Looking back, 2011 has been a great year, with plenty of adventures and great moments.
Starting with January/February, I went snowshoeing several times, once in Duluth, and the most special time had to have been at the Luminary Loppet, a large skiing/snowshoeing event on Lake of the Isles. It was a wonderful event for people of all ages and abilities. I played on a broomball team, which was a fun excuse to get outside on some cold nights. I also began indoor climbing, which is something I've continued to do. This was pretty significant, as it has become something I've done roughly 1-2 times per week since then.
Getting into March, I made a trip to San Diego, California. It was nice to go to a warmer climate and get a taste of Southern California. My favorite part was going on a run in Torrey Pines reserve. The weather was great and the trail i ran on definitely kept me on my toes. There were switchbacks, rocks, and many tree roots. I ran down to the ocean, touched it, and just took in the moment.
As the weather began to warm up in April and May, I began to run and bike outside, in addition to climbing indoors. I went on a couple of short camping trips, including Interstate State Park in Wisconsin.
Once the summer came along, I was busy trying out several ice cream shops in the twin cities (though I never did a formal review on here), which was a tasty challenge. I think I ended up trying 8 different shops over the course of the summer. I also spent a lot of time outside, including checking out Minnehaha falls. The most unique event I went to was the antiques roadshow, which will be airing on PBS in January. It fun to volunteer and see what goes into the production of a TV show.
Later into the summer was my biggest adventure of the year: Backpacking in Yosemite National Park. I really enjoyed the challenge, and the rewards were obvious. I am already very nostalgic for the trip, and hope to go back there again, even if it means taking a long road trip like we did this summer.
As the fall came around, I continued to get outside, making my way to a few state parks for day hikes, including spending a night at Frontenac State park. I did some pretty good running too, enjoying the twin cities ten miler, and even won a 5k race (1 second off my PR) that I ran in! That was a great feeling, as I've never won a race before.
Getting into the colder weather, I've tried to keep myself busy as to not get depressed by the long winter. I've been successful at going to the climbing gym more often, and even going on a few short runs. I went winter camping at Afton State Park as well, which was a good way to test out my winter gear, including a new pair of boots.
It has been a great year, with so many activities and adventures. Through all of my new adventures I have learned something, and I hope to have just as many great experiences in 2012! Happy holidays!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Winter camping in Afton state park
This past weekend, I spent a night outside in Afton state park. Afton state park is located near the st. Croix river, just east of the twin cities.
We headed over to the park in the early afternoon, when we found out we were te only ones camping in their backpaking campsites. We traveled about 3/4 mile from where we parked the car to our eventual campsite. This included going up a pretty big hill. Our site was great, and with no one else out there, we had the park to ourselves.
We set up camp, got a nice fire going, and cooked some good food as it got dark outside. It was a windy day, but not incredibly cold. By the time we went to bed, it was somewhere just under 20 degres, I believe. My sleeping bag is rated to 20 degrees, and even though I hd a sleeping pad and a small blanket underneath, I was still a little cold, mostly in my feet.
The next morning, we got the fire going, cooked some pancakes, packed our stuff up, and got out of the park. It would have been nice to check out some of the snowshoe trails,but I didn't have my snowshoes with, and there really wasn't much snow.
I recommend afton state park to anyone who wants to camp a little distance away from their vehicle, but not too far. There are some great views of the st croix river as well.
We headed over to the park in the early afternoon, when we found out we were te only ones camping in their backpaking campsites. We traveled about 3/4 mile from where we parked the car to our eventual campsite. This included going up a pretty big hill. Our site was great, and with no one else out there, we had the park to ourselves.
We set up camp, got a nice fire going, and cooked some good food as it got dark outside. It was a windy day, but not incredibly cold. By the time we went to bed, it was somewhere just under 20 degres, I believe. My sleeping bag is rated to 20 degrees, and even though I hd a sleeping pad and a small blanket underneath, I was still a little cold, mostly in my feet.
The next morning, we got the fire going, cooked some pancakes, packed our stuff up, and got out of the park. It would have been nice to check out some of the snowshoe trails,but I didn't have my snowshoes with, and there really wasn't much snow.
I recommend afton state park to anyone who wants to camp a little distance away from their vehicle, but not too far. There are some great views of the st croix river as well.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Indoor Climbing in Minneapolis
Vertical Endeavors, a climbing gym in St. Paul, has recently opened a new location in Minneapolis. The new gym offers a variety of new routes for climbers to try.
I've been climbing at the St. Paul location for almost a year now, and have had fun trying bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing there. The new Minneapolis location offers all of these, and to make it a little more interesting, the building is significantly taller. This makes for some seriously tiring routes. I tried two top rope routes, one of which I wasn't able to finish due to the difficulty combined with the distance. I was too tired!
In addition to many new climbing routes, there is a large "party room" for groups. There was a large birthday party when I was there, which made it quite busy.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I am happy that I now have two locations to check out, especially as it starts to get colder outside.
I've been climbing at the St. Paul location for almost a year now, and have had fun trying bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing there. The new Minneapolis location offers all of these, and to make it a little more interesting, the building is significantly taller. This makes for some seriously tiring routes. I tried two top rope routes, one of which I wasn't able to finish due to the difficulty combined with the distance. I was too tired!
In addition to many new climbing routes, there is a large "party room" for groups. There was a large birthday party when I was there, which made it quite busy.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I am happy that I now have two locations to check out, especially as it starts to get colder outside.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Frontenac state park
Recently I spent a night camping in Frontenac state park. We enjoyed great views overlooking lake Pepin, and went on a fun hike.
Our campsite was in a nice spot, with no immediate neighbors, and easy access to a hiking trail. We set up our tent upon arriving, had a few snacks, and went on the hiking trail.
It didn't take long for us to realize the trail had the potential to be dangerous. Soon, we saw several people helping a man up the trail. As they got closer, we realized his ankle was wrapped. Not a surprising injury on a trail littered with leaves. We were careful as we hiked down from our campsite to the lake, heading down several switchbacks. Of course, when you go down, you have to go back up, so we had a scenic workout heading back up the bluff.
I slept in a 20 degree rated sleeping bag, and felt pretty good as it didnt get too far below 40, though we had some rain and wind.
I would definitely recommend Frontenac state park to anyone who wants to get out of town for the weekend and do some hiking and camping.
Our campsite was in a nice spot, with no immediate neighbors, and easy access to a hiking trail. We set up our tent upon arriving, had a few snacks, and went on the hiking trail.
It didn't take long for us to realize the trail had the potential to be dangerous. Soon, we saw several people helping a man up the trail. As they got closer, we realized his ankle was wrapped. Not a surprising injury on a trail littered with leaves. We were careful as we hiked down from our campsite to the lake, heading down several switchbacks. Of course, when you go down, you have to go back up, so we had a scenic workout heading back up the bluff.
I slept in a 20 degree rated sleeping bag, and felt pretty good as it didnt get too far below 40, though we had some rain and wind.
