The Stride in Littleton

I just got home from "The Stride", a charity run benefiting the Littleton school system.  I came across the event online, and since I had an errand to run on that side of town this weekend anyway, we decided that it would be good to get the family out to participate.  I signed up for the 10k option, after which we would all do the 1k Family Fun Run.

Refreshment between the 10k and the Fun Run

My wife and kids took advantage of the many activities going on while I was out running - there was face-painting, an obstacle course of sorts, and rope-jumping.  And they were there at the finish line to cheer for me.

Recruiters for the rope-jumping team

There was an hour and a half between the 10k start and the Fun Run start.  Unfortunately, that seemed to be just enough time my daughter to tire herself out, so we ended up walking nearly the entire 1k.  But at least we got to stick together and cross the finish line as a family.

On the 1k Fun Run

Something went wrong with recording the run on my phone - Cardio Trainer didn't actually start the workout when I told it to - so I didn't get as much data as I wanted.  But as near as I can tell, the map below shows the basic route.  I finished in 48 minutes, which is typical of the pace I've been keeping lately.


View Larger Map

Chicago's Lakefront Trail

My 33rd birthday has found me in the city of Chicago, traveling for work.  While I would prefer to be at home with my family, I'm trying to make the most of the situation.  I've been to Chicago a couple of times in the past, but have never had an opportunity to see much of anything which wasn't en route from my hotel to the office.

When planning this trip, I chose a hotel within easy striking distance of Lake Michigan.  Judging from the map, Lakefront Trail looked like a promising destination for a morning run, so that's where I headed.  It was just as lovely as I'd hoped it would be.

Lakefront Trail, Chicago

The weather was perfect, the sun rising over the lake was beautiful, and the lower elevation (ergo, increased oxygen) made me feel like I could run forever.  I didn't have time to test that theory, but I returned to my hotel feeling great.  My speed and distance were significantly better than any I've done in Denver.  I should get at least one more run in before returning home later in the week.


View Chicago Lakefront in a larger map

Die Flederkatze

When my 4-year-old daughter decides she likes something, she tends to obsess about it quite a bit.  I guess she gets that from me, mostly.  Right now she's into two things: cats (toys, not the musical) and The Tick (animated, not live-action).  She has also been going running with me every morning for a couple of weeks, now.

We just go around the block - about 0.6 or 0.7 miles - and we don't run the entire way.  We have what she calls "second goal points" to which we run, and then we walk for a little bit before running to the next point.  She says she doesn't want to run any farther than that.  Just around the block.  But she wants to run around the block every day for the rest of her life.

I don't know how long this will actually last, but I'm doing my best to keep her interested and to avoid putting pressure on her.  I do know that it's nice having a running partner, and our trips around the block make for a good warm-up before I go out for longer runs.

The culmination of these interests is that she likes to dress up as Die Flederkatze (a cat version of the hero, Die Fledermaus from The Tick) when we go running (as well as when she's just hanging out around the house).

Die Flederkatze

Not really visible in this picture is the tail she fashioned out of a sequined scarf.

She has also decided that we will all be cats for Halloween this year.  But while I do have a set of ears of my own now, thankfully she has not insisted on having me wear them when we go running.