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Running Behind Podcast

A friend of mine, Joey Metzger, has jumped into the podcast game with Running Behind. On top of already making great YouTube videos about his running adventures, he decided to take things further and launched the Running Behind podcast about a month ago. There is now, three episodes out there now that are fantastic and after catching up with him a couple weekends go for a run, I can say the guest lineup is only getting better.

Auto-generated description: A runner wearing colorful athletic gear is featured with a podcast title, Running Behind: A Podcast with Joey Metzger, against a purple background.

Maybe selfishly, but the latest episode titled “Eric Walker | “The Streak”, Running For Fun & Digestible Numbers” (released just yesterday) will always stand out to me as the best by far because as you can tell Joey let me join him for a discussion about running. I had such a great time chatting with him, especially since, as you’ll hear, we hadn’t caught up in a long time. In fact, it was only about six months ago that we reconnected as we found each other on Strava (Joey’s Strava Profile) and then realized that we are both crazy runners. Though, to be fair, he might be the crazier one as he runs much longer distances and sticks almost entirely to trail races.

I won’t spoil too many details of our discussion because you should give it a listen. We talked about my running history, especially my 5K a day streak from 2018, but with Joey being the great host he is, he managed to dig out new stories and other takes on running.

I really do appreciate that Joey let me join his show and I hope he still has listeners for your next episode after this past one.

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I was glad to get this run in today as I fell like I would have been disappointed if I didn’t wake up early again to make it to the back cove area. I think ever since I started working out there I have always made that loop at least once.

A picturesque sunset over a body of water, with a silhouetted row of posts or pilings stretching across the horizon. The sky is beautifully colored with shades of orange, pink, and deep blue, reflecting on the rippling water below. A large cloud formation is prominently visible, adding depth to the scene.

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I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out today but I noticed that it wasn’t going to be an overcast day so decided to get at least a short run in before another long day in the office.

Silhouetted wooden pilings protrude from calm water at sunset, creating a stark contrast against the vibrant orange and blue sky. A large crane is visible on the horizon, illuminated against the fading light. The shoreline on the left is lined with trees, and the overall scene reflects a serene waterfront landscape.

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Glad to have actually pushed myself out the door today to get a run in this morning. Once done I felt great and even though it was cloudy today it is never a bad day running on this path along the water.

A coastal pathway runs alongside calm water, bordered by a rocky embankment. The path, lined with streetlights and benches, curves gently into the distance. The landscape is covered with patchy grass and sparse shrubs under a cloudy, overcast sky.

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Decided to test the ankle and enjoy this beautiful afternoon before I had to fly out later. Explored some new areas as I started where I dropped my daughter off and it was a perfect timing as she got her nails done and I got some miles in.

A partially frozen creek meanders through a winter landscape. Snow covers patches of the ground on both sides of the creek, with brown grasses and leafless trees surrounding the area. The sky is clear and blue, casting shadows across the snowy ground.

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This run was not a stellar one at all. It was one of those runs I should have probably stopped two blocks in and called it a day to just take the rest that my body seemed to be asking for. However, instead I pushed though and ended with a little ankle pain. 🫣

A winter landscape with bare trees silhouetted against a fading sunset sky. The ground is covered in snow, and the horizon shows a soft gradient of colors transitioning from light blue to hints of orange and pink. The scene conveys a serene, quiet atmosphere typical of late winter afternoons.

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Well I see that Eden Prairies approach to all the snow on the sidewalk is to not touch it more than 30 hours later and just hope that it all melts. Thankfully my run took me to Chanhassen and Minnetonka which have decided to shovel so I don’t get hit by cars.

A snowy landscape with a path of footprints leading through a field of snow. A stop sign is partially visible on the left with its shadow cast on the ground. A road runs parallel to the field, with houses and trees lining the opposite side. Bare trees and evergreens are scattered throughout the background under a clear blue sky.

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I decided to shovel a path to my “shed office” this morning but ended up having to make two paths at a point because under the very direct route was lots of water so I had to find the make shift boardwalk I built.

A snow-covered backyard featuring a path of footprints leading to a two-story house with a wooden deck. A snow-covered hockey net is visible on the right, and trees with bare branches are dusted with snow. A vehicle is partially visible in the background. The scene is serene and wintry, with soft light illuminating the snow.

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Over the weekend to help me get to the shed office without completely jumping from dry ground to try ground I tossed some boards from the rink to make a little walkway. Only to find out today with the rain and more ice melting I did not make this boardwalk long enough. 🙄

A backyard scene featuring a small house-like shed in the background with a path leading up to it. In the foreground, there is a makeshift wooden walkway over a patch of muddy ground. To the left, there is a partially constructed hockey rink with a net set up on the grass nearby. The area is surrounded by leafless trees and other houses.

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Some days my Dogs can brighten my day or if at a minimum make me laugh…

I looked over this morning from the table and in this light it appears Lainey is looking angry at me. A curly-haired, light brown dog stands on a wooden floor in a kitchen. The dog is wearing a collar with tags and is looking at the camera. Sunlight is falling on the dog’s face and body. In the background, there are wooden cabinets and a modern stainless steel oven.

Darbys side glance is for sure telling me he is done with the Shed work today and wants to go back home. A black, fluffy dog is comfortably lying on a beige couch. It rests its head on a blue and cream fleece blanket, appearing relaxed and content. The couch is against a wooden wall backdrop.

