Shamrock Shuffle Chicago 2013

Today's Shamrock Shuffle 8K was a ton of fun and worth every year I've had to wait. The course ran through the heart of downtown Chicago and couldn't have been prettier. Even the weather cooperated having rained and stormed all night the sun broke minutes before the starting gun. It was splendid. I ran faster than I planned but it wasn't an effort to make good time or set a PR. It just felt good. The increase in air Aline was exhilarating. While I am sure I did well based on my own experiences, there were hundreds that finished before me and after. I am proud though that there were many more behind me than in front. It was fun and I had a great time. I wasn't first nor last but have it one hell of a go. That's all I could ask for.

Eating It Up

I arrived late last night and made my way to my hotel by the airport. I was tickled to see a respectable Chicago pizza place within walking distance to my hotel. When I got to my room I put my bag down and dialed up an order for carry out. Right away I felt the at home in a way that only a place that has been home can. Now I admit, I probably didn't need to eat the while thing, but I sure was glad I did. This morning I've already snagged a Dunkin Donuts #1 combo and am giddy to dive in. It's a good thing I'm here for a race, it would seem I already to eat my way across the Windy City. Food is just a great way to reconnect though and no one does pizza like Chicago. 

Chicago Bound

I am about to head out for a quick trip to Chicago. I am heading out to run the Shamrock Shuffle. This is a race I have wanted and tried to run for years and am pretty excited to get out there. This race has so bedeviled me in the past, it held up my move to Denver just so I could do it only to find out it was the next week. It feels good to go do this. I have not done very much lately that has not been towards meeting an end. Redemption of rewards and a few from my brother made this all happen. I am pretty psyched.

Resolution Revisit

I'm revisiting this idea of the Year of Good. As we are now into April, the ideas of resolution are more memory than mantra, but I am still very interested in this concept. To recap, my resolution this year was to get as much Good Sleep, Good Music, and Good Food into my life as I could. I must attribute the food part to my wonderful and culinary ambitious wife. She has become an extraordinary chef and our near struck vegetarian diet has been above restaurant caliber. The good music has been a nice trend as well. Of late I have been truly enjoying jazz and blues more but my eclectic tastes have been able to hear more by tuning into Pandora with even so much as a song I enjoyed to start a station. The sleep, as was noted yesterday is still a tricky one, but coming around. For me, even awareness helps to make it happen.

Good Sleep.

I had the rare opportunity to sleep in today and I was reminded why that was one of my three pillars in my year of good. I woke up a new man and I can not tell you how good it felt. It's odd, but occasionally I need to sleep in just to remember why getting good sleep helps. The irony of writing this so late is not unnoticed though

Do Better

Once again up before dawn and at work. What's rattling about my head is how easy it is to rip something down and so hard to build something up. For that matter, even to stand for something seems difficult. I watch people close to me stand for things they believe with courage and honor. What's most admirable is when that stand isn't based on diminishing something else. A truly wise man helped me see that. He told me when I can stand next to someone ranting against even my my core values in peace, I will truly know those values. Now this may seem like great philosophy class sort of material, but it practical application is what has it on my mind. One of the values I hold dear is live and let live. Yet already at work I see myself wishing to tarnish others. I'm hoping to head back in and do better. 

Sun Rise

It's one of those early mornings you'd rather not be seeing if it could be helped. I'm a couple hours into my day and the the sky is ever lightening. There is something about watching the sun rise that is so intrinsically uplifting these days. It seems to hold an element of optimism. I'm glad to see it, even if I would rather be sleeping at the moment.