What Have You Done For Your Country Today?

What have you done for your country today? It's a running joke in our household. I ask this of my kids on a regular basis. They usual look at me with a blank stare and then come up with an answer. When I ask this I am never expecting anything revolutionary. Often the answer is as simple as " I washed the dishes." " How does that help our country? Well if my son washes the dishes then his mother and I don't have to. Then  we can go to work to make some money so that we can feed the engines of commerce with said money. Money makes the economy grow and we continue to be the greatest nation on earth. At least that is how I see it.

Helping our country does not necessarily means something political. Being a useful productive citizen is what it is all about. Volunteerism, hard work, being productive..what have you done for your country today?

Mines of Spain Trail Half Marathon

 The Mines of Spain Trail Half Marathon was a new race put on by some local Dubuque Iowa area trail runners and they did it right. My friends and I had for the most part had never run these trails and they did not disappoint.  This race was spot on with breathtaking scenery, great trails, difficult terrain and a great pre and post race vibe. The course had hills,bridges,marsh,prairie, more hills,rocks, stairs, logs, more hills..well you get the idea.  Here is a link to the Garmin Connect data on the race.





I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this race. One of my best ever and a new favorite. Instead of a long blow by blow blogpost I will let my pictures (of course I stopped to take pictures) do the talking. Enjoy, I will definitely be back next year.