Tanzen ran her first 5k last weekend. She says she liked it, but has some more training to do for the next one.
Category Archives: Running
2012 Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra
*Run – “an act or spell of running” (New American Oxford Dictionary)
*Run – “a continuous motion foot propulsion over uneven terrain including moving up the face of Spirit Mountain, over the avalanche of Jairo’s Beach, and through various streams and rivers. Normally includes battling over the power lines, skirting around porcupines, and singing songs at the top of your lungs to try to forget the feeling you have in your legs.” (New Voyageur’s International Dictionary of Running)
“Runnin’ on the Bunyan” 50 miler
In Pine River we stopped at a gas station and raided their pizza and hotdog stand. I think the attendant thought we were joking, or crazy, or both, when we told her we were running to Brainerd.
Mike picked up his bike in Nisswa and kept us going the last 13 miles. Running the Paul Bunyan Trail was a lot different than any other long runs we have done. It was easier than the Voyageur in Duluth because there were no real hills. It was harder, however, because it was on pavement the whole way. It also was a little disheartening when you could look down the path for miles and feel as though you were moving nowhere.
We finished at Dad and Mom’s place right about 4:40 pm. Crystal was out front with the traditional TP finish line. We all made it, sore and tired, but alive.
What a bunch of crazies.
Ultramarathon: Pushed to the limit | StarTribune.com:
This article was passed on by my dad. The best line is, “Dropping out of a race ‘is frustrating, but it’s just part of the deal,’ said John Taylor, of Minneapolis, who completed his 36th ultramarathon, the Surf the Murph 50-miler, last month but has lost track of how many he failed to complete through the years.
Duel In The Sun
Voyageur Trail Run – an exercise in survival



The Turkey Trot
Crystal did a good job even though it was tough to breathe through the multiple layers over the face. My glasses froze over so I couldn’t actually see where I was running. I think the ice made my lenses into magnifying glasses.
Chasing down deer
I read in a book awhile back that it is possible for a human to run longer and harder than a deer. Supposedly this is a hunting tactic which has been used in various tribes on the African continent (whether they starved to death or not was not recorded).
Because I like to run, and because I am not allowed to shoot firearms in the city limits of Edina, I thought I would try to “bring home the bacon” if you will (reading that final statement you may be thinking that a chunk of pork is my prey, but it is not. It may be easier to run down Porky the Pig, but I am going for venison).
So, as I was out running this afternoon I decided to try it out at the nearby Bredesen Park. I passed two deer on my first run around the park and then cut through the middle in order to select my future dinner. I ran up on a spiked buck and initiated the pursuit.
The whole hunt began on a good foot (unfortunately he had four of them and I only have two). I got within 15 feet of him before he popped his tail and began to taunt me with his carefree bounding. He would run up the trail until the curve and then wait for me to catch up, then resume his nonchalant hopping. This carried on for about 1/4 mile before another runner came from the other direction. This forced my venison stew to resort to a quick get-a-way into the swamp and leave me watching my dinner slop away.
I actually don’t know what I would have done if I would have caught him. Maybe jump on him?
I took three picture on the run with my phone. They weren’t his best side, so don’t look too closely.
The Long Run (Crystal’s point of view)
Running Apparel
I hate being cold. The worst part is cold hands and feet, and these are common when you are out running for 1 1/2-2 hours. Knowing this, my mom made me a pair of mittens made from a wool sweater and polar fleece. She wanted to make sure that my wrists stayed warm so she made them really long. I teased her that it will be just fine to run with my tank top and mittens. (They also double as sleeping bags for those really cold nights)