Silent Sports Sounds Off

Patrick Rizzo has been assigned No. 1 and is a slight favorite in Sunday's Rock 'N Roll Chicago Half-Marathon. The Schaumburg native and current resident of Boulder, CO, comes off a runner-up finish and PR 1:05:04 at the Rock 'N Roll Seattle Half-Marathon on June 26. His pedigree also includes a breakthrough 2:15:48, good for 10th place last year at the Bank of America Marathon. Rizzo's background also includes being a seven-time All-American at NCAA Division III powerhouse North Central College and a stint with the Hansens-Brooks team in Michigan. He currently runs with the Boulder Harriers, coached by Steve Jones. Rizzo, 26, will have serious competition from a number of quality runners, including Justin Grunewald of Duluth, MN, who ran a 1:04:49 in Houston in January; Scott Schmick of Okemos, MI, who has run 1:06:36; Dan Kahn of Houston, who has a 1:06:57 PR; David Williams and Chris McGinness, both of Milwaukee; and five or six others. My sentimental pick is Kyle Brady of Wheaton, this year's winner of the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 3rd! The other local to watch is Emisael Favela of Cicero. He's always in the mix!

Tera Moody has won quite a few races in her life, starting from when she was in sixth grade out in St. Charles. In a career that has included state high school titles, a fifth place at the 2008 women's Olympic marathon trials in Boston (2:33:54), a 28th-place finish at the world championship marathon last year in Berlin (2:36:39) and a PR a couple of months later at Chicago (2:32:59), Moody is far from finished. She showed that in January when she set a half-marathon PR with a 1:12:52 and then won the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in March for the second time with a 27:21.
Moody, who through it all has battled insomnia, will toe the line on Sunday as the likely favorite in the women's field at the Rock 'n Roll Half-Marathon downtown and along the south lakefront. Moody, 29, is based in Colorado, but returns home often, usually with success.
Last year, Kara Goucher won the whole race with a 1:08:05. Don't count on Moody going that fast, but never count her out. A registered field of 25,000 is preparing for this race, which is on the Chicago Area Runners Association Runners Choice Circuit.
Other women to watch include Lucinda Smith of Darnestown, MD, Lucie Mays-Suleski of Westfield, IN, Jenn Santa Maria of San Diego, CA, and Maria Cicero of Elmhurst. Other locals to keep an eye on are Kate DeProsperis of Downers Grove, Suzanne Ryan of West Chicago, Alona Banai of Oak Park and Heather Prekop of Chicago.
Everyone will be running for a great cause, the American Cancer Society.

The washed-out Sam's Club Waterfall Glen Xtreme 10 will be run as a low-key, non-competitive event on Sunday, Aug. 15, 7:30 a.m. at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve near Darien. It's obvious but not officially stated that the race will not be counted on the CARA Runners' Choice Circuit. I'll let the story be told by race director John Gervase via his e-mail to the troops:
The rerun date has been set for 7:30a.m. on August 15th, which is a Sunday (sorry, Pastor). I am missing church and a trip to watch my buddy race in the Leadville 100 for you guys/gals, so ya better show up. This is not going to be the same race that was supposed to take place last Saturday. This is a “here is the time and place, so show up, grab another shirt (quantities limited), and a goody bag (if you did not get one but, truthfully, they are a little disappointing), somebody yells go and we (meaning I get to run this too) all take off (no waves) and run the pants off this awesome 10 mile course”. Maybe a timer and finish clock (so bring a watch), no splits called (so bring a watch), miles marked with only paint and a little flag (easier on me), and no water on the course (it is only 10 miles people). On the water stop topic, I will never understand water stops for a 5k, do you? One other very minor note, no porti-potties. There is a small facility on site but there are also lots of trees and bushes and not too much poison ivy . We will supply the TP, and yes, we can “spare a square” (Seinfeld).
Anyway, we will have water and Gatorade at the finish, hopefully a clock, medals to the top 100, a dozen donuts to share, the famous “unprecedented shoe giveaway”, and time to share lots of great stories and experiences from the race and Saturday’s storm.
If the date and terms don’t work for you, I am so truly sorry. But please try to make it, I would love to see you all again. Please reply if you can make it and feel free to bring a friend.
Johnny and Meghan
P.S. We will not use bibs. Therefore, no posting of results. You can wear your old one, though, if you want to show off. This is a run for fun, pain and glory. No kids run planned but if they show up and wanna race we will accommodate them.