Happy October!  Month of BIG goals, start of cooler Fall weather.  Snow in the mountains ALL week.  ZERO for us at 5300ft (maybe next week) BUT it’s a coming, BIG grin.

October.  4 weekends, 4 marathons.  Easy day flight Saturday to Minneapolis.  Up early though – had to get in remaining training miles.  Marathon Eve taper, limited myself to two quick ticks.  Stretch goal met: October Week One, 76.6 miles – 50 training miles plus Sunday’s Maine Marathon.  3 goal weeks to go. #big ideas

Good vibe this town.  Train ride into Minneapolis/St. Paul, no rental car needed (super convenient mass transit).  U of M Gophers/bank of the Mississippi, whole lotta sports stadiums, theatre – and the iconic Mary Tyler Moore.  They’ve got it all here.  Expect more after Sunday’s marathon.  Monday return to Denver (crack-of-dawn flight), work by 9am.

Airport to US Bank Center.  Transit line switch Blue to Green, ‘nother 30 minutes to today’s Expo in St. Paul (bib pick-up).  Train 100% bestest/quickest/least congested way to the RiverCentre.  Crazy busy place.  Season opener for Minnesota’s NHL squad next door.

Welcome runners!  That’s ME, I’m home.

Gotta earn your Finisher’s clothes at Twin Cities (no pre-race shirt).  Purchased a new mid-section belt to hold phone/keys/meds while marathoning (down 15 pounds recently).  Magnet in current one literally pulling down me shorts.  Not quite the show I had planned for tomorrow’s spectators.  LOL>  Music’s back too.  Haters are gonna hate, but bringing back tunes last 13 miles.

Fancy digs this trek, Minneapolis’ Westin.  Nabbed a special race rate early – hotel, short 4 block walk to Sunday’s Start.

Upper 30’s/low 40’s, overcast & cool.  Welcome Runner.  My kinda marathon day 😊