TMC16 Exercise and Touring Minneapolis (TMC16 Series Part 6)

My colleague, Kathy, and I arrived Friday night in MN for #TMC16 and wanted to run on Saturday morning.  A few people were tweeting it out.  I wasn't 100% committed because I didn't know how tired I would be after Friday night at the Twins game and how early 6:30 am would come.  But, I forgot about the 1 hour time change and BING! my eyes were open at 5:30 am on Saturday morning, so met the group out front of the dorms. We also ran on Sunday morning.  What a great way to tour the city!!!

I hope I get everyone: Picture below is from our second morning, but people who joined us on both:
Lisa @lisabej_manitou, Jamie Rykse @jrykse, Bob @MrJanesMath, Sadie @wahedahbug, Marissa @viemath, Maggie @maggietenneyson, Connie @CHaugneland, Kristin @Mathminds, Kristin @Fouss, Kathy @kd5campbell
 
The second picture is called the Mississippi Mile.  It is atop the Stone Arch bridge.  We weren't quite sure where we were going as we ran but it was all just amazing.  If you ever get a chance to go to Minneapolis - GO!  I am from a suburb of Boston and sorry, Boston - but you are gross.  You are old and dirty, scary to walk and drive in, and just not friendly.  Yes, I get it.  You are important and historic and old.  But, I think I have a new crush on Minneapolis.  It is a city that doesn't feel like a city.  There is no hurried feeling to it.  There are not a million people, cars, and buildings everywhere.  It is so clean and green.  It is so bike and walker friendly.  There is the road, then a bike lane, then a walking lane - everywhere.  There are even street lights that have the regular green, red, and yellow for the cars but then a separate one for the bikes with lights in the shape of bikes.  So cool.  There are bridges and rivers and restaurants everywhere.  More on the food in another post.

There was someone for each person to run and chat with and it was a great way to get to know another group of people.  Thanks for being my running buddies.  If you want to run next year, don't be afraid to send a tweet and get it going.  Although our Atlanta group tells me it will be much hotter there next year!

On Monday, I decided to try out the bike share system and see a little more of the city.  It was so fun and easy!  This group was Kathy, Maggie, and Ellen @n922 joined us for our city tour.  We headed to the Stone Arch Bridge and went across the river.  The other side seems a little older, but so quaint with many outdoor seating restaurants.  I wish we had time to eat there.  We went around a little electric plant and down closer to the falls.  Then, we circled around beautiful Nicolette Island.  The houses and gardens reminded me of Martha's Vineyard.  Then, was time to head back.  We went over our hour pay time so we continued on to Starbucks and got a new few of Augsburg College.