I would definitely recommend Frontenac state park to anyone who wants to get out of town for the weekend and do some hiking and camping.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Lake Como
With unseasonably warm weather this fall, I have been able to enjoy summer activiies a little later in the year than I would have expected. One of those activities is riding my bike. I went for a ride around Lake Como (in St. Paul, not Italy), and enjoyed the fall colors.
Lake Como is 1.75 miles around, so it made for a quick ride, but it was definitely the best part of my 8 mile ride that day.
Nestled in a residential neighborhood on one side, and a golf course on another, it is a small lake surrounded by trails. There were many walkers and runners on the trails, but I had the bike trail almost entirely to myself. The trails were fairly flat, but I do remember a couple of small hills.
After I left lake Como, I headed towards the state capitol building, which is only a couple miles away. It was a great ride on a beautiful evening.
Lake Como is 1.75 miles around, so it made for a quick ride, but it was definitely the best part of my 8 mile ride that day.
Nestled in a residential neighborhood on one side, and a golf course on another, it is a small lake surrounded by trails. There were many walkers and runners on the trails, but I had the bike trail almost entirely to myself. The trails were fairly flat, but I do remember a couple of small hills.
After I left lake Como, I headed towards the state capitol building, which is only a couple miles away. It was a great ride on a beautiful evening.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Medtronic Twin Cities 10 miler
On Sunday, October 2nd, I ran the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 mile race. It was a very popular run, with over 7500 participants. We all ran from the metrodome in downtown Minneapolis to the tate capitol in St. Paul.
The weather couldn't have been much better, as it was in the 40s at 7:09 when the race began, and warmed up from there. The race went along the western side of the mississippi river, until we crossed at franklin ave into St. Paul, where we ran on the eastern mississippi river road. After a couple miles there, we turned onto Summit ave to finish the race to the capitol. I was very familiar with the last half of the race or so, as I have done many runs along Summit ave.
With the great weather, familiar course, and all of my recent training, I knew it would be a solid race for me. I ended up with a PR, and wasn't exhausted at the end. The rest of the day was great as well, as I watched other finishers in both the 10 mile race and the marathon.
The weather couldn't have been much better, as it was in the 40s at 7:09 when the race began, and warmed up from there. The race went along the western side of the mississippi river, until we crossed at franklin ave into St. Paul, where we ran on the eastern mississippi river road. After a couple miles there, we turned onto Summit ave to finish the race to the capitol. I was very familiar with the last half of the race or so, as I have done many runs along Summit ave.
With the great weather, familiar course, and all of my recent training, I knew it would be a solid race for me. I ended up with a PR, and wasn't exhausted at the end. The rest of the day was great as well, as I watched other finishers in both the 10 mile race and the marathon.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Willow river state park (Wisconsin)
Willow river state park is located just outside of Hudson, WI. With 13 miles of hiking trails, a lake, and camping areas, there is a lot to do in this park.
I chose to go hiking, and explored what looked like about half of the trails going throughout the park. There were a few highlights. The greatest of which was clearly the gorge with an impressive waterfall. I didn't expect to see it in Hudson, a town that I knew had cliffs along the St. Croix, but I didn't know of the beautiful river vistas.
On the other side of the park there is a dam, which was right next to a nice area for a picnic and a small beach. I didn't spend much time there, but I could see many families enjoying the park.
Willow river state park is somewhere that I will probably go again if I ever want to get away, but not go too far.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Minnesota State Fair
Before yesterday, I had never been to the "Great Minnesota get-together". I went pretty much knowing what to expect, as I've been to several other fairs, but there were still a few neat things.
I learned that if you aren't going to the fair for a concert, then you're likely oing for food, people watching, the animals, and maybe the rides. Though a day at the fair wouldn't be complete ithout a little of each.
I got a nice taste of the food, (I was sharing with someone) trying a pronto pup (corndog), fried ravioli, french fries, salad on a stick and a malt. The malt had to be my favorite, though nothing really wow-ed me. I do not endorse this diet, though, and cranked out a 12 miler this morning to help me mitigate the caloric overload (well, that and I'm training for an upcoming 10 miler)!
I got a ton of people watching in as well. The styles, attitudes, and sizes were all over the place. With so many people wandering around, this had to be my favorite activity of the day. It was something everyone was doing.
I saw some barn animals, including pigs, goats, sheep, and cows. This was a pleasant way to get away from the massive crowds in other areas of the fairgrounds.
Finally, the rides. I didn't actually go on any, but I was up close to a few, and realized that none of them looked too special. I'm pretty sure had I gone on some of them, I would have lost my lunch.
Will I go back to the fair? Probably not, but the sensory overload is undeniable, and it makes for an interesting afternoon.
I learned that if you aren't going to the fair for a concert, then you're likely oing for food, people watching, the animals, and maybe the rides. Though a day at the fair wouldn't be complete ithout a little of each.
I got a nice taste of the food, (I was sharing with someone) trying a pronto pup (corndog), fried ravioli, french fries, salad on a stick and a malt. The malt had to be my favorite, though nothing really wow-ed me. I do not endorse this diet, though, and cranked out a 12 miler this morning to help me mitigate the caloric overload (well, that and I'm training for an upcoming 10 miler)!
I got a ton of people watching in as well. The styles, attitudes, and sizes were all over the place. With so many people wandering around, this had to be my favorite activity of the day. It was something everyone was doing.
I saw some barn animals, including pigs, goats, sheep, and cows. This was a pleasant way to get away from the massive crowds in other areas of the fairgrounds.
Finally, the rides. I didn't actually go on any, but I was up close to a few, and realized that none of them looked too special. I'm pretty sure had I gone on some of them, I would have lost my lunch.
Will I go back to the fair? Probably not, but the sensory overload is undeniable, and it makes for an interesting afternoon.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wilderness camping in Yosemite National Park
I haven't had a post for over a month now, but this one is a real treat (not like my ice cream posts, I'll get to those eventually). I spent a few days backpacking through the wilderness in yosemite National park.
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of north eastern California, Yosemite has so much beauty that I was only able to witness a small fraction. There are around 800 miles of trails throughout the park, and I saw roughly 30.
The trip began on a Friday morning, where my friends and I waited in line in the Touolumne meadows area to get a permit to backpack in the wilderness. The permit was free of charge. We made friends with some of the other people in line and waited for about two hours. We had a pretty good spot in line, maybe seventh. When it came time to pick a trailhead, we decided on rafferty creek. All of the options seemed good, but we knew we wanted to make it into yosemite valley, and we didn't want to take the most direct route, but didn't want to add on too many miles. I think it was a good compromise.
On Friday night, we camped in the backpacker's campground in toulumne meadows. It was a comfortable location, and cost $5 per person. We woke up at a decent time, and after we cooked breakfast, picked up some last minute items, and squared away our bear boxes (canisters we rented to keep bears away from human food), we got on the trail. It was still morning, and we were pretty excited to get moving.
The first few miles weren't too exciting, but we still snapped a few pictures. Our packs began to get quite heavy, and as we made our way to higher elevation, we took several breaks. There were 4 of us, and at one fork in the road we had a disagreemet on which way to go: the "easy" way or the "hard" way. I was interested in an adventure, but the voice of reason eventually stepped in and said that we had to go with the easier route. The views were still quite beautiful on the easy path, so no hard feelings now.
