Valentine's 5K

Our theme-costume was "running with a big heart on"

First official 5K of the year. Shout out to my running group, Running For Brunch, for keeping the spirit alive.

I'm very happy with my time and pace. I really like the 'how many runners you passed' stat.

A run for Jacob

Jacob Wetterling has been missing for the past 27 years. His kidnapper was finally revealed this year. Jacob was murdered and buried on the same night that he was taken. His family have been advocating for child safety ever since Jacob went missing.

This year the foundation that was setup in Jacob's name sponsored a 5k run. My Running For Brunch group participated in the event. It was a beautiful day and fitting tribute to Jacob.

before

after

Fifteen's 5k

Another fun run with Running For Brunch. The Fifteen is for the Twins' closing pitcher Kyle Gibson. He lends his number to a cause his wife chooses.

We completed the event with a baseball game at Target Field. And the Twins win!

Grandma's Half Marathon weekend

This past weekend was the 40th running of the Grandma's Marathon and 22nd running of the Gary Bjourglund Half Marathon. The Running for Brunch crew ran or cheered on the runners.

We drove up Friday evening. Construction on I-35 made the drive very tedious. We stayed in different places but all met up after the early morning run.

The run wasn't the gradual down hill that I thought it would be and I hadn't done a regimented training program, however, I completed the run under my goal (see screen shot below).

After the race we went to The Tavern on Duluth for our traditional bloody marys. Delicious!

Saturday afternoon we hung out at Trish and Jason's new home outside of Duluth. It was hot so their swimming pool was a great relief and relaxer after running 13.1 miles.

Marlin and I stayed up at Trish and Jason's an extra day and drove home Sunday.

I was very happy with my finish time. And age place.

Dramatic sunset night before race.

Jason and I before the run. A very early start at 6:15am.

The running crew at the finish!

Random photos

This month's run... Running For Pigs at CHS Field in St. Paul

Blue squill at neighbor's end of alley.

Blue squill at neighbor's end of alley.

Uno ready for the mail. This one is for Aunt Donna.

I won this month's random drawing at my chiropractor's!

Snow in April!

Snow pellet squall. It was crazy looking.

Hot Dash

Once again Minnesota weather turned unexpectedly. We knew it was forecast to be chilly but we weren't expecting snow and ice.

The weather made us late to the event and the group ended up arriving in several different cars. We did meet up to start the run together but costumes were hit or miss.

It was chilly but also very slippery in places. Once again walkers started out on front which required runners to zig-zag in an attempt to keep a decent pace. We had a good time and a good brunch after at Stanley's in Nord'east.

post run photo

Runs of 2015

The bibs and medals from 2015 running.

Final run of the year

I was able to run this year's Reindeer Run sponsored by Minnesota Running Series because it was moved out a week. I am usually in Cozumel the weekend that this run has been scheduled. It was moved out a week to make further apart from the Turkey Trot sponsored by the same organization.

Trish came up with the theme of safety deer. I thought it was deer as hunter instead of hinted.

We had brunch at Morrissey's Irish Pub at Lake and Bryant. Awesome bloody marys. I had a potato pancake egg and rashers thing called boxtyvilla. It was really good.

Happy Thanksgiving

Another Turkey Trot. This year 6 kilometers instead of 5. I am thankful for my Running For Brunch crew.

Pumpkin carving, Halloween costumes, running and partying

The Taylors hosted their annual pumpkin carving party two weekends ago. I had bowling that night so could only stay for a short time. The outcome is pictured to the left.

Amy had the most interestingly shaped pumpkin. It looked like a skull before it was even carved.

The food was great. The company was even better.

The Monster Dash was the second run for Running For Brunch this month. This is a very popular race...especially the 5K. So this year we graduated to the 10 miler and a skeleton-themed costume. I was the torso and Michelle and Abby were the arms.

It was a cold and rainy day. I thought there would be fewer runners in the 10 miler. There were but still 3500 plus 4500 doing the half-marathon. Crazy that so many people are willing to get in costume and run through St. Paul.

Dave invited me to attend his friends Kent and Don's annual Halloween party in Minnetonka. There home is beautiful and fantastically decorated with Halloween chakas.

Dave and I were the Village People, cowboy and construction worker.

Another action packed weekend

Friday night attended the opening of The Events at The Guthrie. This theatrical piece from the UK explores the mass killing in Norway a few years ago. It was very thought provoking especially given the killings in Oregon just the day before.

Got up early Saturday morning to go to St. Paul to 1) help with a fund raising event and 2) pick up my race packet for the Twin Cities 10 Miler.

Saturday evening we celebrated Christine's birthday by going to Severs' Corn Maze in Shakopee. Severs farm has been creating a huge corn maze since the '90's. There is so much more than a corn maze here including an animal menagerie, hay ride, live music and pumpkin launching. We ate at Perkins after. The blueberry pancakes were wonderful.

