Sunny-side up!

I'm on the edge of my seat. Why, you ask? In just two days, I'll be able to check the 10-day forecast for weather on the big day!

Running-wise (and also boot- and fall jacket wearing-wise), the weather next week looks pretty good! Here's to hoping it continues through October 10!

10-Day Forecast

			High / Low (°F)	Precip. %
Today Sep 30		AM Clouds / PM Sun	62°/47°	10 %
Thu Oct 01		PM Showers	63°/54°	40 %
Fri Oct 02		Few Showers / Wind	63°/48°	30 %
Sat Oct 03		Showers	56°/45°	40 %
Sun Oct 04		Partly Cloudy	61°/47°	20 %
Mon Oct 05		Few Showers	62°/53°	30 %
Tue Oct 06		Showers	67°/50°	40 %
Wed Oct 07		Sunny	63°/47°	10 %
Thu Oct 08		Showers	64°/48°	40 %
Fri Oct 09		AM Clouds / PM Sun	63°/48°	20 %

Four Years of Runner's Blues

For some time, I've been searching for words to describe how I feel about running these days. As I mentioned in one of my first posts, I am a runner that fell out of love with the sport and stayed away for many years until a few months ago when I began training for this year's Chicago Marathon. 

I found those words last night reading "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami, described by its publisher as "a beautiful memoir about the author's intertwined obsessions with running and writing." It journals his progress training for the New York City Marathon and is an interesting mix of funny and philosophical musings about life, running and writing.

Here goes:

For the first time in a long while, I feel content running every day in preparation for the next marathon. I've opened a new notebook, unscrewed the cap on a new bottle of ink, and am writing something new. Why I feel so generous about running now, I can't really explain systematically... maybe this is simply a matter of time passing. Maybe I just had to undergo an inevitable internal adjustment, and the period for this to happen is finally drawing to a close. 

To tell the truth, I don't really understand the causes behind my runner's blues. Or why now it's beginning to fade. It's too early to explain it well. Maybe the only thing I can say about it is this: That's life. Maybe the only thing we do is accept it, without really know what's going on. 

Catholic Guilt

Ever heard of it? Thought so. I have a tough case right now and need to fess up real quick.

I've neglected this blog quite a bit lately (understatement).

Keeping up a blog is much harder work than I ever imagined. I like to write -- I do it for a living -- and, while I thought I'd enjoy a putting finger to keyboard (?) a few times a week on something I enjoy, sadly, I found that the last thing I wanted to do after eight or 10 hours at the office was open up my laptop. On top of work and marathon training, I've become more involved in volunteering at my church and other organizations in Chicago this summer, further scaling back the amount of free time on my hands.

I considered for a brief period giving up this whole blogging thing; however, I realized how much I enjoy reading other blogs, particularly those written by people I know and especially those I'm not able to see on a regular basis. Via Facebook and blogs, I have a much better handle on where high school, college and other friends are and what they're doing than ever before and, in some weird way, I feel closer to them as a result of the virtual connection. In fact, I wish more of you guys spend time blogging. It's much easier to comment on a post or respond to a Facebook status update than sit down and craft a thoughtful e-mail.

Rest assured that I'll be back with more frequent posts soon! In the meantime, please accept my sincerest apologies!