Canoeing

Sunday we canoed part of the St. Croix River. It is a much wider river than I expected, but very clean and actually quite shallow. We canoed a total of 7 miles but it was into the wind (about 20 mile per hour wind on average) so although we were traveling with the river's current, it was still a bit of a workout for our arms. Canoeing was a nice change of pace. I'm thankful for the rivers that have sustained cultures in terms of body, mind and soul for centuries.




Canoed 7 miles C: very windy W: 2 miles

Medalion for caching efforts

Today we set off to finish a caching challenge: to complete a caching history challenge at each of the state parks in the metro region. There were a total of 8 state parks, 3 of which we had done earlier in the summer and 3 of which we completed on Friday. Saturday was for finishing the last 2 as well as a special cache that needed to be done only after the other 8 caches were found. That final cache was really a workout as we had to climb a very steep, high hill. The park rangers tell you to allow 90 minutes. We completed it in 60 so that lets you know the pace we were going. Once we turned in our proof of finding the cache we received a funky silver medalion. Some would say it's not the prize but the journey, but I say in this case, the prize was a motivating factor that validated our efforts and made the journey well worth it! That's my reality today.

After we finished the challenge we went for a few other caches on our way back to our campground. All together we walked approximately 10 miles.



w 10 miles

Caching and camping

Over Labor Day weekend I went caching and camping. I love doing them both, but I'm guessing most people only know what camping is, so today's post is going to be on caching. The more formal name for this activity is geocaching.

For those of you who are not familiar with geocaching it's basically high tech scavenger hunting. You get coordinates off the official geocaching website and then enter those coordinates into a GPS unit. These coordinates get you close to your "cache" which is a container of some sort. Some caches are large, like an ice-cream bucket or an amo can, and some are very very small. Some we've found are smaller than a dime. Usually the caches are hidden--some better than others--and some are located in tough terrain. For those of you who are not familiar with geocaching it's basically high tech scavenger hunting.

Although there are some caches located right in the city, alot of them are placed in "green spaces" like city parks, public water acccesses, trail systems, and state forests and state parks. I've often commented that I've to places I would probably never visit or even known about in some cases if it hadn't been for geocaching. The nice thing about these particular greener caches, is that there is usually quite a bit of walking involved which means more calories burned. And it's fun. For more information check out online: http://www.geocaching.com/

Since being introduced to the "sport" last July, I've found over 425. So yes, you could say I'm addicted. This weekend was no exception. After we set up camp at Wild River State Park, we took off to do a little caching. Altogether we walked about 7 miles. Caching is definitely a part of my reality and just one way I get out and about.

W 7 miles

Paul Bunyan Trail

I grew up in Brainerd but didn't do alot of outdoor stuff. But one of the activities I did do was some cross country skiing. The Nothland Arboretum was the spot we would go. I love the changes they have done in the recent years. The new building is beautiful and in fact we had my Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Annivesary party there. One of my favorite features now is the fact that the Paul Bunyan trailhead is right next door. I've biked on the trail dozens of times but today I decided to run it.

This is only the fourth time I've tried running on the trail. The first time was my first experience on outside pavement. Before that I had only run indoors on the treadmill. I wasn't sure how my shins would take it so I only did about a mile. That was July 5th. A month later I was back on it going 1 for 1. I'd walk a mile, run a mile, walk a mile, run a mile. I traveled a total of 8 miles. The next run I was short for time, so I did a total of 2 miles--all running. But this time after doing 3.6 in Little Falls, I decided to shoot for 4. And I did it!!! It felt good and I completed it in about 38 minutes.

It was a beautiful trip because the wildflowers were in bloom. It was fun to use the trail in this new way. I felt lucky that Brainerd had access to this great trail system. In all this greenery it's easy to forget that you're in the city. So on this day, I'm thankful for the Paul Bunyan Trail and the opportunities it provides.


R 4 miles 38 min

winds of change

Today was another gorgeous day. It was bright sunshine, clear blue skies, and in the seventies. From inside the house or in the back yard it was darn near perfect. When it came to biking, it was maybe not so perfect. Those winds were strong. Just like yesterday, I put off going out on a ride today until it was almost too late because it was easy to use the wind as an excuse. But once again, I bucked up and decided just to go for it. I set out on my ride without a predetermined route. I was just going to go where the winds blew me. And Blow me they did. But I kept peddling.

