Wide Open Spaces

...and a few tight ones.

Springtime in Chicago.

Executive Ninja in Kyle's car.

Me and Jaime at the Orange for breakfast. They had menu items like Green Eggs and Ham, and Frushi -- sushi made out of fruit.

My sister's dog, Phoebe. She actually barks " I love you." It sounds like Scooby-Doo saying "Rye Ruv Roo."

Getting some love.

Chicago has a bid for the 2016 Olympics. Banners are up everywhere.

The Sears Tower

...and one obligatory photo of a Mies Van Der Rohe building.

Activity: Run
Date: 04/27/09 10:00 AM
Distance: 4.04 miles
Time: 0:37:22
Speed: 6.5 mph
Pace: 9' 15 min/mile
Calories: 377


Here's my haphazard run that started along Lake Shore. I was supposed to run over to Navy Pier, per my sister's instructions, but I never saw the signs to get there, so I just kind of made my way up to the streets, ran around until my GPS gave me the mileage I needed and went back. I had no clue where I was going and couldn't find a single sign on how to get to Navy Pier. Usually, my runs are pretty much a straight line. I was running around a construction site and a ton of people. No, I didn't run on the Chicago river. I suspect there was a little GPS bouncing, especially with all the buildings and running next to a television station. It wasn't quite the 6 miles I wanted to do, but it was a mile walk from the hotel and back, so I technically did get in the 6 miles.

Yesterday

Activity: Run
Date: 05/02/09 09:46 AM
Distance: 16.20 miles
Time: 3:00:52
Speed: 5.4 mph
Pace: 11' 10 min/mile
Calories: 1553




This was my 16 miler with the track club. I did better than I had expected, but I didn't anticipate needing more electrolytes than I had on me. Calf cramps kicked in right at mile 16, and I ran the .20 just to get to the gazebo at Hospitality Point. Yay. It would have been awful if the cramps kicked in earlier. At least I was in sight of the end. After a little electrolyte drink and some stretching I was OK. Around mile 10 I ran with Cathy, who ran the Boston Marathon last year. She remembered me from volunteering at the water tables at mile 23.5 at last year's Rock 'N' Roll Marathon and my hip injury, complete with walker. I mentioned that I am expecting to finish this year's marathon at about 5:30 or thereabouts. She informed me that were were running at a 4:30 marathon pace at that point. Oops. After the next half mile I told her I was going to back off my pace and chat with her the end of the run. My split at mile 10 was a 9:58 m/m. I would have been toast well before the 16 miles were up if I had kept that pace. I guess it was good to know that I could carry that pace 10 miles into a 16 mile run. That was also my fastest split.

It was also kind of humid for our run. Look how nice and sweaty I am. Right behind me is Sabrina, who I met at the beginning of the run. We ran the first 8 miles together.

Hey, guess what??? I'm not lopsided anymore!

Wednesday's song:
My Kind Of Town - Frank Sinatra - Pat

PEACE