A little time in Chicago

I don't really have anything too exciting to report since last week. I was out of town most of the week as I was doing a presentation at an EPA conference. Yes, I gave a presentation on using technology to reduce single-occupant vehicle travel and document air quality improvements. I know, you wish you had been there for that! Well, it may not sound like the ultimate excitement but I got to stay at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Chicago for free for 3 nights. Now that was sweeeet! Actually it was crazy as all the staff keeps trying to help you . . . . twice daily maid service which made me not want to touch anything during the day, greeters at the door complete with cold water and towels in the morning for après running. It was crazy! I got to go to The Chicago Diner twice which was heaven . . . and I treated myself to soy milk shakes both days. It's nice to go into a restaurant and be able to choose anything from the menu (if you don't know I'm a vegetarian so normally there is only a few choices). On the training front I think I'm getting a little faster . . . or I'm just doing better because it the weather is no longer 95 degrees with crazy humidity. Either way I'm happy. The Cross Clinic is almost full which is a relief as I promised my mountain bike club that the event would break even and now it looks as if I wasn't just saying that so they would agree to sponsor it. That's good because they already give me a lot of trouble for trying to turn the FORCs into a cross team (really, cross or mtb bike - there's dirt, mud, knobby tires - is there such a difference!!!).