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Trying to stick with my last couple of weeks and start the week off with a longer run. Legs felt kind of tired during the but it might have just been that I was tired today. Also, surprising how having the weather slightly warmer today zapped me, maybe I was getting used to the cooler weather.

A serene landscape with a small stream winding through a meadow surrounded by green grass and trees under a clear blue sky.

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Just needing to get some miles in today that was all the reason for this run. Didn’t feel great at the start but as I kept moving felt better which I am not sure why as it has not been a real active weekend. Just old age I guess… 🤷‍♂️ 😆

IMG 5721

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Busy Saturday morning watching Volleyball and the Iowa vs Iowa State game… Go Hawks! 🏈🏐

A tablet displaying a football game is placed on a countertop inside a sports facility. In the background, there are volleyball courts with athletes playing.

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The weather has just been amazing lately so I carved out a couple of hours today to get a long run in. Felt good in fact 3 miles of it just flew by before then having the last 4 to deal with. Overall, just shocking what the cooler weather can do on these long runs.

Expansive marshland with tall grasses under a partly cloudy sky. Dense greenery lines the foreground and trees are visible in the distance.

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The run this afternoon was nothing special at all as I felt tired and then it started raining. However, I did stumble across this amazing little “fort” near the bike trail but hidden behind some bushes. So fun I want one! 🏯🏰

A narrow path covered with wood chips winds through lush green foliage and leads to a wooden treehouse nestled among the trees. A rustic wooden fence lines the left side of the path.

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2025 Back to School they go!

Well it is that time of year again when all of the kids head back to and the house is quiet. I can’t believe summer is gone and another School year is starting again.

I would say almost everyone was ok with taking the first day of school photo again.

Girl holding a sign that reads: “1st day for Gretchen, 5th grade. Teacher: Sra Teslow. Fave colors: teal & purple. Fave hobby: STEM kits & designing. Someday I’ll be an Olympic swimmer or a fashion designer.” She is smiling, The 5th Grader

A young girl stands in front of a wooden fence, holding a sign that reads, “First day of 8th grade. When I grow up I want to: be rich, own a farm, have a horse, a bunny, chickens, and a Highland cow. 8th Grader

A person sits in the driver’s seat of a car, with a sign on the windshield reading “Brecken 11th grade No more bus for me,” indicating a transition to driving themselves to school. The vehicle is parked on a residential street with trees and grass nearby. 11th Grade and really couldn’t be bothered with this picture

A fluffy dog lies on the back of a gray couch, looking over a sign that reads: “Lainey Lou, 7 years old, Job: Director of Snuggling. Likes: sleeping, eating, scowling. Dislikes: movement, sleep disruption.” Behind the dog is a Lainey missing her people already

A fluffy black and brown dog with a blue bandana sits on a wooden floor in a living room. In front of the dog is a sign that reads: “Darby, The Good Boy. Still a puppy. Job: Security. Likes: chewing, barking, stretching. Dislikes: when Darby is unsure about this but ready to head to the shed again.

A person stands in front of a garage door, wearing a purple shirt and light blue jeans. They carry a black backpack with a pen attached and hold a white travel mug and a paper towel. Taken actually a week early when Teachers had to show up.

Guess I didn’t snap a photo of myself but maybe next year.

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This little Chickadee must have gotten injured or just really doesn’t mind us as my daughter and I could touch the bird feeder and it didn’t move. It finally flew to the gutter on our house and hopefully it will be ok but if it stayed on the feeder a raccoon might have gotten it tonight.

A small bird with black and white plumage perches on the edge of a metal bird feeder against a blurred green background.

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I had to take my oldest daughter to the nail salon and which gave me an hour to kill. So I decided to bring my shoes and get some millage in. My legs were feeling tired after the miles (and hills) the last couple of days but it is good sometimes to push through on tired legs.

A dirt path curves through a lush, green forest, bordered by a small, clear stream. Tall trees with dense foliage arch overhead, creating a serene, natural canopy.

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Probably should have reconsidered this run as it I squeezed it in when we should have eaten dinner so then our dinner was later than originally planned. However, didn’t really seem to phase the family and I didn’t feel too bad on this run which was good too I just kept moving forward.

A paved path leads through lush green forest towards a wooden footbridge, surrounded by dense foliage and tall trees.

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Was glad to get a longer run in this week still as other things came up and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Decided to just run a bunch of the trails in Purgatory Park. Even with the sun out it wasn’t bad at all.

A narrow dirt path winds through a lush, green forest. To the left, a small stream runs parallel to the trail. Trees with dense foliage surround the area, with some branches arching over the path.

A narrow dirt path winds through a dense, green forest with tall trees and lush undergrowth, creating a serene and natural landscape.

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This run felt like more work that it probably should have due to the fact the last two days I have been feeling under the weather. Tomorrow will be the judge if a longer run is out of the question this week depending on how I feel when I wake up.

A narrow dirt path surrounded by dense green foliage under a partly cloudy blue sky.

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One Sign, One Run, and a Rabbit Hole

The other day while out on a run on a route I have done many times before I made a small detour to go up next to the recreated Train Depot in Eden Prairie. It is supposed to have the look and feel of the original one that has been gone for years. As I was passing through the area a sign caught my eye. I have seen it before but this time I decided to snap a picture of it to look at more closely later in the day (pretty sure I have taken this same picture before).

