Minneapolis Trail Running: Winchell Trail

Winchell Trail

Yesterday I set out on a 25-30 mile run with the intent of averaging 7 minute miles in preparation for the Fargo Marathon. I didn't exactly average 7 minute miles, I was a bit sore from lifting the day before and I have found that with all of the base training that I have been doing for the 100 mile races that I have lost a lot of speed. I did ok and got a few good tempo miles in, see my garmin read out below.

The great part about my run yesterday was the discovery of Winchell Trail this link is the best description I could find on it. It is definitely a little known path in Minneapolis which start around the Franklin St. Bridge along the River Road and goes nearly to the Ford Bridge. There was a bit of flooding in some of the low areas of the trail because the river was still very high but I got to run most of it. It is actually a great trail, most of it is not too challenging but there are some pretty good single track areas, which is not too bad for being only a few miles from downtown Minneapolis. One thing is for sure the Nike Free 3.0s are not meant for trail running especially when it is muddy out.

This was definitely a nice surprise to the end of my run and I'll definitely be logging some miles on this trail, unfortunately I think it's only a few miles long but I can't really complain I live in Minneapolis. Below are some pictures of the trail I took with my cell phone, enjoy.

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls were roaring

Minnehaha creek

Yep, plenty of hills

Very weird gorge with a drainage line and that brick thing. I don't know what it is.

More hill training

One of the cool parts about this trail is that you are right down by the Mississippi river and it doesn't even feel like you are in the city anymore.

Trail huddles

There were some very steep ares, the Nike Frees held up though.

I thought this was funny, someone a runner I would guess left a gatorade with some cups on top as an impromptu water stop. I guess it is sort of like an Easter egg hunt for runners.


Single Track running

Marshall/Lake St. Bridge

There are still some remnants of winter

Looks like good place to train for Zumbro for next year.

If anyone is interested it looks like Rapunzel's house if for sale.

Trail Running

I have been incorporating at lot of trail running these past few weeks. Which is what I'm going to be doing for my next 3 races. I have purchased some new gear to better help me on run off-road I got some new trail running shoes, camel pack, and some military strength bug repellent. Trail running is a bit different than road running. Scott Jurek,m probably the top ultrarunner in the world right now, does a lot of trail races. Here is a few videos that he has done for runner's world for newbie to the trail running world.

Enjoy!

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