110
4 inch trap bar: 10 x 134, 10 x 184
Wagon wheel with the 60 lb bar: 10 x 230 (cautious)

Side effects fade

The side effects of getting covid, pneumonia and flu (old people’s dose) at the same time faded after about a day. Yesterday, I even feel asleep at my desk.

Today: better. I am getting ready to head to an Illinois State game, and I watched the Illinois defense force 4 turnovers (and they got one free one) in a 45-19 win at Duke. It was 14-13 at the half. But Duke shot itself in the foot repeatedly.

Workout notes: nice 2 mile walk (15:56 pace) after weights.
pull ups: 3 sets of 10, 2 sets of 6 chins, 2 sets of 5 mixed grips.
bench: 10 x 134, 2 x 170, 5 x 160, 6 x 155, 7 x 150
high incline: 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110
4 inch trap bar: 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 228

W-Th-F

Well, it isn’t as if I’ve done nothing.

In terms of working out:

Wednesday: pull ups: 3 sets of 10 (ragged), 6,5,4,5,4 (some chin to bar pull ups)
bench: 10 x 134. Incline: 3 sets of 6 x 134
trap dead: 10 x 134, 10 x 184 low, 10 x 228 4 inch
commuter walking of 2 and 1 mile.

Thursday: 5.15 right at 14:00 per mile. Then a commuter walk of 1 mile. BUT..seeing that a colleague got COVID, I got my shots: covid, flu, pneumonia.

Friday: weakened by the vaccines, two 2 mile commuter walks.
I got the shot a 2:10 on Thursday but really started to feel the effects at about 1 am on Friday; had a lot of trouble sleeping. But I did finish my Morse novel.