Kirk blAug

This past weekend was a whirlwind of activity, marked by a unique blend of community, running, and, yes, a bit of beer. As someone who cherishes both the quiet of solitude and the joy of social interaction, I often find myself walking a fine line between engaging with others and preserving my own space. This weekend was a testament to that delicate balance. Saturday: Brewery to Brewery Run The day kicked off with Happy's Running Club's Fall Brewery to Brewery run, an event that epitomizes two things people are incredibly passionate about: running and beer. The atmosphere was electric, filled with a sense of camaraderie and an unmistakable buzz of enthusiasm. The people I met were avid beer enthusiasts, their zeal for the frothy beverage somewhat eclipsing my own. Despite feeling a tad out of my league in the beer department, the warmth and friendliness of the group were infectious. I also learned more about their Tuesday weekly runs, which seem like a great opportunity for soci

Today was one of those days when the midweek blues needed a swift kick to the curb. So, I made a spontaneous decision - Goat (my trusty four-legged companion) and I were going trail running. It used to be a midweek ritual for us, but lately, the weekdays have been filled with pounding the streets of Kirkwood while we save the trails for the weekends. Today was different, though. Work was under control, and the trails were calling. We ventured to Emmenegger Nature Park, a familiar haunt for us. The trail system here holds a special place in my heart, and I have a peculiar tradition I call the "yin-yang of the trails." It involves creating a course that takes me both ways on every trail in the system, exactly once. The resulting map from the first time I did it reminded me of a yin-yang symbol. But beyond the aesthetics, running each part of the trail in both directions brings a sense of balance to the run. Emmenegger's trails aren't for the faint of heart. Over the cou

This morning while running I came upon a tree where a couple of squirrels were apparently having a tiff over some sort of property. I imagine that the one whose hindquarters was stuck in the air left his stash of acorns to go for his own morning run. Upon return from his run, there was a stranger claiming his gatherings. That is when the fight broke out. The adversary, an innocent ticket taker at the local scamper-in theatre who just happened on the stash, thought he might help himself to an acorn or two. After all, here was a pile of acorns with no one around to claim them. It was certainly a pile that was intentionally placed by another squirrel, but where was that squirrel now? For all he knew the squirrel that left these could be dead. If that is the case, unfortunate though it may be, it would be a shame for all these acorns to go to waste. Besides, it is not as if the theatre pays its ticket takers anything that could be considered a living wage. His family could use the go

A month or so ago, I saw that there would be a multiple sclerosis benefit run near our house. I thought that since there was a 1/4 mile kids dash, maybe Jupiter would be interested in trying out a race. Upon asking him, he said that he would like to run. I signed myself up for the four mile run (an effort in self-motivation toward getting back in shape) and signed him up for the kids dash. We did a little bit of training leading up to the dash since he had never run one previously. I took him for a run to the high school and back about a week ago, which is a bit over 1/4 mile. A few nights ago, I was trying to encourage him to go for a run with me again. He told me it was too dark out. I told him we have a treadmill. He was excited about the treadmill before he tried it, but I think he realized that it can be hard work too. He did go a whole 1/4 mile though. The dash started at the local aquatic center and went around the building which was about like running around a typical residenti

I am sure that most of my readers have at least heard something of Mardi Gras. Perhaps you might know of the celebration that takes place every year in the United States most popularly in New Orleans. But it is not exclusively celebrated in New Orleans. In fact, it was not even celebrated originally in New Orleans. In 1702, when French Catholic settlers founded the original capital of Louisiana which is now Mobile, Alabama , they began the first tradition of Mardi Gras in the United States a tradition that they brought over from Europe where it had been celebrated long before. Once the capital of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans in 1723, the major celebration was moved there and was then celebrated by most citizens of the city beyond the French Catholics. The celebration has been spread to many communities in the neighboring states of Alabama and Mississippi, as well as along the Mississippi river going as far as here in St. Louis. Soulard is historically a French neighborhood in St

One thing I like to do, for several reasons, is run. For the past couple months, because Chris started working overnights, I have found the treadmill to be more convenient. It works well because I can go running late at night after the children have gone to sleep and after she goes to work during her on week and, assuming I can actually get everyone napping at the same time, during everyone's naps during her off week. (She works seven ten hour days on then seven days off, taking naps on the off weeks in attempt to catch up on the lack of sleep during on weeks.) Even though I have chosen to take my running on the treadmill, there have been plenty of really good running opportunities outside during these relatively mild past couple of month. It was ideal for most runners. The type of weather that many runners could not pass up under any circumstances. For the past two months though, I did. Tuesday night I was itching for a run. I checked the weather to find that it was a brisk 34° F.

When Chris ran a half marathon while she was only half way through her pregnancy, she got some interesting looks. I commend her for it. It looked hard. But this gal ran a half in the Chicago Marathon and gave birth on the same day! "I got the OK from my doctor to run half, and my husband ran with me and supported me along the way," Miller told WGN-Channel 9 from her bed at Central DuPage Hospital. "I ran half and walked half, that's how I finished. "Everybody just kind of stared as I'm running by.” It used to be common to discourage a lot of exercise while pregnant, and some people are still of that mind. That is why people give strange looks when pregnant women run races. As long as you are not just getting started with running, most doctors will give the okay and even encourage it as long as you are being smart about it.