No Patron Saint For Runners...

As a Catholic I always appreciate the concept of patron saints.  Did you know there is no patron saint for runners?  There is a patron saint for athletes... St. Sebastian.  According to the internet... 

"He is patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and his energetic way of spreading and defending the Faith. Sebastian is also patron to all soldiers. He entered the Roman army under Emperor Carinus in 283 in order to defend the confessors and martyrs of his day without drawing attention to himself. His efforts kept the Faith of Marcus and Marcellian firm during their persecutions, right up to the time of their martyrdom. He was declared patron of plague sufferers of his reported cures of those afflicted with many diseases."

So since there is no direct patron saint I guess I stick with St. Patrick (if he can drive the snakes out of Ireland he's good enough for me) and keep saying my Hail Mary and Prayer to St. Michael before each race.  Of course if you have ever seen my times you would think I would be praying to St. Jude... the patron saint of lost causes!

Who is Team Allears?

You don't know?  You better ask somebody!!!  (or watch this video)

4 Miler Through Antietam National Battlefield

I thought it would be a good idea to start pushing hills during training so why not get a preview of Freedom's Run.  I will tell you now that there will be no PR on this run, but it really is beautiful here and I really wish I had taken more time over here as a student, or more truthfully lived closer now.

view from the visitor's center

Dunker Church

This is the view the Confederates had during the initial Union approach

Bloody Lane

Irish Tower

One of my favorite monuments

Bloody Lane from the top of the tower

It is beautiful here

How Times Change...

Do you remember this little guy......well here he goes off to his first day of preschool!!!
God help Ms. Dawn!!!

Running In Chicago

I have been very busy and have not had a chance to update the blog in weeks. I recently had an implementation training in Chicago and had the opportunity to do some running in the Windy City. What was supposed to be a week of getting myself back into a running routine turned into almost 30 miles logged. I have to say that if you were to ask me right now my favorite city to run in... it is Chicago!

Sunday Run 8/22
My flight landed around 11am and by noon I was in my hotel room... the Hilton by Grant Park (great rates in Chicago right now btw). I would end up switching hotels due to some problems with my room but the views were awesome...So after a few hour rest I was ready for my run. I stretched on the veranda at the hotel's gym and then I was off. This route took me east from the hotel across the park to the lake and then south. Although I saw some cool sights this was not my favorite route of the week. Once you get south of Museum Campus there really isn't a lot to look at. In the future I won't go south of the Convention Center.
View from the hotel gym...

Sights from the run south
The run back really didn't have any killer views...
...but ending the run at Buckingham Fountain was a nice finish line
Monday didn't bring a run but I got to have dinner with Allears Teammate Holly Aulen and her husband Dave at one of my favorite Irish spots... Fado. Great conversation, great people and great food.

Tuesday Run 8/24
Nice run at dusk. I ran up Michigan Avenue, past Millennium Park and its Crown Fountain, pavilion and the "Bean", up to the river and then east to the lake and back south along the lake to Grant Park. This was a nice run. When I went down from Michigan to the River I came across a live shoot of Transformers 3. I took a picture and they DID NOT like that AT ALL!!! I was called some nasty things and had to get out of there. I sure hope 3 is better than 2!!!
Pictures along Michigan Ave.
Millennium Park
And to wrap up with this run, pictures of the river, the run back along the lake the infamous Transformer 3 pic and fireworks because hey... who doesn't like fireworks!!!

Wednesday's Run has no pics because I tagged along with the Fado Running Club for their weekly training run. Good fast pace. Nice folks and some good pasta. I did switch hotels that day to a downtown hotel as well. Still some pretty nice views from my room...
Thursday was a rest day and dinner with one of my good friends from college, Lorenzo.

Friday Run 8/27/10

This was by far my favorite run of the week. I started from the hotel to Navy Pier, north along the lake all the way up to Addison St, over to Wrigley Field, then south through Chicago's neighborhoods. 11 miles on Friday, almost 28 miles total. What a week!!!
Pictures from the run north

Pictures from Wrigley...


and the neighborhoods/run south
And for my Team Allears runners... I saw this halfway through my run. Ain't this why we are doing this in the first place!?!