Walking Miles in Milwaukee

Who knew late September in Milwaukee would turn out to be a scorcher?!
When I signed up for the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Milwaukee, to get a race complete in Wisconsin, I was more worried that I'd need to dig out some colder weather gear. Nope. Milwaukee set a record high of 95 one day while I was there. I was melting!
Still, I had a great time in "The Good Land."
I got there late Thursday afternoon with my friend Susan. We were all set for our annual  girls' weekend once we found the liquor store. ;)

Hello, Wisconsin!

Girls weekend is started

Who drinks wine in a beer state? Well, I do!

Susan got it right

Our first full day in Milwaukee we found a great little coffee shop nearby, where I got a cup of Milwaukee love.

I heart coffee

We wandered around near the hotel looking for some postcards to purchase and a visitor's center for more info on what was close by. Turns out, the manned visitor's center was just inside the Wisconsin Center, the convention center across from our hotel. Milwaukee really does have some great public art. This is called The Vortex, but we deemed it a unicorn horn, an upside down tornado, and a Christmas tree.

The Vortex

Inside the Wisconsin Center, there was even a bit of public art: The Security Guard. It's a wax replica of the artist's father!

The Security Guard

With lots of information in hand, we found a hop-on, hop-off tour bus, which was great. Our first stop was the Milwaukee Art Museum, which has really stunning architecture.

The Milwaukee Art Museum

More public art outside the museum

Next stop on the tour bus was the Milwaukee Public Market, which is a lot like Redding Station in Philadelphia. There are restaurants, specialty retail shops, etc. We found a wine shop in there that had a much better selection than the little liquor store near the hotel. The "mascot" of the public market is a rooster, which become public art on the second level of the space.

The public market's rooster

We had a pretty forgettable dinner at an Irish pub, but then found our way to the Milwaukee River Walk. Despite the 95 degree record-breaking heat of that Friday, the river area had a lovely breeze. There is so much public art along the river walk. My camera didn't do any of it justice in the low light, but there is Rosie the duck.

Milwaukee River Walk

Rosie the duck

Saturday, Susan and I headed back to the Public Market for breakfast. Cafe Benelux in the Third Ward was terrific. I had the breakfast of champions, obviously: rose with the quinoa skillet. The skillet had quinoa, butternut squash, portobello mushrooms, scallions and a fried egg, and some sort of sauce on top that I can't remember, but it was all so good. I would have licked the skillet if I had not been out in public.

My kind of breakfast

 We just happened to be in Milwaukee the weekend of Doors Open Milwaukee, when historic buildings and spaces that aren't normally open to the public are. Susan and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Milwaukee Public Radio station in the Historic Third Ward. Then we walked back to the hotel along the river walk again and came across the Bronz Fonz in the daylight. We saw him last night but my photos in the low light were awful. Here, you can see how creepy he looks! ha ha.

Susan and I with "the Bronz Fonz"

 I'm sure not many younger folks remember the TV sitcom "Lavern and Shirley." I loved it. What young girl didn't have a crush on Henry Winkler as "The Fonz" in the show? The show was set in Milwaukee, hence the Bronz Fonz.
And what would a trip to Wisconsin be if I didn't try the cheese curds? So, that was ordered up for an appetizer at lunch.

When in Wisconsin, have the cheese curds

 I got a little something for all three of us girls for the weekend. Found these funny pins at a store in the public market.

Yes, we are!

 Patti finally arrived and we found a great seafood restaurant right along the river walk for dinner. Pier 106 was fabulous.

Susan, me and Patti

 Sunday morning was just as warm as the rest of the weekend, but we got to the Komen walk thanks to our hotel's shuttle bus and got ready for the 5K.

Patti, me and  Susan before the race

At the start

The Kohl's Climb

It was so blasted hot for that 5K and nothing like a long hill at about mile 2. But we made it! I forgot to take a photo of our wilted selves at the finish.

Drone shot from the race

A rose from the finish

As a breast cancer survivor, I got a rose at the finish line. I managed to get it through the TSA security checkpoint and all the way home in one piece!

I had a great time in Milwaukee and the weekend made for great memories. 

Running those meaningful miles

After a crazy week, with no power for two days and just general upheaval thanks to Tropical Storm Irma, I ran one of my favorite 5Ks in Atlanta, the Back on My Feet Meaningful Miles 5K.
This race used to be a four miler, but is now a 5K. It still retains that crazy hill on North Avenue near the Historic Fourth Ward Park, though.
I ran this race with my friend Angela, and somehow managed to forget to take our picture either before or after the race!
So no smiling faces of accomplishment. Oh well.
This race benefits Back on My Feet Atlanta, which helps homeless men and women through the discipline of running. It is always a joy to see folks come out and celebrate human endeavor and achievement.
It makes for some very meaningful miles.

Oh, the Humana-ty 5K

I've run a lot of Rock N Roll Marathon series races (all half marathons, thank you very much) and I like the support the race organizers give. I think it might be pretty pricey compared to other races, but there is good support.
So imagine my delight when a FREE 5K came to Atlanta courtesy of the Rock N Roll series. Sign me up!
Actually, it was $5, because that was a donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, but still. Essentially a free race.
Saturday morning was beautiful.  Slightly cool, but very sunny. Fall running is just around the corner in Atlanta. And look, we started and finished right near the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At the start

Along the course

Near the finish

We didn't get a race T-shirt with this one, but we did get a very nice finisher's medal.

Finished!

Very nice finisher's medal

I'm sort of sad there is only one or two more Rock N Roll races I would consider, since I still need Arizona and Virginia. There is the Phoenix and Virginia Beach Rock N Roll races that I could run. But that's about it, unless they add some states. And lately they haven't added U.S. states, they've abandoned them. They have added more international races, but I'm not there yet. Let me get those 50 states in and then I'll consider a race in Paris or Rome!