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Eric Walker

Dad x3 | Runner | Backyard Rink Maintainer | Kid's Activity Driver | Books | Podcasts | Dreaming of Mountains and Oceans

Running

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    Decided to kill some time and ran some loops around these ponds in Maple Grove while waiting for my daughter at a birthday party. I haven’t spent much time up here but it is a really nice area with lots of walking, running, biking trails around this main area. Not sure you can tell from the photo but the sky is filled with smoke so I guess it helped keep me out of the sun.

    A circular stone labyrinth with red paths is set in a garden surrounded by benches and trees. A walkway extends from the labyrinth into the distance.

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    I had a little gap in meetings and work today before the afternoon so I decided to make it a short run to check out how the setup of Schooner Days was coming along. Seems like they are ready for the crowds this weekend!

    A park with a grass field in the foreground and a skateboarding area. In the background, there are carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel, and colorful tents.

    A covered wagon with “Eden Prairie Lions Club” written on it is parked on a road near a sign for Round Lake Park. An American flag is mounted on the wagon. The background features green trees and grass.

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    Decided to get a run in at Hyland Park Reserve as overall it was a nice evening out. It was so nice to get out into the woods away from city streets as I was able to be in nature and it paid off by seeing a good handful of deer while on the trails.

    Calm lake reflecting a cloudy sky and surrounding green trees at dusk, with a sandy shoreline in the foreground.

    A deer with antlers stands amidst lush green grass and foliage, surrounded by tall trees.

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    Tried to loosen the legs up on this run. It was nice out there even with the mist the whole time. Not to mention was great catching up with my running friend again now that he is starting to build back miles again.

    A narrow wooden bridge crosses a body of water surrounded by greenery, with a sign in the foreground that reads “No Fishing From Bridge.

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    Decided to make it a long run day on the LRT with an out and back. Felt good, but the last mile reminded me of a hot, waterless run a year ago 😅. Luckily, I had just enough today and found a working fountain at the end.

    A serene lake view framed by lush green trees on either side, with a clear blue sky and scattered fluffy clouds above.

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    Had a great time exploring Sunfish Lake Park after getting something checked on my vehicle. Wasn’t really the plan but glad I had some running gear to go check out this out of the way park. Honestly, when on the trails I felt like I was no where near anything as I was all alone.

    A serene pond surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with a clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds reflected in the water.

    A narrow dirt path winds through a lush, green forest with tall trees and dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

    A scenic view of a lush green meadow bordered by dense trees, with power lines stretching into the distance under a bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds.

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    Decided to try to squeeze this run in after dinner (mistake) and before picking the youngest up from swim and dropping off the oldest at hockey. However, with the weather it was worth it! ☀️

    A grassy marshland with tall, dry reeds under a bright blue sky filled with scattered white clouds. Lush green trees line the horizon, and a small tree is visible to the left.

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    Just running in the rain today. Couldn’t avoid it as it rained all day today like yesterday so I decided to get out there and really it wasn’t to bad.

    A narrow, paved path winds through a lush, green forest, surrounded by tall trees with dense foliage. The ground is damp, and leaves are scattered across the path.

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    I probably should have done a really long run today but I wasn’t really feeling it so I set out for shorter. However, the cool overcast weather allowed me to go a little further than I was thinking I would which hopefully should set me up for some good millage this week (weather dependent).

    A narrow, paved path leads to a wooden bridge surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation in a forested area.

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    Foggy morning today but still a great day for a run around Back Cove. I probably should have started earlier in the morning because by the time I got back I didn’t leave myself a lot of time to get ready and jump on a call. Thankfully I made it with a min to spare.

    A sailboat sits on a calm, foggy body of water, with minimal visibility of the shoreline and distant trees. The foreground features a rocky, pebbled area leading to the water’s edge.

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    Thanks to the dog in the hotel this morning I had a 5:15 wake up vs when my alarm was set for a little later. However, since I was fully up I guess it helped me get this run in before work.

