The training is done, except for some tapering. I’m not going to get any better any more.
This will be the largest race I’ve ever been in by far, so we’re trying to figure out some of the logistics of getting where we need to be on time. We can dress for the weather, the running will be relatively easy – it’s getting there (and home) without turning a 10-mile run into a 20-mile walk.
This was the race I eyed up a couple years ago as interesting because of its attractive course – from the Metrodome (while there still is a Metrodome) to the state capitol, two TC landmarks.
We’ve done a couple 10-mile events, a half marathon, and a few long training runs (9.5 yesterday). Finishing shouldn’t be an issue, and time is only a minor goal. I’m looking forward to the experience of everything about it, including the entire TC Marathon weekend.
I still want to do some more waiting practice, because that’s the part that is most difficult. Usually, I can step out the door and start running. Waiting for some time, especially if it’s cold, is a whole challenge in itself.
Mouth-watering Omaha Steaks
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Book review: in memory of the 2013 MN Twins
One more baseball book – title is: “100 Things Twins Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” by Alex Halstad.
Sorry, but this one doesn’t cut it. Although it has the variety and is comprehensive enough about the Twins’ 50-plus years, it lacks on three points:
• Repetitive – when topics overlap, too much detail is repeated in multiple places. For example, a player’s performance in the World Series would be repeated in both essays.
• Organization – it probably was intentional, but the topics jump around as if drawn from a hat. An organized outline might have helped alleviate the repetitiveness as well.
• Writing – although clean, it just isn’t quite interesting enough. Reads like a book report.
Instead, I would recommend Steve Ascheburner’s “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.”
Although a few years older and thus pre-Target Field, it covers much of the same material without the flaws above. I own a copy because I left it out in the rain on vacation and the library made me buy it.
Sorry, but this one doesn’t cut it. Although it has the variety and is comprehensive enough about the Twins’ 50-plus years, it lacks on three points:
• Repetitive – when topics overlap, too much detail is repeated in multiple places. For example, a player’s performance in the World Series would be repeated in both essays.
• Organization – it probably was intentional, but the topics jump around as if drawn from a hat. An organized outline might have helped alleviate the repetitiveness as well.
• Writing – although clean, it just isn’t quite interesting enough. Reads like a book report.
Instead, I would recommend Steve Ascheburner’s “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.”
Although a few years older and thus pre-Target Field, it covers much of the same material without the flaws above. I own a copy because I left it out in the rain on vacation and the library made me buy it.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Follow-ups: Mauer, Moneyball
Joe Mauer got a concussion Aug. 19. On Sept. 4, I predicted he wouldn’t play again this season. On Sept. 24, the Twins said so too.
--------
Ten years later, the Oakland A’s are still at it, and in the playoffs. Swingin’ A’s describes their new “Moneyball” approach: the platoon system. Another great look into making statistics work favorably.
With the A's success this year, here are a couple more looks from MLB and even Japan.
Sports: dark colored football pants
I’ve noticed this for several years now, and haven’t been able to get an actual answer, but why do so many high school football teams have dark-colored uniform pants now?
There are rarely any white ones any more, and most are not just gold or silver, but the darkest of each school’s colors.
The only reason I can come up with is that getting white pants white proved to be too difficult for too many parents who had to wash them, so the schools punted, so to speak, and chose dark uniforms that hide the stains a little better.
There are rarely any white ones any more, and most are not just gold or silver, but the darkest of each school’s colors.
The only reason I can come up with is that getting white pants white proved to be too difficult for too many parents who had to wash them, so the schools punted, so to speak, and chose dark uniforms that hide the stains a little better.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Book review: Three Nights in August
As promised, another baseball book:
Full name: “Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager” by Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights (that’s a book too, not just a movie and tv show), and Tony La Russa.
Also 10 years old, but like many great finds turned up in an obscure reference and when checked out, is enjoyment beyond expectations.
