Flint Mtn Shelter

6/20
Started at Jerry Cabin Shelter
Ended at Flint Mtn Shelter
5.9 miles

Done hiking by 1:30 and taking the rest of the day easy. This is a newer shelter and the forecast was rain so it sounded like a good idea to hike fast while it was clear and then relax. The shelter is nice and I can stand up in it and so far we have no bugs.

The kids are really enjoying the shelter journals. They each write something and Sydney reads what others have written. They also add great pictures.

On today's hike we passed the Shelton gravestones. They were Southerners who fought with the North during the Civil War. On the way home for a family gathering they were ambushed by Confederate troops and killed. The kids had not heard of the Civil War and were shocked that the states fought each other.

Jerry's Cabin

6/19
Started at Log Cabin Drive
Ended at Jerry's Cabin Shelter
10.1 miles

Started the day with breakfast in the hostel and went on to have a really great day. The kids had a great time at lunch playing follow the leader. Then Sydney called cashews, pecans, this caused all the kids to start laughing. For the next few hours they sang songs about pecans.

After lunch we had the great view of Tennessee and made it to the shelter around 5. The hike took us 8 hours so we were all tired, but I made us shower and built a fire anyway. The water was cold so our dinner drinks were great, but the shower was not fun for the kids. Pete was the least happy about it and Harvey said the cold water felt good. Sydney didn't complain at all and didn't even use the towel to dry off.

I really learned how to better manage the hike today. We split a Hammer Energy Bar at our first food break and then had the other part later in the day. We did this with lunch too, so we had more eating breaks than usual. We also set breaks based on features (view, road, trail junction, water, etc). The kids were motivated by the destination and the food. I think we had more energy late in the day by doing our food this way and the hike seemed to go smoother. We still use the 25 min hike and 5 min rest timer, but are not so ridged in following it.

A mouse just ran across my foot as I type this. We saw one earlier run under the table, but this is the first shelter we have seen one. Normally you hear more talk about them than actually see them. I always hang my food and have mouse resistant food bags from Ursack, with special zip top bags inside that are supposed to reduce the food oder.

I took the photo of Pete using my headlamp to highlight Pete while leaving the fire to shine on its own.

Big Firescald Knob

6/19
Great view of Tennessee.

Hostel Benefits

One benefit of staying in a Hostel is the hot breakfast!

Hemlock Hollow Farm Shoppe and Cabins

6/18
Started at Rich Mtn Fire Tower
Ended at Log Cabin Drive (Hemlock Hollow Farm Shoppe and Cabins)
8.1 rainy miles

We camped last night and had the chance to call Mom, this was our first time getting cell phone service. We went to bed happy and woke up to rain. Lots of rain.

We crossed a paved road, but mostly cross gravel or dirt, and saw a sign for "Moms Place". We stopped in to see what "cash only" could buy. Not a lot of options, but it was dry and she let us eat our food inside while she smoked. The store was in NC, but on the state line with TN. When we left Pete said "Dad, I'll be in TN".

We didn't plan to stay in a hostel but the rain was nonstop so when we hit the road to the hostel I decided we needed a break. They also serve dinner and breakfast. We are drying out and waiting for our burger dinner. Only one other hiker is with us in the bunkhouse. He is 70 and has hiked about 60% of the trail.

Rich Mtn Fire Tower 6/17

Started at Hot Springs, NC
Ended at Rich Mtn Fire Tower
8.2 miles

Today we got one bar of cell phone service!! The hike out was uphill but the kids did great. At the fire tower we had our first trail angel encounter. A guy was up checking out the view and had an extra banana that he gave us. He also played some music using a speaker and a cardboard box.

Great camp site, but the gnats are swarming us. We are wearing our rain gear.

Bluff Mountain Outfitters

One last picture before we start hiking again.

Zero Day

Stayed in Hot Springs for the day to rest and get a few more supplies. Sydney and I got very light and compact sleeping bags and will send home our heavier ones. With the warm weather our bags were overkill, and we needed the room for food. I've decided to take more food when leaving towns and the kids can help carry the extra food.

