Another Bonnie! Coming up the deer trail
Monday, November 28, 2005
Afton Fat Ass Fun
Saturday morning was the Third Annual Afton Fat Ass. As I explained in an earlier post, a 'fat ass' run in ultra lingo is a run that is low key, not certified or timed; just fun with friends.
Saturday's run/hike was all of that.
There were roughly 15 of us participating in the morning romp through the woods. About an inch of snow had fallen through the night; making the trail very slippery. The snow was covering a thick layer of oak leaves.
Now, Scott didn't lead us along the 'regular' Afton State Park trails that the 'normal' people would use. Oh, no, no, no; Scott led us on the DEER TRAILS. For real. They are the trails that the deer use. The trails go up and down the deep deep ravines, through the creek crossings, you feel like a billy goat hanging on the side of a cliff. It was crazy fun!
Scott was the leader and we all followed him. He even set up two aid stations for us. He had a cooler with grapes, cheese, chocolate and sparkling pear juice for those of us who don't drink alcohol, and champagne for those that do! Yes, Champagne at the aid stations! He had two of these set up for us. Incredible!
We were out traipsing through the woods for 3:45 hours. It was fabulous. I think we covered 10 miles. Seriously! Crazy, hu?
After the run we changed and became cozy in the visitor center. There were different soups, chili, breads, fruit, veggies, sweets, etc. It was wonderful. We just visited and had a good time.
As we were sitting near the fire, with plates of food on our laps, guess what we saw? 9 deer, coming up out of the woods, on the deer trail that we had just run upon! Way Cool.
We had a card for Ann and an amazing amount of donations were received. I brought over $1000 to Ann on Sunday morning. What a great group of friends!
Saturday's run/hike was all of that.
There were roughly 15 of us participating in the morning romp through the woods. About an inch of snow had fallen through the night; making the trail very slippery. The snow was covering a thick layer of oak leaves.
Now, Scott didn't lead us along the 'regular' Afton State Park trails that the 'normal' people would use. Oh, no, no, no; Scott led us on the DEER TRAILS. For real. They are the trails that the deer use. The trails go up and down the deep deep ravines, through the creek crossings, you feel like a billy goat hanging on the side of a cliff. It was crazy fun!
Scott was the leader and we all followed him. He even set up two aid stations for us. He had a cooler with grapes, cheese, chocolate and sparkling pear juice for those of us who don't drink alcohol, and champagne for those that do! Yes, Champagne at the aid stations! He had two of these set up for us. Incredible!
We were out traipsing through the woods for 3:45 hours. It was fabulous. I think we covered 10 miles. Seriously! Crazy, hu?
After the run we changed and became cozy in the visitor center. There were different soups, chili, breads, fruit, veggies, sweets, etc. It was wonderful. We just visited and had a good time.
As we were sitting near the fire, with plates of food on our laps, guess what we saw? 9 deer, coming up out of the woods, on the deer trail that we had just run upon! Way Cool.
We had a card for Ann and an amazing amount of donations were received. I brought over $1000 to Ann on Sunday morning. What a great group of friends!
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Thanksgiving Day Run
This morning on the news KARE 11 was showing the entrants of the Northwest 5K Run in Downtown Minnepolis getting ready to run.
As I was pulling on mittens over gloves, hubby asked me "Didn't you always do that run?" "Yeah, I used to .." We then had a conversation about how my running has, well, grown..become a bit more extreme.
The 5K run was a 108 mile (round trip) drive into Minneapolis to run 3 miles. I drove for more minutes that I ran. Now that just seems wrong. I have a new rule. I need to run for more minutes than I drive to get to the run. Unless, of course, it is a 50 Mile or a 100 mile run. Then it is worth the ride.
Well, today it was a 20 mile (round trip) drive to run 15 miles. Plenty more running minutes than driving minutes.
PLUS I was able to run with my Topaz. As I was looking like a stuffed sausage, pulling on a second pair of pants, I realized he runs in the same attire all year long. Of course his fur coat he is sporting is a bit thicker, but how amazing nature is.