This centers on Tony La Russa and the St. Louis Cardinals of 2003, focused on a late-season series against the rival Chicago Cubs in the heat of the pennant race, but spreads out to the whole season, often going into background and back stories of the players involved. It shows us the strategy and planning of match-ups – weeks ahead, innings ahead, or pitch by pitch.
In one case, half an inning lasts a whole chapter describing what backgrounds and attitudes the players brought with them (free agent year, established star status, etc.) and the strategic shifts with each change in the count.
It is a great look at well-known La Russa – a Twins foe in the late ‘80s – and is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys major league baseball.
From the book: You need to know who to leave alone, who to pat on the butt, and who to kick in the butt. The manager is a tactician, psychologist, and riverboat gambler.
From me: Baseball is the greatest sequential game. When down to the last pitch, an out can make it a loss, a home run a victory, or somewhere in between it’s tied up and goes on for three more hours.
Full name: “Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager” by Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights (that’s a book too, not just a movie and tv show), and Tony La Russa.
Also 10 years old, but like many great finds turned up in an obscure reference and when checked out, is enjoyment beyond expectations.
This centers on Tony La Russa and the St. Louis Cardinals of 2003, focused on a late-season series against the rival Chicago Cubs in the heat of the pennant race, but spreads out to the whole season, often going into background and back stories of the players involved. It shows us the strategy and planning of match-ups – weeks ahead, innings ahead, or pitch by pitch.
In one case, half an inning lasts a whole chapter describing what backgrounds and attitudes the players brought with them (free agent year, established star status, etc.) and the strategic shifts with each change in the count.
It is a great look at well-known La Russa – a Twins foe in the late ‘80s – and is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys major league baseball.
From the book: You need to know who to leave alone, who to pat on the butt, and who to kick in the butt. The manager is a tactician, psychologist, and riverboat gambler.
From me: Baseball is the greatest sequential game. When down to the last pitch, an out can make it a loss, a home run a victory, or somewhere in between it’s tied up and goes on for three more hours.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Fishing: Rock Lake (Wright County)
Postcard fall day. Blue sky, bright sun, a few leaves hinting at yellow colors to come, cool but comfortable – cool enough to keep the skiers and personal watercrafts on shore. (Actually, a great football day.)
But no fish. Rock is often worth the trip, but this was one of those days it wasn’t. Only a few faint nibbles and then finally a little bass, not even half a pound. Rest of the party got an even smaller perch and an even smaller yet sunnie.
Trolled, still-fished, casted for bass . . . supper was out of the refrigerator.
But no fish. Rock is often worth the trip, but this was one of those days it wasn’t. Only a few faint nibbles and then finally a little bass, not even half a pound. Rest of the party got an even smaller perch and an even smaller yet sunnie.
Trolled, still-fished, casted for bass . . . supper was out of the refrigerator.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Outdoors: cold weather conditioning
Summer is over – officially. For some reason, it’s always much harder to get acclimated to weather as it gets colder in the fall (and winter) than when it warms up.
Somewhere I read, perhaps in a waiting room magazine, that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate dress.” That became my mantra for awhile, and to a large degree, it’s basically true.
I’ve become a lot more tolerant of weather in the last few years, even intentionally trying to enjoy the extremes. It does feel better to find the beauty in the snowflakes or the thunderclouds than complaining when it isn’t perfect, because it very rarely is perfect. And when it is, it doesn’t last anyway.
Last year, I learned to run in zero degrees and snowstorms, so there is something to that “appropriate dress” thinking.
Now that I can cope with weather, I’m still up against shrinking daylight. Today marks the autumnal equinox where our light and darkness are equal. That means we have three more months of progressively shorter days.
I suppose the only way to overcome that is to move to the land of the midnight sun.
Somewhere I read, perhaps in a waiting room magazine, that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate dress.” That became my mantra for awhile, and to a large degree, it’s basically true.
I’ve become a lot more tolerant of weather in the last few years, even intentionally trying to enjoy the extremes. It does feel better to find the beauty in the snowflakes or the thunderclouds than complaining when it isn’t perfect, because it very rarely is perfect. And when it is, it doesn’t last anyway.
