My Wife the Runner

I’m back to running after about a 2 ½ month hiatus. During my down time I kept into shape by riding my mountain bike on 20 mile brisk rides. Then a couple of weeks ago I started to ease back into running. I now run 10k (6.2 miles) about every other day and at a very slow pace so not to apply too much stress on my foot with Plantar Fasciitis. My foot is responding very well to my adjusted training program so I’ve started to enter 5k and 10k races. It feels wonderful to be back running, but the better story is about my wife Renee.

A couple of years ago Renee would have never considered herself as a runner. Her knees give her problems and her asthma robs her breath when doing strenuous exercise. So for aerobic exercise she started out fast walking a couple of miles. The couple of miles grew to 4 to 5 miles. But as she got into better and better physical condition she needed more to get her heart rate up for a good aerobic workout, so she started running for short spurts during her fast walks. Then the short spurts became long spurts, and the long spurts blended into an entire run. Then length of her runs stretched from 4 miles to 10k.

Yesterday on the 4th of July Renee and I ran the Excelsior Firecracker 10k. This is Renee’s first 10k race. Last year at the same event I ran the 10k and Renee ran the 2 mile, which was a big deal for her at the time. This year we ran the 10k together. Rather than running at my own pace I ran alongside Renee. There was no way I was going to miss her first 10k and not be by her side all the way to the finish line. She had a tough start; her asthma was particularly strong at the begging, but she finished with probably her best time/pace for that distance.

Renee’s running is a good example of what can be accomplished if one takes their time and slowly but steadily works their way to improvement. To become a runner you don’t have to start out running many miles and beating yourself up in the process. In fact, you don’t even have to start out running; you just have to get your feet moving and challenge yourself a little bit each day.

Excelsior Firecracker Run

Yesterday my wife Renee and I ran in the Excelsior/Lake Minnetonka 2 mile/10k. Excelsior is a historic small town on Lake Minnetonka and is only a couple of miles from our home. Downtown Excelsior has many restaurants, specialty shops, art shops, and a trolley car that takes you to a trolley boat called the Minnehaha, and a beautiful park on the lake. The 4th of July celebration in Excelsior starts off with a 2 mile and 10k runs, then a sand castle building contest, a kid’s parade, and kid’s fishing contest. (When my two boys were little they would decorate their bikes and kick scooters for the kid’s parade.) Later in the evening the world-renowned Minnesota Orchestra plays in the park band shell and then a huge fireworks display is lit off from a barge floating in Lake Minnetonka.
Renee and I started going to the Excelsior 4th of July celebration about 25 years ago, long before we lived in the area. At that time we did not have a boat and would setup a picnic in the Excelsior Commons Park and swim at the beach while passing time before the big show. In those days the fireworks was not shot off from a barge but rather on shore near the outfield of the baseball diamond. The fireworks launch site was so close you felt you were a part of the pyrotechnics team. There would be times sparkles from a low exploding fireworks would continue to burn and sparkle all the way down into the crowd. It was fireworks with a thrill of danger. The move to the barge was a good move.
This was the first year I participated in the Firecracker run and Renee’s first ever participation in a running event. Renee ran the 2 mile and I ran the 10K (6.2 miles). She is not ardent runner, but rather has slowly worked into it during her workouts. Renee and I often go together to the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail to workout. When we started about 3 years ago she would fast walk while I would run. Running would cause discomfort in her knees so she started fast walking for about 4 miles. After awhile the walking wasn’t enough for a good aerobic workout, so she started to run short sections of her course. As time went on the running part of her workout grew longer until she was pretty much running the entire 4 miles plus. After the 2 mile Firecracker run she is ready to do more, starting with some 5k runs and maybe working up to 10k runs.

Below are some photos of the Excelsior Firecracker run. I brought my little Casio camera on the run. I took many pictures but most of them didn’t turn out because of the lack of light due to the overcast and the bouncing around from my running. But a few turned out and here they are.

Renee at the registration line. We got there early.

Renee at the starting line.

Two mile runners start out at Excelsior Commons.

Renee (#144) just crossing the starting line.

The finish line is back at the park. Most of the run is a loop.

Renee coming up to the finish line.

I'm in the middle of the pack at the starting line of the 10k.

Start of the 10k. It is so packed with runners I can hardly run.

It doesn't take long for the runners to stretch out. St. Alban's bay is on the right and Excelsior bay on the left.

St. Alban's bay as I cross a bridge over a channel between St. Alban's and Excelsior bays.

Running down Minnetonka Blvd.

The race course brings us by some beautiful scenery. Here are some wetlands.

About a mile from the finish line. Excelsior bay in the distance.

Lake St. Excelsior. The finish line is just around the corner.

Feeling good after the race.