Day 1076 -- Jogger's Progress

	Trip	YTD	Feb
Distance	6665.3	271.0	127.6
Time	44 days, 15 hrs, 53 min	1 day, 20 hrs, 52 mins	21:10
Days	1076	45	21
States	22	3	1

Not a great month, but a good one. One running day and 4.6 miles short of last February. And I was supposed to run 5 miles yesterday, and I didn't. It wasn't so much that I was too tired, it was that I couldn't find the time! I slept in (clear until 6:30), and then the first Little Jogger had a Girl Scout thing at the University. So I took her down there, and went to the office. My plan was to spend a couple of hours, then slip off to the fitness center for a run. But things just kept piling up, and I wasn't ready to go until about 11:30. At that point, I was too hungry, so I came home for lunch. I spent the afternoon grading (Ok, and a little napping) and never got around to running

Oh well, today was a good run. It was close to 40 degrees at noon, so I did my long run outside. It was a lot of work, but I felt stronger than my last outdoor run, two weeks ago. And I went two miles longer. So that was good. I'm already up to 13 miles, with three months until the Madison Marathon.

No goals for March, although I'd like to try to stick with my six-day training plan, and not take extra days off. We'll see.

Day 1075 -- More Beaver Dam

From Waymarking.com, the Swan City Band shell. They say,

Swan Park is Beaver Dam's pride and joy. It has a natural spring in the park that has now been piped underground from the spring house to the pond. The park also has a horseshoe pit, playground, picnic tables, and lots of open space for those special events held here throughout the year. Don't forget to see the amazing Victorian-style picnic shelter with all of it's colorful frills.

I ran a hard six this morning. I wasn't sure I was up to it, but I survived. And tomorrow, I'm going to sleep in.

Day 1074 -- Beaver Dam

I love the web. Did you know there was a Retail History Blog? Who reads it? I guess people who want to know the answer to the burning question, "Why is Beaver Dam Mall faltering?" The blogger blames mismanagement, along with a national trend away from indoor malls.

Four easy miles this morning, though not quite so easy as I would have liked. I'm only halfway through my running week, so I hope I'll pick up energy over these next three days.

Days 1072 and 1073 -- Lowell

There's bit of an empty spot here between Columbus and Beaver Dam, so I went off the road a little bit to visit Lowell. Lowell is where Ray Peacock spotted this locomotive in 2006. He uploaded it to RailPictures.net, which is where Google found it for me.

I ran a quick tempo run yesterday morning, and then six miles today. I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, because I was out for dinner. My university is looking for a new chancellor, and the four finalists are visiting this week and next. They are arranging dinner for the candidates with various campus leaders, and as a faculty senator, I qualify. For one candidate. The real important people are invited to dinner with all four candidates. Anyway, I liked this guy a lot, and I'd be happy if he became chancellor. But I don't actually get a vote, so I'll just sit back and see what happens.

Day 1071 -- Columbus

Interestingly, this picture of Columbus, WI, is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They have an article about movie tourism in the Midwest, and the Johnny Depp movie Public Enemies was shot partially in Columbus. It was also shot partially in Oshkosh, and one of my friends who teaches at UW-Oshkosh was an extra. Or so I'm told. I haven't seen the movie.

I got in five miles yesterday, and eight more today, to top off an easy week. Next week, I have to pick it up again.

Day 1069 -- Sun Prairie

Hungry for Mexican? Burrachos Fresh Mexican Grill has just opened in Sun Prairie.

I ran yesterday, but I skipped this morning. I regretted it all day. But there was no way I could get a run in later in the day, so I got an unscheduled day off.

Day 1068 -- More Madison

Well, I couldn't leave Madison without stopping to see Frank. I've been known to stretch it by a good 20 miles to visit a state capitol with Frank, and this time, I ran within a couple of blocks of the capitol building. I think I was actually that close late yesterday. By the end of today's five mile run, I was on the edge of town, heading northeast. Next landmark: Lambeau Field.