Last year, I learned to run in zero degrees and snowstorms, so there is something to that “appropriate dress” thinking.
Now that I can cope with weather, I’m still up against shrinking daylight. Today marks the autumnal equinox where our light and darkness are equal. That means we have three more months of progressively shorter days.
I suppose the only way to overcome that is to move to the land of the midnight sun.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Book review: Moneyball
Baseball is heading into its prime time of pennant races so a couple baseball book reviews are in order.
Moneyball: this is about 10 years old but I just found it. Didn’t know there was a book (by Michael Lewis), just a movie.
The subject, of course, is about the Oakland A’s achieving success with a low payroll by emphasizing lesser valued stats such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage in evaluating players. That and specifically looking for under-valued players while getting rid of high-priced ones that aren’t proportionately better at getting on base and avoiding outs.
Some examples:
Saves – a slightly above average pitcher can come in for the ninth with bases empty and succeed most of the time. Once established as a “closer,” he’s worth millions. Then it pays to sell/trade him for something of value, and develop another one.
Given the minimum salary requirements and assuming at least 49 victories by even the worst of major league clubs, how much money is spent on each victory above that threshold? Doug Pappas calculated in the three years prior to the book, the A’s paid only about $500,000 per win while teams like Baltimore and Texas paid nearly $3 million for each victory. Not surprising, the only other team in six figures was the Twins at about $675,000 per win.
Voros McCracken took on pitchers’ worth by looking at what pitchers can control: preventing home runs, preventing walks, and preventing balls in play by striking out batters. Once the ball is hit, he proved, there is quite little the pitcher can do about it – measured over a long period, the stats bear out that there’s lot of luck involved (the scorching line drive right at the shortshop vs. the broken bat bloop that falls just inside the foul line). Sort of puts a damper on the Twins’ pitch-to-contact approach.
AVM Systems also dove into the aspect of measuring luck and players’ actual performance in each event on the field. Example: bloop to left field with known-to-be-slow left fielder with runner on second and two out. Knowing the fielder is slow, the runner takes off and scores. The record shows the batter succeeded, the pitcher failed, and the runner and left fielder were present. More fairly, the pitcher (who made a great pitch) and runner (who used the situation to score) succeeded while the batter (should-have-been-an-out hit) and the left fielder (didn’t get to the ball) failed.
Over the length of a 162-game major league season, stats can predict general outcomes. In a short series of a few games, “the playoffs are a crapshoot.”
Side note: A’s general manager Billy Beane, who was and is the decision-maker based on his staff’s detailed analysis, was a member of the Twins ‘87 championship team as well as the A’s ‘89 World Series winners.
Next up: Three Nights in August
Moneyball: this is about 10 years old but I just found it. Didn’t know there was a book (by Michael Lewis), just a movie.
The subject, of course, is about the Oakland A’s achieving success with a low payroll by emphasizing lesser valued stats such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage in evaluating players. That and specifically looking for under-valued players while getting rid of high-priced ones that aren’t proportionately better at getting on base and avoiding outs.
Some examples:
Saves – a slightly above average pitcher can come in for the ninth with bases empty and succeed most of the time. Once established as a “closer,” he’s worth millions. Then it pays to sell/trade him for something of value, and develop another one.
Given the minimum salary requirements and assuming at least 49 victories by even the worst of major league clubs, how much money is spent on each victory above that threshold? Doug Pappas calculated in the three years prior to the book, the A’s paid only about $500,000 per win while teams like Baltimore and Texas paid nearly $3 million for each victory. Not surprising, the only other team in six figures was the Twins at about $675,000 per win.
Voros McCracken took on pitchers’ worth by looking at what pitchers can control: preventing home runs, preventing walks, and preventing balls in play by striking out batters. Once the ball is hit, he proved, there is quite little the pitcher can do about it – measured over a long period, the stats bear out that there’s lot of luck involved (the scorching line drive right at the shortshop vs. the broken bat bloop that falls just inside the foul line). Sort of puts a damper on the Twins’ pitch-to-contact approach.