It was cold. 10F with a 35 mph wind which makes for a windchill of -17F. Yeah.
I just finished creating a super fruit salad: 4 apples, 4 oranges, 4 kiwi, 1 bag of green grapes, 1 bag of red grapes, 4 pears, 4 bananas, 1 can of unsweetened pineapple because it is out of season right now, 2 pounds of strawberries. YUM! Chop into BIG chunks (I only 1/2 the strawberries and leave the grapes whole), squeeze the juice of two lemons onto fruit and add 1/4 c honey. Stir well.
DIVINE!
Must get to the grocery to get some veggies for the awesome veggie tray.
Enjoy the turkey and get your RUN IN!
Happy Thanksgiving.
As I was pulling on mittens over gloves, hubby asked me "Didn't you always do that run?" "Yeah, I used to .." We then had a conversation about how my running has, well, grown..become a bit more extreme.
The 5K run was a 108 mile (round trip) drive into Minneapolis to run 3 miles. I drove for more minutes that I ran. Now that just seems wrong. I have a new rule. I need to run for more minutes than I drive to get to the run. Unless, of course, it is a 50 Mile or a 100 mile run. Then it is worth the ride.
Well, today it was a 20 mile (round trip) drive to run 15 miles. Plenty more running minutes than driving minutes.
PLUS I was able to run with my Topaz. As I was looking like a stuffed sausage, pulling on a second pair of pants, I realized he runs in the same attire all year long. Of course his fur coat he is sporting is a bit thicker, but how amazing nature is.
It was cold. 10F with a 35 mph wind which makes for a windchill of -17F. Yeah.
I just finished creating a super fruit salad: 4 apples, 4 oranges, 4 kiwi, 1 bag of green grapes, 1 bag of red grapes, 4 pears, 4 bananas, 1 can of unsweetened pineapple because it is out of season right now, 2 pounds of strawberries. YUM! Chop into BIG chunks (I only 1/2 the strawberries and leave the grapes whole), squeeze the juice of two lemons onto fruit and add 1/4 c honey. Stir well.
DIVINE!
Must get to the grocery to get some veggies for the awesome veggie tray.
Enjoy the turkey and get your RUN IN!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Afton Fat Ass
Excuse the language! In ultra running a "Fat Ass" run is one which is free, where there are no shirts or aid and usually a pot luck dinner afterwards.
Scott Wagner, Race Director of the Afton 50K, has held an Afton Fat Ass for the past three years on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Well, this Saturday will be the third year.
It's a blast! There are usually 20 or so runners who participate. We meet at the Afton State Park visitor center and run 'follow the leader' style, through the woods, through culverts, up and down hills, for 3-5 hours.
Scott says this year the route is 4-5 hours. A good enough run to wear off the Thanksgiving Pecan pie!
After a good run we'll converge on the visitor center for waffles, fruit salad, venison chili, multiple cake and cookie items and whatever else is brought along.
Most of all, we'll enjoy some very good company.
Do you know that I met all of these ultra runners on line? Yup. 3 years ago I wanted to run more than just marathons. I did a search and found the Minnesota Dead Runners list. I began to participate in online discussions and one day a woman (who turned out to be Bonnie!) invited me to a 'beginning ultra runner' discussion in St. Paul. Well, I was a bit nervous to meet a group of people that I had only conversed with online and had never seen in person. Thank goodness I did. This group of people have become some of my best friends.
After a few meetings..we met every Thursday night on Lake Como..Bonnie asked me to ride along with Bonnie and Marie to run the Ice Age 50 Mile. I had never even left home for a weekend!
I'm sure glad I attended that first meeting.
Scott Wagner, Race Director of the Afton 50K, has held an Afton Fat Ass for the past three years on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Well, this Saturday will be the third year.
It's a blast! There are usually 20 or so runners who participate. We meet at the Afton State Park visitor center and run 'follow the leader' style, through the woods, through culverts, up and down hills, for 3-5 hours.
