The Huntley Farmside

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JL JL   Farmside
Thursday November 9, 2000
Volume 40 No. 43
Your hometown newspaper
© 2000 Press-Republican Newspapers
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BEFORE (above): Gov/; daughter Dessa, 8; and son Trent, 5; check out the equipment betore tne big run. Dad wrote Dessa and Troy's names on his shoes and told them if he felt like quitting he could look at their names and keep going. AFTER, (right): Gow basks in the afterglow of his first marathon.
Marathon man
by Janna St. James
Huntley-Marengo editor
The proverbial "they" say running a marathon does not build character, but reveals character. So Himtley resident Joe Gow got a glimpse of his when he crossed the finish line of the 2000 Chicago Marathon two weeks ago.
Gow has been a recreational runner for a decade, so his body was well tuned by the time his mind began toying with the idea of running a marathon.
"I figured I wasn't getting any youngeu" Gow said. "I thought I better give this a try."
While perusing the Chicago Marathon Web site, Gow discov¬ ered a link to on-line personal trainer Hal Higdon (wrww.halhig- don.com). Gow was already familiar with Higdon the pro, hav¬ ing read a few of his books. So he signed on with the Indiana- based virtual trainer and became part of what was known as the "V Team."
"It was an 18-month program," Gow explained. "Hal would send e-mail every day offering us irvformation on everything from what to focus on at this point in the training to cross train¬ ing to diet."
In return, future marathoners signed up with Higdon were asked to type in a joumal of their progress and e-mail it back their trainer.
As a result, the runners were given consistent professional advice on how to approach the marathon, nip potential trouble spots in the bud and reduce the chance of failure and/or injury. And, the program was entirely free.
"Right before the marathon we met in person two nights," Gow said. "And then we were ready."
Gow had set four and a half hours as his target finish time. He finished in four hours, 25 minutes and 22 seconds.
"They say you should just have fun with your first one, enjoy it," Gow said.
That he did. He brought a camera along, and took photos all along the nm route. He also carried a cell phone, using it to remain in contact with his family, wife Debbie and children Dessa, 8, and Trent, 5.
"The crowds were so huge," Gow said. "By using the phone I was able to tell them where I was along the route and were able to see me at five points along the way. It was great for the kids. They got to experience taxi rides and downtown."
When Gow wasn't being cheered on by his.family, he and the
other runners were treated plenty of other motivations along the way.
"There were 17 bands set up throughout the course," Gow said. "In Chinatown there was a big dragon. And the crowd all along, the crowd really motivates you."
The experience was a revealing one for Gow.
"During the first 22 nules I was saying 'this is not as bad as I thought.' But," he said, "the last four miles were really, really tough."
After the race Gow, who has lived in Himtley for 30 years, returned to the Chicago Marathon Web site and learned he was¬ n't the only runner from Huntley. The site also lists Bob Antczak (03:57:36), John Casciaro (04:14:48), Ronald Delara (03:58:00), Kelly Kaiser (4:10:49) and Ralph Scalise (04:42:43), all of Huntley as runners who finished the 2000 Chicago Marathon.
When asked if he is ready for next year, Gow offered one word necessary before he would even entertain the idea: recov¬ ery.
"If s kind of Uke child birth," he said. "When the pains are gone, then ask me if I'll run a marathon again."
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