Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

Hero image for "Rebel Loon" Garmin watch face. Image shows a round abstraction of a loon resembling the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars and four Garmin watches with the various states of the watch face.

My *free* "Rebel Loon" Garmin watch face went live today!

apps.garmin.com/apps/06c8e49...

If you enjoy it [or even if you don't], show your appreciation by making a donation to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: www.ilcm.org/donate/

#minnesota #ice #protest #twincities

Creative Commons-licensed "Rebel Loon" symbol in official Minnesota flag colors.

I created a little illustration based on others floating around – to eventually make it into a free watch face. Might be useful if you're looking for a clearly-marked *free* image…for the Good Trouble you're getting into.

#minnesota #protest #vectorart #resist #ice

swanson.run/rebel-loon/

Two panel re-creation of the pit/well scene from silence of the lambs in a hole on the beach. In the left panel, the camera is looking up from the hole with a man lowering a toy sand bucket with lotion. A woman's head with a towel approximates "Precious" from the movie. In the right panel, a woman stands, looking up, in the hole with the bucket.

Your family does beach vacations your way and mine does mine.

Both are equally valid.

"Hero" image for a Garmin watch face called "WinderGuages". It shows four watches with various color themes and options of the watch face, a large title saying, "WinderGuages" and the icon for the app.

I've pushed out my second #garmin watch face this week! Similar to my previous, but with a bunch of enhancements, options and a fun "gauge" theme. It's using a slightly more modern API level though it supports over 60 devices!

apps.garmin.com/apps/d8fbaee...

#running #cycling #weather #wearables

Thumbnail for a Garmin watch face with the title "Winderbars." The colors are muted red, yellow-green and blue-green with a black background and a large white readout of the time

I've been trying my hand at developing #garmin watch faces; mostly for giggles. Check out my first effort called "Winderbars." It's designed for people that live where the air hurts your face.

swanson.run/watchfaces/

#running #trailrunning #watches #wearables

World-class male marathoners: 2 hours.

Elite women: 2:15.

But for most of us, the average marathon time is closer to 4:20 for men and 4:45 for women.

Finish under 4 hours? You’re in the top 25%.

Hah! Thank you. The park had definitely flew under our radar; we've already reserved a campsite for later this summer. 😄

MORE Beaver #Trivia - William O'Brien State Park #trailrunning YouTube video by Run with Mike

I made another silly beaver #trivia short.

You're welcome. 😜

www.youtube.com/shorts/PcLXI...

#running #trailrunning #minnesota #stupid #stateparks

30 Minutes of Minnesota Frogs / Free Public Domain Creative Commons | Michael G. Swanson | Runner, Maker, Senior Web Developer 30 minutes of Minnesota frog sounds recorded in the spring of 2025. Free to use under a Creative Commons license. Do your worst.

The frogs were crazy the other night, so I made a fun little recording thing and Public Domained it.

#frogs #minnesota #nature #sound

Use it to make your own fun little things:

swanson.run/frogs/

Amnicon Falls State Park & Tri County Corridor 🦫 Wisconsin Scenic Trail Virtual Run YouTube video by Run with Mike

Come for the beautiful up-north spring scenery and waterfalls!

Stay for the weird, non-sequitur beaver trivia.

youtu.be/Ekakyl6Wpvk

#running #trailrunning #wisconsin #scenery #spring

Mike's #Bear Story from St. Croix State Park #trailrunning #minnesota #virtualrun YouTube video by Run with Mike

Here's a short of my funny bear encounter story (20+ years ago) pulled from my latest full-length video.

If you want to *cheat* and not watch the long one, then it's only fair that you subscribe! 🤣🐻

#running #TrailRunning #bears #wildlife #minnesota #story #funny

youtube.com/shorts/QiEkj...

St. Croix State Park, MN // POV Trail Running on St. Croix and Kettle River YouTube video by Run with Mike

I'm at St. Croix State Park for this week's video! The park is the largest in the MN system and has over 127 miles (!) of trails. The portion I did, where the Kettle River converges with the St. Croix was super scenic.

#running #TrailRunning #Minnesota #StateParks

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMa8...

