Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Feeling lucky

Katie is hosting her monthly "Take Time Tuesday" link-up where we share what is making us feel grateful. This month, the theme is Feelin' Lucky!


 Here are a few of the many things that are currently making me feel both grateful and lucky. Let's go in chronological order.

Last week...
I won Melanie's giveaway for an entry to the Sunburst Race series in South Bend, Indiana. A HUGE thank you to Melanie and to the race organizers for this privilege! It was an amazing stroke of luck for me to be selected. I have been eyeing the Sunburst Half Marathon for years so I am incredibly pumped to finally run it.

There are so many things to look forward to with this race. In particular, I can't wait to run the course along the St. Joseph River. I've run part of the riverfront path during a previous visit to South Bend, and it is gorgeous.
This a course photo from Amanda's race recap in 2014

Additionally, the course finishes on the field at Notre Dame's football stadium. Call it the luck of the Irish, yes!?!?!? I consider the privilege of running on any pro/college stadium to be one of the coolest things that runners get to do during races.

Thanks again so much to Melanie and the Sunburst Half Marathon!

This past Sunday...
The Shamrock Shuffle this past Sunday was wrought with cold temperatures and heavy winds. But... IT DID NOT RAIN.


As I mentioned here, I've been taking a lot of heat over the past few weeks (no pun intended) about being a racing rain magnet. In the days leading up to Shamrock Shuffle Sunday, I was horrified to see that the meteorologists were once again forecasting rain.

Mother Nature clearly likes to toy with me. While it did rain on Sunday, the rain didn't start until about 11:00! WHEWWWWW. I feel so lucky that we all dodged that bullet!!!

(But now... so it begins with the no-rain dances for the CARA Live Grit Lakefront 10-Miler on April 18. ;-) )

Last night...
Adam surprised me with last-minute tickets to the Blackhawks vs. Kings game at the United Center! Originally my intention was just to watch the game from our living room. But then, Adam called me in the office at 5:45 PM and said, "So, regarding tonight's Blackhawks game. Does it matter where we watch them play tonight?" Right away I knew what he was up to. (He's so sneaky!!!)

Here are a couple of pictures from last night's game:

The national anthem at a Blackhawks home game. Best live moment in all of professional sports.
Game on!
Admittedly, I was a little nervous going to the game. The Hawks have been playing inconsistently as of late, and the Kings are a very tough team. Luckily, the game ended up being action-packed and the Hawks won in dramatic fashion.

Huge thanks to Adam for being the wonderful person that he is! He knows me so well; always senses exactly what to do to make me smile; and always inspires me with his humor, intelligence, and his approach to life. I am so grateful and so lucky to have him!

The usual suspects...
In addition to Adam, I've got several other things for which I am eternally grateful and lucky. It bears repeating them again here, since I believe you can never be too grateful.

As always, I am thankful for my inspiring friends and family; my good health; having so many resources available at all times; the wonderful company that I work for; and living in the fabulous city of Chicago.

Life is good!

Posted by at

18 comments:

  1. AnneMarch 31, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Oooh, last-minute Blackhawks game!!! How fun and what a nice surprise! You and Adam are definitely lucky to have each other :)

    I was thinking about all you Shufflers on Sunday morning. Glad it didn't rain, but the wind and cold would not have been fun! Definitely not the usual 70 degree/sunny weather the race has had the past few years!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. emmers712March 31, 2015 at 1:27 PM

      Thanks, Anne! Very much appreciated. I am looking forward to hearing more about T when the time is right, too. You and T are very lucky to have each other, as well!

      Thanks for thinking of us Shufflers! Despite the challenging weather, I wish you could have been there!!! BIG HUGS!

      Delete
    2. AnneMarch 31, 2015 at 1:34 PM

      Well that's not really a blog topic, so we'll have to get together to chat ;) But I know that it's always nice to have someone to support you and do nice things to make you happy!