We spent the night in a meadow, not too off the trail. When it was time to get up in the morning, we were a bit slow- moving. It was quite cold, as the bear boxes had a considerable amount of frost on them. We cooked up some oatmeal and got on our way, what would eventually be around 11 miles of switchbacks and forest. We took at break near Merced lake, near where an established camp was set up. I remember filtering water and eating a lot of trail mix there. We moved along, and eventually found a great campsite in a wooded area. We had the best dinner of our time in the wilderness, burritos, that night. We also had a fire going for a while, which was easy to start with the abundance of dry sticks in the area.
The next day ended up being very relaxed. We walked a couple miles, and saw that the backpacker's campground for those that want to climb half dome was nearby. We were fortunate enough to get tickets for this when we picked up our wilderness permit, and we figured it would be much more comfortable to hike up to half dome from the campsite than from yosemite valley, an additional 4.7 miles from that point. We spent most of the day at a beach alongside the river and collecting wisdom from a variety of visitors.
After our rest day, we had what amounted to be the most painful (and most rewarding) day of our hike. We woke up early and made our way to half dome. Between where we camped and the top of half dome was about 2700 feet of elevation gain over 3.5 miles, so the trail was no joke. We made it to the top using the cables and enjoyed the views for a while. On our way down, it was starting to get a little busy, and I could see how accidents can happen there. We made our way back to camp and packed up. Next was the mist trail, which is appropriately named. We saw nevada falls and vernal falls on our way down into the valley, where we ended our trip.
Yosemite national park is definitely a beautiful place, so I can understand why so many people flock there each year. With that said, experiencing Yosemite by backpacking was a way to see the incredible sights and still (surprisingly) have solitude. I would recommend a trip to Yosemite for anyone up for a beautiful adventure.
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of north eastern California, Yosemite has so much beauty that I was only able to witness a small fraction. There are around 800 miles of trails throughout the park, and I saw roughly 30.
The trip began on a Friday morning, where my friends and I waited in line in the Touolumne meadows area to get a permit to backpack in the wilderness. The permit was free of charge. We made friends with some of the other people in line and waited for about two hours. We had a pretty good spot in line, maybe seventh. When it came time to pick a trailhead, we decided on rafferty creek. All of the options seemed good, but we knew we wanted to make it into yosemite valley, and we didn't want to take the most direct route, but didn't want to add on too many miles. I think it was a good compromise.
On Friday night, we camped in the backpacker's campground in toulumne meadows. It was a comfortable location, and cost $5 per person. We woke up at a decent time, and after we cooked breakfast, picked up some last minute items, and squared away our bear boxes (canisters we rented to keep bears away from human food), we got on the trail. It was still morning, and we were pretty excited to get moving.
The first few miles weren't too exciting, but we still snapped a few pictures. Our packs began to get quite heavy, and as we made our way to higher elevation, we took several breaks. There were 4 of us, and at one fork in the road we had a disagreemet on which way to go: the "easy" way or the "hard" way. I was interested in an adventure, but the voice of reason eventually stepped in and said that we had to go with the easier route. The views were still quite beautiful on the easy path, so no hard feelings now.
We spent the night in a meadow, not too off the trail. When it was time to get up in the morning, we were a bit slow- moving. It was quite cold, as the bear boxes had a considerable amount of frost on them. We cooked up some oatmeal and got on our way, what would eventually be around 11 miles of switchbacks and forest. We took at break near Merced lake, near where an established camp was set up. I remember filtering water and eating a lot of trail mix there. We moved along, and eventually found a great campsite in a wooded area. We had the best dinner of our time in the wilderness, burritos, that night. We also had a fire going for a while, which was easy to start with the abundance of dry sticks in the area.
The next day ended up being very relaxed. We walked a couple miles, and saw that the backpacker's campground for those that want to climb half dome was nearby. We were fortunate enough to get tickets for this when we picked up our wilderness permit, and we figured it would be much more comfortable to hike up to half dome from the campsite than from yosemite valley, an additional 4.7 miles from that point. We spent most of the day at a beach alongside the river and collecting wisdom from a variety of visitors.
After our rest day, we had what amounted to be the most painful (and most rewarding) day of our hike. We woke up early and made our way to half dome. Between where we camped and the top of half dome was about 2700 feet of elevation gain over 3.5 miles, so the trail was no joke. We made it to the top using the cables and enjoyed the views for a while. On our way down, it was starting to get a little busy, and I could see how accidents can happen there. We made our way back to camp and packed up. Next was the mist trail, which is appropriately named. We saw nevada falls and vernal falls on our way down into the valley, where we ended our trip.
Yosemite national park is definitely a beautiful place, so I can understand why so many people flock there each year. With that said, experiencing Yosemite by backpacking was a way to see the incredible sights and still (surprisingly) have solitude. I would recommend a trip to Yosemite for anyone up for a beautiful adventure.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Canoeing the chain of lakes
On a recent day, I set out to go canoeing, starting on lake Calhoun, and through the chain of lakes in Minneapolis. The weather was nice and the boat rental shop was busy, but we still got a boat quickly.
I haven't done a lot of canoeing in my life, but I've always enjoyed being close to the water. On a hot day in the summer, this made for an excellent activity. After renting the boat, we were off into lake Calhoun, and very shortly into a channel between lake Calhoun and lake of the isles. Naturally, the lakes were full of people on kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and a paddle boarder or two. I didn't go out for peace and quiet, though, I went out to see the scenery and get some exercise in the process.
Eventually, we made our way across lake of the isles and into the channel before cedar lake. Once we got into cedar lake, we paddled our way over to a tunnel that led t brownie lake, where we were rewarded with a large dinosaur in the water. After touching the dinosaur (don't worry, he was nice), we made our way back towards lake calhoun.
We ended up canoeing for a little under 2 hours, and really enjoyed it. Does this mean I will buy a canoe someday? I don't know for sure, but it is definitely a nice way to enjoy the outdoors.
I haven't done a lot of canoeing in my life, but I've always enjoyed being close to the water. On a hot day in the summer, this made for an excellent activity. After renting the boat, we were off into lake Calhoun, and very shortly into a channel between lake Calhoun and lake of the isles. Naturally, the lakes were full of people on kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and a paddle boarder or two. I didn't go out for peace and quiet, though, I went out to see the scenery and get some exercise in the process.
Eventually, we made our way across lake of the isles and into the channel before cedar lake. Once we got into cedar lake, we paddled our way over to a tunnel that led t brownie lake, where we were rewarded with a large dinosaur in the water. After touching the dinosaur (don't worry, he was nice), we made our way back towards lake calhoun.
We ended up canoeing for a little under 2 hours, and really enjoyed it. Does this mean I will buy a canoe someday? I don't know for sure, but it is definitely a nice way to enjoy the outdoors.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Biking on the greenway in Minneapolis
Recently, I went for a nice ride from the Cathedral in Saint Paul to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. I think it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 miles, and made for a nice ride on my mountain bike.
