Lining up for the best bargain in running; and a MadCity update

As deals go, I rate the South Shore Half Marathon right up there with 10-cent chicken wings.

Both might lead to unpleasant consequences, but are too good to pass up.

The half marathon organized by the Badgerland Striders has a $15 race-day registration fee, a bargain in running, even without t-shirts, energy gel samples and other schwag.

It's a no-frills outing on gorgeous course, along the lakefront, from South Shore Park to Grant Park and back. Check out the details here.

I'm undertrained, as usual, to run a half marathon this early in the year, but the price and the location (in my neighborhood) will draw me to the start line. The key to the race (and a basket of wings) will be to show some self-control, focus on moderation, enjoy the moment, and limit the after-effects.

No Jansky: I received word this morning from a very disappointed Scott Jansky, the Lakefront Marathon champion who planned to run for the USA 100K championship in Madison. Jansky tweaked a hamstring during his taper and won't take the line on Saturday morning.

"Although I have had a lot of ups and downs since I started running in the 7th grade, I'd have to say this ranks right up there as one of my biggest disappointments," Jansky wrote. "I trained so hard this winter, could argue I was in the best shape of my life, thought I was doing everything right (training smart, stretching, light weight training, healthy diet, etc.), and to strain a hamstring during my taper phase is really hard to comprehend. Life goes on, and I'm not ready to hang up the running shoes yet, but this is really a tough time for me."