Boilermaker and Beyond

As I chronicled in an earlier blog my last child left the nest to begin his college career.  The good news is neither my wife nor myself has been brought up on manslaughter charges against the other. We are slowly discovering life sans kids.

This year I have three in college (donations gratefully accepted) in fact all three are attending the same college. Either it’s a good school or we have no imagination.

As they are several hours away from Utica it is nice to know that they are there to act as a support network and at least be able to travel back home together.

I really like Thanksgiving.

Unlike the other ‘gathering of the clan’ holiday, Christmas, it’s a time where there is simply a lot less running around; just family, friends, football, and food.

Unfortunately Saint Nick has now pushed ‘Black Friday’ shopping into Thanksgiving Day- I wonder if at some point it will become Thanksgiving Week and push Christmas shopping prior to Thanksgiving?

And a bit about running…

I ran the Thanksgiving run in Utica. I haven’t run in a race in a long time and boy did it show!

The course which starts at a similar point as the Developmental Runs begins with a lung-busting incline up the Parkway and into Valley View Golf Course.  The cold air (30 degrees at race time) felt like a searing knife savagely ripping down my windpipe. That’s right; I forgot how much fun running is!

Many passed me and I passed a couple (at most).

 I kept reminding myself at least I’d have a nice downhill to conclude the race.  Finally I reached the turnaround point and, thankfully, got my second wind.

My conclusion was less than inspirational but I finished with no knee pain, the cause of my long hiatus from running (a big success generated out of a poor performance).

In spite of the pain it was a great day to run for a great cause; over 870 participated (a new record). Many pounds of food as well as cash was donated by the participants.

So I give thanks for the time with my family, the ability to start running again, and being a part of an incredibly giving community.

Off to hit the showers and hit the drumsticks!

BTW-I saw a great saying on the back of a young lady’s shirt at the run. It read- ‘My sport is your sports punishment.’