I had never crossed the Mississippi river before via bicycle, so this was a big first for me. I took a common running route along summit ave in st paul until I reached the river, where I followed the Mississippi river road for a short while, then crossed on the marshall/lake street bridge. Soon, I cnnected with the midtown greenway. The greenway is a nice paved trail that is seperate from the street. It goes on for several miles through Minneapolis, and has many convenient exits.
I saw many people using the trail, which was great to see. Some may have been commuting to work, some for a leisurly ride, and others were out to get some exercise. Since my plan was to meet a friend at lake calhoun, somewhere I normally drive, I was choosing the bike over my car for the day, and found myself getting a decent workout in the process.
The twin cities are filled with many great walking and biking trails, and the greenway is just one of them.
I had never crossed the Mississippi river before via bicycle, so this was a big first for me. I took a common running route along summit ave in st paul until I reached the river, where I followed the Mississippi river road for a short while, then crossed on the marshall/lake street bridge. Soon, I cnnected with the midtown greenway. The greenway is a nice paved trail that is seperate from the street. It goes on for several miles through Minneapolis, and has many convenient exits.
I saw many people using the trail, which was great to see. Some may have been commuting to work, some for a leisurly ride, and others were out to get some exercise. Since my plan was to meet a friend at lake calhoun, somewhere I normally drive, I was choosing the bike over my car for the day, and found myself getting a decent workout in the process.
The twin cities are filled with many great walking and biking trails, and the greenway is just one of them.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Nature Valley Grand Prix
During the week of June 15-19th, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a professional cycling stage series, comes to the Twin Cities. I've been to the event several times, as its always one of my favorite sporting events to watch.
There are 6 stages, the first two being in St. Paul. I attended the second race in St. Paul, the downtown Criterium. The announcers made it fun, even though it was raining just before the race began. Fortunately, it looked like the course dried up pretty well. The riders did a loop of something around a mile, 28 times for the women, and 40 times for the men. The race had some drama, especially with the women's field, which was stacked with some of the top professionals.
I was also able to attend the Minneapolis criterium 2 days later. Lots of people showed up for this race, including cycling legend Greg LeMond. He was on the stage with the announcers, and mentioned how he liked the kids "ride" that took place between the womens and mens event. It must have been pretty special for some of the pros, who no doubt look up to LeMond. While the kids ride and mens race were great, the womens race once again had drama, only this time, it ended with 3 people going to the hospital. There was a massive crash going into the last lap of the race. Many riders were down and it took a while to pull everyone out. Due to the crash, race officials decided to call off the race and not count it towards the results.
Having a professional cycling event in Minnesota is a real treat, and I look forward to attending again in the future. Now, to catch some of the Tour de France, which starts this weekend!
There are 6 stages, the first two being in St. Paul. I attended the second race in St. Paul, the downtown Criterium. The announcers made it fun, even though it was raining just before the race began. Fortunately, it looked like the course dried up pretty well. The riders did a loop of something around a mile, 28 times for the women, and 40 times for the men. The race had some drama, especially with the women's field, which was stacked with some of the top professionals.
I was also able to attend the Minneapolis criterium 2 days later. Lots of people showed up for this race, including cycling legend Greg LeMond. He was on the stage with the announcers, and mentioned how he liked the kids "ride" that took place between the womens and mens event. It must have been pretty special for some of the pros, who no doubt look up to LeMond. While the kids ride and mens race were great, the womens race once again had drama, only this time, it ended with 3 people going to the hospital. There was a massive crash going into the last lap of the race. Many riders were down and it took a while to pull everyone out. Due to the crash, race officials decided to call off the race and not count it towards the results.
Having a professional cycling event in Minnesota is a real treat, and I look forward to attending again in the future. Now, to catch some of the Tour de France, which starts this weekend!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Minnehaha falls
I recently checked out one of the most popular places to visit in the twin cities: Minnehaha falls. It is located in south Minneapolis, not far from the mississippi river.
The falls are surrounded by a wonderful park, which provides ample space for those wishing to walk their dogs, go on bike rides or runs, or simply throw a frisbee around. The falls themselves, while not huge, are still a fun sight, as it is a nice change of scenery from the city.
The best thing about the park, though, is the fact that it is very well used. There were many groups of people there when I visited, yet it didn't feel overly crowded. It I one of those places that makes me appreciate living in a metro with so many parks.
The falls are surrounded by a wonderful park, which provides ample space for those wishing to walk their dogs, go on bike rides or runs, or simply throw a frisbee around. The falls themselves, while not huge, are still a fun sight, as it is a nice change of scenery from the city.
The best thing about the park, though, is the fact that it is very well used. There were many groups of people there when I visited, yet it didn't feel overly crowded. It I one of those places that makes me appreciate living in a metro with so many parks.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Kayaking
One of the highlights of living in Minnesota (or Wisconsin) is having the opportunity to spend time on the water. I recently went kayaking, and also got the chance to go tubing and go on a short ride on a pontoon.
I've only used a 2 person kayak before, so getting into a single person kayak was new for me, but I wasn't too scared, after all, I was on a lake that wasn't very busy. It began to rain, but I continued to explore, going past an island and into an area that most motorboats can't go due to low water levels.
Going tubing was fun, even if a little painful. I don't know what hurt more: hitting the water after falling off the tube or the pain from holding on to the tube.
It was a fun day on the water, and I hope to have more just like it.
I've only used a 2 person kayak before, so getting into a single person kayak was new for me, but I wasn't too scared, after all, I was on a lake that wasn't very busy. It began to rain, but I continued to explore, going past an island and into an area that most motorboats can't go due to low water levels.
Going tubing was fun, even if a little painful. I don't know what hurt more: hitting the water after falling off the tube or the pain from holding on to the tube.
It was a fun day on the water, and I hope to have more just like it.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Interstate State Park (WI)
We arrived at the campground in the late afternoon on a Friday, and quickly set up the tent. I got a fire going, and we cooked some hot dogs and roasted some Marshmallows. Then the rain set in. It rained on and off into the early morning, but it was fine, as we were dry in the tent.
The next morning, we grabbed some bananas and drove into St. Croix falls for a cup of coffee at a small coffee shop. We walked around the small downtown for a while and headed back into the park. By this time, it was 10:30 or so and we began our hike through the park. We started at our campsite in the south Campground, right next to the trailhead of the Eagle Peak trail. The trail went on for a little less than a mile, heading uphill through the woods to a rocky area that provided a nice view (Eagle Peak).
From Eagle peak, we walked down the trail, and quickly connected to the skyline trail, which starts at the group camp area. The skyline trail goes through the woods, and requires you to walk underneath some downed trees along a trail that goes on for about a mile and a half, which ends at the visitor center.
The visitor center is a nice place to take a break. There are some exhibits showing pictures of creatures that roamed the earth during the Ice age thousands of years ago. There are a few fossils, as well, including a mammoth tooth! There are bathrooms at the visitor center, and this is also the place to buy wood and ice at the park, amongst other random items that you may want.
