A4bats: stone arch bridge

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24.9.18

Long Run Sunday

Plan: Start around 6:30, don't look at the watch, practice the hills.
After the run, Sunday weights and Sunday abs.

Route: I call this the "Thank God the Roads Are All Open" Route. I run it usually at least once before the 10 miler. It includes parts of the course including that hill up to Franklin Ave and the enter into St Paul.

Weather: 50's to start, sunny, not much wind.

Wardrobe: Nike shorts; tank top, hat, injinji socks and Skora shoes.

Execution: Well, I haven't looked at my splits or anything yet. Since the run was 'don't look at the watch' I want to gauge this how I felt.

I am a little freaked out by that big orange strip on the heart rate zone graph, though I do think it matches my effort. I'm just a little what have I done to myself?
I did well on the up hills. I focused on keeping my shoulder blades relaxed and 'down my back' and keeping relaxed.
I went hard, but stayed 'loose'. And then I had this thought of 'this is what marathon training is going to be like'
I focused on what I do well, including having a good cadence.
I both fought 'till the end and tried to take the last mile easy.

Nutrition: I had another fat bomb before heading out. This one didn't upset my stomach nearly as much. I had some water along the way but not a ton.
From today, I learned: Stay positive; focus on the process and focus on what I do well. For hills, I've lifted a lot of weights so I'm strong, I have a good posture and I can stay relaxed. For flats, I have good cadence. For down hills, just have hella fun.

Bonus: I'll have a separate Before and After post from this run. It's how I entertain myself sometimes. Also, this was a really thing that happened today. At least they're not as mean as geese.

6.8.18

Hanging with the family part 2: The Boys Come to Town

Friday Night: I left my house to pick up tacos. The crew was gathering luggage and heading to hotel. I came out of the tacos restaurant and it was raining sideways. Then I had to drive a mile out of the way due to 35W construction. So we've started off in a fairly Minnesota way. I did have fun hanging out with everyone though.
Only in MN: Our own "taco tour" or Lake Street, and the adults had a Surly or two in the hotel lobby.

Saturday

Morning in the rain: Mall of America. We surveyed the go carts and the rides and ultimately hit up Lego Land before abandoning.
Morning in the mostly not rain: Lock and Dam 1. There are vary levels of comfort with being up really high in this group, so we all took this at our own speed.
Lunch: Punch Pizza

Afternoon: (the rain may have stopped, we are unsure) Explored St Anthony Falls Visitor Center and the Upper St Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. (Lower falls is still working and a bit harder less visitor friendly.) Then we poked around Mill Ruins Park.
Quiet Time: We all took naps or "read" with our eyes closed.

Late afternoon: We poked around Minnehaha Falls Park until it became clear someone would go in the creek if we weren't careful.
Supper: Peppers and Fries is one of my favorite local burger joints. We did the thing.
MOA again: The boys played laser tag. Their Mom and I wandered the mall and visited.
Bed: I had a nightmare that I was late picking everyone up the next day.
Only in MN: Mall of America. Also, learning Dakota words like "Minnehaha" (it means falling waters).

Sunday
Pick up: 8:20am.

Morning: The hotel was by MOA, so we took the Blue Line downtown. We found the Mary Tyler Moore statue, though none of us remember the television show. Breakfast was at Hell's Kitchen and we got to sit in the Far Side Room. This is not related to the crazy chef on TV.
Part 2 of the morning was walking across the Loring Greenway and Loring Park to the Sculpture Garden. There were varying levels of interest. It was starting to really heat up at this point. So we got on the bus and headed off to baseball.

Afternoon: We saw a Twins game, including what may have been my first in person grand slam. (It was the good guys who got the grand slam.) This is only my second time visiting the Twins Stadium. Big Cousin has been there both times. After the game, we all had quiet time and several of us got to take showers. I was hot and gross and I do want my family to continue to enjoy my company.

Evening: Tiny Diner was actually a request of Big Cousin and he remembered it from last time. We had cheese curds as an appetizer. Then we went back to the hotel and the boys swam while the grown ups hung out.
Only in MN: Mary Tyler Moore. Spoon Bridge and Cherry. Twins Territory! And Cheese Curds.

23.7.18

Hanging with the family

Friday

Mom and Dad arrive late. My head hurts so bad I think it will explode. I took Nyquill and went to bed immediately.

Saturday

Run: An easy 3 in the morning, one of the few moments my head did not hurt
Morning: Zumba with B
Afternoon: MIA and special exhibits The headache is back.
Supper: Tiny Diner

Sunday

Run: 1 mile and my head may explode.
Morning: Took sudafed. Walked at Lake Nokomis and did the home shopping tour of Minneapolis and St Paul (that's east and west River roads)
Afternoon: Hang out at the pool.
Evening: Minneapolis Pops Concert with Olive.
Supper: Sober Fish

Monday

Run: Long run for the week. My head is feeling much better.
Morning: Ate breakfast and herded the family into the car for a drive up to St Cloud.
Activities: We spent the middle part of the day hanging out at the Munsinger Clemens Gardens including a picnic on their deck and exploring the dam on the river. We were all pleasantly surprised by the gardens. Most of the literature says people spend about an hour there. We spent like four hours there. Mom was in her bliss.
Evening: Mom was curious about the sub for Zumba. We did about 20 minutes of class. We had supper at Tiny with Dungeon Master.

Tuesday

Run and Weights at the crack of dawn. Though I have to say showering at the gym was certainly the better logistical option so that may continue for the rest of their trip.
Day Activity: Sherburne Wildlife Refuge has been on my mind and I really wanted Mom and Dad to see it. It started off kind of rough. To hear Dad tell it, he was attacked by wild vampire flies. We talked to the rangers who sorted us out and pointed us to a couple other paths where the flies wouldn't be so bad. We walked and did a wildlife driving tour as well. We saw Pelicans, a Kingfisher, Sand Hill Cranes, and an Eagle nest. I aw an eagle flying around on the drive up, but it was on the wrong side of the car for everyone else to see it.
Evening activity: We had an early supper at Zen Box Izakaya, walked around on the Stone Arch Bridge, and then saw a preview performance of The Legend of Georgia McBride. That's one of the funnier shows I've ever seen at Guthrie. Mom and Dad really enjoyed it too.

Wednesday

Running at the crack of dawn, again.
Activity 1: Lynx Game with the family. "Camp day" was hilarious, and surprisingly full for a Lynx game.
Activity 2: Hell's Kitchen for lunch.
Activity 3: Sculpture Garden walking around.
Break: Nap time!
Evening Zumba with Mom in the park.
Supper at Tiny Diner

Thursday

Running and Weights in the morning.
Shopping: I was captain grumpy pants and wanted to shop alone but didn't.
Spin: Mom tried Spin class with Dungeon Master.
Supper: At Birchwood which was a request of Mom.