    Calm harbor scene with several docked boats along wooden piers, a red brick building in the distance, and a clear blue sky.

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    Long day at work today so I decided to shake the legs out while the sun was setting.

    A serene sunset over a coastal landscape, with the sun setting near the horizon and casting a warm glow on the calm water. A road and grassy area with trees are on the left, and rocky shoreline on the right.

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    This route, well more specifically Mackworth Island State Park has been on my list to run to for a while now. It was very interesting roaming around that little park as it had a nice trail all around the outside. In fact there was a Pet Cemetery for Governor Baxter Dog’s. 🤔

    A serene view of a calm, reflective body of water under a cloudy sky, with a distant shoreline lined with trees. Rocks and dark sand are visible in the foreground. Mackworth Island from Portland about where I started.

    A serene view of a wide expanse of water under a cloudy sky, with a distant tree-covered island on the horizon. Mackworth Island and the connecting causeway

    A narrow path bordered by wooden fences leads to a small pier extending into a calm body of water. Sparse trees are on either side, and the sky is partly cloudy. Civil War-era granite pier

    Calm sea under a partly cloudy sky with distant shoreline and a few scattered rocks in the water. From the Island looking back at Portland, the big ship in the background is where I started.

    A small, secluded clearing in a wooded area surrounded by a low stone wall. In the foreground, there’s a large boulder with a plaque attached to it. Three small, weathered gravestones stand to the right of the boulder, partially covered in moss. Bare trees and sparse undergrowth are visible in the background. The ground is covered with dirt and fallen leaves. Governor Baxter Dog Memorial

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    It was a real nice day outside today so I decided to add a little bit to this run. Even with my tired legs I just keep pushing on.

    A serene landscape with a small stream reflecting the blue sky, surrounded by green trees and dry grass, under a clear, cloudless sky.

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    The plan wasn’t to run today but seeing how my wider group at work is doing a step challenge I wanted to stay competitive. Looking at my watch I have been doing a lot of nothing today so I decided to get a couple thousand steps in in order to keep up. It was a beautiful night out so having that extra push was probably OK.

    Sunset over a field with silhouetted trees in the background. The sky transitions from deep blue to warm hues of orange and yellow. Sparse branches frame the scene at the top and sides.

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    A meeting got canceled today so then my plan was to go out for a short run today after the long one yesterday. However, getting pressure from a company step challenge I decided to go my usual distance which actually felt really good until about the last mile was a struggle. Probably should have stuck with my first plan.

    A serene wetlands scene with fallen branches protruding into a grassy marsh. The background features a clear blue sky and dense green trees lining the horizon.

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    Utilized the cooler morning to get a longer run in this week as looking at my weekend there will probably be no time for such a thing. After yesterday’s run, this one felt pretty good so glad that I didn’t try to push it yesterday.

    A serene lakeside view with calm water reflecting the clear blue sky. Lush green trees line the banks, and sparse vegetation is visible in the foreground.

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    Let’s just say this run I felt beat. Might have been working in the yard all morning before or the heat but either way I was glad to not have had a long run in my plan for today.

    A narrow dirt trail winds through a forest with tall, slender trees under a clear blue sky. The sunlight filters through the branches, creating dappled patterns on the ground.

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    Got out for a short run tonight after a very busy day even though I was going to have the afternoon off. However, with the busy weekend I wanted to get a run in today not knowing what the rest of the weekend will bring.

    A tranquil pond surrounded by bare and budding trees reflects the overcast sky. Tall reeds and fresh grass grow at the water’s edge, with a small, weathered birdhouse standing at the shoreline.

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    It was a nice day out today for a run. Based on the rest of the week I think overall it will be a down millage week so I might try to do some more shorter runs when I have some time but it is probably ok to have a rest week instead of continuing to build miles.

    A serene lake with calm blue water, surrounded by dry reeds and patches of green foliage, under a clear blue sky. Sparse trees line the horizon in the background.

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