After our break at the visitor center, we were off to the next trail, one that lead us to the Pothole trail. The pothole trail was an exciting trail, with cliffs overlooking the St. Croix river. There were people climbing the rock faces, which were probably about 50 feet high. It was a short, but exciting trail, with some great photo opportunities along the trail.
We walked along the street on our way back to the campsite, and saw a beaver not far from the road. It was fun to see the animal scurry through the woods, though we didn't get much of a picture. We got pretty close, but there were some plants in between us and the beaver.
After we made our way back to the camp, we decided to check out the downtown of Taylor's falls for a late lunch (it was 2:30). We found a place with a large rotating root beer mug (I think it is called the Drive-in). It was a nice place to grab a burger and fries. After our lunch, we were off, and after a walk into the Minnesota side of Interstate State Park, we drove back to camp. The sleep was much better on this, the second night, as there was very little rain and we were pretty tired after a long day of hiking.
If you are looking for a quick getaway from the twin cities, I definitely recommend Interstate State Park. It is only an hour away, and provides enough to do for a great weekend.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Best Ice Cream in the Twin Cities
Generally, I write about the outdoors, fitness, and other adventures, but I've come up with a new conquest: Finding the best ice cream in the twin cities. I've already begun my search, and let me tell you, this is one of my most enjoyable conquests!
I actually got the idea last summer before I started my blog, but never really ran with it. This year, I'm making it happen. Of course, all of this will be in moderation. I am only going to roughlyone ice cream shop (or gelato shop) per week.
There are plenty of different options, so I imagine this project could run into September, but I will still be writing about my other conquests as well.
I actually got the idea last summer before I started my blog, but never really ran with it. This year, I'm making it happen. Of course, all of this will be in moderation. I am only going to roughlyone ice cream shop (or gelato shop) per week.
There are plenty of different options, so I imagine this project could run into September, but I will still be writing about my other conquests as well.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Getting outside in May
I haven't posted anything new for a couple weeks, but that doesn't mean I haven't been exploring. Actually, it means the opposite. I've gone on several runs, climbs, and rides in the past couple of weeks. I even went on another fun weekend camping trip, which I'll be blogging about shortly.
Starting with the runs, I went on a run from St. Paul to Minneapolis. This doesn't mean much in many parts of the city, but where I was, it meant for a out and back run totaling roughly 12 miles. It was a nice night, I felt strong, and decided to keep going! One issue with running that far is hydration, which I had covered, as I ran with a water bottle. The biggest issue for me was the soreness after the run. I was quite stiff that night and the next day, though it didn't keep me from getting outside while the weather was nice.
I went on a couple of bike rides in the last few weeks. The most interesting one included some biking past the State Capitol, up to Maryland Avenue and then back by taking a trail on Phalen. It was a nice ride, especially the trail along Phalen.
On the climbing end of things, I have begun to Lead climb in the gym. This takes quite a bit more skill than the auto belay or top rope climbing, but also provides a greater reward when done correctly. Even though this is in the gym, it is close to what you would think of when someone is climbing outdoors.
I'm hoping to make June just as fun-filled as May!
Starting with the runs, I went on a run from St. Paul to Minneapolis. This doesn't mean much in many parts of the city, but where I was, it meant for a out and back run totaling roughly 12 miles. It was a nice night, I felt strong, and decided to keep going! One issue with running that far is hydration, which I had covered, as I ran with a water bottle. The biggest issue for me was the soreness after the run. I was quite stiff that night and the next day, though it didn't keep me from getting outside while the weather was nice.
I went on a couple of bike rides in the last few weeks. The most interesting one included some biking past the State Capitol, up to Maryland Avenue and then back by taking a trail on Phalen. It was a nice ride, especially the trail along Phalen.
On the climbing end of things, I have begun to Lead climb in the gym. This takes quite a bit more skill than the auto belay or top rope climbing, but also provides a greater reward when done correctly. Even though this is in the gym, it is close to what you would think of when someone is climbing outdoors.
I'm hoping to make June just as fun-filled as May!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Camping at Baker park (Orono, MN)
Recently, I spent a relaxing night outdoors at Baker park in Orono, about half hour west of Minneapolis. A few friends and I decided that we wanted to have a night outdoors, now that the weather has warmed up a bit.
Baker park is a popular park to camp in or to have a picnic, as it isn't a far drive for people in the twin cities to enjoy a night (or day) outside. There are many trails that go through the park, and a lake, lake independence, is also part of the park. My friends and I didn't take part in many of the recreational opportunities available at the park, but still enjoyed the night outdoors.
May in Minnesota can be absolutely wonderful, though we didn't have that luck on the night we camped. Unfortunately, our campsite was a bit wet, which wasn't good for our shoes and the tarp we put our tent on. They were both quite muddy.The temps were in the low 40s overnight, which felt fine.
The cold and the rain didn't keep us from having a good time, though. We cooked up some brats and s'mores, and had some great campfire stories. Nights like that are some of the best, and I hope to have many more in the near future.
Baker park is a popular park to camp in or to have a picnic, as it isn't a far drive for people in the twin cities to enjoy a night (or day) outside. There are many trails that go through the park, and a lake, lake independence, is also part of the park. My friends and I didn't take part in many of the recreational opportunities available at the park, but still enjoyed the night outdoors.
May in Minnesota can be absolutely wonderful, though we didn't have that luck on the night we camped. Unfortunately, our campsite was a bit wet, which wasn't good for our shoes and the tarp we put our tent on. They were both quite muddy.The temps were in the low 40s overnight, which felt fine.
The cold and the rain didn't keep us from having a good time, though. We cooked up some brats and s'mores, and had some great campfire stories. Nights like that are some of the best, and I hope to have many more in the near future.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis
One of my favorite trails in Minneapolis is the trail around the Lake of the Isles. The trail is about 2.5 miles, so not too far, but is a great place to run, bike, or go on a walk. It is a year-round destination, and I've been there many times.
Yesterday it was 70 and sunny, which made for a great run around the lake. Of course, I wasn't the only one with this bright idea, and the trail was very busy with walkers and runners. I could tell, though, that it wasn't as busy as nearby lake Calhoun, a favorite place to see and be seen here in Minneapolis.
When the weather isn't so warm, the trail is a nice walk, as it isn't too far, and when the lake is frozen over, there are ski and snowshoe trails on the lake.
One of the best things about the area is that the trail around lake of the isles connects you to other great great trails, including Lake Calhoun and the greenway. All in all, its a great place to hang out!
Yesterday it was 70 and sunny, which made for a great run around the lake. Of course, I wasn't the only one with this bright idea, and the trail was very busy with walkers and runners. I could tell, though, that it wasn't as busy as nearby lake Calhoun, a favorite place to see and be seen here in Minneapolis.
When the weather isn't so warm, the trail is a nice walk, as it isn't too far, and when the lake is frozen over, there are ski and snowshoe trails on the lake.
One of the best things about the area is that the trail around lake of the isles connects you to other great great trails, including Lake Calhoun and the greenway. All in all, its a great place to hang out!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bouldering at the gym
At the climbing gym, there are a few options to get your fill. An option that I didn't originally care for is bouldering. I didn't like it because my fingers would hurt during every move I would make. I've grown to like it much more, though.
