a spectator's point of view

For nine years now, I have been sideline to weather of all kinds. This year's Shamrock Shuffle offered up the hottest temps to date for this event. In fact, Chato was interviewed on his thoughts about the matter and you can read it in tomorrow's Tribune or read it NOW! So awesome. I can't tell you much more of Chato's experiences as he treads the bridges and sidestreets. I'm not quite sure what runs through his mind, nor that of all the other runners with a goal of FINISH LINE in front of them. I can tell you about the excitement of the crowd as the runners start coming in. I can describe the silent prayers for the runners who collapse 200 yards away because of cramping or muscle tension. I can lend you the thought that my heart thumps a thousand times faster with more prayers until Chato calls me on the forth mile marker to tell me he's on the way. But there is nothing more fulfilling than sighting him down the stretch and knowing it's another successful year for the books.

As hectic as it is, with 40,000 to 100,000 runners plus supporters, the crowd is always fun to dodge and weave around in. The trek from the starting line to the finish line sometimes takes as long as it does the top runners to make their 8k dash, due to the blockages and yardage between point A to point B. In the end, no matter the weather nor the masses...we've developed green blood for the heart of the Shamrock Shuffle each and every year.

See you for year ten in 2012.