1 step toward #12

#12 Run the Chicago Marathon

Thanks to the support and encouragement of my friend Susan, I registered for the Chicago Marathon last Sunday.

Two days later registration closed.

Registration opened and closed in a record number six days.

Last year registration closed in 31 days. 

45,000 people is the max registration.

Amazing.  

So, in honor of my long Saturday morning runs I walked over to my gym and peered at the treadmills.  Dread was pouring through my pores.  I had no desire to run six miles on the piece of machinery while it was sunny outside, even if it wasn't quite above zero degrees.

So, I walked out of the gym, back to my house and bundled up for a long, Chicago winter run.

One hour later I found myself still smiling and enjoying the run in the sun (aside from the slight pain in my right knee...)

And, as a perk a car honked their horn at me and gave me cheering arms while I was running.

Those Chicagoans, they encourage my crazy cold runs.

a highlight of 2012

I'm not much of a Superbowl fan, yet somehow this year I found myself in Indianapolis watching the game.  My roommate is from Indy and so we spontaneously decided to drive down to watch the game wherever we could find a TV.  We were able to park at her house and avoid the $100 parking prices being asked downtown.

Artsy photos on the drive to Indy...

...and then we found ourselves surrounded by all things Superbowl.

The roommates and I in the middle of the chaos

Yes, ice sculptures.  Ridiculous and amazing.

Odd thing was, someone forgot to tell the locals that the Colt's weren't playing.
There were more Colt's jerseys than anything else.
Though it did not take me long to learn that Colt's fan = Gian't's fan

A pic of someone on the zip line through Superbowl Village

The zip line loading dock.

We found some TV's  at a little place called The Ugly Monkey.
and here he is THE ugly monkey!

As one not much into football I spent my time taking pics...

End of the game pic before going home...