Bouldering doesn't require any special equipment, but some mental and physical strength will definitely help. Simply, you try to get up a short wall (around 10 feet) using only certain hand and feet holds. Oftentimes the problems are quite tough, and they take patience to solve. The best way I have found for solving difficult problems is to break up the route piece by piece, as if you know you can do each move in the route seperately, eventually you should be able to do them together.
While at the gym, I have been spending more and more time doing this type of climbing. It is a fun workout.
Bouldering doesn't require any special equipment, but some mental and physical strength will definitely help. Simply, you try to get up a short wall (around 10 feet) using only certain hand and feet holds. Oftentimes the problems are quite tough, and they take patience to solve. The best way I have found for solving difficult problems is to break up the route piece by piece, as if you know you can do each move in the route seperately, eventually you should be able to do them together.
While at the gym, I have been spending more and more time doing this type of climbing. It is a fun workout.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Ten Miler in St. Paul
Today wasn't a perfect day in St. Paul, the temperature in the mid 40s and strong wind, but I felt the need to go on a run after three or so days of eating lots of sweets. I didn't start my run with the plan to go 10 miles, but that's how it ended up.
I began my run near the cathedral, at the eastern end of summit ave. I felt pretty good, wearing a hat and gloves along with my running shorts. Not a combo I usually go with, but I needed some warmth.
After running 2 miles down Summit, I arrived at Lexington avenue. Its a great place to turn around, as it is a pretty major intersection. I felt strong and pushed on, full well knowing that any step I took, I would have to take again on the way back. I made the same decision at the 3 mile mark, Snelling avenue. Even at that point I thought, well, I'll just go a few more blocks, but it felt good, so I continued on, making it to the Mississippi river rod trail, 4.5 miles from where I started. I ran to St. Clair avenue along the trail, and made sure to run by one of the lookouts over the river along the way.
The trip back was tough, as I knew it would be. I hadn't run more than 9 miles since 2008! I had a few slow moments, but tried to throw in some short tempo challenges. I would run half a bock moderately fast, or run fast between two obstacles, such as tree and a lamp pos.
It felt good for my furthest run of the year. I did it in a decent time, too, though nowhere near my old race pr. This wasn't a race, though. This was a fun run down beautiful Summit ave!
I began my run near the cathedral, at the eastern end of summit ave. I felt pretty good, wearing a hat and gloves along with my running shorts. Not a combo I usually go with, but I needed some warmth.
After running 2 miles down Summit, I arrived at Lexington avenue. Its a great place to turn around, as it is a pretty major intersection. I felt strong and pushed on, full well knowing that any step I took, I would have to take again on the way back. I made the same decision at the 3 mile mark, Snelling avenue. Even at that point I thought, well, I'll just go a few more blocks, but it felt good, so I continued on, making it to the Mississippi river rod trail, 4.5 miles from where I started. I ran to St. Clair avenue along the trail, and made sure to run by one of the lookouts over the river along the way.
The trip back was tough, as I knew it would be. I hadn't run more than 9 miles since 2008! I had a few slow moments, but tried to throw in some short tempo challenges. I would run half a bock moderately fast, or run fast between two obstacles, such as tree and a lamp pos.
It felt good for my furthest run of the year. I did it in a decent time, too, though nowhere near my old race pr. This wasn't a race, though. This was a fun run down beautiful Summit ave!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Back on the Run
As the weather is warming up, I'm getting more excited for a spring and summer that will likely be full of running. I went on a five and a half mile run yesterday, and there were still several patches of ice, snow, and puddles, but I don't expect that stuff to get in my way too much longer.
The last few runs I've gone on have had included several "pick-ups", never too scientific, though. Oftentimes, I will run faster until the next patch of ice, or one block, or until a sign or a tree. I usually try to do this around five times per run, but I'm not really counting. I'm not too serious right now, but I have been there in the past.
In 2007 and 2008 I was much more serious about doing a certain number of miles, at a certain pace, with a specific amount of intervals, etc. I always wore a stop watch, and made many trips to a local track. Naturally, in both of those years I had some of my greatest running achievements, running my first 10k, 10 mile, half-marathon and marathon, and also PR-ing in a 5k. In 2008, while training for the marathon, I became a very efficient runner, and was definitely at my peak. One time I went to the track to see how fast I could run one mile, and broke my old PR.. even though I didn't have competition! It didn't surprise me too much, as I knew I was in good shape, but I didn't think that training for a marathon would also help me in the one mile.
I don't know if I'll get back to that level again, but I'm already more serious about running than I have been since 2008 (October 2008 was the Twin Cities Marathon). Maybe I'll do my first ten mile run since then, or do some new races, there are certainly plenty of options!
The last few runs I've gone on have had included several "pick-ups", never too scientific, though. Oftentimes, I will run faster until the next patch of ice, or one block, or until a sign or a tree. I usually try to do this around five times per run, but I'm not really counting. I'm not too serious right now, but I have been there in the past.
In 2007 and 2008 I was much more serious about doing a certain number of miles, at a certain pace, with a specific amount of intervals, etc. I always wore a stop watch, and made many trips to a local track. Naturally, in both of those years I had some of my greatest running achievements, running my first 10k, 10 mile, half-marathon and marathon, and also PR-ing in a 5k. In 2008, while training for the marathon, I became a very efficient runner, and was definitely at my peak. One time I went to the track to see how fast I could run one mile, and broke my old PR.. even though I didn't have competition! It didn't surprise me too much, as I knew I was in good shape, but I didn't think that training for a marathon would also help me in the one mile.
I don't know if I'll get back to that level again, but I'm already more serious about running than I have been since 2008 (October 2008 was the Twin Cities Marathon). Maybe I'll do my first ten mile run since then, or do some new races, there are certainly plenty of options!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Indoor climbing: new routes
I've continued to go climbing at the local climbing gym in St. Paul. I find that it is often a young, excited crowd. I must admit, I'm usually pretty excited, too. I feel my strength and confidence in my climbing have both improved significantly since I started going a couple months ago.
I usually go with one or two other friends, and we definitely push eachother. Naturally, we also make fun of eachother about as much as we can. Keeping it fun is what we want to do. Just today, we found time to laugh at ourselves after seeing a much more experienced climber make some of the stuff we were trying look easy. Did I mention he was 12? The gym has people of all ages, which is great for the sport.
I know I have improved, if by no other reason, there is a rating system in climbing where the easiest routes are rated 5.6, then it goes up to 5.7, 5.8, and so on. I now find myself mostly trying 5.10 routes, and not struggling much with 5.9 and below. The first few times I went, though, though, that wasn't the case. I was stuck on at 5.9 for a while, and was challenged by 5.8 routes.
I have been going 2-3 times a week for the past few weeks, so I hope to see even more gains in the future.
I usually go with one or two other friends, and we definitely push eachother. Naturally, we also make fun of eachother about as much as we can. Keeping it fun is what we want to do. Just today, we found time to laugh at ourselves after seeing a much more experienced climber make some of the stuff we were trying look easy. Did I mention he was 12? The gym has people of all ages, which is great for the sport.
