Get in Gear

On Saturday, April 26th I accomplished another running goal.  I participated in the 37th annual Get in Gear run and completed my first ever 10k (6.2 mi) race! Despite my recent running struggles due to a healing bruised tailbone, achy shins from worn out shoes ( they were replaced before race day), and lower back pain, I nailed it!!

Packet pick up on Friday, the eve of race day. Many tents were up and ready to go at the Minnehaha park pavilion in Minneapolis. 

 

Crossing the finish line.  Woo-hoo!

 

 

Post race shortly after crossing the finish line. Yo Adrian, I did it! Matthew was there as well, cheering me on at mile 3 and then again at the finish line. Having him there was just the boost I needed to keep me going!

Though there was no medal for this race (only for the half runners), I still walked away with this free tee, my bib, and of course, the pride of my accomplishment! 

Lunal Eclipse

This morning I randomly awoke at 2:00 am, thinking it was Saturday ( my days are messed up, I've been working 9 days in a row).  After I unfortunately realized it was only Tuesday, I remembered that the lunar eclipse was occurring around the time I woke.  I decided to go out and take a couple photos of the phenomenon.

 

 

It was a very chilly night for mid April!  Well worth going out and photographing though.  The photos were a bit blurry due to the movement of the stars and moon, but I still managed to catch the moon turning blood red.

A Day in Duluth

On Saturday ( April 5th ) Matt and I took a day trip up to the Duluth area to get out of the city.  I had seen photos of the ice dams on Lake Superior and had wanted to get up there for a while now, to see them for myself.  Getting away to the North Shore is always a great time as well, no matter what time of year!

 

These piles of ice make even Matt look tiny!

Matt stands upon on of the mighty ice chunks.

The great wall of ice

Gazing upon the frozen Lake

This looks like something in Antarctica.

It appears as if I'm in the middle of NO WHERE!

Other individuals were also enjoying the ice dams (the tiny specs in the background).

Matt stands upon another huge pile of ice.

Interesting ice shards

Art, in ice form.

Our day didn't stop at the ice dams. We decided to head even further up north to check out the rest of the shoreline.  As you can see, it was a beautiful day for a drive!

Our next stop was Gooseberry Falls.  It's always fun to see how frozen the Gooseberry area is.

Open water leading to the lower falls.

Side view of Gooseberry Falls.  Not much is flowing yet.

Our first lengthy trip with the new car! 

Matt giving me a goofy face.  :P

I didn't time this photo right, but Matt's landing after launching himself onto the giant snow bank in the Gooseberry Falls State Park parking lot.

The day was flying by, and we decided to stop again in Duluth at Canal Park before driving back home.  A small lighthouse in the Canal by the lift bridge.

Free ride!  We found some ducks taking advantage of a chunk of ice floating by the canal.

Another view of Lake Superior from Canal Park.

Matt pulling on an old anchor.

A historic engine from one of the ships that once embarked upon Lake Superior.

Historical ship memorabilia.

Big wrenches!

A display of shipwrecks that occurred during one of the worst storms on Lake Superior.

An old photo of one of the ships sinking on Superior.  Scary!!

Model replicas of various ships that can be found traveling Lake Superior.

Of course, Lake Superior wouldn't be the same without the seagulls!  A couple we found in Canal Park.

Back at home on Sunday.  After my 4.5 mile run, I came home and let the cats out to enjoy the awesome weather!  Tic LOVING the sun, and soaking it in!!