AVM Systems also dove into the aspect of measuring luck and players’ actual performance in each event on the field. Example: bloop to left field with known-to-be-slow left fielder with runner on second and two out. Knowing the fielder is slow, the runner takes off and scores. The record shows the batter succeeded, the pitcher failed, and the runner and left fielder were present. More fairly, the pitcher (who made a great pitch) and runner (who used the situation to score) succeeded while the batter (should-have-been-an-out hit) and the left fielder (didn’t get to the ball) failed.
Over the length of a 162-game major league season, stats can predict general outcomes. In a short series of a few games, “the playoffs are a crapshoot.”
Side note: A’s general manager Billy Beane, who was and is the decision-maker based on his staff’s detailed analysis, was a member of the Twins ‘87 championship team as well as the A’s ‘89 World Series winners.
Next up: Three Nights in August
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Sports: Vikings choke, as predicted
Was passing by a TV Sunday about 2:45 so decided to see how the purple heroes were doing. There were about 6 minutes left, Vikings had a 3-point lead and the ball at Chicago’s 30.
So I called my son: “Want to see the Vikings blow it?” I proceeded to describe to him how the Vikings would get a field goal and then the Bears would score a touchdown to win 31-30.
We settled in to watch and it unfolded exactly like I had predicted, like if we watching a recording I’d seen before instead of a live game.
“Why do you think they’ll lose?” he asked. “Because they’re the Vikings. I’ve been watching them long enough, and three out of four times in this situation, they’ll lose.”
As the Bears knelt down to run out the final seconds, he didn’t really acknowledge my prognosticating. I was satisfied anyway, not so much at having been right, but more so at not having wasted three hours to get to that point.
So I called my son: “Want to see the Vikings blow it?” I proceeded to describe to him how the Vikings would get a field goal and then the Bears would score a touchdown to win 31-30.
We settled in to watch and it unfolded exactly like I had predicted, like if we watching a recording I’d seen before instead of a live game.
“Why do you think they’ll lose?” he asked. “Because they’re the Vikings. I’ve been watching them long enough, and three out of four times in this situation, they’ll lose.”
As the Bears knelt down to run out the final seconds, he didn’t really acknowledge my prognosticating. I was satisfied anyway, not so much at having been right, but more so at not having wasted three hours to get to that point.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Running: Bear Water Run results (part 2)
I only ran BWR twice, so I started digging back to get a better feel for the event. Was disappointed to see declining participation, from over 900 runners in 2009 to 650 this year. Hopefully, the White Bear Lions find it worthwhile to keep going, as it is a very well-run event.
Congratulations to Jerry Kozitza who placed 434th out of 436 in the 20-mile, but was first (and only) in his age group of 70-plus. If I have to be alive yet at age 70, I hope I can at least run a 5k.
In the 10-mile, the over 70 crowd is a competitive group. I would have been 4th out of 6 this year and 8th out of 9 in their age group, so I’ll stick to mine.
Otherwise, thanks for the light blue t-shirt. I already have too many lime green ones.
Now it’s on to the Medtronic Twin Cities 10-Mile. More on that another time.
Congratulations to Jerry Kozitza who placed 434th out of 436 in the 20-mile, but was first (and only) in his age group of 70-plus. If I have to be alive yet at age 70, I hope I can at least run a 5k.
In the 10-mile, the over 70 crowd is a competitive group. I would have been 4th out of 6 this year and 8th out of 9 in their age group, so I’ll stick to mine.
Otherwise, thanks for the light blue t-shirt. I already have too many lime green ones.
Now it’s on to the Medtronic Twin Cities 10-Mile. More on that another time.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Running: Bear Water Run, White Bear Lake MN
I got up at 4:30 on a Saturday morning, drove an hour and a half, and ran 10 miles around a lake on the other side of the cities. And if the registration fee hadn’t been covered by a birthday gift, I would have paid $40 to do it. (And risk it being 35 degrees and sleeting.) Some people might think that’s crazy.