Scott says this year the route is 4-5 hours. A good enough run to wear off the Thanksgiving Pecan pie!
After a good run we'll converge on the visitor center for waffles, fruit salad, venison chili, multiple cake and cookie items and whatever else is brought along.
Most of all, we'll enjoy some very good company.
Do you know that I met all of these ultra runners on line? Yup. 3 years ago I wanted to run more than just marathons. I did a search and found the Minnesota Dead Runners list. I began to participate in online discussions and one day a woman (who turned out to be Bonnie!) invited me to a 'beginning ultra runner' discussion in St. Paul. Well, I was a bit nervous to meet a group of people that I had only conversed with online and had never seen in person. Thank goodness I did. This group of people have become some of my best friends.
After a few meetings..we met every Thursday night on Lake Como..Bonnie asked me to ride along with Bonnie and Marie to run the Ice Age 50 Mile. I had never even left home for a weekend!
I'm sure glad I attended that first meeting.
Ann Maser 8K
The 8K I am putting together for Ann is coming together nicely. Today I received the entries all printed and folded up nice and neat; ready for labels and postage.
For those of you that live in the Twin Cities area please contact me for an entry! I'd love to meet you all.
The race will be held in Big Lake, 54 miles NW of Minneapolis on January 14 @ 9:00. Get this: The Minnesota Twins donated 4 executive seating tickets along with some merchandise for door prizes. I also received 4 30 minute certificates for massages, various business certificates and running store certificates. Very cool.
Today was a good workout day. 3 miles on the treadmill in the AM and 7 miles on the trail after work. Troy's basketball isn't until 730 tonight so I had a bit of free time :)
Run On!
For those of you that live in the Twin Cities area please contact me for an entry! I'd love to meet you all.
The race will be held in Big Lake, 54 miles NW of Minneapolis on January 14 @ 9:00. Get this: The Minnesota Twins donated 4 executive seating tickets along with some merchandise for door prizes. I also received 4 30 minute certificates for massages, various business certificates and running store certificates. Very cool.
Today was a good workout day. 3 miles on the treadmill in the AM and 7 miles on the trail after work. Troy's basketball isn't until 730 tonight so I had a bit of free time :)
Run On!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Wednesday Night Run Club
When I went out at lunch today I could not believe how windy and cold it was! 15F and 35 mile per hour winds makes for one cold temperature.
It wasn't any better come 5:00 tonight. I wanted to run 10 miles so figured I'd begin an hour early and run one loop myself and another with the fellow run club members.
Out came the fleece tights, under the wind pants. The two long sleeved shirts, the jacket, the fleece gloves, under the wind mittens, the wool socks and the fleece hat. All set.
I know that I've never had a run I haven't enjoyed and knew that I would enjoy this one too...once I began. I just had to get out there.
The hardest part was the first 1/4 mile..right into the wind. I had to pull my hands-covered with two layers of mits-into my jacket sleeves. Eventually I was able to pull them out and pull down my fleece face mask onto my neck.
The moon was big and full, beautifully reflecting upon itself upon the lake. Magical.
I misjudged my timing and was finished before the other runners had arrived for the 6:00 run. I was beginning to get cold so headed out for loop two on my own.
I finished by myself and was able to cheer and yell as the 5 men finished.
We stood around for only a few minutes. Enough time to stand in a circle, hold hands and offer a prayer for Ann.
Cold and wind blown, we all headed home.
It wasn't any better come 5:00 tonight. I wanted to run 10 miles so figured I'd begin an hour early and run one loop myself and another with the fellow run club members.
Out came the fleece tights, under the wind pants. The two long sleeved shirts, the jacket, the fleece gloves, under the wind mittens, the wool socks and the fleece hat. All set.
I know that I've never had a run I haven't enjoyed and knew that I would enjoy this one too...once I began. I just had to get out there.
The hardest part was the first 1/4 mile..right into the wind. I had to pull my hands-covered with two layers of mits-into my jacket sleeves. Eventually I was able to pull them out and pull down my fleece face mask onto my neck.
