Half Marathon for Daddy!

I am in Dallas, Texas, getting ready to Run the Rock. This is the 40th year of the running of the race. They have both a half and full marathon that starts and finishes at the American Airlines Center right in downtown Dallas. I'll be running the half, part of the winter regimen of my training program that my coaches have me on.

The morning started a little frenetically. I had a 7:00 departure from Chicago and made it to the airport in enough time to use the remote lot and was riding the tram to the terminals. I flew United Express so according to the signage on the tram, it left from Terminal 2. So, I exit the tram, clear security and am looking for my departure gate and find the board.

If you know O'Hare's geography, you'll understand when I say that standing in front of the E gates at 6:30 with a 6:35 boarding time, I found out that I was leaving from not just Terminal 1, but the C concourse and gate C2. Couldn't have picked a further away place!

So, I do the OJ (the old Hertz commercials, not the cutlery thing) and book it to arrive JUST in the nick of time...for a plane that has been delayed. But I got here, took the ride in the Super Shuttle and all the itinerant joy that goes with it but for $17 it's well worth it. There is no public transportation to speak of from DFW to downtown and a cab ride would've probably run me around $45 or thereabouts. Each way.

Got my number and am kicking it at the Westin. Had a GREAT dinner tonight at a restaurant called Dali. Leave it to me to find a wine bar to have dinner at. Two weeks without refined sugar (other than a breakdown last Saturday night) and alcohol (no breakdowns) and I'm ready for tomorrow. My goal is 1:35:00 or better.

All the credit for this goes first to my family who have put up with me so kindly as I've found this new outlet. I sang barbershop for seven years with the New Tradition Chorus. It was a lot of fun and I stayed with them because I liked competing at a high level and being the best in the world at something. If my time holds tomorrow, I'll finish in the top 5% of all finishers for the half-marathon; quite the accomplishment. I've spent time on Google Maps reviewing the course, making notes, mnemonic devices (H&T Seafood, Free Long and GMC) for points on the race I need to be aware of to take inventory and evaluate my condition. As my love for triathlon and endurance and multi-sport life grows, I hope it sets an example for my children as they grow up about the importance of health and exercise. I feel like it's rubbed off with some people at my work as well who are getting healthy and I have the highest regard for their efforts as well.

And props as well to Steve, Val and Bob, three people who have been guiding me on this journey since the summer. The direction you provide provide me with opportunities I never dreamed I could possibly have, and with each new accomplishment comes a shared sense of gratitude. Major props to you all.

And with that, below is a little before bed musing. I missed Kelly's infamous annual Cookie Bake and Exchange today; and I'm sorry that I did. But I take solace in knowing I get to come home to a house full of cookies and YUM, YUM, YUM!

See you all at the finish line tomorrow. You can follow me online if you want right here.