Speaking of food it was a very good day for us. We split a box of cereal while doing laundry, then shopped for sleeping bags while getting lunch and I had a Kombucha. After lunch we went for a swim and had an apple and almond butter snack. While coming into the campground the kids started talking to Bill, the guy who assigns campsites, and he wanted to do something special for me for Father's Day. After the kids said no cake or ice cream he decided on corn and apples and dropped off a bag when he was done with work. He is very impressed with our hiking.

Other people we run into are also impressed, and the outdoor store wants a picture of us for the AT Hiker wall. One woman said in a southern grandma way "I only see people like you on the TV, your an inspiration". She also wants to read the book about our adventure. I'm thinking of updating my résumé to say Adventure Guide for my time at home with the kids.

Bottle cap collecting is a huge hit with the kids and they are all over while I cook dinner (wraps with salsa and red beans and rice). They have 30 organized by design. Kicking a ball around was fun till they popped it, but the owners were very nice about the accident and that's when they moved on to the bottle caps.

The campground is practically ours since it is Sunday night. But last night it was a party. This weekend was a big musical festival, old time guitar and fiddle music. Many of the performers camped at the far end of the campground and played into the early hours of the morning (but we couldn't hear them). What did happen is this.... I am at the bathroom with the kids when I hear "I'm 3 min older than my brother too", and it wasn't Harvey talking. They had befriended a guy who lived for a year in Santa Cruz and who played really good, and had 7 and 9 yr old daughters. He invited us to the back of the campground to listen to the music and told us all about it. It was really awesome.

The picture is the river by the campground, it has a very strong current so we walk to a spot with a lot less current. Yesterday when we swam, about 5 babies were also swimming, naked, and the kids, especially the boys, didn't know what to think.

Camping near Bluff Mnt

Started at Roaring Fork Shelter
Ended near Bluff Mnt.
7.3 miles

Tomorrow we should hit Hot Springs, NC. The kids are very excited to get to a town. We've met a lot of nice people and seen a few hikers with dogs. Today was flatter than the other days so we made good time. The picture is of our camp with dinner (Annie's Noodles) cooking in the pot.

Last night Harvey said "Hey Guys, who wants to play pass with my pants!"

Break time!!

This is a picture of the kids during a trail break. We had incredible rains last night and slept in this morning. The sun is out, but the trail is very shady so our wet shirts and shorts from yesterday are taking awhile to dry. We've past many people on the trail, mostly heading in the other direction.

The kids have talked non stop about what they want for Christmas and what type of Birthday Party they want. It was fun at first, but is starting to get tiring.

Roaring Fork Shelter

Started at Groundhog Creek Shelter
Ended at Roaring Creek Shelter
8.4 miles

We had breakfast with "Socks", a female thru-hiker who befriended Sydney. Once on the trail the kids were again much faster than me on the uphill but we stayed together and took very frequent breaks.

We needed water and while filling up I heard thunder. We got the rain gear ready and headed up and over Max Patch. On the way up the clouds started to gather on the other side of the hill, the side we could not see. We paused for the great view and then it started to rain. As we crested the hill a wind picked up and it really started to rain. We all had our pack covers on and Sydney was wearing her rain jacket. We got soaked. The boys got cold so they put on rain jackets too. Then it started to hail!! We only had two miles to the shelter so we picked up the pace but the rain had stopped. The trail was a stream and our feet got wetter. Once at the shelter we hung our wet gear and got dressed in warm clothing.

The pack covers for the boys are OK, but I need the original pack covers that came with the backpacks. The picture is Harvey with our wet clothes hanging in the background.

Day 1

Hot Springs, NC

Started at Bluff Mtn
Ended at Hot Springs, NC
10.7 miles

Today we reached Hot Springs, NC! This is our first trail town and things went fairly smooth. The kids were excited to get to a town and as we descended from the mountain they kept saying "Look how big it is". But the town is actually small, but very busy on a Saturday.

