The Penguin Chronicles : Tags : team

It may be hard to believe that I could be home, and away, at the same time but that's what this past weekend was all about. The our biggest race, the Chicago Distance Classic now less than three weeks away I've been out pounding the pavement in the Chicagoland area.

Saturday I was up in Barrington with the folks from Dick Pond's. Sunday I was in Naperville for the Grand Opening of the new RoadRunner Sports store, and tonight - Monday - I'm at the Dick Pond store in Schaumburg.

Speaking of the CDC, this year is shaping up to be the best EVER. Registrations are ahead of last year, I've driven the course several times and it's FANTASTIC, and the post-race party is going to rock the city. If you're anywhere near Chicago you owe it to yourself to experience this race.

On the COMPLETE other side of my life, Jenny and I spent a couple of days last week on the Kyle Petty Charity ride. It benefits the Victory Junction Gang Camp - where we put on our Run to Victory in December. The HIGHLIGHT of the ride was getting to do two laps at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake. OH MY!! I used to go there to watch the motorcycle races. NOW I REALLY can't believe how fast they were going.

OK, back to work.

John

2 Comments Permalink Tags: bingham, chicago, penguin, runners, running, team, walking, world, roll, rock

OK. I think I've been on the road too long.

This trip started last Saturday. I flew to Seattle, drove to Tacoma, spoke, spent the night, drove to Seattle, drove BACK to Tacoma because I forgot my hanging bag in the hotel room, drove BACK to Seattle, spent the night, drove to Bellingham, spent the night, drove BACK to Seattle - and stopped at a Wal-Mart to buy a garment bag-, spent the night, FLEW to Anchorage - which is where I am right now.

SO! I check in, pull mail, get caught up a little and then start thinking about a run. I look at my watch, it's nearly 3 PM. I want to run at 4. THEN I THINK. I hope it doesn't start getting dark while I'm out there.

WHAT A MAROON! It's June 20. I'm in Anchorage, Alaska. The sun sort of goes down at - oh - 11 PM. Too many miles in too many days.

A couple of good things, though. While in Seattle I caught up with Mark Conners - formerly of Spenco - now with BodyGlide. Mark supported me early on when I was trying to get this whole "penguin" thing going. Without his help I never could have toured in 2000 and 2001. It was great to see him again.

Of course, I am a HUGE fan of BodyGlide. My number one rule is that anything that CAN rub together WILL rub together. If they sold BodyGlide in 50 gallon drums I'd probably have one. I use it liberally on all those sensitive areas that tend to rub or blister. It's great stuff and should be in every runner's bag of tricks.

OH, yeah, I got in my run, am back at the computer, and guess what? THE SUN IS STILL OUT! Go figure.

Most of the TEAM will get in tomorrow and then it's off to the TnT Pasta Party and race.

Waddle on,