Day 1067 -- Madison

In 1991, Mrs. Jogger and I landed in Madison, a relatively young married couple, in pursuit of an education and good Thai food. Five years later, we left with a doctorate and a toddler, each of which has proved to be a blessing in some ways. I guess the toddler must have been the one we liked more, because in the intervening 15 years, we've added three more kids, but no more advanced degrees.

Two fun things for today's post. Above, you'll see a picture of the Sidewalk Math tutoring, which occurs at the UW-Madison every spring. At least, it has occurred every spring since 1992, when my friends and I started it. It is really cool to see that it is still going on, long after all the grad students (and many of the professors, I'd guess) have forgotten me and my friends.

The other fun thing was that when I googled "Van Vleck Hall Madison", searching for images of the math building, the eight image that came up was this one:

Longtime readers may remember the Virtual Run Across America, from early 2009. While I was running from west to east, a bunch of us were running from east to west, all at different rates. But, if you click through, you'll see that we petered out by mid-March. But of course, the blog is still out there.

I took a scheduled day off yesterday, and almost took an unscheduled day off today. I didn't manage to struggle out of bed in the morning, but I did get in a quick four at the gym at noon. Enough to get me to the UW Campus, and Van Vleck Hall.

Day 1066 -- Fitchburg

Fitchburg is a suburb of Madison. It has grown considerably in the 20 years since we first moved to Madison. Here you can see the sign for Mckee Farm Park, where they are apparently having much nicer weather than we are having just down the highway.

I had planned to go to the gym today at noon, to run on the indoor track. But it was so nice at noon -- about 30 degrees and sunny -- that I decided to go ahead and run outside. Big mistake. You know what they have outside? Hills! Not pretend hills, like the gentle incline on the dreadmill. Real, steep, big honking hills that you have to drag your flabby ass all the way up. Also it was cold. I came up slightly short of my scheduled 11 miles, but it felt more like 50. I swear I haven't been this tired at the end of a run since the marathon.

Day 1065 -- Troll Capital

John Romeo Alpha points out that the Mustard Museum has moved from Mount Horeb to Middleton. Nothing Gold Can Stay, I guess. So I thought I'd better make another stop in Mount Horeb to visit something that I know ain't going anywhere: the trolls. Mount Horeb, as I'm sure you know, is the Troll Capital of the World. These are just two of the many trolls that line Main Street. And let's see Middleton try to steal them!

Another easy five on the treaded dreadmill. I slept in a bit this morning, but still went for a run before breakfast. Then I've spent most of the day grading and preparing lecture notes for Monday. You know, typical Saturday at the Jogger House.

Days 1063 and 1064 -- Mt. Horeb

Four miles yesterday, and six miles today, carries me close to Mt. Horeb, and the Mustard Museum. I really have to stop into the Mustard Museum for real, one of these days.

Yesterday's run and today's were both at the fitness center, on the dreadmill. ESPN had the trainee closed-captioner on duty this morning. Half the time, I didn't know what they were trying to say. But my favorite was one I did figure out, eventually. The commentator said that U.S. skier was Lindsey Vonn was worried that Bruce Chin would keep her from the Olympics. And I thought, "Who in hell is Bruce Chin? Her coach? Some Olympic official? A deranged stalker?" After a little reflection, I realized that they've been talking all week about Vonn's bruised shin. Perhaps the closed-captioner didn't know that.

Day 1062 -- Goat Cheese, Anyone?

Just past Dodgeville is the little town of Ridgeway. I've driven past Ridgeway a hundred times, and never stopped. But maybe next time I will stop at Fantome Farms and pick up some handmade goat cheese. I didn't even think goats had hands.

Today was one of those days when I just had to drag myself to the gym, but I'm glad that I did. I had a good, brisk six mile run, which gave me the energy to get through what was frankly a very long day. No classes at all, just paperwork and grading. Ugh.

