On the road again - Charleston, WV

Back in January I started corporate work again. And back in technology. This time for a health insurance and solution company located in a suburb of Minneapolis.

I am working on a project that occasionally takes me to Charleston, West Virginia. This week is my second trip. The weather was nice enough on Tuesday to go for a comfortable 4+ mile run along the river that goes through Charleston, the Kanawha River.

It is a nice run with a lower level nearer the river and an upper level at street. The turn around was the capitol building. There is a state-wide teachers' strike happening this week and they were protesting in front of the capitol.

Yes, there are daffodils blooming already.

A tug pushing several coal barges down the river.

The West Virginia state capitol with the moon over head.

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.

Finally, a winter run

Finally put my winter running gear on and took a run around Lake Calhoun. I wore the headlamp beanie cap that mom gave me and three layers and really enjoyed it.

The Minneapolis skyline on a crisp, clear night is so worth the cold.

And I wasn't the only one running the dark and cold. A few others were out there on the path, too.

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

A beautiful day. A beautiful city.

My Saturday morning run around Lake Calhoun. The morning sun on the lake, sail boats and shoreline were stunning. Thank you Minneapolis Parks for making our city so wonderful.

Another busy weekend. Running, walking, cycling, bowling

Another busy weekend started with my usual run Saturday morning to meet the gals for coffee at Starbucks in St. Louis Park. I need to get some running miles in before the Twin Cities Marathon 10 miler in October.

Saturday evening was the Chinese Lantern Lighting ceremony at Lakewood Cemetery. Lakewood is about five blocks from my house so I walked over. Lakewood is a very large and old cemetery near lakes Calhoun and Harriet.

Kay and Christine drew and wrote on their lanterns. I wrote on the bases.

Our lanterns weren't floating out into the lake so I waded in to encourage them along.

I had not visited the cemetery's chapel. It is famous for the glass mosaics. This is a photo of the ceiling. It was stunning in the artificial light.

Early Sunday, Jenny and I rode the intermediate route (25 miles) of the Minneapolis Parks Bike Tour. It was a perfectly gorgeous day.

Sunday evening was the start of Sunday Goers bowling league. After all that I had already done this weekend, I thought bowling a 172 and 173 was pretty good. The third game was only a 115.

Athletic Adventure Weekend

Regular Saturday morning run to coffee but today was such a beautiful day. I had stop during my run home to take this photo of me, the Minneapolis skyline and Lake Calhoun with sailboats and other runners.

Saturday afternoon I biked the Midtown Greenway with my friend Dave. We participated in the Midtown Greenway Coalition's Craft Beer Pedaler. Way too much drinking but played it safe and stayed on the Greenway for the most part. Craft beers, craft sake, and craft ciders...all available with easy access to a dedicated bike path and another spectacular view of Minneapolis skyline.

Sunday I joined friends to celebrate Jennifer's birthday at Betty Danger's in nord'east Mineapolis. I decided to ride my bike the 8 1/2 miles. It is a beautiful ride but more taxing than I thought it would be.

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.

Active weekend

Whew. What a weekend.

Saturday morning ran 6.4 miles with Tracy to coffee in St. Louis Park. We ran/walked 3 miles back to my place.

At 12:30 I rode my bike 7 miles to downtown and the Grain Belt building in Northeast. I joined friends for the annual Art-a-Whirl event where we walked 3+ miles viewing art, beer gardens and bands.. I then got back on my bike and rode the 7 miles home via Cedar, Kenilworth and Midtown Greenway bike paths.

Sunday morning I joined the crew from Minnesota Martial Arts Academy to workout by running hill sprints!

That was all more than enough activity and doesn't include the yard work, painting and house chores.

Minnesota Martial Arts Academy crew and me

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

Nice day for a run and a hawk

January 30th and a nice day for a run to coffee. I've been running to Excelsior and Grand to meet the gang for coffee at Starbucks. It is around 3.7 miles one way via the Greenway. I felt a bit sluggish on the outbound trip so decided to return along Excelsior boulevard.


Excelsior road passes through the Minikahda Country Club golf course. Often there is a hawk hanging out looking out over the course. I was lucky to see the hawk this morning, The photo doesn't show very well how big this hawk is.

I did stop at Isles on the run home for coffee cake and it was warm (Minnesota warm) enough to sit outside. The sparrows were were also out and hungry.

Snow and cold...finally

We finally got a little snow and this weekend is cold. Everyone is freaking out about the cold but really it is finally just normal Minnesota winter. I even got a run in this morning at 6°.

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.

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.