Category: running

Fitbit flex: Friend or foe?

Fitbit flex: Friend or foe?
For his birthday, my husband received a brand new fitbit charge. He loved his old fitbit flex so much, the birthday fairy thought he might enjoy an upgrade. And she also thought, watching his old fitbit sit idle on the dresser for weeks, she might enjoy joining the fitbit fray herself. But she was wrong.... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
February 19, 2015 at 9:15 am • 

Saying good-bye to the best dog ever

Saying good-bye to the best dog ever
Playing God is not for the faint of heart. It’s not for anyone, really, except maybe God. We just put our dog to sleep. Wrigley had lung cancer. We’d thought it was kennel cough. Then maybe a virus. But she took a turn for the worse, and the time from diagnosis to her death was... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
August 6, 2014 at 9:52 am • 

Smilin' Phil Will Kill MS

Smilin' Phil Will Kill MS
Back in college, I worked with a guy who always wore a smile on his face and had an uncanny ability to talk backwards. (Really. Like complete sentences.)  Phil Yastrow, or “Smilin’ Phil,” as we used to call him, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005, in a perfect example of how sometimes bad things... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
June 6, 2014 at 7:52 am • 
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SELF Magazine Tutu Bashing: You should be ashamed of yourSELF

SELF Magazine Tutu Bashing: You should be ashamed of yourSELF
Have you heard the story yet? A runner, Monika Allen, gets an email from SELF Magazine about a month ago, asking if they can use her photograph, which shows Ms. Allen running the LA Marathon in a tutu. Specifically, a Wonder Woman tutu. Rock ON, Monika Allen! Monika tells ABC News in San Diego, she... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
March 27, 2014 at 5:54 pm • 

Regret not running the Chicago Marathon? The A City Mom solution

Regret not running the Chicago Marathon? The A City Mom solution
It’s that time of year again, when the marathon is over and you are full of regret because you let another year go by without running it. (Feel free to use the same excuse I used this year: Someone brought back Twinkies.) However, A City Mom believes a better choice than offering excuses is offering solutions!... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
October 15, 2013 at 6:19 pm • 

A City Mom does not do advice, so don't read this

A City Mom does not do advice, so don't read this
“Give advice to a person, place or thing.” Oh, God no. Anything but that. Tonight for the first time in history, all the bloggers at ChicagoNow have been given a topic and a deadline. Above is the topic. One hour from now is the deadline. (Insert profanity here.) A City Mom does not do advice.... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
September 25, 2013 at 10:00 pm • 
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Chicago Speed Camera at Challenger Park(ing Lot): to keep the kids safe?

Chicago Speed Camera at Challenger Park(ing Lot): to keep the kids safe?
Thank goodness the 1100 block of West Irving Park Road will soon have a speed camera to keep all the children who frequent Challenger Park safe—when they park their cars. Because Challenger Park is a parking lot. (Chicago speed camera locations, according to the Chicago Tribune) What’s that you say, there’s a park across the... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
September 24, 2013 at 1:50 pm • 

Transitioning to Vibram Running Shoes: The Conclusion? I didn't

Transitioning to Vibram Running Shoes: The Conclusion? I didn't
I really, really wanted to like running in Vibram running shoes. I suppose this made me biased from the start of my little experiment here, but, over a year after I started, I no longer run in them. They did, however, change my running form. I think for the better. Now, I’m a solid mid-to... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
September 9, 2013 at 5:41 pm • 

Friday Air and Water Show Practice and why it's better at my house

Friday Air and Water Show Practice and why it's better at my house
One of the best kept secrets in Chicago is the Friday practice day for the air and water show. The air show is performed, pretty much as it will be on Saturday and Sunday, but without the crowds and traffic or the radio play by play. Although yesterday, one wise guy was playing the theme... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
August 16, 2013 at 9:31 am • 
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Five types of advice I don't think I have to put up with

Parenting advice from non-parents: It’s like that book, I was a Really Good Mom Before I had Kids. That’s right. You were. And if you were a mom or dad now you would know it’s best to abide by Parenting Rule Number One: No judgement.
Several years ago, I took one of my New Age woo-hoo classes, and as part of our homework we were assigned the task of not giving advice to anyone for two weeks. I had never really noticed how often I’d tried to pipe in with advice or recommendations, even when I probably had no business... Read more »
By Kim Strickland,
April 25, 2013 at 9:34 am •