You can't always get what you want...

but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you, uh deserve.

No PR this weekend at the Chicago Lakefront Ultra (and last minute Marathon). I ran a 2:45, which was the best I could hope for for the day. I had to deal with the some nagging hip pain from about 10 miles on, and was seriously considering not heading back out for the last loop of what was a three loop course. Having dropped out of a marathon earlier this year (In June), I decided this quitting thing could be a hard habit to break so I forced myself out to at least run the entire distance. Now with some time to think about it, I'm glad I did.

However, the real highlight of the weekend was the next day on Sunday, as my sister Becky ran her first race ever at the Gargoyle Gallop 8K and finished much faster than she was hoping for. I was trying to explain to her beforehand about race day magic, but I don't think she really understood it. That is until she came through mile 1 (and 2, 3, 4 & 5) and was amazed at how easy the faster than normal pace felt. I could tell she was hooked afterwards as she started telling me about all the races she wanted to do in the not to distant future. Great job Booga!

They also had a kids race after the 8K so the next generation of Castady's got their first shot at this running thing. As the got their final instructions from the race director, I could tell they both were plotting out their last minute strategies for tackling the daunting 1/4 mile distance.



And finally, the gun went off and it was all flying arms and pigtails. Chloe and Micheal were both running neck and neck, but finally somewhere just past the 1/8 turnaround point, Chloe realized that she didn't have to run with Micheal anymore and put a little surge in, and put some distance between her and her main rival.



Micheal, not to be discouraged by his OLDER sister, realized that he was still probably going to win the elusive 3 year old age group title and pushed it in hard to finish strong.



The rest of the morning was spent with the racers basking in the afterglow of races well run. Just a fun fun day. The kind of day that makes you realize how lucky you are to be a runner (and father) (and brother) (not in that order).