      I was a little bummed I didn't do the Shuffle since they finally gave out medals this year, but didn't mind being cozy and warm inside otherwise :)

      Delete
    3. emmers712March 31, 2015 at 1:55 PM

      YES, we'll definitely have to schedule a get-together to catch up! Please let me know what your availability looks like in the coming weeks. =)

      Yeah, that wind and those temps were BRUTAL. The worst part was standing around in the corrals waiting to start. Coming home after the race was pretty tough, too. It felt good to take a nice hot shower once I got home! So yes, being cozy and warm inside would have been wonderful. =)

      Delete
    4. AnneApril 1, 2015 at 7:46 AM

      Hmmm... the next few weekends are busy, unfortunately (family, travel, etc.). But I will be in the city on the 25th for a haircut (because I couldn't just get a new stylist up in the 'burbs!). Otherwise, weeknights are usually pretty free.

      Delete
    5. emmers712April 1, 2015 at 9:27 AM

      Where is your stylist? I remember we talked about Fases one time before - is that where you go? I totally understand the stylist thing, too, btw. For the same reason, I've been going to a stylist at Lincoln/Montrose for years, even though it's not convenient. I'm running the Race to Wrigley on April 25 and would love to meet up with you that day, especially if you'll be up on the north side! Or, even better, let me know if you might be up for running Wrigley with me!?!?!?!?

      Delete
    6. AnneApril 1, 2015 at 9:58 AM

      Um.... where is YOUR stylist? Mine is on Montrose, between Western and Lincoln (though she was previously located on Berteau). I wish I had known that when I lived right there!

      Delete
    7. emmers712April 1, 2015 at 10:24 AM

      I go to KE Salon at 2211 W. Montrose, and my stylist's name is Elena. She is so fabulous that I keep sticking with her year after year! Who do you go to!?!?!?

      Delete
    8. AnneApril 2, 2015 at 7:55 AM

      I see Shannon at Roki Boki, 2343 W. Montrose - they're right by each other! Small world!

      Delete
    9. emmers712April 3, 2015 at 9:18 AM

      Craziness!!! Let me know what time you'll be seeing Shannon on April 25 and hopefully we can work out a time to get together that day!

      Delete
  2. runhikeplayMarch 31, 2015 at 1:43 PM

    So cool you won a race entry to a half marathon you've been wanting to do and the finish is at Notre Dame's football stadium!! That is pretty awesome! Sounds like you've got a lot of luck going for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. emmers712March 31, 2015 at 1:56 PM

      Thanks so much, Sharon! I've had so much bad luck when it comes to rainy races (I've run three of them in monsoon-like conditions over the last nine months) so it's nice when things start to even out a little bit on the luck front. =)

      Delete
  3. TeamarciaMarch 31, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    I heard the weather for the SS was ghastly but yay for no rain! Congrats on the Sunburst score! I love South Bend. That will be an excellent race! And a Hawks game? Lucky indeed! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. emmers712March 31, 2015 at 4:07 PM

      Thanks so much, Marcia! Ghastly weather at Shamrock is right!!! It must have been so tough for you to come back from vacation in the tropics to the Chicago cold. Glad to have you back, though! Have you run Sunburst yourself?!?!? I'm off to find everyone's recaps from the race in the past!

      Delete
  4. Pete BMarch 31, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    Very cool that you won the race entry! I will be crossing my fingers for good weather for you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. emmers712April 1, 2015 at 9:24 AM

      Thanks so much, Pete! Much appreciate the good weather vibes from you - with my history, we'll certainly need it! =D

      Delete
  5. KimApril 1, 2015 at 3:41 PM

    Ah! So awesome you won that entry! That looks like a gorgeous course!

    And I love that Adam surprised you that way. That's so thoughtful :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. emmers712April 1, 2015 at 5:00 PM

      Thanks so much, Kim!!! If you have any inkling to go to South Bend that weekend, come run with me! We still need to pick the half marathon we're going to run together for 2015. =D

      Thanks for the kind words on Adam's surprise! =)

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)