Iowa City Jog

Took moving Colin, my firstborn's move to the University of Iowa as an opportunity for a jog along the Iowa River. Since coach Ben of Sisu Ski Foundation pointed out that my aerobic workouts were sorely lacking I started with that part of my training plan: a slow ten mile run with dog, always an eye on my heart rate readout, making sure it never got above 130 bpm.

Both Mellie and I thougth it hard to run that slow and odd to be never out of breath.

Iowa City Run

Of course, winter was not over and a big snowstorm was announced for Sunday. It was a travel day for me, Colin and two friends. We were heading for Iowa City where they were checking out the university. It had not started snowing yet but we drove through it, entering at about Faribault and exiting around Mason City. In Iowa City traces of snow were restricted to old piles on the north sides of buildings and, amazingly for someone used to November-March permafrost, the lawns were soft and muddy.

Running by the Old Capitol Building

I went for a run hoping to use some hypothetical trail along one bank of the Iowa River, returning on the other side. I was disappointed, river-side trails were intermittent and only on one side. But I enjoyed the run, including the fact that the city has some contour. I also felt like I definitely had my running legs back, even though for the next week (or weeks?) it would be back to winter.