I know I have improved, if by no other reason, there is a rating system in climbing where the easiest routes are rated 5.6, then it goes up to 5.7, 5.8, and so on. I now find myself mostly trying 5.10 routes, and not struggling much with 5.9 and below. The first few times I went, though, though, that wasn't the case. I was stuck on at 5.9 for a while, and was challenged by 5.8 routes.
I have been going 2-3 times a week for the past few weeks, so I hope to see even more gains in the future.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Torrey Pines State Reserve
The Torrey Pines State Reserve borders a famous golf course, and offers some beautiful scenery. There are several trails that lead to cliffs along the Pacific Ocean. Also, there were plenty of plants that I'm not used to seeing. The most interesting, the Torrey Pine tree, only grows in two places: the state reserve, and on a nearby island. Of course, the weather was wonderful for a hike, the first day I've experienced over 65 since October probably.
It wasn't an easy run, though, as you had to watch your step with the trails being slightly uneven in places. There were also many switchbacks as they go downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. Of course I had to touch the ocean, so I went all the way down, which involved going down stairs as well.
I stopped to take pictures in several places along the trail. The bluffs along the ocean, the trees, the flowers, the outdoor workout, it was just a great feeling. Ah, it's no wonder California is the most populous state. I was almost sold on living there over just 4 days!
I'm really looking forward to making the spring of 2011 as great as the winter has been. I've got plans to make that happen, too: I'll be ramping up my running, climbing, hope to find some cool events in the twin cities, and possibly even go on a road trip or two!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Winter camping in Wisconsin
Two of my good friends and I have been talking about camping for a couple of months now. I bought a two person tent in November, and wanted to use it. We decided that winter would be a great time to test the tents (and ourselves) against the elements.
We ended up using two tents. The first one was a two person backpacking tent. This was the one I recently purchased, but hadn't gotten the chance to use. The other tent was a little bigger, and could hold 3 people. It was pretty old, but it worked for us. We probably could have all fit into the 3 person tent and slept comfortably, but I really wanted to try out my new tent.
The first thing we did after setting up the tents was put some padding down so we weren't sleeping right on top of snow. I believe this helped us significantly. We then threw our sleeping bags in there and crawled in. The temperature was somewhere in the single digits, so we made sure to dress warmly. I had long underwear on underneath some sweatpants, and had 2 longsleeve shirts on underneath the sleeping bag, in addition to a warm pear of socks.
In my tent, there were two of us, in the other tent, one of my friends stayed solo. I found it nice to have someone to talk to, distracting us from the noises outside, one of which was a nearby owl. I fell asleep pretty quick, but woke up twice during the night. The first time, I was cold. I had somehow came out of my sleeping bag a little, and my back was touching the cold tent. I moved around for a bit and eventually fell back asleep. The next time I woke up, there was no turning back, as the sunlight was shining, and I could hear the ice auger of some nearby fishermen.
It was a fun experience to spend the night outside in the winter. I would be willing to do it again, but would like to get a smaller sleeping pad. Not sure if I'll do it again this winter, but maybe next year.
We ended up using two tents. The first one was a two person backpacking tent. This was the one I recently purchased, but hadn't gotten the chance to use. The other tent was a little bigger, and could hold 3 people. It was pretty old, but it worked for us. We probably could have all fit into the 3 person tent and slept comfortably, but I really wanted to try out my new tent.
The first thing we did after setting up the tents was put some padding down so we weren't sleeping right on top of snow. I believe this helped us significantly. We then threw our sleeping bags in there and crawled in. The temperature was somewhere in the single digits, so we made sure to dress warmly. I had long underwear on underneath some sweatpants, and had 2 longsleeve shirts on underneath the sleeping bag, in addition to a warm pear of socks.
In my tent, there were two of us, in the other tent, one of my friends stayed solo. I found it nice to have someone to talk to, distracting us from the noises outside, one of which was a nearby owl. I fell asleep pretty quick, but woke up twice during the night. The first time, I was cold. I had somehow came out of my sleeping bag a little, and my back was touching the cold tent. I moved around for a bit and eventually fell back asleep. The next time I woke up, there was no turning back, as the sunlight was shining, and I could hear the ice auger of some nearby fishermen.
It was a fun experience to spend the night outside in the winter. I would be willing to do it again, but would like to get a smaller sleeping pad. Not sure if I'll do it again this winter, but maybe next year.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Broomball season in review
I recently completed my final broomball game. It was a fun sport to try, though I was surprised at how competitive it was.
Our team ended with a record of 2-4-1, though I wasn't there for the tie game. Every game was a decently fair match except for the final game, where we were blown out by a team that didn't belong in the "D" league. While we weren't the most organized team, most people on our team had some prior experience.
Here are some of my personal stats: 0 goals, 0 assists, 4 shots on goal, and my redeeming one, 0 goals allowed as goalie. I only spent about 3 minutes of one game as goalie, though, so don't be too impressed! In addition, I also spent two minutes in the penatly box for high-sticking.
Some of my teammates were easy going, but I found many of the people on the ice (both on my team and other teams) to take this goofy sport much more seriously than I did. We had referees, so I suppose that set the tone. I was surprised to see some people arguing with referees, though. I laughed when I saw this happening.
It was fun to be involved in a team sport, especially in the winter, but I am definitely more successful at individual sports. I'm pretty good at finding ways to stay active during any season, so I doubt I'll join another broomball team.
Our team ended with a record of 2-4-1, though I wasn't there for the tie game. Every game was a decently fair match except for the final game, where we were blown out by a team that didn't belong in the "D" league. While we weren't the most organized team, most people on our team had some prior experience.
Here are some of my personal stats: 0 goals, 0 assists, 4 shots on goal, and my redeeming one, 0 goals allowed as goalie. I only spent about 3 minutes of one game as goalie, though, so don't be too impressed! In addition, I also spent two minutes in the penatly box for high-sticking.
Some of my teammates were easy going, but I found many of the people on the ice (both on my team and other teams) to take this goofy sport much more seriously than I did. We had referees, so I suppose that set the tone. I was surprised to see some people arguing with referees, though. I laughed when I saw this happening.
It was fun to be involved in a team sport, especially in the winter, but I am definitely more successful at individual sports. I'm pretty good at finding ways to stay active during any season, so I doubt I'll join another broomball team.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Indoor Rock Climbing
This winter, I've been able to get outside quite a bit despite the cold weather. One of the things I'm most excited about, though, is indoor rock climbing. The sport is completely new to me, so I have a lot to learn, but I've quickly realized it can provide for a challenging workout.
Indoor rock climbing is a little bit more complicated than going out for a run, but there are only a couple of things you need. A pair of climbing shoes (they are super tight on your feet) and a harness are all you need at the place that I go, as they have several ropes set up to auto-belay you. This means you don't need anyone to be holding the other end of the rope as a machine does it. As time goes on, I will definitely have one of my friends belay me (and I will belay them), but for the two times I've gone, we have all used the auto-belay ropes.