Turned out to be beautiful running weather. It’s a nice jaunt around White Bear Lake through primarily residential areas. Some inclines but nothing serious. The race is well-organized, and it would be difficult not to go again next year in favor of a closer one.
WBL made the news this week because the lake level is going down; people are blaming the DNR. Ten miles wasn't any shorter, though.
We did 37 seconds better than last year. Lots of great food at the end; seemed like I hadn’t eaten for days.
Best line of the day: After being passed by a woman with a baby in a stroller, the guy next to me said: “We just got passed by someone who’s asleep.”
Turned out to be beautiful running weather. It’s a nice jaunt around White Bear Lake through primarily residential areas. Some inclines but nothing serious. The race is well-organized, and it would be difficult not to go again next year in favor of a closer one.
WBL made the news this week because the lake level is going down; people are blaming the DNR. Ten miles wasn't any shorter, though.
We did 37 seconds better than last year. Lots of great food at the end; seemed like I hadn’t eaten for days.
Best line of the day: After being passed by a woman with a baby in a stroller, the guy next to me said: “We just got passed by someone who’s asleep.”
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Book review: So Much to Say: Dave Matthews Band
Full title is “So Much to Say: Dave Matthews Band 20 Years on the Road” by Nikki Van Noy.
We didn’t discover DMB until around 2007, so this book back to the beginning of the band in Charlottesville was a great history lesson. Interesting how in the early days taping of concerts was allowed – even encouraged – to spread the music to a wider fan base.
Especially enjoyed the Alpine Valley references since our first DMB concert was there. Just missed one of the special moments by 24 hours: the next day of the two-night stand, after the band closed with “Thank You” the crowd kept singing the song for a long time after the band left the stage (page 199).
We listened to all four of our DMB CDs on the drive there and thought we knew all music, only to find out at the concert the band had so many more songs we never heard before. The book explains how it all got going, so I pulled out all our collected albums to play again and better understand the references.
For me, DMB is an acquired taste since the type of music is hard to categorize. What I like best is that live shows are always a different setlist.
For even a casual fan of Dave Matthews Band, the book is a worthwhile read to either learn something you didn’t know or reminisce of past experiences.
We didn’t discover DMB until around 2007, so this book back to the beginning of the band in Charlottesville was a great history lesson. Interesting how in the early days taping of concerts was allowed – even encouraged – to spread the music to a wider fan base.
Especially enjoyed the Alpine Valley references since our first DMB concert was there. Just missed one of the special moments by 24 hours: the next day of the two-night stand, after the band closed with “Thank You” the crowd kept singing the song for a long time after the band left the stage (page 199).
We listened to all four of our DMB CDs on the drive there and thought we knew all music, only to find out at the concert the band had so many more songs we never heard before. The book explains how it all got going, so I pulled out all our collected albums to play again and better understand the references.
For me, DMB is an acquired taste since the type of music is hard to categorize. What I like best is that live shows are always a different setlist.
For even a casual fan of Dave Matthews Band, the book is a worthwhile read to either learn something you didn’t know or reminisce of past experiences.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Sports: Late for the Vikings bandwagon
Sorry, Vikings, I’ve bled too much purple. I can’t spend 3-plus hours on a Sunday anymore watching you and then being mad the rest of the day.
Sometimes, if I’m around, I’ll turn on the tv at 2:45 to see how you’re doing, and if it’s close, I’ll finish it out with you, mostly out of curiosity.
And if you’re 8-2, I’ll chum along on the bandwagon a bit and keep track of your results. But I’ve been hurt too much and too often to take it anymore.
Do we need a new stadium? Yes. Why? To keep the team here. Why? Because we want 45 millionaires paying Minnesota income tax; then hopefully the rest of us won’t have to pay as much.
