Kritik und Lob » nd wanted to go, I kept talking to

In October, espnWs weekly essay series will focus on heroes.I dont remember when I first started running with my dad. There were the early-morning wake-ups to go skiing, the bike rides with strudel as the proverbial carrot and voyages in our inflatable boat that was called?The Challenger.Now, in my late 30s, its the running that has stuck. At 70, my dads pace has slowed, but hes still as religious -- compulsive, as he puts it -- about his running schedule.Every other day, in sun, fog, snow or sleet, my dad pulls on his running outfit -- a mixed-media affair that weve tried to update over the years -- turns on the morning news and begins his physical therapy routine that lasts for about 40 minutes.Then the soft knee braces go on. Followed by the running shoes, sunscreen, and his sweat-stained baseball hat, where the peaks of perspiration have created a mountain range of salt summits across the front.Eventually -- sometimes under duress, or his annoyed shouting from the road -- Ill head outside, and well be off.As we settle into rhythm, the chatting begins. Small talk is not his thing. Sometimes its politics. Elizabeth Warren was at a local fundraiser and was as impressive in person as she seems on television, my father explained. Sometimes its neighborhood news. A tourist had a dog on the beach but got comeuppance when the cops were called, he would retell me.More often than not, its my career. In fact, the trajectory of my adult life can be traced in jogs with my father, and not always fun ones.Among the first was when I was in the throes of a job that had dragged me under. As we rounded the corner of my parents street, the sound of gravel and sand underfoot, I defended my well-paid job as a celebrity reporter.We get in a certain track, my dad told me, professionally. If this wasnt the track I wanted, Id better move on.The toughest jog I ever took with my dad was a few years later, when I had found work, but was struggling.It was August, and steamy. Rivulets of sweat were rolling down my temples, my breath was easy, despite the heat. I couldnt talk to my dad?about how often I was crying alone.I didnt want another nudge to move back East where, my dad said, there was more opportunity. And more educated people. And family. Instead, I just kept moving in the thick summer air. We were on the sand now, bathed in sweat, at low tide.It was time to sprint past the Yankees flag planted in a neighbors yard -- another local affront, but a good end-of-run finish line. We ran hard and high-fived and congratulated ourselves.Six months later, we ran together again. The Santa Monica air was cool and dry, and the sky had that mix of blue and gray that California gets on winter days. We jogged up the tree-lined side streets to my local park, where you could make a few laps or cut them short.He was thrilled with it -- the picnicking families, the planes landing nearby, the bright bougainvillea draping the route like curtains. As we panted along, I told him that things were finally getting better. I was on medication that made me feel like myself again. I was freelancing on top of my day job, and best of all, I had ideas and plans and energy.Over the years, I stopped running on my own as often; between injuries and, frankly, boredom, I lost the will to trot myself around the pretty blocks of Santa Monica, which had begun to feel monotonous. I still made sure to pack my running gear every time I visited my parents.There is, in that repetition, not just a comfort, as I had always seen it, but a profound drive. Jogging isnt my fathers only habit: there is piano -- thats nightly, for two hours before dinner, not including lessons and recitals. And writing, on the mornings hes not jogging, and newspaper-reading, every day, after writing or jogging.At worst, my dads routine is an infuriating rigidity that has overridden all kinds of other things -- earlier dinnertimes, for starters. At best, its pure dedication, a devotion to making time to breathe and think.For me, its been the subconscious push to keep going when its cold and rainy, when Id rather stay in bed, and when theres a wrong turn and no end in sight.Whether my dads running habit is a function of a strong work ethic or a fanatical compulsion doesnt really matter. In a literal sense, jogging with him for 30 minutes every other day has been the comforting habit I get to come home to, no matter what season it is.Jordan China . LUCIE, Fla. Wholesale Air Jordan .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. https://www.jordanchina.us/ . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Air Jordan Outlet . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Air Jordan China .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee.ARCADIA, Calif. -- Theres something about Santa Anita and long-distance runners that brings out the best in trainer Brendan Walsh.The Walsh-trained Scuba on Friday galloped to a 4-1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita. Two years ago, also at Santa Anita, Walsh won this same race with Cary Street.Its nice to win it again; this is where you want to be isnt it? Walsh said in the Santa Anita winners circle.Walsh said he called on his experience with Cary Street when he decided to send Scuba on marathon distances after going shorter didnt work. The Marathon win was Scubas third straight. He won the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles in September at Parx Racing, and the Temperence Hill Stakes going 1 5/8 miles at Belmont in October, before Fridays victory.Walsh said after the Greenwood Cup that Scuba just seemed like he got so much confidence from getting his head in front and hes gotten better and better. Going into this, his last two works were unbelievable.Breaking from the rail under Kendrick Carmouche -- who was riding his first dirt race ever at Santa Anita -- Scuba scurried to the front, but was soon confronted by Hard Aces and Blue Tone. Scuba was actually third for a few strides entering the far turn the first time, but Carmouche held his rail position.ddddddddddddThough the stretch the first time, Scuba was back on even terms with Hard Aces, who was being smooched to by Santiago Gonzalez, which got Scuba on the muscle, according to Carmouche.He was wanting to get on the muscle and wanted to go, I kept talking to him easy, easy not yet, not yet, Carmouche said. By the time we turned down the backside, he fell back into my hands and I knew it would be a race from there.Scuba opened his advantage at the three-eighths pole and was never seriously threatened from there to the wire. Hard Aces finished second by 1-1/2 lengths over Blue Tone, who nosed out Melmich for third. Melmich was followed, in order, by Quick Casablanca, Cowboy Rhythm, Tale of Verve, Sammy Mandeville, and Estrechada.Scuba, a 5-year-old gelding by Tapit, covered the 1-3/4 miles in 2:58.20 and returned $6 as the 2-1 favorite. Scuba is owned by the DARRS Inc. stable of David Ross.Its been great with this team that weve had with this horse, Ross said. We finally found his niche. I cant thank Brendan enough. Kendrick is such a patient rider, this is a race that requires patience. He just did a terrific job. ' ' '