We stopped at the Hillbilly Market and got lunch/dinner. The kids were hungry after the 10+ miles (in 6 hours) and were begging for yogurt. We stocked up as this is the only grocery store in town. However, it seemed every store had food, even the outdoor store had a grocery section that catered to backpackers. I guess backpackers and paddlers (the other attraction is rafting) don't like salsa or hummus because we didn't find that. But we will explore tomorrow for some organic produce as all the kids wanted some of my salad tonight.

At the outdoor store we bought poles for Harvey, now all of us have hiking poles and even at 7 and 9 the kids look like thru hikers. But they don't smell like thru hikers as one women told us. I heard they have a hiker spot in town, usually church sponsored, that has free snacks and wifi. We should be able to find it since you can walk from one end of town to the other in a few minutes.

Tonight we are in a campground with swings and other kids to play with, so for a change they are getting some time to be kids. However on Monday play time will be over as we tackle a difficult section of trail to Erwin, TN, ETA is June 23. Lucky for me the boys have been willing to carry some of the food so we will leave fully loaded.

Day Zero

Started at my parents house
Ended at my parents house
Zero miles

Spent day at local community center playing on the playground and then swimming at the beach. Went to Kroger for dinner supplies and a few things for the trail. We will be eating good the first few days! Repacking things tonight and leaving in the morning.

Made it to TN

Landed in Nashville and they have a great kids play area. The kids can get out some of the energy the couldn't use on the plane.

New Sleeping Bags

Tomorrow we leave for TN and we are doing final packing. I got the boys new summer sleeping bags from Deuter, the Dreamlite 500. It packs up super small and is only a pound. The boys can pack them up easy and they don't need a stuff sack. They also got new pack covers in case of rain, the old ones wouldn't fit when the boys had a ground pad on. Only a few more things to sort out before we are ready.

Drop Boxes

We are shipping our boxes via USPS in flat rate Priority boxes. Since the places we are shipping get a lot of boxes I'm putting a large M on the side and noting if more than one box is shipping. The first two boxes have already shipped.

Yosemite Day 3

When we woke up this morning it was raining.  Not a heavy rain, but enough to get us wet.  After breakfast and packing our things we put on the rain gear and quickly got out and packed up the tent.  The rain stopped and we only got wet from the dripping trees.  After a few hours the sun came out we could take off our rain gear.  I even got the tent in the sun so it could dry some.  Below is a picture of Sydney crossing a stream.  The picture makes it look more difficult than it actually was.  The kids are getting really good at spotting the trail and finding ways to cross streams.  We had lots of water crossings on this hike because of snow melt.

The hike today was downhill back to the car.  The kids are always motivated to get to the car and in Pete's case, get home to his new stuffed animal.  Sydney wants to see her friends and we all want to get back to Mary-j.  With food running out we didn't stop for a lunch break, but snacked along the way.  The hike was downhill, so it went fast.  Total miles was about 13, and it took us about 5:30.  The picture below is near the spot Harvey said "This is the real Yosemite".

Night 2 in Yosemite

Stopped at 1:30 today to setup camp. A wind is picking up and clouds are rolling in so I wanted to have camp ready if it rained. A bit chilly so I started the fire. My back is really worked but the pack is getting lighter with every meal.

Rock Climbing Day 2

This picture is from our lunch stop. We had crackers, cheese, salami, carrots and Sydney had a "Morning Round". We had a good hike so far and the kids love the rocks and snow. For the AT we need:
Poles for everyone
Better shorts for Mark
Tighter water bottle pouches for Sydney and Pete
More TP

On our way to a lake to camp, then tomorrow a long downhill hike to the car.

Yosemite Day One

We have an awesome camp spot. We miss mom and hope she is taking care of Obla (Sydney's favorite stuffed animal). We saw a snake and Sydney saw 3 lizards. It is colder than we executed, but we brought jackets and are warm. The hike was all uphill and we did at least 8 miles. It is 7:00 and dinner is almost ready, but my pot is to little for the box of pasta I brought.

