The Best Days of Summer

I've still been taking it easy on the running thanks to some pained joints, a hectic schedule, and some minor burnout. I've been fitting in longer bike rides, some time at the gym, and of course strengthening up my twiggy arms in preparation for the 100 push up challenge. Sidenote: I'm proud to announce that I did 31 push ups on Saturday while taking an assessment for a training plan, so 100 definitely doesn't seem out of the realm of, oh, more than completely possible. From 4 push ups to 31 in one week? Pshaw.

After two powerful thunderstorms ripped through Minneapolis last night -- and after listening to tornado sirens go off for a good portion of yesterday evening -- I laced up my trusty Glycerin 7s this morning to fit in a relaxing run and scope out the neighborhood damage.

Amazingly, I only saw two downed trees on our street. I was on a friend's patio last night when we heard the trees splitting and falling near us, but it was too dark to see which trees actually fell. Other than that, everything had either already been cleaned up or my part of town got spared again.

As I made my way around the northeastern side of Lake Calhoun to spy on any damage in Uptown, I saw a deluge of people on Thomas Beach. I forgot that today was the Beach Bash, one of the many activities in the 10-day Minneapolis Aquatennial's Best Days of Summer. Not even wicked storms can stop people from going out and enjoying this city!

I stopped mid-run not only because there were a trillion people in my way, but also because I wanted to see the sandcastle competition and the milk carton races. While I was watching the competitions, my coworker's son (the one who ran a few miles with me at the Minneapolis Marathon) spotted me in the masses! I finally got to met the rest of my coworker's beautiful family.

Sweetest coworker ever and me

Sandcastle contestSweet ass Shrek milk carton boat -- check out those half-gallon teeth!

The weather might have been humid and overcast, but it was a great morning to be on the water.

As the day wore on, the clouds burned off and the sun came out in full force. I met up with my bookclub for some fun in the sun.

My bookclub no longer discusses books we collectively read; instead we get together to opine about movies, talk about what we have been reading, catch up on what we've been doing, and discuss how school/our jobs are going. This evening we headed to the Centennial Lakes Park Golf Course for 18 holes of miniature golf (not to be confused with the astroturf putt-putt kind of mini golf), an evening concert, and some delicious eats at one of my favorite restaurants.

My studious bookclub

I actually did better when the ladies all teed off at once.

With a little practice, I think I could dominate this sport next.

These truly are the best days of summer.

4.8 mile splits: 9:30, 9:22, 9:25, 9:45, 8:00
Air Temp: 75F