In the Shadow of Ground Hog Day

As most people know, yesterday was Ground Hog Day. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow then there will be 6 more weeks of winter, and if he doesn't, then spring will come earlier. I am not sure how accurate this little fury fellow's predictions are, but it sure does help pass the time during a long winter. The presence or absence of Phil's shadow on February 2nd is critical to this tradition, but it's the shadow of GHD that really is important among a particular group of friends in Delaware, Ohio. For the 3rd is the birthday of one of the "founding fathers" of our guys' running club.

Several years ago now, a group of us began running, biking, and swimming together. Mostly it was so that we could eat generous portions without looking, shall we say, generously proportioned. It now has morphed into quite the circle of friends. Naturally, we still gather routinely to "stretch it and stroke it", as our old swimming comrade used to say, or we find ourselves running or riding about town in an attempt to maintain whatever youthful skills we still possess. However, we now find ourselves more "half fast" than before, although we have grown to accept this.

Speaking for all the "groupies" in our little club, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish "The Captain" Happy Birthday. Ground Hog Day may get all the attention on February 2nd, but it is really what falls in the shadow of GHD, February 3rd, that has our attention. Since we saw our collective shadows this morning at the gym, the prediction is, more than likely, that "El Capitan", the Rock star of our group, will be leading the exercise routine again tomorrow. Happy Birthday Captain!