It took me 35 minutes to go about 6 miles. At first I went along the river on the East side of town and then crossed over the bride to follow the river on the West side. I rode past Lindberg State Park, the Weyerhauser Museum/Morrison County Historical Society, and past some Historic Site markers. I soon found myself riding out in the country where there were fewer obstacles protecting me from the wind. As fate would have it, I was also going up some slight hills. Each by itself made the ride more difficult, but combined really gave me a work out. My goal was to just go out to a certain point and then turn around. One of the thoughts that kept my motivation up was the reality that at a certain point the obstacles that were slowing me down would feel different on the way back. So although I was ready to turn aroun at five miles because of the wind and the hills (ok slight inclines) I pushed myself to go another mile. Just as I predicted when I turned around the ride felt completely different. It even sounded different. My speed increased and I was able to reshift to higher gears and bike at a comfortable pace once again.

I was cruising along at a nice pace when I biked by one of the historical markers I had first seen about 10 minutes earlier. Although I was aware of the marker's approach, I didn't slow down enough to really read what it said. So I whizzed right by it and then wondered to myself what it said. Then the thought of this blog project popped into my head and I realized that I had just left a learning moment behind. I didn't have to keep biking continously. It was ok to stop and look and see. So I turned my bike around and went back to the marker. It was an interesting piece of history. I included a photo I took so you could read it as well.

That particular piece of land was actually a trading center before the city of Litte Falls was founded. It was the first city so to speak and was known as "swan river". And yet here it was, over a century later, and there's nothing left to prove there was a city there at all. Instead, everything is further up the road by a couple of miles and the area goes by the name of Little Falls. Swan river experienced the winds of change. Then I started thinking about history in general and all the changes that have occured since the settlers and the Winnebago Indians crossed paths on this spot of land. In some cases the winds were supportive and other times they were not so kind. Just like my bike ride, depending on the direction of the wind it either felt like it was repressive or it was empowering.

And so it is that the wind became my analagy for how we move through life, or since this is my journal on my reality, maybe I should say "how I move through life" . Sometimes it seems there are forces that make it more difficult to achieve my goal. It might slow me down or challenge me more but I can still go the distance by working hard. Then I thought about how easy the ride seemed when the wind was at my back and I thought about how the reality of life is that when I'm supported my tasks don't seem as daunting. And just like life, I can't always predict which way the winds are going to blow but I can control how I choose to deal with the wind. On this day, I was happy that I choose not to let the wind scare me into staying inside. For if I had, I surely would have missed the exercise, the journey, and the opportunity to share another piece of reality.


Exercise meter: B 12.28 miles; 1:05 min; C windy

Sweatbands

I recently took up running, not because I really enjoyed it, but because I thought it would be good for me. The problem is I sweat, ALOT. So this past summer I got some sweatbands to wear. Now, I'm not one to really get hung up on what others think of how I'm dressed. But if truth be told, I probably care more than I like to admit. Seeing as today was the first day of school, I decided it should also be my first day of my new project--to get out and about and to find something in my reality that I could share on my blog. Well, I put off my run until almost 3:00. Of course, this is now the hottest part of the day. But I decided to go for it anyway. So I laced up my running shoes, grabbed my itouch and headphones and went out the door to check the weather before my 3.6 mile run. Well, it didn't take long before I realized that yes it was indeed hot! I knew I was going to sweat and immediately thought of my sweatbands. But then that little voice in the back of my head started taunting me, telling me that if I wore the sweatbands I'd look dorky. I almost gave in to my own self-induced pressure before I bucked up and just put them on.