The kids love the beauty and when we got to an overlook Harvey said "this is the real Yosemite".

Yosemite Backpacking - Chilnualna Falls

With less than three weeks till we start the Appalachian Trail we need a hike to check out our gear. So I'm taking the kids on a two night trip to Yosemite. The plan is to spend the first night around the falls and the second night near Grouse Lake.

The trail should be snow free, but the nights could still be cold so we packed extra layers for warmth. But we won't need the extra clothing for summer AT hiking so our packs will be a bit lighter. Total my pack weighs more than 50 lbs, and the kids are around 14 lbs. I also brought really good food that added about 20 lbs to my pack. The food will go fast so the change in weight I carry will change quickly over a few days.

It might rain, but we are fully prepared and I hope we get some rain so we can test our rain system. The car is packed and my alarm is set. I'll attempt to report on the trip each day, but cell phone coverage is very limited.

Drop Box "Invoice"

I created an invoice for my drop boxes so I remember what I need to buy in town and what the food plan was. It also helps keep things organized and should make it easier when mailing them.

Capitola Half Marathon

Today was the Capitola Half Marathon.  I trained for this race and wanted to do really well.  My official time is 1:40:25, only 25 seconds off my goal time of under 1:40.  I was 13 in my age group (30-39) out of 109, and 70 overall out of 1,072.  Out of the 13 miles I ran, 9 of them were under 7:50.  The weather was perfect and the course was flat to a slight slope, with a few short hills to keep things interesting.  I think the Santa Cruz Half is flatter, but I liked this course better because it stayed along the coast.  The shirt was really great, it was blue and different from the white shirt the Marathon runners got.

  

Posting Photo

I have a photo in this email, but will it post to the blog?

Yes it did!!!

Drop Boxes

I'm fine tuning my first few weeks of hiking, trying to keep daily mileage under 10. The problem is the 6 day gap between drop boxes. I will need to carry 6 days of food for 4 people. Or 72 meals (48 packets of oatmeal at two each for breakfast, snacks and lunch, and 6 dinners). I'm not sure my backpack can fit all that!

I ordered a new phone for the trip. Hopefully I'll get better battery life, but it also has an 8 mp camera and will take HD video. The phone will be critical for communicating when Mary-j needs to send a drop box and in case we need extra stuff.

I got the white iPhone 4S.

Food Bag

Today I bought two heavy duty, but lighter weight than my Bear Canister, Ursack food storage bags. I also got liners that are suppose to keep animals from smelling what you have inside. The bags should protect our food from all the mice that visit the shelters along the trail. They are also strong enough to withstand a bear trying to rip them open. I have rope usually used for a clothes line that will also work when hanging the bags in bear country. I'll use "The PCT Method" to hang the bags.

I am confident two bags will meet our needs when I have to bring over 3 days of food for the four of us. We can also use them for storing toothpaste and othe scented items.

Next obstacle is putting together a rainy weather system.

Blog Updates

I am working on the best way to update my blog while hiking the AT. I have an iPhone and will keep it off most of the time. At night I will turn it on in airplane mode and compose a post in a note. Once I get to town I will email the note to my blog and it will automatically post.

This is the first test.

Email posting setup

Just finished setting things up.

Thinking of Blogging again

I am planning a summer of backpacking with my kids and may use my blog to post updates if I can do it from my phone.  More to come....

Stillwater Half Marathon Race Report

The Stillwater Half Marathon was today.  It was a perfect day with overcast skies and temperatures in the upper 50's.  My race gear was laid out the night before so I was ready.  For this race I went with the 2010 Stillwater Marathon shirt, which looks exactly like the 2011 shirt, but the 2011 shirt is HUGE.  They gave me a shirt with a "Large" label but said it was really an Extra Large.  Whatever size the shirt is supposed to be, it is still very big.  This, and the fact they started to accept race day registration leads me to believe the race may be having some difficulties.  In 2010 they had 941 in the half, this year 619.  For the full in 2010 they had 374, this year 244.  Overall I heard they had a decline of 1,000 runners over 2010. 

