Chicago Marathon Registrant Quits Training Just in Case Race Is Canceled
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A local woman who registered months ago for the 2020 Chicago Marathon has quit training for the race, Dumb Runner has learned, to be prepared in the event that the October race is canceled.
Joyce DeWitt, 31, said she took the step “just to be safe.”
“If the race is canceled, I want to be ready immediately,” she said. “I figure if I start skipping my long runs now and use that time instead to lie around the house and stuff, the shift to not-training will be much easier.”
“I’d hate to keep training, logging all those miles and workouts and stuff, and then be caught by surprise by a cancelation.”
One after another, other major marathons have been postponed and then ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, including Twin Cities, New York City, and Boston.
With a Chicago Marathon cancelation looking more likely every day, DeWitt said she didn’t want to be caught by surprise.
“I’ve been not-training for almost a week now,” she said, “and I’m already up to three-hour Netflix sessions and two naps a day.”
“I’ve read two books!” she added.
Asked why she wouldn’t simply continue her training regardless of the marathon’s status, for the sake of her own health and fitness, DeWitt appeared confused.
“Yeah,” she said, “but what if it’s canceled?”
