Soldier Field 10- Spectating Edition

SF 10



Saturday morning I ran over to soldier field to spectate the SF10. I believe this is the first time I've shown up to a race, and not participated (asides from when I "spectated" my dads races back in the day when I was too small to walk)



•I ran into Britt near the start and wished her luck. (I hope I didn't bug you if you were trying to get into the zone!)

•Due to the corrals, my plan to head south on the course was dashed. I had to back track and then head south to get to a decent photo location. (plus I wanted to run a bit)



•Saw some crazy scary thunder storms a bit north of us. And did a "rain rain stay away" dance for everyone. it must have worked :)

•After cheering for Britt (coming out of the McCormick place tunnel) I turned around to head back to soldier field.



• Stopped at water station 5, to say Hi to Maggie @ Mag Mile Runner. You've inspired me to volunteer at a race. I will make it happen this year or early next year. I have so much respect for the volunteers out on the courses and ALWAYS say thank you to them during races. :)



•I saw lightning off in the distance. But, thankfully it stayed far far away.

• Found a nice spot next to the start line and mile 9.5? To sit and take photos of the runners coming back.



•Due to the wave starts I believe the very last corral started the race AFTER the lead men flew by.



•The winners! It was a TIE.



•one of the last corrals ready to take off.



• and they're off!

•it was fun spectating the race. Especially since it was on my terms- like not because I was injured. I live close by, so I figured why not come down, take photos and cheer for the runners.

•higher ISO enables more light which enables a faster shutter speed. Took too long to remember this. Need to keep practicing photography. Especially for fast moving subjects in lower light.



Congrats to everyone who ran this morning! You are all very inspiring.

Spectating is fun and got me all psyched to start marathon training June 11. The enthusiasm also got me to register for the inaugural Chicago Women's Half in late June. If anything, it will be a supported training run since it is not my goal race.




Next up for the weekend: tracking a friend who is racing Ironman Brasil tomorrow. Boa sorte R!!

- xaar

Run to overcome

Was really excited this arrived in the mail today. (along with a few other running-inspirational books)

I was so excited that I started reading it as soon as I got home. I read a quarter the way through and had to pry myself away from it to go do my evening run. (I woke up early and did some morning miles today!) 8 miles for the day! Whoo hoo!!!

After getting a quarter of the way through I would highly recommend it to everyone. It is truly the story of the American dream and how it is still alive.

I met Meb after the 2009 rock n roll san Jose half. He took 1st. It was his comeback race from a bad injury. He won the NYC marathon a few months later. He was super nice to take photos with people after the awards ceremony. I practically spilled my beer on him. He laughed at it. He seems like a really humble and hard working guy. I am inspired by him and his work ethic.

On an unrelated note, please send good thoughts/ prayers for this beautiful dog.






Her name is Bella and she is flying from Mexico to The USA tomorrow to be with her Dad (my dad too!). She is from Mexico and was dumped off at the evolucion animal sanctuary and saved from a life on the streets because her "owners" were divorcing and both didnt want her- something like that. Her history is clouded. She was infested with ticks and had several illnesses and now thanks to my dad, she is in perfect health. My dad volunteers at the sanctuary when he is living in Merida for a few months at a time during the year. He was walking her and for both of them it was love at first sight. Her tail was wagging energetically the whole way home back to her new place. It was as if she knew she would be very happy living with my dad- she is exactly what he needed in his life, and he was exactly what she needed in hers.


I am praying that she has safe flights, and a smooth transition to the United states tomorrow.




I'm sure she will enjoy sniffing all the new smells America has to offer! And I know that she will be super happy to see my dad again- it's been a few weeks since they have been apart. (the process for flying a dog out of Mexico is VERY complicated because the TSA thinks people will smuggle drugs inside dogs- which im sure happens, but things have changed A LOT since I flew my CB out after living there a few years)





I can't wait to meet her in a few weeks!!










-Xaar