Wow - wildlife!

Marathon training - correction, half marathon training continues. It's Tuesday, and I've already logged 21 miles (10 Sunday, 5 Monday, 6 this morning...)! And let me tell you, this week, even the wildlife are supporting me.

It began in Brookings, SD, where I tackled a new trail for the 10-mile effort. Basically, I got on the bike path and followed faded chalk markers from the Brookings Marathon (held May 10). Along my way, you wouldn't believe how many cottontail rabbits I saw - at least a dozen - and one that even wanted to race me. I knew about the cotton-tail plague in Brookings (hence South Dakota State University's mascot, the jackrabbit), so this didn't phase me. Later during my run, two ducks were getting "friendly" in a pond, if you know what I mean. It didn't matter what the wildlife were doing - the weather was fabulous, and no wind.

On Monday after work, I hit my favorite lake to run, Lake Nokomis (side note, this is where my fiance proposed to me!). It was a gloomy run, meaning the park was almost all but deserted - just the way I like it, except for the absence of dogs - I love running their for all the interesting combinations of canines I spot. But on my jog, I ran into a most likely creature - a painted turtle, just hanging out by a garbage can. I couldn't stop grinning after seeing that rascal. Coincidentally, he popped his head into his home at the sound of my labor breathing!

To top it all off, this morning was another gloomy run. On my way to the Mississippi Landing on S. Lyndale avenue, I surprised not only myself, but a white-tail deer nibbling on tender blades of grass at an apartment complex. Holy cow, of all things to see in Bloomington, MN, I didn't expect to see white tailed deer! Perhaps I should reconsider hunting on the family farm and set up a stand on Lyndale...

Pioneer woman

My mom never ceases to amaze me. She grew up living in town and fell in love with a man who loved living on the farm. The farm way of life suits my mom - except when it comes to working cows. Growing up, my mom had the honored job of watching the gate while dad and I would sort off cows. That was 20 years ago. And while we still have her watch the gate from time to time, she's become an integral cog in our operation's wheel. At a time when we are celebrating high school and college graduations, I'd like to pause and celebrate my mom's graduation to: pioneer woman.

Let's set the record straight. Our farm would be a disaster if it weren't for my mom. She keeps food in the house, floors swept, and papers piled. She keeps track where we stash the tattoo digits and Estrus Alert patches we only need once a year. And she also manages the unsightly mitten/hat/glove box - a feat no ordinary woman can do. Outside of the house, she mows lawn, pulls weed and burns - you could say yardwork for my mom is like what snowboarding is for me - therapy. Mom's goals this year include demolishing a building, cleaning up all the scrap metal (and splitting profits with Becky Deutsch) and painting the bunkhouse.

But last night, Mom went through graduation. She, along with Dad and Becky learned how to insert CIDRs (pronounced "cedars," like the trees). Never in a million years did I image my mom getting this up close and personal with cows we were synchronizing. But she did. And I love her all the more because of it. Congratulations Mary - you have just graduated from City-Slicker High and are ready for Moo U!

Cries of spring

Hark! Spring has sprung in the Twin Cities area, and it seems to have completely taken me by surprise. I have been looking for signs during my jogging escapades these last few weeks, but now it seems like spring has sprung on me! Here's the rundown of what I saw Thursday, May 8 on my first-ever run along Minnehaha Parkway:

1. Daffodils and tulips growing along Minnehaha creek.
2. A bleeding heart in full bloom growing amongst the cracks of a stone bridge.
3. Ducks, ducks and more ducks! These fellas had deer-hunter orange feet and handsome mallard heads.
4. Road construction on the I-35W overpass, which shut down the sidewalk for bikers.
5. Fruit trees in early spring blossom - both white and pink.

Running along Minnehaha creek from Lake Nokomis to Lake Harriet was amazing. The bike and walk paths weave along both sides of this little spring and even under/over exisiting roadways. Very neat. The trails through here don't exploit you to public roadways, but shelter you from them. It's a place where the wildlife doesn't sit quietly, but run along side of you, along paths and from tree branch to tree branch. Except for the multipe road-way crossings, you wouldn't believe you were in the Twin Cities. Great place to train - folks call it "The Parkway."