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2017 Get in Gear 10K

Posted April 30, 2017

The 2017 edition of the Get in Gear 10K is in the books and I knew it was going to be a slow one for me. I’m not really sure how to explain it, though. I’m usually undertrained every year for this race, but had been able to turn in decent times the past seven years. This was my 16th in a row (17th overall) and GiG remains one of my favorite running events on the Minnesota race calendar: very well organized, beautiful course and huge turnout of “my people.”

The weather this year was a bit brisk, with a cold wind at the start. The sun came out, though, and I felt OK during the second half. I decided to start towards the back this year, so my first mile was slower as I wove through people. If I could throw out that mile, I would’ve just barely been at a sub-9:00 pace (far, far from my PR pace of 7:12). The rest of the race was fairly consistent, as I really didn’t want to force anything after all my heart tests. Here are the Apple Watch splits: 9:22, 8:43, 8:56, 8:55, 8:59, 9:04 (55:57 chip time – 9:01 Minute Miles). The results page showed me at 950 out of 2530 overall, 609 out of 1117 males and 70th out of 130 in my age group.

Seemed like there were a lot more half marathoners this year. Found out at the Lake Street bridge that they had a new course, so that probably explained the renewed interest. Looks nice, but Get in Gear will always be a 10K event for me.

A few other random notes:

  • Took the train from our new house, transferring at the stadium from green line to blue. Took an hour overall and worked out fine.
  • Great Harvest raisin bread and Pearson’s salted nut rolls both made a return appearance this year.
  • It looked like they were giving medals to finishers of all four events (2K, 5K, 10K and half). Hoping this was just for the 40th anniversary and that they don’t go overboard with bling expense like some people in town.

Up next: TC 1 Mile on May 11th


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Another new neighbor (2 blocks over)

Pic posted April 30, 2017

From the @kingsbury account on Instagram


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Nice job HBO on the rock and roll induction show – Lenny Kravitz and Letterman were so great


@kingsbury tweeted April 29, 2017


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Garbage at the Skyway Theater

Posted April 29, 2017

Digging back into the concert archive from last year, I was extremely happy to finally cross Garbage off the bucket list on July 7, 2016, at the Skyway Theater in downtown Minneapolis. As a graduate of UW-Madison, it always seemed like a fail that I had never seen them live before. And then to have the show at a venue I had never been to before was a double bonus.

The Skyway (capacity just under 2,000) was…interesting. Definitely one of the louder spots in town, we could literally feel the entire building shake when we walked under it from the old Dayton’s parking lot. We never did see it with the house lights up, so I’m not entirely sure how it was set up. I also didn’t go upstairs into the balcony, but Colleen said it had concrete rows to sit on (with no actual seats).

I’ve had a crush on Shirley Manson ever since I heard her on a radio interview way back in the day (that I can now barely remember). The Scottish lead singer thing always seemed like a weird combination for a band from Madison, but it’s worked out well for them. Manson is now 50 (49 when she played this show), but still had huge stage presence and boundless energy. Her vocals sounded wonderful and she honestly seemed happy to be back in Minneapolis. I hadn’t had much of a chance to listen to their new (at the time) album Strange Little Birds before the show, but it’s really grown on me since.

The other reason I was really excited to finally see Garbage was Butch Vig. Unfortunately, the 61-year-old drummer and producer was ill and recovering back in LA (according to Shirley). In addition to playing with Garbage, he’s produced albums for a who’s who of my iTunes library: Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Foo Fighters and Muse (among others). The replacement drummer was fine, but if they ever come back again, I’ll go again to try and see Butch.

As for the actual show, here are a couple of reviews I found. Great to hear both the new songs and classics like Only Happy When It Rains, Why Do You Love Me and Sex Is Not the Enemy. A set list from setlist.fm and a few pictures below.

  • Sometimes
  • I Think I’m Paranoid
  • Stupid Girl
  • Special
  • Blood for Poppies
  • The Trick Is to Keep Breathing
  • Empty
  • My Lover’s Box
  • Sex Is Not the Enemy
  • A Stroke of Luck
  • Control
  • #1 Crush
  • Battle in Me
  • Automatic Systematic Habit
  • Bleed Like Me
  • Push It
  • Vow
  • Only Happy When It Rains
  • Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)
  • Encore
  • Blackout
  • Why Do You Love Me
  • Even Though Our Love Is Doomed

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Takin’ my time. I’m slowin’ down a little bit…

— Tom Petty

Quote posted April 29, 2017


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The creek was a-flowin’

Pic posted April 29, 2017

Minnehaha Creek after Get in Gear


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Slowest time in eight years, but still under an hour


@kingsbury tweeted April 29, 2017


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Another great visit – thanks, Chef

Pic posted April 28, 2017

From the @kingsbury account on Instagram


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Economist: global price of jet fuel has fallen by half since 2014


@kingsbury tweeted April 28, 2017


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It’s been too long, Cap

Pic posted April 28, 2017

The lunch special at Cap’s Grille, Minneapolis


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I run so I can do this

Pic posted April 27, 2017

From the @kingsbury account on Instagram


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Thanks for the dogs, Franky

Pic posted April 27, 2017

Post-run dinner with the old lady


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Always wanted the purple ones

Pic posted April 27, 2017

As seen on this week’s We Run Mpls route through NE


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Saints don't bother with a tear stained eye

Pic posted April 26, 2017

From the @kingsbury account on Instagram


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RIP Jonathan Demme – Stop Making Sense one of the best concert films of all time


@kingsbury tweeted April 26, 2017


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Lauryn Hill at First Avenue

Posted April 25, 2017

I’ve run into my friend RW the past two days in a row, which reminded me of the Lauryn Hill concert at First Avenue last September (that I never wrote about). You can read Chris Riemenschneider’s review of the 9/4/2016 concert here, since this is all I really remember from that night:

  • We loved the Fugees and were sad we hadn’t seen any of her other recent visits.
  • It was the most money we’ve ever spent on a First Avenue ticket.
  • We learned RW is a true First Ave VIP and got us one of the tables upstairs.
  • Ms. Hill completely lives up to the diva reputation (and her band probably wanted to kill her by the end of the show).

That cover of Nothing Compares 2 U was amazing, though.

Read more…


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Link: 20 Minutes to Secure WordPress

Linked April 25, 2017


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Wish I liked beer more

Pic posted April 24, 2017

Actually no I don’t, but this place was nice


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First in person Minnesota United FC game with a great group of people


@kingsbury tweeted April 23, 2017


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Sunday bike ride in the 651

Pic posted April 23, 2017

Never tire of the big river


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Barge season appears to be in full-swing now


@kingsbury tweeted April 23, 2017


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7 Things I’ve Never Tried

Posted April 22, 2017

  • Coffee
  • Cigarettes
  • Skydiving
  • 100 mile trail race
  • Country club membership
  • Mile High Club membership
  • Patience

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Hi Lydia

Pic posted April 22, 2017

From the @kingsbury account on Instagram


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Yeouch

Pic posted April 22, 2017

I can’t believe the Wild and the Hawks are done


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Scenes from a run #2

Pic posted April 22, 2017

Don’t blink or you’ll miss this view


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