Day 1061 -- Lands' End

While in Dodgeville, I thought maybe I'd go for a run with this guy. Who is this guy? I don't have any idea, but I do know that he's wearing a ThermaCheck(r) 100 Stretch Half Zip from Lands' End. Lands' End Direct Merchants, whose clothing is much better than their punctuation, is headquartered right here in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. They are one of the largest employers in Southwest Wisconsin. I know several people from here in town that work there, and they even employ some of our students seasonally.

Six unexciting miles this morning.

Day 1060 -- Dodgeville

Nine miles this morning, brought me fairly close to Dodgeville. Still a few miles south, but I can probably squeeze a couple of days out of this town.

I took an unscheduled day off yesterday. My alarm went off, but I just turned it off and went back to bed. It was just supposed to be a four mile maintenance run, so I don't think I've put my training way behind schedule. Perhaps I'll do an easy four tomorrow, rather than the scheduled rest day. But perhaps not.

I did my nine mile run early this morning on the dreadmill. I'm planning to try to get my Sunday long runs at the indoor track at noon, but today there was a lunch at church that I wanted to go to. It was a good run. I watched Super Bowl prognostication on ESPN and on NFL network. The Colts are definitely going to win, unless the Saints do. You heard it here first.

Day 1059 -- Art Point

Just a little northeast of the town with the the railroad depot is Art Point. No, the name isn't really Art Point. If you look closely at the water tower, you can see what it is. But the town aspires to be a little artsy community in southeast Wisconsin. They have a bunch of little arty shops and frou-frou restaurants. They have artists in residence in the summer and plays in the park. It's really kind of cute. Mrs. Jogger and I like to run over there when we can dump the kids and just walk around. A year or so ago we got into a great discussion with a potter about the various kinds of clay and pottery techniques. He was just sitting in his quiet little shop, and we came in and started asking questions, and off he went. It was a blast.

I ran six miles this morning. It wasn't a real strong run, but I finished my goal, which was good.

Day 1058 -- Railroad Depot

William J. Manon, Jr., has a pBase gallery with "Surviving Railroad Depots of America". He includes this one, from the next little town to the east. I've been in that town (which is not very big) but I've never seen this depot. Of course, I haven't combed the town or anything.

I got an easy four on the dreadmill today. Just a boring maintenance run.

Day 1057 -- Mound

Six miles this morning took me past my house, down the street, across town, and onto the highway, headed northeast toward the state capitol. From there (if it weren't covered with snow), you would be able to see this letter on the hill outside of town.

This is, in fact, the largest version of the 13th letter of the English alphabet in the world. Yes, it is featured in the "What's Large Where?" section of The World's Largest Collection of The World's Smallest Versions of The World's Largest Things. The casual observer may be a bit puzzled, as neither the name of the town nor the name of the state begins with M. What begins with M is the name that the University used to have. Many years ago, the Wisconsin School of Mines was here in Joggerville. The M was built at that time, and maintained ever since. Even though the Mining school is long gone, replaced by the University of Wisconsin-Joggerville.

Day 1056 -- Home

Well, not quite. I ended today's run 0.9 miles short of Chez Jogger. But with six miles on the schedule tomorrow, I'll run right through town and be on my way up the road by tomorrow. So today was the day to post the picture.

In fact, today was the day to take the picture. This photo, snapped this very afternoon, shows Chez Jogger covered with its fresh new two or three inches of snow that fell last night. (Alas, not enough to cancel or even delay school. The Little Joggers were devastated.)

When I reached Washington and turned right, back in late 2008, I knew that I was headed to Joggerville. I imagined getting here and running one run where I actually covered the miles that were going into my virtual run. I did not imagine getting here in the dead of winter. So that plan is out the window. Tomorrow's six will be on the indoor track, and I'll lay them out on the map to take me out of town.