Sunday morning got up even earlier to get downtown for the Twin Cities 10 Miler. This year I was joined by three others from Running For Brunch group. Michelle, Tracy and Trish also ran the 10 miles from Minneapolis to St. Paul.

I had a really good run this year. The weather was beautiful. we met up with Jon, Jason, Molly and Marlin for brunch at Red Cow in St. Paul.

Sunday after the race was spent in front of the fireplace and TV.

Athletic weekend

Saturday was a 5k in Stillwater, MN. It was a one-way route along the St. Croix river. Buses took us out of town to the start. The run started at 8am. We all had good running times as the course was gently sloping downhill as was? promised.

Brunch was at Tin Bins in Stillwater. The Bloody Marys came with the biggest beer chasers ever.

The weather a as perfect. A chilly start widen bright sun. I finished third in my age group (3 out of 15).


Sunday was the Minneapolis Parks' Bike Tour. Jenny joined Kelly and me this year for her first tour. We rode the full route - 32 miles.

Including the ride to and from Boom Island, the entire ride was just under 43 miles!

It was chilly for most of the route. The last two miles were right into a very strong wind. Our legs were burning by the end. It was difficult to get back on bikes to ride home.

MN Half Marathon, St. Paul

Running For Brunch ran all parts of today's MN Half Marathon event in St. Paul. Jason skated the rolling half. Molly ran the entire half. Trish ran the 5k and Abbey (new member) and I and Michelle and Jon ran the relay.

It was warm and a bit humid but everyone finished strong. There is not much shade on the course. A few people were having problems at the finish line.

July 4th (finally)

Sorry for being so late on July 4gt activity blog entry. Been busy working on my new business and painting the back porch.

Got up very early Saturday to run half of a half marathon. Trish and I were a relay pair. Michelle and Jon were another relay pair. Molly was running the full half marathon. The costume theme was patriotic.

The run started at 6:30am. Brunch was at 9am at The Mill Northeast. My ex-trainer Kaitlin joined us for brunch. It was great to see her. She now lives in California and made a quick trip to Minnesota.

 The Taylor's graciously opened their house, deck and pontoon boat again this year for the 4th celebrations. There was a lot of people and a lot of food (taco bar).

Tiffani was appointed this year's Statue of Liberty boat ornament for the boat parade.

I was exhausted from the early run followed by running errands including a complicated excursion to Malmborg's.

Crazy? race - Duluth Midnght Run

Well, it was kind of crazy but Michelle, Jon and I drove up to Duluth to meet Trish and Jason to run a 5k along Lake Superior at midnight Friday night/Saturday morning.

We met Trish and Jason at their house in west Duluth. We went to Canal Brewing for dinner and back to the house where I took a quick nap.

The race started right at midnight and followed the walking/biking path along Lake Superior. The weather was fantastic.

I was actually thinking there might be ambient light since it was just the summer solstice last weekend. There wasn't any natural light and in places it was downright dark.

We all had good runs and a good time. Got back to the house before 1am. I took a quick shower and fell right asleep. We had brunch at the Buffalo camp ground restaurant. The bloody marys and my pancakes were fantastic.

Half marathon for real

Ran my first half marathon. Many thanks to Tracy and Brooke. It was Tracy that wanted to do this but needed encouragement which I agreed to help with.

Tracy got a training program that I participated partially in. My recent cold was a potential training breaker. I wasn't able to get in the last long run and was feeling that 13.1 miles was going to be too much of a challenge.

Then Tracy was injured during her long training run. She took the last two weeks off and was very nervous for the run.

I got in three shorter runs in the past week and was feeling better.

Tracy's friend Brooke joined is for one training run and it was pretty much set that we would do the run together. To be honest I needed the gals to slow my pace in order for me to run the full half marathon and not burn out. We supported and encouraged each other. All three of us made new personal distance runs today.

photo credit to Tracy's Dad, Rick

Rinning for Brunch - Goldy's Run

Our third year for Gold's 5K at the University of Minnesota. The finish line is the 50 yard line of TCF Bank Stadium with the jumbo-tron displaying. Way cool.

We were "costumed" in UofM gear.

Hot Dash 5k

Twin Cities in Motion's Hot Dash had a lumberjack theme. Trish came up with these plaid union suits. We each made our own yarn beards. We got a lot of compliments and people wanting their photos taken with us.

Valentine's 5k

The forecaster said this would be the coldest Valentine's Day in 70 years. Yep. It was cold and windy. The wind blowing across Lake Harriet was not only super cold but created drifts of snow across the course.

 

Care Bears theme.

2014 running medals

Many thanks to the Running For Brunch crew for keeping me in the race...so to speak.