Tag Archives: birding

50 Years of Running: The Hardest Thing in the World

During the month of November, when traveling for admissions wore me down to a nub of a human being, I ceased trying to keep track of daily runs because it meant nothing. If you’ve ever run a race where you … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: A Bird’s Eye View of Life

As college cross country season ended in the fall of 1976, I started thinking about what to do during January interim. The previous year I drew nudes for six hours a day. That was enlightening. But my other keen interest … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: Logging miles, swapping tales

The hours spent running with twenty-four guys proved to be great way to get to know people that freshman year in college. While dorm life was a rush of introductions and a socially manic environment by nature, running cross country … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: The Peregrine

This morning while walking the dog in late September sun, I thought back to one of the first cross country meets of the season for St. Charles in 1973. Our team was training well, and we knew that there were … Continue reading

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This is what heaven feels like

This morning was heavenly here in Illinois. It was warm and humid with the smell of phlox and honeysuckle in the air. I ran the first downhill mile of a trail that I’ve been training on since 1981 when the … Continue reading

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Dancing with the cranes

For the last four days a trio of sandhill cranes has been hanging out in our backyard. They are large birds equipped with a bill designed for a multitude of food options. The red on their forehead is distinctive, and … Continue reading

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Against the wind and blown away

This morning my schedule called for a bird census trip to a restored prairie at a local forest preserve. It was windy out today. I’m not a fan of birding in the open when a strong breeze is blowing because … Continue reading

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Abiding with the seasons

This time of year, the day after Halloween, things seem to happen fast. Weatherman Tom Skilling of the Chicago Tribune this morning notes that November is the fastest chilling month of the year. Those of us who run and ride … Continue reading

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Craning for meaning in this world

The sandhill crane lay dead in a roadside ditch. I’d read about its demise on a Facebook post earlier that morning. A school bus driver had seen the bird while covering her route. She’d seen the crane family––mother, father and … Continue reading

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Jumping through hoops to a sense of wonder

Yesterday a longtime friend showed up at a walk that I host in my hometown. Every Wednesday people from the community hike a three-mile loop on bike trails for health and fitness. His mom wanted to join the walk, so he … Continue reading

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