12:05

I unfriended Facebook months ago, and finally cut the cord for good.  (Actually, I only deactivated the account.) The simple truth is that I'm really not interested in your propaganda -- no offense intended! Our current political climate has a lot of folks in a real tizzy, and you have plenty of good company if you feel the need to spout on Facebook. I have my own uninteresting problems to work through, and Facebook is simply one more "news" channel to which I no longer subscribe.

The joke was on me, though, because not too long after I made my original decision to leave Facebookville my neighbors across the street corner put up sign in their yard -- directly facing my house for me to read each and every time I step out my front door for a run or any other reason.  You may have seen signs like this in your neighborhood too. (This is not the exact sign, but very similar.)

My full reaction to the sign might make for a post on some other blog venture later, but you probably won't be interested in it -- especially if reading this sign sends you on a Pavlovian search for the "Like" button!  Facebook culture has crossed the threshold into the physical world, and alas, there's no way for me to unsubscribe.

You can probably tell that I'm not a sign kind of person.  I don't put up yard signs during election season; I don't have any bumper stickers -- most certainly not those 26.2 and 13.1 ovals that I see all over the place!  (I actually prefer the 0.0 oval stickers.)

I do like to wear my race shirts proudly!  Yes, I have a bunch of those, as my colleagues can confirm. They form the bulk of my wardrobe, and right now I honestly don't think that's an exaggeration. Here's last year's collection.

Okay. There is one kind of sign that I fully and wholeheartedly endorse -- the marathon sign!  Race spectators make things really fun for the runners with their creative and hilarious signs, and I'm sure it's a part of why many of us look forward to race day!

You can easily search up some fantastic race sign ideas, but here are just a few of my favorites actually seen at the Chicago marathon:

• "Worst Parade Ever" (a marathon staple)
• "Hurry Up, the Kenyans are drinking all the beer!"
• "Show Trump and Clinton how to run a real race!"
• "Smile if you're not wearing underwear!" (another staple)
• at the 23 mile mark: "Your 23 mile warmup for today's 5K is finished!"

The signs can also be motivational.  One church from Chicago set up volunteers at different points along the route holding signs which read: "One day you will no longer be able to finish a marathon. Today is NOT that day!"

Be sure that your own bucket list includes attending a marathon as a spectator at least once, with signs, cow bells, and whatever good spirit you want to add to the mix!

12:13

Today I had the great pleasure of running in the inaugural Trooper Thomas Clardy Memorial Run, my first organized race of the year.  This race took the place of the "Spirit of Hudson Run" from previous years, which is a classic small town festival race series that I've enjoyed.

The new edition of this race is a memorial to a Massachusetts State Trooper who lost his life in 2016, leaving behind his wife and children who reside in Hudson.  The State Police had a strong showing at the event, and there were many nice touches, such as playing Taps; the national anthem sung by a State Trooper; a helicopter flyover; and even Governor Baker was on site to hand out the race awards! There were more than 1000 runners, given the high profile of the event, and weather conditions were clear and sunny.  A truly memorable experience!

There were retro police cars, and mounted police, too!

Some more random observations about the race and my own run:

• We usually get fantastic race weather in early June; today was no exception with a finish at around 70 degrees.  The course had a great mix of shade and sun.
• Nice course through the neighborhood behind Hudson High School, with folks watching from their yards and cheering us on.
• More than any course I can remember in a while, though, there was a lot of road slant -- I don't know the technical term.  The result is there were several stretches of road where one foot was planting noticeably lower than the other.  This isn't ideal!
• I chose a typical blend of running/walking, where I slow down for up grades and shady parts, and let gravity assist on the down grades.
• I was satisfied with finishing under 40 minutes for my first race of the year.  Considering I've just started letting loose with some real running in the last couple of weeks.  My mile splits were negative: each faster than the previous, and that's exactly what I would hope for in any race.  I had enough juice left to finish at a strong clip!
• However, after crossing the finish line, it took my tired body a few minutes to realize that water was not to be found in the immediate area.  We had to cross the the parking lot back to the registration tents to get to the post-race refreshments.  Perhaps it was due to finishing in the 70th percentile and supplies had been used up, but I'd like to see a bit more race staff with water set up right after the finish line.

Selfies from the starting line and the finish gate!

Gutting it out to cross the finish line!

After the race was done, a stop at Dunkin' Donuts was a fitting reward.  Forgive the stereotype  ;-)

Moving on to other personal news...

I've recently started a new job at a company for which I previously worked.  I'm looking forward to working with a new product line and new colleagues, as well as catching up with my former colleagues who are now in different parts of the company. There were several tangible benefits which made taking on this new position a no-brainer: a bump up in pay, a new opportunity for career growth, even a private cube in the office (which corporate culture seems to be trending away from, but this introvert will take it while it lasts!). However, there is one benefit that cannot be overstated: I cut my commute time down from an hour of stop and go driving each way to twenty minutes of mostly highway each way.

Aside from the extra time gained, more than five hours a week, which in itself is also a pay raise, it's the quality of the driving which is notable.  I just mentioned that my previous commute was stop and go driving -- imagine the repetitive stress on your right foot as it switches from gas to brake over and over again for an extended time.  Well, apparently there is an unofficial term for the condition that can arise: gas pedal knee.  I definitely felt some leg pain on that commute in the first months of that job.  Eventually, I think my body adjusted to the strains of pedal pressure without any long term issue, since I was able to train up to a marathon again last year.  Here's hoping that the improved commute quality will help to bring about even better results this year!

Till next time, friends... stay blue!