Get in Gear

Get in Gear 10K on Saturday morning began in Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis... north on West River Road, across the Lake Street Bridge, south along the Mississippi on East River Road, across the Ford Bridge (yes, near the old Ford assembly plant), and back to Minnehaha Park for the finish.
Weather: low to mid 40s, with a 12-15 mph wind; rain threatened... but the sun came out and it was glorious to run.

Sweet Pea and I ran together as ususal. I was pleased to come in before a couple of women in my age group and a couple of women in the next younger age group. We came in before some women in her age group, too!
Our runs on Gateway Trail last week were helpful training, I guess: about 25 miles (14, 2, 9 miles) and a few more miles this past week.

I thought the shirts were more attractive than usual.. but can you believe they ran out of size L... even for the pre-registered runnners?!

Children headed for the start of the children's race.

The flag, during the National Anthem, gave witness to the substantial wind.

In this picture you may spot a couple of rowing teams headed back up the Mississippi River ... as we ran over the Lake Street Bridge.

A hundred years of ministry for Fristad (place of refuge) Lutheran Church, Centuria, Wisconsin, about an hour drive northeast of St. Paul ...

I served as interim pastor in the late 1980's and again in the 1990's for these dear people. They have a new sanctuary now. Today at the centennial worship, the NW Wisconsin bishop preached a good sermon. Music there is unusually inspiring. Below, a little out-of-focus to protect identities, is the band, which often leads/accompanies the congregation's singing. Precious, being with them all today!

Tiny perennials, many years ago a gift from Don's Mom.

Get Your Rear in Gear

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K yesterday in Minneapolis.
My mother died of colon cancer nearly 30 years ago... back in the dark ages when her complaints of symptoms were ignored and devalued by her doctor.
Today getting a colonoscopy is a sensible screening for everyone.

We have started several races in light rain.. and continued to the 26.2 finish, but yesterday the temp was in the low 40's. Too cold to get wet!
We drove over to Southdale in the rain, picked up our very nice light gray, short sleeved technical shirts and drove back home in the rain to eat breakfast.

http://www.getyourrearingear.com/

Just Trail Mix

The 18th Annual Trail Mix 50K Team race...Hyland Park, Bloomington MN
Sweet Pea and I took pictures and cheered.

This race at Hyland Park makes for a great family day.. with babies in strollers and toddlers on foot.
Runners from the St. Croix Runners group
This week was jam-packed with wonderful spring days to be out, and today was no exception.

Cutest little bumper sticker:
Wag more
Bark less

Quite a few Obama bumper stickers in the parking lots... Saw cars from Manitoba, Ontario, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana.

Beautiful sunsets this week ... This one lit up half the sky.

Yesterday I stopped by Healthy Foods at Maplewood Mall.. in time to see the CAROSEL going.. empty... at 10:00 in the morning... a cheery sight!

Spring on Gateway Trail

We love it when we are all out on the Gateway Trail and we see Don running toward us.
Today he did his long run and we two did 9 miles.

The egrets are back for the summer! Sweet Pea spotted this first one on Tuesday when we did just a couple of miles on Gateway. Winter is definitely over.

Another sure sign of spring: today the water fountain was turned on and the rest rooms were open at Pine Point Park up at mile 18.

A Glorious Day !

FOURTEEN (14) Miles on Gateway.. a long run for a half marathon coming up.

On Gateway Trail we saw:
226 bicycles (a few we may have seen twice, coming and going)
a half dozen were recombent bikes, a half dozen were bicycles for two
6 dogs with owners
10 rollerbladers, 1 on a skateboard
15 horses on the horse trail beside the black top trail
a dozen or so Twin Cities Bicycle Club members taking a break at Pine Point Park
a couple of black and white cats (I didn't get good pictures)

Fabulous weather for an Easter afternoon run.... around 60 degrees all afternoon.

Due to careless selection of socks for the run, I have a large deep blister on the bottom of my heel... but the heel will heal...

This amazing colored frog was on the trail. A smaller black one hopped away before the picture. The chorus of frogs in the ponds and puddles along the trail was nearly deafening. Spring is here.

Another treat... on the way home from Gateway Trail... we saw the llamas out in their pasture.
And just before we came over the hill .. we had to stop our car for a man walking his dog right down the middle of the road. Interesting.

The worship bulletin for St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi this morning...

Inspiring music: new pipe organ, St. Andrew's orchestra, full adult choir, a children's choir.
Sign Language interpreted
There was considerably more "Christ is risen" than "he is risen" ... which I find graciously inclusive.
It works very marvelously for the response to "Christ is risen" to be
"Christ is risen, indeed!"

And they let us SING!

"Jesus Christ is Risen Today"
"Alleluia! Alleluia" (Beethoven)
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
"I Am the Bread of Life"
"Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds"
"The Day of Resurrection" (same melody as "Lead on Oh King Eternal")
.... "... the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
.... From death to life eternal, from sin's dominion free,
.... our Christ has brought us over with hymns of victory."

So.. I'll finish this with the benediction I used when I served congregations:

"May God bless you; may the peace of God which passes understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Risen Christ. Amen."

Why Did the Turkeys Cross the Road?

Sweet Pea and I did more than 8 miles on Gateway... walking/running.
A gorgeous day to be out... temperature in the low 50s.
Only 4 days ago the world was wrapped in a couple of inches of fresh lovely snow.. and today the trail was clear and dry.

We think kitties should be kept indoors.. for the sake of songbirds.
But we do think it is fun to spot a kitty while we are running.

Today... an unusual number of dogs.. with owners.. on the trail.
Lots of solitary men on bicycles and a few runners.
On the drive home we slowed down for the wild turkeys to cross the road.
Barbecued boneless pork ribs and sweet potatoes in a crockpot waiting for us when we came home for supper.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A Holy Night!

Seder
Blessings to those Jewish celebrating why this night is not like any other night and God's deliverance.

Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper
Blessings to Christians.. may the body and blood of Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in grace and peace.

Snowy April Day

A couple of inches of snow overnight decorated our Palm Sunday world.


So... our 4 mile walking running was on the indoor track (13.5 laps per mile).
Sweet Pea and I did another couple of miles in the neighborhood in the late afternoon. The April snow was gone, leaving only a trace in the shade.

My first stab at cooking lentils: (on the far side of the plate)
French green lentils, organic baby spinach, onion, organic brown rice pasta, cumin, chipotle pepper, black pepper, Laughing Cow light cheese spread.

Near side of the plate: leftover pork roast with apples and dried cranberries

Orange wedge is roasted sweet potato.

First and last pictures by Sweet Pea

MN Theater of Seasons

Weather is not boring here!!
At 8am yesterday.. cloudy on the way over to the community center
Left our bags in lockers and walked upstairs to the track...
and huge fluffy flakes of snow were pouring out of the clouds.

As we ran, snow piled up on the window sill.

The track is a rectangle with rounded, banked corners.
Sweet Pea and I, for 4 miles, did our usual pattern of walking one of the long sides and the ends and
running one of the long sides.
Yesterday we did 4 miles... 13 1/2 laps per mile.

Snow changed to pouring rain on the way home.

Later.. suddenly .. at about 5pm, with thunder and lightning, little pellets of hail crashed down...
and piled up at the bottom of downspouts from the roof.
I love this crazy variety!
What a best day!


Picture a few days ago... by Sweet Pea
Red breasted woodpecker: