Michael, Author at Run Mi 5k

October 16, 2020September 19, 2022

Ultimate Michigan Bucket list

Found this graphic (Michigan Bucket list) on Facebook and went over it with my wife. Was thinking this would be a great way to check off some of the locations off this list while I attempt to achieve the RunMI5k goal.

Completed Bucket list Items by Lisa and myself

These were all complete before I started this 5k challenge. Links go to the county but may not contain information about the bucket list item.

Sleeping Bear dunes

Leelanau

Grand Rapids
Meijer Gardens

Kent

Pictured Rocks

Alger

Drive M22

Leelanau

Mackinac Bridge

Mackinac and Emmet

Mackinac Island

Whitefish Point

Ludington

Traverse City

Frankenmuth

Soo Locks

Kitch-iti-Kipi

Tahquamenon Falls

Non-complete:

I’m thinking about trying to check some of these off our list during this goal…

Mowtown Museum
Belle Isle
Eastern Market
The Henry Ford
Detroit Institute of Arts

Wayne County

Porcupine Mountains

Ontonagon

Houghton

Tawas Point Lighthouse

Iosco

Holland

Ottawa

Deadlands Dark Sky Park

Emmet

Isle Royale National Park

Keweenaw

Turnip Rock

Huron

Hartwick Pines

Crawford

Lisa and I are really looking forward to many, Porcupine Mountains has been on my list for a long time. Wayne County has a bunch we could hit in a weekend. Hartwick Pines we’ve both done, but not together. So sad that we never took our kids there. Maybe, we can take our grandkids. I’ve also visited a few separate from Lisa but not together, so that is why those are on the bucket list.

What Michigan bucket list items are highest on your list? What is missing?

October 15, 2020September 19, 2022

State-managed non-motorized trails

DNR trail Map

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My cousin Cheryl Campbell shared this link with me and this will be great for searching out running routes in Michigan – State-managed non-motorized trails. I will explore this for some of my upcoming counties. But if you have ever been on one of these or know of a better place to run, please let me know.

I’ve ran on these trails in both Grand Traverse and Benzie counties:

Michigan has more than 4,600 miles of state-managed nonmotorized trails, offering opportunities for:

Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Hiking
Cross-country skiing
Paddling
Rail-trails
Many other non-motorized activities

Use this map to explore Michigan’s vast trail network and plan your next adventure.

Search for a trail by name or location.
Find maps, trailheads, campgrounds, and other amenities.
Use the layer list to turn layers on and off in order to display the exact information you are looking for.
Customize the basemap to see satellite imagery, roads, or topography.
Print a PDF map designed by you for an area you are interested in.
State-managed non-motorized trails

October 5, 2020September 4, 2023

Isabella

Isabella County Run

Parked on the West side of Bawkey Rd and ran east just to make up a little distance because the loop I was planning was a little short of a 5k. So ran along this cemetery. Amazed at the number of cemetery’s have been recorded in this project so far.

This area has LOTs of huge fields. There is a barn far away in the distance, but you can barely see it in this photo.

Heading east on *Bawkey* Rd. love the huge fields.

At the end of this road there was access to what looked like a field.

Had to climb up that mound so I could get a sight of that field. Huge!

Heading South on N Rolland Rd. The first road was a mile and this road was a half mile.

Then came across West Grass Lake Rd. Headed left (east). Grass lake stint was again a mile.

Thought the coloring of this tree was great!

Just loved the openness of the fields. Such a great day.

Saw all kinds of deer track on the road throughout the run, but was pleased when I ran across these two yearlings…

Back on the main road N Brinton Rd. heading north. Such beautiful colors.

When I got back to the car a fellow in a truck pulled up along side me and wondered what I was up to. I was confused and thought he needed directions, but later discovered that he was a local and was just trying to protect himself and his neighbors. Was a very nice guy and a nice end to my run.

There were all kinds of places that I thought about running in this county. But decided to just do a loop that was close to where I was staying with my family. I have run in this county many times in the past. Mostly Mount Pleasant, but if you are from there and have another place that I should focus on, please let me know. And if you want to run or bike along side me, that would be great too. No doubt I will run this county again.

Isabella County

Broomfield
Brinton
Chippewa
Coe
Coldwater
Deerfield
Denver
Fremont
Gilmore
Isabella
Lake
Lincoln
Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant
Nottawa
Rolland
Rosebush
Shepherd
Sherman
Union
Vernon
Wise

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run).

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!

October 4, 2020September 4, 2023

Roscommon

Roscommon County Run

On the drive over to start this county… I was thinking it would be a very wet run.

The colors were just beautiful! What a great trip.

Almost there, had to cross 127 to get to Higgin’s Lake.

Started running towards the lake and it was a neighborhood in the background.

After a while I could see the lake behind some houses.

Then I came to an opening that showed the whole lake.

Love the rainbow straight across the lake. (Higgins Lake)

Panoramic view of the whole lake. Just amazing.

Kept running rough the neighborhood. Such cool little houses all through this area.

About a mile and a half into the run I came across Paul. I asked if I could videotape him playing the Ukulele. Had a fantastic conversation with Paul and another man, both extremely welcoming! This was the highlight of my run! So glad I asked if it were okay to hang with them for a short bit. Paul, if you come across this, I would dig if you would contact me. And if ever in Traverse City, please look me up! Here is a link to me: Mike’s playing – Mike’s Sound Cloud account

My phone died when I completed recording the above video, and I was so worried that I lost the video. So glad that wasn’t the case. But I warmed up my phone and turned it back on and completed my run. But when I got to the car and put it on a charger. I wasn’t 100% sure if I had actually completed a 5k… So I took the photo below and went out and ran another .6 miles. So I’m very certain I did complete a 5k in Roscommon County. Such a great run and very happy to be back to knocking counties off my list!

There was really no plan for this. I simply was on my way downstate to meet-up with my father and this county was close. I’ve been around Houghton Lake before, so I chose Higgins Lake this go. So glad to be back to running Counties!

Roscommon County

Au Sable
Backus
Denton
Gerrish
Higgins
Lake
Lyon
Markey
Nester
Richfield
Roscommon
Roscommon

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

September 9, 2020September 19, 2022

Faster running in Michigan

Faster running in Michigan – It’s the month of September, and less than a month before I’ve completed the “run a 5k every other day” challenge that I set for myself, October 4, 2019. But what started me on this journey was the annual running (5th so far) of the Byte Productions, Blue Ribbon Run.

Here are my times over the years:

2015: 37:25 – I was out of shape but wanted to run my friend’s race.

2016: 41:04 – I ran/walked this race after being out of a two-month stay at the hospital for a motorcycle accident. I was released from the hospital for less than 30 days when this race happened.

2017: 39:09 – little faster

2018 34:27 – much better

2019: 31:46 – very cool I crushed last year’s time.

With all this said, I’m still frustrated that I’ve been running so frequently over the last year that I’m surprised that I’m not a bunch faster. My fastest 5k ever was a 27:06, but that was when I was training for a Half Marathon about ten years ago. It was usual for me to go out and do a 30 min 5k training run.

My last run two days ago was a recovery/slow run because my previous run was a very, very hilly run. Tonight I decided to give it a shot to run as fast as I could the whole way. I’m impressed

The great news about this is I have nine more runs before the race day, September 28. I’m planning on running for speed once or twice more before the race. I would so love to be able to get back to a 30 minute 5k soon!

Blue Ribbon Run 9/28/20

RACE DAY!! Very pleased with my progress from last year. I was able to get this run down to a 9:52 (average pace). So glad to be able to get all 3 miles under that 10-minute mile pace.

Last years BRR: 31:46

This year’s BRR 30:37

The photo on the right is Tim from Byte Productions. Tim and his brother Tom started the Blue Ribbon Run in support of their dad. I’ve run this run every year that they’ve had it – such great people.

November 4, 2020

I’m back to indoor running on the treadmill. I decided to measure myself by seeing what I could do on the treadmill now versus last winter. Last year, I was mostly running on setting 4 or 5 and occasionally pushing it up to level 6 or 6.5 for short periods (6 being 10:00 mile pace). I’ve run on the treadmill a few times this fall and was able to do setting 6 for most of a run. I decided to try it for an entire run. I pushed it up to 6.2 to see if I could get a 5k in under 30 minutes. I was doing great and almost completed it, but my treadmill shorted out at 28:24 and shut off. SO disappointed, but there is no doubt that I could have finished the run at that pace! I think I’m going to continue to push myself once a week (or two) either by concentrating on speed or distance. I’ve made a new rule that if I run over 5 miles in one run, I can take two days off. I will be so interested in what I will be able to do come spring if I continue like I did last year, for the whole winter. I’m super proud of myself. (9:40 pace) – Faster running in Michigan

Author: Michael