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Decided to try to get some miles in tonight during my youngest volleyball practice. The trail started to get a little dark but thankfully I wasn’t on it for too long.

A narrow, winding dirt path through a dense forest, surrounded by tall trees and lush green undergrowth. The scene appears dimly lit, suggesting a tranquil, secluded atmosphere.

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From the time I started this run till the end the temperature rose almost 20°F. Glad I got it done and had the trail to myself with a little speed in there.

A sandy path bordered by lush green trees and bushes, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. Leaves are scattered along the ground.

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Fun at Luceline Orchard 🍎

Since the older kids and April went down to the Iowa State Cyclones Football game I was bound and determined to find something fun for our youngest and me after her morning activities. So we decided on heading to an Apple Orchard as it has been on the list to do and before we know it our fall weekends will probably slip by.

However, by the time we got there we realized we only had 1.5 hrs so we bought wristbands (in order to give us unlimited activities) and tried to cram everything in we could in the time we had from the Corn Maze to a Giant Slide to shooting some apples towards a target. The only unfortunat part was we didn’t get a chance to actually PICK apples but we did buy the most expensive bag of Apples around and over the next week we will EAT and ENJOY every last one of them!

A girl stands next to a colorful height chart at Luceline Orchard, featuring painted cartoon animals and a sign that says “How tall this fall? Typical picture at the Orchard but I can’t believe she is over 5’ now! 😱

A young girl stands beside a green alien statue in a cornfield, both pointing upwards towards the sky. The sun is shining and the corn plants are visible in the background. In the corn maze we found some friends that let us a stray from the right path from time to time.

A smiling man and girl wearing sunglasses sit side by side in a metal ride structure on a sunny day. The background features a bright blue sky and hints of greenery. Top of the “Big Slide” (maybe not that big here on the orchard)

A young girl with long hair sits on the grass, wearing sunglasses and a navy shirt. She is smiling and appears relaxed, with a blanket partially covering her legs. In the background, there are people and a yellow tent. She beat me down on the first round.

A girl in a navy shirt and pink shorts is shooting a basketball towards a farm equipment with basketball hoops attached. In the background, a few people are watching, surrounded by corn fields under a clear blue sky. Basketball with a grain wagon as a rebounder.

A group of children and an adult enjoy a grassy outdoor area, with one child on a zip line and another on a nearby swing. Trees line the background under a clear blue sky. Nothing like a little zip line with some very wobbly poles that are not pictured that I could see have been fixed a couple times with metal now.

A young girl stands with her back to the camera, aiming a launcher at a distant target in an open grassy field surrounded by trees. The sky is clear and sunny, and there are equipment and corn husks nearby. Ready, Aim, Fire that Apple Shooter!

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Last run in Portland today before heading home. At least it wasn’t raining but it was very humid out today as I made my typical trek into the Back Cove.

A scenic view of a calm river at sunset, with dark clouds above and a soft orange glow on the horizon. The foreground features grassy land leading to the water, while the background shows a silhouette of buildings and trees. A tranquil sunset over a calm body of water, featuring old wooden pilings sticking out from the water’s surface. Sailboats are moored in the background against a colorful sky filled with clouds.

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Last minute I decided to do a short run today in the fog and mist. It wasn’t all that bad out but I was short on time before the day started. Maybe tomorrow I will try to get a longer run in before flying home.

A view of a gravel path alongside a set of railway tracks, with trees and greenery on one side and a fence along a body of water in the distance. A light pole is visible along the path, and the sky appears overcast.

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Glad to get this run in today circling around the city of Portland, ME peninsula. I found a trail on the far side that I had never been on before and it reminded me that maybe my ankles are still a little beat up from the hiking this weekend.

A narrow dirt path winds through a colorful forest, lined with trees and vibrant foliage in shades of green, red, and orange.

A scenic view of a calm bay at sunset, featuring several sailboats on the water, a cloudy sky with hues of blue and orange, and a silhouette of a tree and grassy area in the foreground.

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Can’t believe I haven’t run for 5 days now but I figured the rest day was good after all the hiking over the weekend. Glad to get out there again the legs were feeling OK but I didn’t push it either. Also, you can’t beat the views this morning either.

Silhouette of old wooden pilings in the foreground, reflecting in still water. A colorful sunset with shades of orange and purple in the sky, alongside distant boats in the harbor.

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I felt really tired and sluggish during this run. It was probably a combination of not getting good sleep and a busy day without a good plan of running and I just found myself with some time and did it.

Two pairs of skis lean against a wooden fence surrounded by tall evergreen trees and a grassy area. There are wooden gates with colorful stripes in the background. I love the odd fencing with old skis on them.

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I couldn’t have wished for this run to get done faster with out actually wanting to run faster. Thinking back the whole thing was a blur, it was super sunny and humid so might have been the issue. 🥵

A peaceful trail lined with lush green trees and plants, with a paved path gently curving through it, scattered with fallen leaves. This picture really doesn’t give justice to the heat out there as this looks pleasant.

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Used my time wisely today and ran for as long as I could while the oldest daughter was at strength training. It was a nice out and back shaded most of the way that helped in the heat.

A sandy path runs through a green, wooded area, framed by trees on either side.

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It was a very warm and tiring run this evening. However, with a work trip coming up I decided to get some miles in today that I am telling myself are for next week.

A peaceful landscape at sunset, featuring a horizon of trees silhouetted against a gradient of orange and blue sky. Tall grasses are visible in the foreground, creating a serene natural scene.

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Decided to get my long run in today as I had some time before my afternoon got busy for work. Not sure where the humid and sun came from again I guess… I am done with it now and this distance always gets the best of me but minus a road closed I didn’t have any issues just rerouting.

A serene view of a calm lake under a clear blue sky, with lush green trees lining the horizon and a few leafy branches in the foreground. Had pockets of a nice view of Lake Minnetonka.

A long, straight dirt path flanked by dense green and reddish foliage, extending into the distance under a clear blue sky. The Minnetonka trail was actually a little busy at the hour I was out but I snapped this photo when I realized at a point I was the only one out there.

A construction site with dirt mounds and an excavator partially visible behind dense trees. A stop sign is located near the excavator. This turned out to be not as bad as I thought but I did have to consult with my map as I was to turn right here. I did look closer but there was no way short of walking though peoples houses.

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Decided to get a handful of miles in today over lunch so I could listen to my audiobook. For being cooler yesterday it felt much more humid today than I was thinking it was going to be.

A lush green forest with dense foliage and tall trees under a partly cloudy blue sky. White wildflowers dot the forest floor, creating a serene and vibrant natural scene.

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Was able to get out for a run today in between meeting and before the ran came down as well so the timing was perfect.

A densely wooded area with various trees and thick green foliage. A small, muddy stream runs through the center, partially covered by fallen branches. The foreground features lush grass and undergrowth.

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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.