Raymond Gobis

Motto: Workouts are not a pain in the ass, it’s a gift that I cherish every time I see nature fly by and feel my heart pumping hard.

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I have been running since 1996 but it has only been in the last 4 years that I have increased weekly mileage. Last year I ran my 1st marathon (2007) at Chicago. It was 88 degrees and the humidity was also about 88 percent yet I still was able to run 4:01:42. This year (2008) was my second attempt. This time it was only about 80 degrees at the finish. So I did a bit better with a 3:16:30. This was good enough to qualify for Boston. I'm hoping my 3rd marathon will be cool.

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Post 2009 Boston Marathon update:

Well it was cool but with a 20mph head wind but I was still able to pull out a PR over those hills with a 3:09:42. Now I'm looking forward to Chicago's flat course on a cool day to see what I can do.

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Post 2009 Chicago Marathon update:

Well the weather was perfect for the marathon with temps in the mid to upper 30s and a slight 6-10mph NW wind. So this would be my first flat marathon in cool weather. And yes, despite an aggravated right Achilles much of the summer causing missed 20 milers, I surprised myself. I ran a smart race and finished just under 3 hours with many friends and family cheering along the way. Ran a 2:59:29 personal best and beat my previous best by over 10 minutes! Still can't believe it.