A historical information board showing a black and white map of the Eden Prairie Station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad from 1917. Above the map is a sepia-toned image of a steam locomotive pulling a train through a landscape. Text on the board explains the location and route of the

Once I was home and looking at the map on the sign more carefully I noticed something interesting near the area marked Island Lake. It showed an abandoned line that had been rerouted. That sparked my curiosity because I know that area well and have had some questions about trails around there. However, what was more interesting is that the line that still exists in Eden Prairie today was missing from the map. I understand that the purpose of the map was not to show every train line but instead to highlight the depot and the old train line that no longer exists, which is the one I had just been running on.

Over the past couple of days that small discovery has sent me digging into old plot maps, articles, and photos. It reminded me of other things I have come across before in Eden Prairie but never looked into far enough to make sense of. I now have a pile of notes and references with no real purpose except to satisfy my curiosity. Every time I think I have found an answer it seems to only lead to more questions or another string to pull on.

So this is my warning, so you know what you might be getting into I will probably post some of these random historic facts here, if only as a way to keep my own record of them.

That is all for now but there may be more to come if I can find some kind of ending to the thread I started pulling on…

Finally, to not let this post linger too long, here is a little about the Eden Prairie Train Depot itself. The placard in the photo above tells most of the story, and there is more detail at the Eden Prairie Historical Society or local news. The only embarrassing thing I found in all of this is actually right there on another sign I had taken a picture of before. The original Eden Prairie Depot was not located where the recreation sits today but just to the right of the photo below and not to the left where the replica now stands.

Interpretive sign titled “The Eden Prairie Depot” with historical information, images, and a map, located in a grassy area with a gravel path leading through trees in the background.

View of the current recreation of the Eden Prairie Train Depot, sitting south of the original location. The replica water tank is in the background.

A rustic train depot labeled “Eden Prairie” with a wooden water tower in the background. The building has a wooden exterior with large windows, and a pathway leads up to it. Surrounding the area are grassy fields and a clear blue sky.

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Wasn’t sure what to expect with the loose route I put together but it turned out to be a good run thanks to a map and running friend that knew better than I. The quick elevation gain in the first half mile was a shock to the system but then all was well and we went longer than planned.

A scenic view of a cityscape under a clear blue sky with a few fluffy clouds. The foreground is filled with lush green trees and vegetation, while the background features various buildings and structures spread across the horizon. We started at the bottom and went straight up a ski jump hill to this overlook.

Sunset over a serene lake with silhouetted trees and a group of ducks swimming, reflecting the warm, fading light on the water. The last mile circled this lake at sunset looking back to our first .3 miles where we were under the ski jump in the back ground.

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Felt really good on this run today after a slow start trying to get through this muddy trail that didn’t seem to end. I also hit up another section of this trail and went off the trail to do a little searching for things.

A lush, green forest scene with a narrow muddy path winding through dense vegetation and tall trees, under a clear blue sky.

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Decided to get this run in very early today. It was actually 50°F this morning which to some might seem cold but it was great and glad to extend it as I had some time and wanted to get a longer run in.

Sun setting over a lush green landscape with various plants and wildflowers in the foreground, casting a warm glow and long shadows across the scene.

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This was kind of a last min decision to go on a run today as the plan was tomorrow. However, plans changed and so did the route. It came together in my mind as I needed to capture so other pictures missed last week. I still would have love a picture on the top of the ridge catching that sunset.

If anyone knows anyone who live on the West side of Ridge Road I just want to walk to the back cliff and look over the edge at sunset… once 😍

A serene lakeside scene with a well-manicured grassy lawn in the foreground. In the distance, a dock with flags stands at the water’s edge, surrounded by calm waters and bordered by lush green trees. Fluffy clouds are scattered across the blue sky. New little road that gave me a good look at Christmas lake and I didn’t trespass.

A multi-lane road runs through the foreground, bordered by a grassy area. Beyond the road, a lush, green landscape features dense trees under a clear blue sky with a few clouds. Looking over Highway 7 back to where I found myself a week ago.

A narrow path flanked by tall grass and foliage under a clear sky at dusk. A utility pole and a speed limit sign are visible in the background. Maybe a sidewalk but I guess better than running on Highway 7.

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Decided to get this run after dinner and try to catch a sunset as well as hoping it would be cooler out. I think 1/3 went well for me as the sunset was nice, was still warm and waiting till after dinner didn’t sit well. Oh well, I do like the view so I will just remember that.

A wooden path cuts through tall grass under a expansive, cloud-streaked sky, with the sun setting behind distant trees.

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Not going to lie… This run felt stifling as the DewMe.app says. I had a plan I stuck with it but honestly consider bailing more than one time.

A lush green landscape featuring dense foliage and tall trees under a bright blue sky. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

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The plan was to do this earlier in the morning but needed to help get a kid moving to work. However, might have been for the best as I maybe avoided more of the rain but I still did get rained on during this run.

A narrow, paved path winds through a lush, green forest with dense foliage and tall trees arching overhead. The greenery is vibrant, and the scene is serene and inviting.

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Decided to get out of the house this morning for short run while waiting for the oldest to wake up so we can figure the day out.

Lush green landscape with various trees and dense foliage under an overcast sky, creating a serene and natural scene.