I'm cheering for the Cleveland Indians this World Series.

It was a tough choice. My family has a long history with the Cubs (and other Chicago teams). My father and uncles, and my grandfather, worked thousands of games selling popcorn and soda and beer. I watched a lot of Cubs games on WGN with my other grandparents, hoping Ron Cey and Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston and Leon Durham might break the curse. I walked on the Wrigley infield one spring day along with other Illinois high school honor roll students.

But then I moved to Cleveland for college, and that city became my home for the next 10 years or so. My first Indians game was a $5 upper-deck ticket that actually let me sit anywhere in the massive Cleveland Stadium. I met and married Erin, who worked Indians and Browns games as an usher. Since moving to North Carolina in 2001, I've visited Cleveland at least twice each year. I consider Cleveland my home.

So, I'm cheering for the Cleveland Indians this World Series. 

Race day was cold, but clear. The Twin Cities Marathon course was beautiful, through downtown Minneapolis and around a few lakes and into neighborhood streets lined with thousands of cheering spectators. Quite a few were holding out boxes of tissues, a rarity at other races I've run.

Mike and I ran the first half fast, but then I faded, and struggled through the rest of the miles. I approached the finish line with a painful cramp in my left calf, but I came in at 4:21:10, a personal record (by 5 minutes). Mike beat me by 10 minutes.

This was my third marathon this year, fifth in all (previously Tobacco Road 2016, Austin 2016, Honolulu 2014 and 1993). I'd still like to finish in under four hours, but I'm not sure how I'll fit in more training over the next six months, as I have plenty to focus on at home and work. Still, I'd run the Twin Cities Marathon again.

I'm in St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend with my brother-in-law, Michael Shaughnessy, MD. We're here to run the Twin Cities Marathon. 

Mike was here last year as an honoree of the Medtronic Global Heroes program, which each year brings two dozen runners from around the world to run in the 10-mile race or the marathon here. Each of the runners has a Medtronic implantable device or part: pacemaker, insulin pump, urologic device, or other. Each of the runners has a heartwarming, inspiring story.

In 2011, Mike discovered he had a life-threatening aortic aneurysm. He had open-heart surgery and received a new valve, and got a new perspective on living.

Here's Mike's story:

And here's Mike's Heart Beat Report, where he blogged his surgery and recovery and headlong dive into running and triathalons and living life to its fullest.

Mike decided he wanted to return for the marathon this year, and I offered to run with him. It's an honor to do so.

Here's another good video about the Global Voices group last year.