Greetings from Minneapolis – we made it!
It poured all day in Iowa yesterday and the rain pretty much followed us for the entire trip to Minneapolis. I didn’t mind because I can’t stand it when the sun is beating down on me during road trips, but I think Ben, who was driving, was kind of hating his life 
He came along to hang out with his Minneapolis peeps for the weekend too.
For road trip fuel I packed a Chocolate Brownie Clif Bar – which, I decided, is going to be my new, go-to chocolate fix. OMG I haven’t had one of these in awhile and I forgot how good they are! They are seriously more decadent than a brownie! The whole bar was only 240 calories and I was satisfied half way through. YUM!
Doesn’t it kind of look like a lava field up close? Cool 
About half way through our trip we stopped so I could use the restroom and we could both get some refreshments. We got to a gas station, went our separate ways and were to meet back at the car in 5. When I made it back, guess what was waiting for me tucked inside my Fitness magazine?!
As Ben put it: The Ultimate Fat Kid Bookmark – a Laffy Taffy bar! 
Ben knows this is my favorite non-chocolate candy, so he picked us up a bar to split. It was super tasty – but I felt like I needed to brush my teeth as soon as I finished my half – so sugary!
Oh, check out this photo of the Minnesota sign at the Iowa/Minnesota border. I told Ben to notify me when were getting close so I could take a picture. Well about 10 minutes later I just so happen to look up (I forget what I was doing) and we were literally 20 feet away from the sign – thanks for that notification Ben!! I seriously whipped out my camera, turned it on and snapped this picture in less than 5 seconds. It was a photography miracle folks! I think it came out pretty good, too!
The rest of the car trip was spent remembering the good ol’ days in Minneapolis. Talking about our favorite restaurants, the places we wanted to make sure we saw while we’re up here, making up new lyrics to Christmas songs…hey, it was a long trip! Before we knew it though, the Minneapolis skyline appeared – we made it!
I dropped Ben off at the place where he was staying and headed over to my friend’s house where I would be staying (tonight all of us girls will be together in a hotel.) Look at her funny little dog!!!
She’s a Brussels Griffon and her name is Sprinkles – but we call her the professor, because she looks like a professor. Isn’t she hilarious?!
I freshened up a little and we hit a little Mexican place next to my friends’ condo and had 2 for 1 margaritas and some chips and salsa – both staples for a Mexican restaurant visit in my opinion! There was a live mariachi band playing too – it was so fun!!! We didn’t get too crazy, as I wanted to get up for my run this morning and we have a whole day of bachelorette festivities to attend to today!
So, I’m happy to report that I DID make it up this morning for my run – I was SO pumped! I drove over to my favorite lake and took a leisurely lap around, about 3 miles. I remember when I first moved to Minneapolis and could barely run 1.5 miles, how awful that lake seemed to me. Today it was zip, zip, zip!! Just proof positive that if you stick with something, you will get better!
Updated stats:
- Monday: 5 mile run
- Tuesday: 10×400 5K pace
- Wednesday: 5.15 miles
- Thursday: rest
- Friday: rest
- Saturday: 3 mile run
- Sunday: 4.25 miles (hoping I can do this when I get home!!)
Here’s a shot of my favorite little square in Uptown Minneapolis – Calhoun square – super cute.
I’m blogging at a Caribou Coffee near my old apartment, which I drove by on my way here – ah memories! It’s SO weird being back here. I still know the city like the back of my hand, but at the same time, I feel like I lived here YEARS ago. Definitely an odd feeling. Oh well, it’s good to be back!!
Well I’m going to pack up, head back to my friend’s house and get ready to start the day – have a wonderful Saturday!!
What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this weekend?!
Oh I forgot to mention – I don’t know why I never noticed this when I lived here, but there are FORESTS of lilac bushes everywhere!!!
Have fun on your trip!! It looks beautiful there!
‘Professor’ is adorable! Glad you had a safe trip up – the running location looks beautiful.
I’m glad you made it! It looks so pretty there– I love lilacs. Congrats on your run, too! I love those moments when you realize that something that used to be super hard now comes naturally to you
I feel like Britney Spears is staying at my place! Such a celebrity you are!! Last night was so fun and the professor loves having you here, too!!
Clif bars are bomb. I love them too (chocolate chip is my favorite one, hate the PB one but haven’t tried the brownie). I have to say, I think the reason I come back to your site is all the interesting photos you take with each post!:)
Gorgeous pics! What Mexican restaurant did you go to? How was your run? It was so cold this morning! Just walking from the parking lot to the gym was painful.
Wow I love lilacs, it’s the most beautiful and the most fragrant flower in my opinion.
The professor is ADORABLE, have a fun bachelorette, congrats to the bride. I think it’s great that you did the run, vacay and all.
I love Clif bars, I have never tried the brownie one, but now I will.
The professor is super cute!!
Have a great time at the bachelorette party!
What a cute little dog.
I am looking forward to spending time with my husband and our little dog. Oh, and my long run tomorrow morning!
http://islandgirleats.blogspot.com
That’s one thing I miss about the midwest. I just LOVE lilac bushes. I did have one here, but we had a water main break outside the house and they had to tear it out to fix the pipe. We tried replanting it, but it didn’t work.
Glad you had a good trip up to the cities, despite the rain. Sounds like you had a terrific night with the girls. Great job with the run as well… especially with it being so chilly yesterday morning. Can’t wait for a recap of Saturday’s festivities!
[...] friend of mine and I stayed at another friend of ours’ condo up in Minni (this same group of us), and on Saturday morning the three of us got up and headed to the baby shower co-hosted by this [...]
We went to Pancho Villa – soo yummy
YES – the run was FREEZING on the east side of the lake – west side wasn’t too bad though!