The moon was big and full, beautifully reflecting upon itself upon the lake. Magical.
I misjudged my timing and was finished before the other runners had arrived for the 6:00 run. I was beginning to get cold so headed out for loop two on my own.
I finished by myself and was able to cheer and yell as the 5 men finished.
We stood around for only a few minutes. Enough time to stand in a circle, hold hands and offer a prayer for Ann.
Cold and wind blown, we all headed home.
Friday, November 11, 2005
A Run For Ann
I'm planning an 8K race for Ann.
Yes. It is Ann who has lymphoma. Ann; whose face graces these many pages of my blog. Ann is one of the healthiest people I know, and for her to come down with cancer, is simply shocking to me.
I still haven't been able to wholly grasp the fact.
She'll fight this cancer. She'll fight it off and come back healthier than ever. Yup, I know it as fact.
The Big Lake Run Club is helping me to set up the details. We have Debbie, who is an artist, and does fabulous work. She will design the T-shirts.
The company for which George works is going to sponser us and pay for the shirts.
I've contacted local businesses to donate for food and drink, I've contacted running stores to donate merchandise for door prizes.
We'll use the clock and finish chute that we use for our summer race.
The date: January 14.
Ann is in for the race of her life. We'll be there to help her win this race.
Yes. It is Ann who has lymphoma. Ann; whose face graces these many pages of my blog. Ann is one of the healthiest people I know, and for her to come down with cancer, is simply shocking to me.
I still haven't been able to wholly grasp the fact.
She'll fight this cancer. She'll fight it off and come back healthier than ever. Yup, I know it as fact.
The Big Lake Run Club is helping me to set up the details. We have Debbie, who is an artist, and does fabulous work. She will design the T-shirts.
The company for which George works is going to sponser us and pay for the shirts.
I've contacted local businesses to donate for food and drink, I've contacted running stores to donate merchandise for door prizes.
We'll use the clock and finish chute that we use for our summer race.
The date: January 14.
Ann is in for the race of her life. We'll be there to help her win this race.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Wednesday Night Run Club
Minnesota experienced a wonderful fall day today. The sky was clear and blue; the wind light and the temperature..a balmy 71 degrees F! Spectacular!!
The only bummer is that it is now dark at 530 PM. We turned out clocks back on Sunday. I hate that, why can't we just enjoy the night light and keep the morning dark? I don't get it; but, I digress.
As I pulled my reflective vest over my short sleeved shirt I realized this was the first time I had worn the vest over anything other than a jacket. I didn't need a jacket today, or pants. Shorts and a tee on November 2. That hasn't happened before.
Run club was fun. It was only 1 and 4 of the guys. They actually ran at my pace tonight. We finished the 5 miles in 39:40.
I ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill this morning too. I'm finding that I don't like to start the day without a couple miles on the treadmill. It's becomming my cup of coffee-so to speak.
M1: Oat Pancake
M2: Banana/cottage cheese
M3: Tuna pouch, green salad, apple
M4: (Pre run) 1/2 Myloplex Bar
M5: (Post run) 2 c. ff pop corn (no appetite)
The only bummer is that it is now dark at 530 PM. We turned out clocks back on Sunday. I hate that, why can't we just enjoy the night light and keep the morning dark? I don't get it; but, I digress.
As I pulled my reflective vest over my short sleeved shirt I realized this was the first time I had worn the vest over anything other than a jacket. I didn't need a jacket today, or pants. Shorts and a tee on November 2. That hasn't happened before.
Run club was fun. It was only 1 and 4 of the guys. They actually ran at my pace tonight. We finished the 5 miles in 39:40.
I ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill this morning too. I'm finding that I don't like to start the day without a couple miles on the treadmill. It's becomming my cup of coffee-so to speak.
M1: Oat Pancake
M2: Banana/cottage cheese
M3: Tuna pouch, green salad, apple
M4: (Pre run) 1/2 Myloplex Bar
M5: (Post run) 2 c. ff pop corn (no appetite)
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