What Happened to Sporty Dad?

It’s been a while since I have posted anything about being a sporty dad, but that does not mean I have been living the sporty dad life…(that sounds weird). Since my last Sporty Dad post, I have run a few races, did a Spartan race, and I did not run the Chicago marathon. That is the one race I was sad I did not run, but maybe I'll do it again in the future. So here is what went down last year.

Just Keep Running, Just Keep Running! (Sporty Dad 110)

On October 8th I joined about 45,000 other runners to run the city for the 40th Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The marathon has gone through a few different name changes, but the goal of all the runners is the same: to finish. Whereas last year I trained like a machine to run the marathon, this year my training was not up to par and I was nervous about how things were going to turn out. 

It's time to start running again!

Last year's Shamrock Shuffle

Next Sunday, April 2, I will be running in my fourth Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. I will be running with thousands of other runners throughout Chicago's downtown area and celebrating the beginning of the running season. Last year I ran the race in a pair of Lee Khakis just because they were so flexible and comfortable. This year, I don't know how I'll dress, but if you follow us on Instagram, you will probably see a picture or two of the run.

So why do I run? Why would I wake up early on a Sunday morning and run 5 miles? Well, one reason is: "Why not?" Why not take advantage of the time you have on this planet and go out and do something new and different that you have never done before. I like the notion of running on these busy downtown streets without the worries of cars hitting me when I am crossing the streets. It is also exciting to see all the people cheering you on as you run through the city and getting that rush when you cross the finish line. Yeah, I can't wait for that moment.

I ran the Chicago Marathon and I feel fine!

As I was approaching the Charity Block Party at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, I could feel the energy from the tents of all the participating charities. My legs were starting to get tired but the energy and support from these tents gave me an extra boost to continue for a few more blocks.

I say a few more blocks because my thighs were starting to hurt, they were not cramping up, but it sure felt like it. I tried to block it out and keep running, but the pain was too much that I signaled to my running partner to keep going, hoping that I would catch up with him eventually. I started walking to soothe my legs and started thinking to myself "Why are you doing this?" "Do you think you can really finish?" I knew as soon as those thoughts started coming into my head I was in for some trouble.

The beginning of something big.

You know how when you see an amazing movie or hear a song that just blows your mind, you want to tell everyone about it? Next thing you know you have so much you want to say that it doesn't make sense or you end up sounding like a nonsensical idiot. Well, that's how I feel about my posts for St. Jude. I have so much I want to say, but I do not know where to begin. So let's begin at the beginning.

The Fandads are St. Jude Ambassadors.  It's kind of strange to say, or in this case, type that out, but we are St. Jude Ambassadors. In the past I ran the Warrior Dash as a St. Jude Warrior and in October I will be running the Chicago Marathon as a St. Jude Hero, but to say that we are ambassadors is pretty big. So what does this mean for the Fandads? What's going to happen in the coming months? Well, let's tell you a little about it.

Run like the wind or Look at me trying to be sporty 104

I know that is not how the songs goes, but it would have been strange to title this post "Run like the wind, Bullseye!" because I am not a fast runner like Bullseye the horse was. Since our last episode, I am still training for the upcoming Chicago Marathon.

The program I am on has me running 4 to 5 days a week and it has not always gone as planned. There have been a few hiccups here and there, but what has been bothering me lately is my running playlist.

Running in my Khakis...Yeah, it Happened! "Look at Me Trying to be Sporty #101"

Last month I wrote a post for Lee Jeans about their new X-Treme Khakis. In that post I wrote about how comfortable these khakis were and that "I am seriously thinking about doing my next run while wearing them." Well, my next run was the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and here's my story of how I ran it in my khakis.