Do you believe in Parrotts?

My Parrott Predictor says I'll be around 4:40 in Chicago. I have never found the PP to be right but that was when I ran lesser distance long runs. Maybe this time it will be more accurate. That would be nice. It would make me smile and keep Runner Susan happy too.

Date Week Total Miles Parrott Prediction
Jun-30 27 17.7
Jul-7 28 25.0
Jul-14 29 30.1 4:39:14
Jul-21 30 32.2 4:42:22
Jul-28 31 38.5 4:21:47
Aug-4 32 41.4 4:32:41
Aug-11 33 33.2 4:37:01
Aug-18 34 33.8 5:02:33
Aug-25 35 34.0 4:30:53
Sep-1 36 39.6 4:32:56
Sep-8 37 29.9 4:49:37
Sep-15 38 35.1 4:45:27

I have been experimenting with three pairs of shoes on my last three long runs. I have three more intermediate distances to do including a 15k on Saturday. Each is auditioning for Chicago.

The favorite right now is a 10.5 Kayano (320 miles) that I raced in in Ft. Lauderdale. I have some 10.5 Asics 2180s with cushioned in soles (148 m.) that I wore Sunday with all the problems with hip, ankle and toes. Finally I have a new pair of size 11 Kayano 14s (38 miles) which have the necessary toe box space but feel big anyway. The 14s in 10.5 were too tight.

Anxiety. Somehow Runner Susan already received an e-mail confirmation and heads up about the Chicago race packet coming by mail. I haven't seen a thing but I refuse to go back and check to see if I am still registered on line. I know they're saving the best for last.

Mapping. Maddy created a map on Google of the race route, a targeted Italian restaurant for Saturday night the 11th, and all the known lodging addresses of RBFers running Chi-town. All my brother-in-law, a former resident of Chicago, can talk about is getting in on the lottery for Cubs play-off tickets, which could coincide with the race. If the Cubs don't get that far, maybe the Southsiders from the junior circuit in white stockings will be playing. He didn't mention them.

Training intervals. I did 7x800s this morning just to see how everything worked after Sunday's breakdown. Things were stiff but loosened up by the time I was done. My intervals were slow but went from 4:38 through 4:21, a few 4:15s to a final 4:01. Through noon, things are healing up. That PR on Saturday may be a push but I will give it a try.