Packet pickup was held on Friday or Saturday.  With the help of a babysitter I was able to go on Friday (with my wife who ran the 10k).  It was held at the Water Street Inn in downtown Stillwater, MN. 

Historic Picture of the Water Street Inn

The Water Street Inn was a nice place to have the Expo, and the perfect size.  It was also located on the Saint Croix River, so we had an opportunity to see the river and watch the Stillwater Lift Bridge in action.  They had the usual stuff, including a healthy eating trivia wheel.  If you got the correct answer you got a coffee mug.  They had chewy fruit snacks for kids and said it was just like eating real fruit (so why not just eat real fruit?).  Two vendors selling clothing and chiropractors.  Instead of speakers they had a fashion show, but we didn't stay for it. 

Race morning arrived and I awoke at 4:30 (my alarm was set for 5:30).  With an extra hour to kill I did some Yoga with Rodney Yee.  Feeling more flexible, I put together my Hammer Nutrition supplements for before, during, and after the race.  I don't do anything special before the race, but during the race I take Anti-Fatigue Caps and Endurance Amino.  This was the second time I have done this and both times I felt an ability to run better.  The first time was an hour into a Half Marathon and shortly after I noticed my form was much better, and I didn't even realize it had gotten easier to run.  This time I was prepared to feel better so I took them before the final descent into Stillwater and the flat mile into town.  I wanted to run this section especially fast.

Once my supplements were together we were ready to go.  I dropped my wife at the start of the 10k, and it was completely deserted.  Not a single person around.  We sat in the car for about 10 minutes before we saw other people.  I didn't want to be late to my race so we said goodbye.  Just in time, because she barely beat a busload of people to the porta potties.  As luck would have it, the one she choose had NO TOILET PAPER!!  Brand new and no TP.  This was not starting good.

Last year I dropped my car at the High School and road a bus to the start.  When it was time to take a bus back to the car it was an hour wait.  They only had one bus running.  To avoid that, this year I drove and had no problem parking downtown.  With a short walk to the start I was in good spirits. 

The Half and Full both had pacers from Minnesota Pacers.  They were busy pacing 3 different races this weekend (Stillwater, Med City, and State Capitol).  At the Stillwater Half they had a 1:45 pacer and I planned to stick with her.  The skies were still overcast and the temperature cool, so we had great weather for the start.  I skipped the first few water stops, met Tom at mile 6, went to the bathroom at mile 7 (lost 30 seconds), felt great miles 8-10, pushed hard on the downhill at mile 11, pushed harder on the flat mile 12, out kicked a few people, and heard my wife cheer as I sprinted to the finish.  A new PR at 1:41:51.

Splits
1.  7:50
2.  7:58
3.  7:53
4.  8:05
5.  7:49
6.  8:27
7.  7:38
8.  7:37
9.  7:47
10.  8:06
11.  7:44
12.  7:12
13.  6:56
.2.  0:51(5:35 pace)

Summary
7:47 overall pace
70 out of 619
8 out of 41 in my age group

After the race I found my wife who did much better than she expected.  It was her first ever 10k and the farthest she has EVER run.  I am very proud and impressed.  After such great races we headed to the car for a Hammer Recoverite drink (two scoops mixed with Almond Milk).  I really shouldn't drink these, they are good for recovery but have a huge amount of cards and afterwards I am always starving (Primal or Paleo readers will know what I mean).

Jump to It 10K

The weather was perfect for the Jump to It 10K.  We had a slight breeze coming from White Bear Lake and it was sunny.  After a winter of overcast skies it feels great every time the sun shines.  The race started at West Park/ Optimist Beach in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.  The shirt is orange, and will be perfect for walking or running during hunting season. 