Sometimes, if I’m around, I’ll turn on the tv at 2:45 to see how you’re doing, and if it’s close, I’ll finish it out with you, mostly out of curiosity.
And if you’re 8-2, I’ll chum along on the bandwagon a bit and keep track of your results. But I’ve been hurt too much and too often to take it anymore.
Do we need a new stadium? Yes. Why? To keep the team here. Why? Because we want 45 millionaires paying Minnesota income tax; then hopefully the rest of us won’t have to pay as much.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sports: Target (Out)Field
I’ve been to Target Field quite a few times but fortunate to have seats around the infield. This time, scored free tickets in auto dealer promotion which were in the “Home Run Porch View.” As expected, he definition of view is upper deck, left field.
Got there early enough to snag the free ear buds (thanks T-mobile) and used the time to wander around the park to places we’ve never seen before, a self-guided tour without getting in trouble.
The outfield view at TF is amazingly good, other than that you can’t see the outfielder below you if he gets close to the wall.
This we’d discovered before, but made another visit: there’s a small area behind center field where you can get a nice close look into the bullpens. It has a real zoo-like quality about it as you watch the caged subjects in their native habitat.
Oh, yeah, there was a game, sort of. Toronto scored 5 in the top of the first, and when the Twins left bases loaded a couple times that could have at least made it interesting, it wasn’t.
This is rookie time. There’s a youthful photo in the Legends Club of Hrbek, Puckett, Brunansky, Gaetti, and one other player when they were first called up to the big leagues. Hope we can look back on this starting lineup with Presley, Mastroianni, Arcia, Colabello, Pinto, and Florimon someday after they’ve won a couple championships.
Got there early enough to snag the free ear buds (thanks T-mobile) and used the time to wander around the park to places we’ve never seen before, a self-guided tour without getting in trouble.
The outfield view at TF is amazingly good, other than that you can’t see the outfielder below you if he gets close to the wall.
This we’d discovered before, but made another visit: there’s a small area behind center field where you can get a nice close look into the bullpens. It has a real zoo-like quality about it as you watch the caged subjects in their native habitat.
Oh, yeah, there was a game, sort of. Toronto scored 5 in the top of the first, and when the Twins left bases loaded a couple times that could have at least made it interesting, it wasn’t.
This is rookie time. There’s a youthful photo in the Legends Club of Hrbek, Puckett, Brunansky, Gaetti, and one other player when they were first called up to the big leagues. Hope we can look back on this starting lineup with Presley, Mastroianni, Arcia, Colabello, Pinto, and Florimon someday after they’ve won a couple championships.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Running: one week to Bear Water Run
Last year, our focal point of training was the BWR 10-mile.
This year we completed the Wright County Half Marathon and managed to get into the Twin Cities 10 on Marathon weekend, but a return to BWR is too good to pass up. Well, either that or another half, but 10 miles is shorter. More on the TC 10 another time, which was my original wild hair.
Ran 9.5 miles this morning as the last “long" training run before Bear Water. Like last year, I plan to practice waiting on the last couple days – stand around for 20 minutes before beginning to run, which is what happens at real races.
Running teaches patience: when you want it to be over, all you can do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other again and again and . . . eventually – eventually – it is over. A lesson for life.
This year we completed the Wright County Half Marathon and managed to get into the Twin Cities 10 on Marathon weekend, but a return to BWR is too good to pass up. Well, either that or another half, but 10 miles is shorter. More on the TC 10 another time, which was my original wild hair.
Ran 9.5 miles this morning as the last “long" training run before Bear Water. Like last year, I plan to practice waiting on the last couple days – stand around for 20 minutes before beginning to run, which is what happens at real races.
Running teaches patience: when you want it to be over, all you can do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other again and again and . . . eventually – eventually – it is over. A lesson for life.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Prediction: Mauer won't return this season
Having had a family member with a concussion, following Joe Mauer's recovery is easier to judge.
