Off Day = Day Off

Almost called this ...Road Trip Part II.   Impromptu trip to the Twin Cities.  Scored some more brews!  Even Alaskan Amber on tap at Happy Hour at the Owatonna Timber Lodge  Great with the walleye cakes as appetizers.

Time on my feet but nothing that I can log for any miles.

St. Paddy's Day

Busy day and night.  So it's after midnight as I sit to write today's post.  Cathy and I had a great time over at Charles City with NIACC coach, Curtis Vais and his wife.  There was a St Patrick's Day parade, then we had some supper and drinks before heading out on the traditional bar crawl (or bar brawl, as my wife once described it) complete with the travelling bagpipers and green beer!

The day started slow as I got some odd jobs out of the way but I had plenty of time to head to Lime Creek for another long run.  I struggled a while to get the transmitter of the heart rate monitor to send properly...at one point it recorded my heart rate at 212 and I was merely walking and in no distress!  But eventually all was well (after I started completely from scratch to re-situate the chest strap).  I ran for the most part after reaching the trail and only walked if the rate exceeded 140.  So the entire workout consisted of a steady but seemingly slow run. I still feel very comfortable when the rate is between 135 and 145, but tried to keep it closer to 120 -125 based on the Maffetone "180 formula".

I thought about staying out for around 18 or 20 miles but decided it was still prudent to hold it to 15 because I had already been out for 15 as recently as Tuesday.

I had also decided to write some about another reason I enjoy running at Lime Creek but its too damn late and I need to go to bed. I'll save that story, with pictures, for another day.

Rest and Relaxation

Chose to back off a bit today because the week has gone well.  Cathy and I drove to Des Moines and found some good shops and some good food....the big plus was "happy hour" at El Bait Shop...more than 100 beers on tap!

Some easy hiking at dusk once back home.

Catching Up With the Photos

Back home.  Nice to be here...I realized during the drive back that some people (and I'm one) seem to do better when they can stick to their routine.  Chicago has some great things to see and do...but I wouldn't want to live there.

So I'll try to post several photos of random stuff that I referred to in previous posts rather than go back and repost.

Too Much Pavement

Feb. 5 .... strobe-light effect from fence

Tues. Feb. 7....abandoned railway

Wed. Feb. 8...Humboldt Park...Breathe Oxygen!

Thursday Feb. 9...Lakeshore Drive

River Otter at Lincoln Park Zoo (last week... Lime Creek's wild otters were eating fish)

Wolves at Lincoln Park Zoo

Old time corner bar features traditional beer

billboard at a construction site that summarizes how I felt during the entire trip

approx. total miles for my day on the 9th

anxious Buck looking out condo window and wanting another walk

With the drive home, and stop for lunch at Vinnie Vanouchi's in Galena, and the stop to visit my Mom in Onslow, I did not get out for any mileage today.  So with a week where I was sort-of out-of sorts, I did gain some additional toughness for the legs and a desire to get back on track trail running next week.

0 miles today but 41 for the week

Oh and last but not least, I scored some more brew that I can't get in Iowa!

Flying Dog's Double Dog and Three Floyd's Zombie Dust

Road Trip...Not To Run But For Beer

The morning was supposed to be foggy but dawned sunny and quite nice.  So my wife convinced me it would be fun to head to Minneapolis on a quick shopping trip.  I enjoy the Twin Cities and it's where I've been able to run most of my marathons so...off we went.  Unfortunately, there was fog as we approached Faribault and we saw fog the rest of the day.  It did clear up during the drive home after dark.  Best thing that happened today...I scored some brews that I can't buy in Iowa!

0 running today but tomorrow looms big...as I've decided to commit to a 50 miler in June...Black Hills here I come!