The course is out and back and advertised as "flat and fast and has seen state records in its long history."  It was flat for most of it, but a few hills at the turnaround slowed me down.  However, I managed to keep a very steady pace during the race and finished in 44:29 (7:10 pace).  My Garmin said about the same thing with a distance of 3.16 miles on the way out, and 3.1 on the way back.  I guess I ran the tangents better on the way back with fewer people to maneuver around.  Race results were delayed because they had problems with the computer.  Many people were upset about this and it took away from an otherwise great event.

126 total runners in the 10K.  My time got me 20 overall and 2 in my age group.  This was the second 10K of the year for me (and second 10K ever), last time I ran 50:21 (8:07 pace).

Afton Trail Run 25K

I signed up for the Afton Trail Run today.  The race takes place on July 2 at Afton State Park in Minnesota.  I ran the 25K last year as my first ever trail run and loved it. Now that the snow is melted and the ground is starting to dry I should be able to get to the park and do some training runs.

2011 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

I just got an email that my credit card was charged for the Grandma's Half Marathon.  I guess this June I will be running a Half Marathon in Duluth.  This will be the 35th anniversary, so runners in both the full and half get a water bottle with the 35 Years logo and a "cinch backpack".  It should be fun, except for the part when I have to wake up the morning of the race (because the race starts at 6:30am).  

White Bear Winter Frolic 5K

This morning was the White Bear Winter Frolic 5K (put on by Vacation Sports).  We had a lot of snow last weekend in our area of Minnesota, this creates uneven surfaces and slick spots.  This morning as I got out of the car I checked the temperature, 2 degrees.  It had began to snow, making the slick spots hard to identify.  Even with the cold and snow everyone at the start was in a festive mood. 

Packet Pickup was Indoors

The race started and for a short time you have the option of running on the road or a sidewalk.  I didn't have much choice since I was running in a crowd and ended up on the sidewalk.  The surface was very tricky as some parts were not shoveled very good.  But soon I was able to get back on the road and settle into a nice pace.  The course follows the frozen White Bear Lake.  Not much of a view, except for snow, but since footing was an issue it was better not to look around.

I wanted to run fast, but lately I have not been running much.  I really noticed it after the turnaround.  I was actually out of breath, but my leg muscles felt fine.  This was a change from my past races.  I guess the lack of cardio finally caught up with me, while the increase in weights has helped.

Setting up the Finish Line

Near the end I found myself running alone, with the nearest person about 20 seconds ahead of me.  Then with about a mile to go someone caught up and passed.  I stayed with them and near the finish they choose the sidewalk instead of the road.  This time I took the road and while they slowed for the rough sections I was able to pass.  I ran hard at the end and finished in front of them. 

Long Sleeve Cotton

Results:
34 overall
6 out of 15 in age group
22:13 time for 7:09 pace
My Garmin data says 3 miles at 22:15 for a pace of 7:25

May 29; Stillwater Half Marathon

The Stillwater Half Marathon is officially on my schedule.  The route is new this year and will be challenging in terms of hills and sun exposure, but the area is beautiful and it should be a good run.

Lottery registration for the 2011 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Lottery registration for Grandma's Half Marathon started today (it is officially called the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon).  Entry into the lottery runs till Friday, February 25.  Only 5,700 runners are selected.  I put my name in (and credit card details) and should know on Monday, February 28 if I was selected.

Run for Others 5K and 10K; April 16

While at the Sweetheart Run a member of the St. Andrew's Running club made an announcement about a race in April.  The Run for Others raises money to support Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for families in need.  The cost is $20 and includes a shirt.  I will consider adding this race to my schedule.



Sweetheart Run 10K

This past weekend was the Sweetheart Run, put on by Vacation Sports.  The event took place in Mahtomedi, Minnesota at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.  The church has a running club that meets on Saturdays, and they are a sponsor of the event.  Runners had access to the warm church for packet pickup, bathrooms, and after the event.  Having a warm place is reason enough to run this race.  In addition to the 10K, they had 10 mile and 5K races. 

A few minutes before the start I made my way to the starting line.  The 10 mile and 10K started together with about 100 runners.  It was an out and back course with only a few turns.  We did cross one major road, but they had volunteers posted to stop traffic.  The run was about half on paved roads and half on dirt roads.  The dirt roads were tricky because of snow and ice, but what you would expect for Minnesota in February.