About 10 days after the injury, Mauer reportedly wore a cap to a press conference due to sensitivity to the camera lights.(http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/221690821.html)
Our experience says if he's having any sensitivity to lights, or sounds, Mauer or no human being is even close to ready to stand in against 90-mph fastballs. No doctor would clear him to play, and the Twins can't risk aggravating the injury in their biggest investment any further when so little is at stake anymore this season.
About 10 days after the injury, Mauer reportedly wore a cap to a press conference due to sensitivity to the camera lights.(http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/221690821.html)
Our experience says if he's having any sensitivity to lights, or sounds, Mauer or no human being is even close to ready to stand in against 90-mph fastballs. No doctor would clear him to play, and the Twins can't risk aggravating the injury in their biggest investment any further when so little is at stake anymore this season.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Hotel review: Americinn, Winona MN
It was what you’d want from a normal hotel stay. Room clean, air conditioner actually cooled the room to desired temperature, no glitches with anything. Mattress may have sloped a bit into center, but otherwise was comfortable. Hot tub was moderate hot, not the kind where you boil yourself ala lobster.
Breakfast was a good spread – large bagels, fresh muffins, a waffle maker, quick-fix french toast and eggs, cereal, oranges, yogurt. Plenty of choices, not just a platter of rolls. Open 6-10 am.
Lots of bikers and fishermen in for the holiday weekend.
Travel: Winona MN
Two ways to get to Winona from Twin Cities: buzz 52 to just past Rochester and take a left, or go to Hastings and follow the river for the scenic drive. Hwy 52 is several miles longer, but overall faster because you can go freeway speed, even 70 mph on the I-90 stretch. Couple minor road work areas at present, but no detours or delays.
Ran 5 miles around Winona Lake, two minutes faster than last year. Most of the north and west sides have a nice, fresh topcoat of tar – as smooth as tar ever gets. Quite a few people out for a early holiday morning.
Checked out Airport Lake at the west end. Got one sunny in a fairly short period. For the adverturesome, Airport Lake has a couple of swinging ropes where you can climb a tree and then Tarzan yourself into the lake (at least the college kids do that).
Ran 5 miles around Winona Lake, two minutes faster than last year. Most of the north and west sides have a nice, fresh topcoat of tar – as smooth as tar ever gets. Quite a few people out for a early holiday morning.
Checked out Airport Lake at the west end. Got one sunny in a fairly short period. For the adverturesome, Airport Lake has a couple of swinging ropes where you can climb a tree and then Tarzan yourself into the lake (at least the college kids do that).
Restaurant review: Perkins, Winona MN
Scheduling error: not enough kitchen help for a holiday (Labor Day) lunch period. Turned a regular lunch into a 1 1/2-hour-plus event. Fortunately, we weren’t in a hurry and got in good visiting time.
The host managed to keep a smile with a constant lobby full of waiting customers, some of whom gave up, and the frantic waitresses did their best.
Otherwise, once the food arrived, a combination of breakfast and lunch items, it was up to Perkins’ usual good standards.
By the way, the attached Quality Inn is closed and appears pretty run down. Doesn't scare away the Perkins crowd at least. The hotel is for sale if anyone wants to take on a project
The host managed to keep a smile with a constant lobby full of waiting customers, some of whom gave up, and the frantic waitresses did their best.
Otherwise, once the food arrived, a combination of breakfast and lunch items, it was up to Perkins’ usual good standards.
By the way, the attached Quality Inn is closed and appears pretty run down. Doesn't scare away the Perkins crowd at least. The hotel is for sale if anyone wants to take on a project
Restaurant review: Chipotle, Chanhassen MN
Round of burritos for everyone, all different combinations. This is becoming a family favorite, although we’re still trying to get better at ordering.
Like other custom, fast-served items (Subway), it’s a bit pricey at almost $30 for four items without any extras.
Hardest thing to get straight: it’s chi-poat-lay, not chi-pole-tay.
Like other custom, fast-served items (Subway), it’s a bit pricey at almost $30 for four items without any extras.
Hardest thing to get straight: it’s chi-poat-lay, not chi-pole-tay.
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