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If it wasn’t for the morning sunrise this run didn’t have much to offer me but forcing me to run on tired legs from yesterday. I am pretty sure I have heard that is a good thing to do sometimes to keep building the base. 🤷‍♂️

A serene winter landscape at sunset, featuring a partially frozen pond surrounded by tall grasses and bare trees. The sun is setting in the background, painting the sky with warm hues of orange and pink. The ground is covered with dry grass, enhancing the tranquility of the scene.

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I convinced my friend Joey to let me run with him for a while around Hyland so I could get some elevation today. We split off after a while and I went solo the rest of the way which might have been a mistake as it was then much longer than planned as I might have gotten lost along the way.

A view from the top of a snow-covered hill looking down a ski slope. The slope is surrounded by bare trees, with patches of snow visible on the hillside. A building and a red snow grooming machine are located at the base of the slope. In the background, there’s a cityscape that includes several buildings and clear blue sky. The scene is bright and sunny, indicating a clear day.

A frozen lake under a clear blue sky, with bare trees on the far shore. In the foreground, dry grass and shrubs are visible along the edge of the lake, accompanied by a single tree stump casting a shadow.|354x266

A snow-covered path winds through a forested area with bare trees. The sky is clear and blue, casting shadows of the trees onto the snow. A few trees retain some brown leaves, contrasting with the white snow and blue sky.

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As the youngest had swim tonight I decided to use all the light I could to get out for a run. However, it eventually turned dark and I found some interesting glows in the sky. 😄

A nighttime landscape with a dark, cloudy sky. Below, there is a body of water surrounded by trees and vegetation along the shoreline. In the sky, there is a circular pattern of lights creating a glowing ring, illuminating the clouds around it. The overall atmosphere is mysterious and serene.

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There is something extremely satisfying about taking something that doesn’t work and fixing it to extend its life a little longer. My shop vac had a faulty switch, but after some tinkering and a $2.50 replacement switch I found online, it’s back to full functionality again.

A hand installs a blue electrical switch into a hole on a black plastic surface next to an existing black plug; a concrete wall is in the background.

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Such a nice day out again today. So I decided to take the time I had and extend this run a little bit further.

A scenic view of a grassy field bordered by leafless trees under a clear blue sky. In the distance, a small body of water is visible, reflecting the light. The foreground is framed by the branches of the trees, creating a natural archway that opens up to the expansive field.

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Such a nice day out with 50°F out for a recovery run after a longer run yesterday. Even though it was overcast it felt great out as I wore shorts again in this weather. However, it was very wet outside as I feel like before the end of the week all the snow might be gone in the neighborhood.

A wet, paved path stretches into the distance under an overcast sky, flanked by barren trees and dry grass. Patches of melting snow are visible on either side of the path, with a pile of tan material and black erosion control tubes lining the ground. A road sign in the upper left indicates a speed limit of 25 MPH.

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What start out in hopes to match last weeks total distance I really tried to gear myself up for a 7-8 mile run. A rough start which I had thought about turning around a couple of times I actually ended up extending it and hitting double digits. The nice weather today was some great motivation.

A solitary tree stands tall amidst dry grass in a snowy wetland, under a clear blue sky, with a distant line of trees marking the horizon.

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It was a nice day out today so decided to get a run in probably against my better judgement. However, I feel like I found what seems like a trail or old road don’t you think? It seemed to stop so I turned around as I didn’t want to get my shoes too wet but might have to explore again another time.

Narrow snowy path flanked by leafless trees under a clear blue sky. Bare branches create intricate patterns, while distant hills blend into the serene winter landscape.

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Every day between 8-9 AM, the sun shines through this window and glares on my computer screen and it is well.. terrible. Well, problem solved now! 😅

A blanket with cartoon bear designs and heart patterns hangs on a door. Nearby, a cap with “East Champs” is displayed, along with a child’s painting and light switches.

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Shed Office Heating Upgrade

On a whim last week I decided I needed to get a little more heat flowing in the Shed Office as the electric heaters I have works great until the temps at night get down to -10ºF as it is a little too much for them to keep up even blasting all night (which I don’t love doing). So some mornings I would wake up to 32ºF in the shed and if when I woke up I turned the heaters on it would take some time (sometimes half the day) to get the shed to a OK temp of in the high 40ºF so I could come out and then work. Because of that somedays I would just bail and try to work from the house.

A couple weeks back I got a email with a deal on a mini propane heater that is for “Indoor / Outdoor use”, however in the fine print is it ONLY supposed to be used indoors in an Emergency. After considering it I decided to pick one up as it was not overly expensive. Also, yes, heating my Shed Office so I can work is an emergency 😆. The heater is pretty basic as it is just a radiant propane heater instead of a forced air one so the nice thing is I can keep my other heaters going and not draw any other electricity. In a way it might have been nice to have one with a blower, I have actually been happy with how this is working with out a fan.

After using it from time to time over the course of the past week, it has been just great. I mean today is a great example where I forgot to have the electric heaters stay on longer last night as I normally have them reduce the temp overnight in an attempt to not just waste electricity. However, seeing how it got in the the negative temperatures last night I woke up this morning to a 32ºF shed. So after I got our youngest on the bus I went out to fire up my mini propane heater. In the course of the next hour that I let it run it increased the temperature from 32ºF to 57ºF which is more than comfortable for me.

A portable heater emits a warm orange glow, connected by a hose to a propane tank, situated on a black mat in a well-equipped garage.

Just to note, I do not leave this on over the night and it is only used to kind of get my shed to a warm state when I am nearby. Otherwise, I keep everything off and propane tank is off too.