When we are on the wall, there are many routes marked and rated. This provides for one of the best challenges, as you have to be careful where you put your hands and your feet. There is also the option to just climb right up the wall without paying much attention to how each hold is marked, but I don't think I will be able to notice any improvement if I do it that way.
After going up the wall a few times, the tips of my fingers begin to hurt. It becomes harder to grip onto the holds, and the routes up the wall that I'm able to complete become fewer and fewer. My forearms feel very tired, and I'm ready to sit down. This tells me it was a pretty good workout. I hope to continue climbing, and eventually get to the skill level where I can do some outdoor climbing.
Indoor rock climbing is a little bit more complicated than going out for a run, but there are only a couple of things you need. A pair of climbing shoes (they are super tight on your feet) and a harness are all you need at the place that I go, as they have several ropes set up to auto-belay you. This means you don't need anyone to be holding the other end of the rope as a machine does it. As time goes on, I will definitely have one of my friends belay me (and I will belay them), but for the two times I've gone, we have all used the auto-belay ropes.
When we are on the wall, there are many routes marked and rated. This provides for one of the best challenges, as you have to be careful where you put your hands and your feet. There is also the option to just climb right up the wall without paying much attention to how each hold is marked, but I don't think I will be able to notice any improvement if I do it that way.
After going up the wall a few times, the tips of my fingers begin to hurt. It becomes harder to grip onto the holds, and the routes up the wall that I'm able to complete become fewer and fewer. My forearms feel very tired, and I'm ready to sit down. This tells me it was a pretty good workout. I hope to continue climbing, and eventually get to the skill level where I can do some outdoor climbing.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cold run
I've been doing a pretty good job of getting outside this winter, and when I saw a clear sky, I wanted to go on a run. I looked up the temperature: somewhere between -5 and 5 degrees fahrenheit. I'd never ran more miles than degrees it was outside, but that changed after a 5.5 mile run.
Fortunately, the sun was out and the wind was pretty light. I ran a familiar route on Summit ave in St Paul. The route is pretty flat and goes past some historic homes. I had to be careful of ice and snow, but that's to be expected. I felt really strong, and probably would gone further had the route not been an out and back. I certainly wouldn't have felt as good if I hadn't prepared, though. I was wearing warm socks, spandex, windpants, two long sleeve shirts, a lightweight running jacket, a hat, gloves, and a headband over my neck. A sharp contrast from many of my runs last summer where I went shirtless with shorts. Yes, I am looking forward to warmer weather, but I still want to have a few more winter adventures.
Fortunately, the sun was out and the wind was pretty light. I ran a familiar route on Summit ave in St Paul. The route is pretty flat and goes past some historic homes. I had to be careful of ice and snow, but that's to be expected. I felt really strong, and probably would gone further had the route not been an out and back. I certainly wouldn't have felt as good if I hadn't prepared, though. I was wearing warm socks, spandex, windpants, two long sleeve shirts, a lightweight running jacket, a hat, gloves, and a headband over my neck. A sharp contrast from many of my runs last summer where I went shirtless with shorts. Yes, I am looking forward to warmer weather, but I still want to have a few more winter adventures.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Duluth in the winter
When we arrived, we grabbed a bite to eat, and then headed out to Park Point. Park Point is a long sandbar on Lake Superior. The only way you get there by car is to cross the aerial lift bridge from Canal Park. We crossed the bridge, and made our way to the park. When we got there, we put on our snowshoes and began to walk down the beach. There were large ice formations and it was entertaining to see the water crash up against the ice.
There was a very cold wind as we walked down the beach, so we left after about an hour. Once we made our way back to Canal Park we got some coffee to warm us up a bit. We walked around for a bit, and decided to go to head up the hill to Enger Tower.
The trip to Enger Tower was a bit of an adventure. Many roads in Duluth are quite steep, and the ones we took to get to Enger Tower certainly were. There was some snow on the road, so that made for an interesting drive in addition to the great views from Skyline drive. We parked on the road into Enger Park and walked up to the Tower. At first I wasn't sure if the tower would actually be open, but it was. We made our way up the tower and took several pictures of the wonderful view.
The sun set and we called it a night after a successful day in Duluth.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Walking to work: not an adventure, but a lifestyle
I moved in October to an apartment located about half a mile from where I work. There is a bus stop near my aparment, but I've never actually rode the bus in to work as I would rather walk than sit in the cold waiting for a bus to arrive. With all of the snow that has fallen, it has actually been a bit interesting. I've worn snowpants and boots into the office a couple times, but for now the sidewalks are decent.
I find that walking to work is much less stressful than driving as well. When you walk to work, traffic isn't something for you to worry about. In addition to the obvious cost savings, you get to start your day on a good note. For many people this isn't possible, as not all businesses are near enough residential areas to walk to, but if you can walk to work, I definitely recommend it!
I find that walking to work is much less stressful than driving as well. When you walk to work, traffic isn't something for you to worry about. In addition to the obvious cost savings, you get to start your day on a good note. For many people this isn't possible, as not all businesses are near enough residential areas to walk to, but if you can walk to work, I definitely recommend it!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Skiing into the New Year
2011! It feels pretty good to be starting a new year. This year I'm committing to staying active (not a resolution, but a general way of life). On that note, I went skiing for the first time in many years.
The last time I went cross country skiing I was in middle school, and even though I've been through many winters since then, I haven't had too big of an urge to go until about a year ago when I helped out with a ski race. Seeing the athletes made me want to give it a try, but alas, I didn't get out until today.
I didn't want to make a financial commitment, so I was able to borrow some skis and boots, and went out on a public trail in the suburbs with a friend. She hadn't skied in years either, so it was a great opportunity for us to both practice our skills on some old skis.
Very quickly after we started, I could feel a burn in my triceps. I tried to work on my form a bit, and for some of the time I tried to not use the poles, though I found that to be hard as well. Soon, we saw a class of young children, so we stopped and went off to the side of the trail. We didn't want to fall down near them!
In total we probably skied for a mile or two. The terrain was varied, so we could really notice when we were going up or going down a hill. We never really learned how to stop well, but lucky for us, we didn't have any bad falls. I guess we know what to work on the next time we go, which I hope will be soon.
The last time I went cross country skiing I was in middle school, and even though I've been through many winters since then, I haven't had too big of an urge to go until about a year ago when I helped out with a ski race. Seeing the athletes made me want to give it a try, but alas, I didn't get out until today.
I didn't want to make a financial commitment, so I was able to borrow some skis and boots, and went out on a public trail in the suburbs with a friend. She hadn't skied in years either, so it was a great opportunity for us to both practice our skills on some old skis.
Very quickly after we started, I could feel a burn in my triceps. I tried to work on my form a bit, and for some of the time I tried to not use the poles, though I found that to be hard as well. Soon, we saw a class of young children, so we stopped and went off to the side of the trail. We didn't want to fall down near them!
In total we probably skied for a mile or two. The terrain was varied, so we could really notice when we were going up or going down a hill. We never really learned how to stop well, but lucky for us, we didn't have any bad falls. I guess we know what to work on the next time we go, which I hope will be soon.
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