In search of Spring

It has been a slow-to-come Spring here in Minnesota. The temperatures have been well below normal and the snow and wind have been insane.

But I was determined to find some Spring so headed to the Minneapolis Park system. Started at Theodore Wirth Park and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.

Deer do not really qualify as Spring signs but the three I saw were very relaxed and a nice sign of life.

The heron rookery at Marshall Terrace along the Mississippi River was amazing.

There are so many herons nesting on two small islands that it was nearly unbelievable that this exists within the city.

I put together a video using a new editor, ClipChamp. Here is the link.

Theodore Wirth winter

One of the things I love about traveling is the contrasts. Just a few days ago I was on a sunny and warm beach. Today I'm back home it was cold and it snowed over night.

Weekend athletics

I am going to count helping Kathy recycle her TV as an athletic activity. The thing weighed a ton. We pushed it down both her indoor steps and outdoor concrete steps. Then rolled it to her SUV. Thank goodness she has a hatch back so we could just slide it in.

From Kathy's place in Apple Valley, I rode my bike home. Total mileage was 26 miles. All but about a mile was on dedicated bike/pedestrian trails.

We are so fortunate in Minnesota to have a great trail system.

Crossed the Mendota Bridge for the first time. From the bridge you can see Minneapolis to the west and Saint Paul to the north.

On Sunday joined the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy fighters for hill sprints in Theodore Wirth Park. There were only four of us so it went quickly without much rest between hill runs. Ugh.

Eloise Butler Wild Flower and Bird Sanctuary

Needed to clear my head. Rode my bike over to the Eloise Butler Wild Flower and Bird Sanctuary in Theodore Wirth Park. Is less than five miles away but a world away from the city. You can still hear truck traffic from Highway 55 and 395 but there were birds singing and frogs croaking.

The wetland area is nice and cool while the upland prairie section is hot and steamy. All this in a less than a mile hike.

Another fun (running) weekend

Another weekend full of running and walking and spending time with friends.

Friday night friends and I got to see the 1939 film 'The Women' on the big screen. It is a hilarious all female movie starring Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell and Joan Crawford. A real classic. The Uptown Theater from which my neighborhood is named is celebrating a 100th anniversary. The celebration has them showing ten different classic films.

Saturday morning I ran to morning coffee in St. Louis Park. I had run Thursday evening so was a bit worn out. It was humid Saturday morning so by the time I arrived at coffee I was beet red.

Saturday evening I met my friend Bud for dinner. He was in town from Florida. We had a really good meal at Tinto's on Lake Street. I showed him the Juiced Nutrition location.

Sunday morning I ran hill sprints with the Academy MN crew. There was a big turn out. Sunday afternoon Martha and Jenny came over and we went to the Lyndale Ave Open Streets event. Twenty blocks of Lyndale Ave were closed to traffic to allow pedestrians and bikes to stroll the street. Ran into my neighbor Kelly who joined us. Also ran into other friends along the way.

Sunday evening I ran with Tracy. We are training for Grandma's Half Marathon on Duluth in two weeks.

A run in the park

Sunday hill sprints this week was a solo run. The sprints are in Theodore Wirth Park, part of the Minneapolis Park System. It was a beautiful day and so much nature... Canadian geese parents with goslings, a buck and doe, countless birds and frogs.