#Flatrunner and assorted gear for Sunday's Chicago 13.1. Will be my 28th half marathon, and for the first time since I started running this distance 13 years ago this month, I am nervous about making it to the finish. My last half was in February 2020, during which I ran a respectable age-graded PR of 1:36:24. Week later was in the hospital with a mysterious virus... 1/

#ChiThirteenOne #halfmarathon #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #BLVDS #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong #Route66

Thursday night’s #BLVDS with the crew, or as she chose to call it on Strava, “Miles with Kurt” (translated as, I’m not slow. Kurt is slow). No matter, I’m ahead in this first photo; I’ll leave it to her to post the other photo where she’s pulling so far ahead I’m out of focus. Lots of #CrewLove that night. #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

Photos: Ramsey Lujan, Tungsten Photographic @tungstenphotographic on IG

Chicago Spring Half/10k is always a great morning. Beautiful weather, miles on the lakefront, free flower, a little breakfast. And what we like most is that it’s just a very short walk to the spot of our wedding. Won’t be able to do this next year because we’ll be away for another wedding! Got warm out there; couple of half marathoners went down in the final mile, hope they’re okay. #ChicagoSpring10k #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #Running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

#Flatrunner for Sunday’s Chicago Spring 10k. Some might ask: why are you racing when you can’t even complete the distance w/o walking. To which I reply: 1) bought the bib before I got hit with COVID 2) active recovery 3) will be a beautiful morning out on the lakefront with my wife and the running community 4) some day won’t be able to do this at all but today is not that day, and 5) zero left to give. #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #ChicagoSpring10k #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

Last Thursday’s #BLVDS run with the crew. So good to be back and to see everyone. Still a long way to go. This energy and accountability will pull us through. New ink made its first appearance—hang around here long enough, two things will happen: you’re going to get a tattoo, and you’re going to run a marathon. Btw the vegan options at at Big Kids afterwards were outstanding. #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

Photos: @tungstenphotographic on IG

Wheels stayed on, everything else seemed okay. Stayed within myself, still a run/walk but a solid check in on a beautiful day for one of our favorite races. Good signal that it’s time to start ramping it up. Back to racing by the fall, this will be an A race next year. Fuck the afib, fuck the back, fuck the knee, fuck COVID, fuck old age, I’ve fucking had it with this shit. Let’s fucking go. #RavenswoodRun5k #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

#Flatrunner for tomorrow’s Ravenswood Run 5k. Same place we were last year: showing up and clawing our way back. No other expectations than to return to some kind of rhythm and finish and have a good time at one of the city’s iconic neighborhood races. #running #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #RavenswoodRun5k RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

Start of a new era. I can feel it. Easy 5k to behind the high school, holding down the north country in summer colors for #3RUN2. #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

... who steals the show wherever she goes but especially on this day. Kind of odd to hit the 5k mark at about the same time I used to finish the race, but I'm not displeased. Grateful to be able to shuffle one more time (this was my 13th), hopeful and determined for a comeback this season and to challenge again next year.

#running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #MedalMonday #shamrockshuffle

2/2

it’s likely single digits and I don’t want to miss my crew or miss the event. This will be my 13th in-person Shuffle and although it may take me a while to drag my sorry ass to the finish line I do have some hopes for this season and need to kick it off the right way, with the entire Chicago running community out in force. We all lift each other. See you out there. #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners 2/2

Best of luck to all of my #3RUN2 friends running the #TokyoMarathon, especially Javier who is completing his World Major tour. #running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong

Run the Chicago Marathon, you'll hear us before you see us at Mile 20. Get your energy for the last push here. 3RUN2: Chicago Is For Runners.

#Running #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #CrewLove #BridgeTheGap #ChicagoMarathon

Not as sure on my feet in the snow and ice as I once was, so while I'm inside on the treadmill today, here's a throwback to 2018 on the seawall of Lake Michigan, south of Montrose Harbor, Chicago.

#running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners #SeenOnMyRun

Was on the shelf with an injury in the fall, so nothing left to do except get another running tattoo. Some days all I have left is heart, and some days it's my crew that keeps that heart going.

(Heart in the style of Jim Dine; it's black and gray, the red is only from being fresh.)

#running #RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong #3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners

As usual, #running was taking over my main account, so I've set up a separate running-only account here to connect with this glorious world of #runners. Here's who I share the road with. Hope to see you out there.

#RunFree #BreatheDeep #FinishStrong
#3RUN2 #ChicagoIsForRunners

She’s finally gonna get her jacket.

So take my hand, my heart, my soul forever
And give to me your burden and your fear
Let us wander through this world together…

#3RUN2 #chicagoisforrunners #running

Photo: Mike Calabro, Ping Tom Park, Chicago, August 2019