Wednesday, April 16, 2008

20 Miles in Summer Weather

Ouch! blister measuring more than 2 inches in most directions... and 3 large blisters on the other foot.
Note to self: remember everything you know about blister prevention and don't try a new model of shoe on a 20 mile training run.

In Minnesota we know sometimes we skip spring and go right to summer (and then we might get snow the next week.) We started out yesterday on Gateway in jackets... and shorts, later shedding jackets.

The temp was in the high 60s all day.
The WIND was reported to be 29, and we witnessed noisy huge gusts much stronger.

Here is Sweet Pea at Mile 8. We parked between Mile 8 and Mile 18 and covered the distance both ways twice for a total of 20 miles.

Dear Runner Dude.. always a cheer to know we will be meeting him somewhere along the way.

This new underpass for the trail was built last year. We used to have to wait, look both ways again, and run like hell across that road.

Saw 4 egrets yesterday, this one in flight... a testimony to awesome creation.
Also saw 5 fuzzy caterpillars on the trail. Thought we usually saw those in the fall.
And a tiny little brown snake that froze when we stopped to look at it.
Wishing I knew bird songs better: am sure we heard chickadees, cardinals, red winged blackbirds.
And OH the frogs!! Little ponds were alive with the thunderous mating croaking that we could hear even in the roar of the wind in the trees.

This is me at the north end of the trail. Notice me dressed for SUMMER!
Twenty miles yesterday and we are ready enough to enjoy a marathon.

14 comments:

peter said...

Got your 20 miles in. Good for you! Take care of that blister though.

Nat said...

Ouch! Your blister looks so painful! It kind of looks like a heart though. Great job on the run. I love this weather.

Backofpack said...

Nasty! Good deal getting 20 miles in and in SHORTS!!! Yay! Plus, thanks for the facing forward photo of Sweetpea, I know you did it just for me....

Sunshine said...

Oh yes, just for you, Michelle!!
Actually, I always run WITH Sweet Pea so I never meet her.

rocketpants said...

Owch on the blister. Hopefully the weather will continue to be less like winter and more like spring/summer!

Unknown said...

I can't imagine running 20 miles, and that blister...ouch

but lucky you for the nice weather!!

DawnB said...

sorry about the blisters. Nice job on the 20. Nice to not see snow for a change.

CewTwo said...

20 miles - I guess you are ready! Good job!

Blisters. New shoes. Excuse me, I was just taking some notes. Sorry to hear about it.

In Colorado, I love the sound of the Western Meadowlark. Such a wonderful thing. On the Platte River trail, we are seeing migrating fowl also...

Take care of those feet!

It snowed here last night. I always say we know its Spring in Denver when the grass gets greener between snow storms!

Mr. Satan A. Chilles said...

20 miles... can we get all those marathons cut down to 20? Please? Well, it's a nice distance anyway...

Like in your neighborhood, spring began on Tuesday morning and ends later tonight, it's supposed to be close to 80 degrees here on Friday. Can't complain, I asked for warmer weather, too.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you are getting to run outside :)

Great run, and OUCH....that's some blister!

Amytrigirl (aka Amybee) said...

YAWOUCH!!!! Owie! Yikes! PainFUL! Those darn blisters!

Good reminder, though! Note to self: Do NOT wear those new Keyano's I just bought tomorrow for my Long Run until I've done a couple of short ones with them to break them in...

I see my friend Nat posted here too. We are hooking up tomorrow for a bike ride in the afternoon. Maybe one of these warm spring days we'll finally see you out on the trail and can say an official "hello!"

IronWaddler said...

Take care. Amazing 20 miler with those blisters. Finally some better weather. Yea.

Steve Stenzel said...

JEEZ! That's a blister! And I LOVE that new underpass! I saw that sight many times last year! Nice run!!

ShirleyPerly said...

Sounds like a wonderful 20 miler except for that blister -- OW!

How wonderful to have such a nice path to run on with so many creatures abounding. Thanks for all the lovely photos.