I was a little self conscious at first but you know what? It was HOT! And just as I predicted I started sweating. It was so hot that I even got a little sunburned. See? Hours later and I'm still convincing myself that it was OK to wear the sweatbands. What's the deal there? Running is not a beauty contest, a person needs to be comfortable. So my reality check today is--I sweat--so be it! You know, I'm out there getting some exercise. I can say I worked hard. And yes it came with a little sweat--but that's ok. Some would say "glisten" was more feminine but I'm calling it like it is. I ran and I wore sweatbands not "glistenbands". Far too often I think people get distracted with worrying about how they look. And the fact that I came home sweaty made me actually feel good. I knew I had worked hard and had sweat to prove it. I'm proud that I got out there and didn't let the heat be my excuse for not going. Sweatbands might not be for everyone, that's fine, but I found that they came in handy. So that's my reality check for today--sweat can be good!


Exercise meter: R 3.6 miles; 33 min; C 80's and hot

Day one of my Sabbatical/Intro to my blog

I am a college instructor who happens to be on sabbatical this year and this is my blog. Today was the first day of school and for the first time in several years I am not one of the many bussling around the campus. Instead I am home, thinking about not being there.

There's just something about this time of year and this day in particular. I loved this day, for it often seemed to be the one day when most everyone was excited about school. Unfortunately, that excitement doesn't seem to last as long as we'd like--probably for both the teachers and the students. Those of you who are instructors may understand how vulnerable that dynamic is and how easily if can affect the learning environment. Many of us try hard to bottle that energy of the first day and try and sustain it throughout the year. But inevitably life gets in the way and today's students are forced to juggle so many responsibilities that our jobs as instructors seem more and more difficult almost each year. I try to be energetic and engaging and keep my classes upbeat, but that can be tough on me too. Many times after putting in a nine hour day I'd get home and just want to "veg" in front of the TV. Then, that just became a habbit.

Yes, my name is Kari, and I'm a tv-aholic. I kind of have been for a very long time. I know I watch way too many shows. And I'm ashamed to say I watch far too many reality shows for my own good. They suck me in and I have to find out who's going to be the next person to get the boot. I've even been known to watch entire-season-marathons during the summer. That's where you can catch up on an entire season in one day because they play the episodes back to back all day. This summer was no exception. That's when I got scared. I'm on sabbatical this year. I have to do something to break myself of this unproductive habbit that I've gotten myself into. Not only is it not good for my mind but it's not going to be good for my body. I could just see it...coming back next fall with a few extra pounds. I know there is the expected freshman fifteen, but I didn't want to fall victim to a sabbatical seventeen. I knew I was going to have to commit myself to some kind of project with physical movement and accountability in order to make sure I actually did it. I needed something above and beyond my sabbatical plan. Don't get me wrong, I am really looking forward to working on my plan but what is in the original plan basically involves alot of time sitting in front of the computer. So I came up with this...my pledge to move in a direction good for my mind, body and soul. This is my pledge to move away from the reality shows to what I'm calling "showing my reality".

The idea is actually quite simple. I came up with it on one of the days where I actually got my butt off the couch and went for a bike ride. You see I went on a bike trail that was relatively new to me. And on this 50 mile bike ride I was able to experience some pretty cool things that I would have missed if I'd been home watching the tube. For example the smell of freshly thrashed hay. (OK I'm a city girl, so I hope that's the right term--guess I'll have to turn that into a learning exercise and look it up) I've heard others talk about the smell of fresh cut grass or the aroma after a harvest, but I don't think I've ever experienced it. So there it was. The farmer was even close enough that I could see his smile. So with a wave I took it all in and continued biking. It was an AHA moment because it brought to light something I'd learned earlier.

This past summer at a D2L conference I sat next to a gentleman who I'll probably never see again, and we had a great conversation--one of those that reinforce the reasons I went into teaching in the first place. He was talking about this video that he'd seen that he thought I'd enjoy (even though we'd just met). He said it was about a photographer who learned that by being patient and widening his perspective there lived the potential to find something good in any shot. If you looked you could find the positive--see something good--and it might not be what you originally thought you'd find. We talked about the analagy of doing this with people as well as things and it really kind of inspired me. There's positive things all around me and I some times have a tendency to get caught up in the negatives. So I'm really going to put this (and myself) to the test. I'm going to turn off the tv, get out and move and take a better look at what's around me--to truly see my reality--to find the good in what I probably take for granted in my surroundings. This blog will be my record and my way of not just showing, but sharing my reality. I hope you like it and I hope it inspires you to find the truly good in the reality that surrounds you.