I was planning to run easy since I haven't been running much (only 7 miles total in February).  I went out with a group of about 5 others, but when I turned for the 10K they kept going for the 10 mile turnaround.  I was alone at this point.  A few minutes later I dropped my glove and looked behind me as I picked it up.  I didn't even see anyone running my way.  The runner in front of me was wearing a neon green jacket that I focused on, but he was to far for me to catch.  So I spent the last half of the race running by myself. 

I was happy with the effort and thought I might be in the top 10.  When results were posted I was 6th overall!!  My time was 50:21 (8:07 pace, but I think the course was short).  I was 2nd in my age group and received a medal.  Runners were very appreciative we could use the church, and many said they would do this race again.

Polar Dash 5k Results; Age Group Winner!

I was really surprised to see the results.  I knew a 7-something pace was possible, but didn't think low 7's.  The Age Group win is a big surprise too.  



2011 Polar Dash

Polar Dash 5k

Packet pickup was Thursday or Friday only.  So Thursday I got a fleece jacket, bib, chip, and my wife surprised me with a parking garage pass.  This was a great idea and I am thankful she got it.  The fleece is very nice with reflective highlights and the Polar Dash logo.

Saturday 1-1-2011 at 11am was the Team Ortho Polar Dash 5k.  I usually don't eat before I run, but with such a late start I decided to have a bowl of apple, orange, and kiwi, with cinnamon and a bit of Greek yogurt on top.  I was also able to fit in 20 min of yoga with Rodney Yee.  I felt great and was ready for the drive to St. Paul.

It was near zero degrees at 8am, but by the start of the race it warmed up to 7.  Parking was incredibly easy, and after talking on the phone for a bit I was ready for the 1 mile warm up run to the start.  I arrived just in time to take the customary stop at the bathroom and make my way to the start.  I REALLY liked the start.  They used half the road and then funneled everyone down to about 5 people wide.  This slowed everyone down to squeeze in, but then it opened up at the timing pads and left everyone with plenty of room to run.  I started in the 8-9 min mile group but should have been closer to 7 as I passed a LOT of people. 

The race was out and back, and slightly uphill on the way out.  At the 5k turnaround the 10k racers split off.  This gave me more elbow room as about half the people were doing the 5k.  The next section was slightly downhill and it felt like getting a second wind.  I focused on my breathing, not slipping on ice, and form (in that order).  With about a mile to go I really focused on form and this kept my finish strong.  After crossing the line I got my medal and had hot coco.  They gave out a food bag and I headed over to the warming tents for a snack before running back to the car.  I felt really positive about the run and am eager to get the results


Polar Dash Fleece Jacket Logo



Nov and Dec

What have I been doing for the last few months?  Not much running.  November 57 miles and December 54 miles.  The miles in December were of better quality with more speed work, but mostly I kept it easy.  

With all the free time, and after reading a few books on nutrition, I made a few things of note in the kitchen.  I love pizza, so a Primal approved Eggplant Pizza was perfect (and this link is for another favorite Primal Pizza recipe).  I also am a fan of the omelet, so why not try the Omelet Muffin.  A huge hit with the kids.



Primal Eggplant Pizza

 

Primal Egg Muffins



Garmin Forerunner 205

Under the tree was a Garmin, the 205.  I went on a two mile run this morning as a test drive.  When I got home I hooked it up to my computer and mapped my run with Google Earth.  I am looking forward to getting some runs in and really testing it's features.

Book: Ultraprevention

I've been reading "Ultraprevention" by Mark Hyman and Mark Liponis.  Both authors were schooled like other doctors, but due to personal circumstances they started to explore alternative ways of staying healthy.  The book describes how anyone can benefit from correcting imbalances in the body to prevent the development of disease.  I read the first two sections and recommend reading them.  The next section is a six-week plan to get you back on track, I'll start reading that section soon.

Authors website.
Amazon link here.