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.

Pilgrims in the Snow

Snow and fine sneet/icy snow during the whole morning
Temperature during the race today: 34 degrees (that's thirty four degrees!)
Temperature last year: 68 degrees (is that 2X as warm??)
Today the wind was recorded at 26 miles per hour, but perhaps gusting more

La Nina, we've had enough!
Get in Gear 10K, beginning at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis, up the West River Road to the Lake Street Bridge, across the Mississippi River to St. Paul, then south on East River Road (following the Twin Cities Marathon route for a time), and south to the Ford Bridge, across the river again to Minnehaha Park.

Get in Gear is a wonderful family rite of spring (most years!)
Park and streets are full of children of all ages, including those little little folks in strollers. Even in the wintry weather today, families came out.
Here, you can see the youngsters racing to the finish of the 2K.
You can click to enlarge pictures.
No personal pictures of the 10K ... we were wearing exactly the right windbreakers and ear covers, we were only moderately chilled.
We ran, we finished! We celebrated.

PS Whole foods was giving away a couple of new-to-us gluten free products: "Enjoy Life" nut and gluten free snack bars and snickerdoodles.
www.enjoylifefoods.com
The products have no wheat, gluten, soy, nuts... and we were delighted to see, also no potato (potato flour, often a cheap empty filler in gluten free foods).

For information about today's race:
www.getingear10k.com/