Duluth, MN Lakewalk Virtual Run 🚢 Lift Bridge, Canal Park, Lakeside, Brighton Beach YouTube video by Run with Mike

The trails are slush/mud, so I decided to do the most cliché of Duluth outdoor activities: the Lakewalk. There's a reason things are cliché – people like them. It was beautiful and there's some really rad drone footage!

#running #TrailRunning #Duluth #Minnesota #LakeSuperior

youtu.be/RQPwpLd5We8

San Juan Virtual Run ♖ PR Capital, Old Town, El Morro Fort, Cruise Port YouTube video by Run with Mike

I'm running in San Juan this week! Well, I'm back in the frozen north now, but I was two weeks ago, anyway.

Puerto Rico is a fantastic blend of cultures and a lovely place to visit. Just a reminder: they still don't get to vote in presidential elections.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=63k7...

#running

Serene Rainforest Escape in Martinique 🌿🚶‍♂️Virgin Voyages Excursion YouTube video by Run with Mike

My latest video is live! This week's video features a *hike* through the rainforest on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. It's super chill and short. 15 minutes of calm to reverse a long Tuesday.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6_c...

#hiking #rainforest #martinique #caribbean #nature #outdoors

Two otters on the ice of a frozen pond. The otter on the right has its mouth open as if yelling.

We've got otters in/on our pond this year! My wife has entitled this photo, "MA! THE MEATLOAF!" [Carlton, MN]

#otters #minnesota #wildlife #cute #outdoors

Sint Maarten POV Trail Run - Back Bay/Guana Bay YouTube video by Run with Mike

New video is up! This is an unreal run/hike on the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. The best part is it's totally doable from the cruise ship port if you want to ditch all the excursions and jewelry shops for something a bit more authentic.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytfn...

Four Winter Weather #Running #Tips from @RunWithMike YouTube video by Run with Mike

It's still winter here; though it's showing signs of letting up a bit...about which I'm super excited. If you too come from the land of the [unending] ice and snow, here's some winter running tips you might find handy!

www.youtube.com/shorts/yywt0...

#running #outdoors #trailrunning #tipsandtricks

This'll only get better if congressional Democrats to persuade a small handful of Republicans to do their job and grow just a hint of a spine.

If I'm @smith.senate.gov or @amyklobuchar.com and I'm not on the phone with Pete Stauber (et. al.), every single day, they're not doing their jobs either.

Fire the developer! 😆

Holy crap that race looks intense. Good luck!

...with the website and the race.

Banning State Park - POV Scenic Trail Run for Treadmill YouTube video by Run with Mike

This week's "virtual run" video features my dog, Molly! It should make for some feel-good escapism if you're looking to get away from the news for a half hour.

Also, Banning State Park is really cool.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=esOZ...

#trailrunning #running #dogs #treadmill #outdoors #scenery

Ely's Peak and DWP - Half-Hour Winter Trail Run for Treadmill YouTube video by Run with Mike

My latest video is out - showing off real winter in up-north Minnesota. Cool scenery. Fresh snow. Hidden ankle-crushing rocks. Wildlife tracks. Confusion as to where the trail is. A way-too-early sunset.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIe...

#running #trailrunning #minnesota #snow #outdoors #scenery

Mesmerizing Ice Sounds and Clear Lake Skating in Northern Minnesota YouTube video by Virtual Runs with Mike

95% recovered from a bout of COVID, so not a running video this time. A little sound editing in places (drone doesn't pick up audio, obvs) but the ice sounds are quite real! It was crazy.

#running #iceskating #youtube #outdoors #winter #lakes #minnesota #midwest

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlb...

Dominican Republic Virtual Run for Treadmill - Finest Punta Cana to Río Maimón Park YouTube video by Virtual Runs with Mike

My first "virtual run" video from the Dominican Republic is available. What a great country and people. Check it out for some sunshine...especially if you're stuck in the winter treadmill doldrums.

#trailrunning #beachrun #dominicanrepublic #sunshine

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i80F...

Sun, low in the sky, over a frozen, tree-surrounded lake. Grass and marshland in the foreground.

From today's run – an 8 mile (ish) circle around the greater Twin Lakes Township metropolitan area.

Follow me for more disgusting running-related ideas!

Dremel rotary tool with sandpaper drum

Pro tip: if you've got problematic calluses/toenails, *get a Dremel tool* with the little sandpaper drum.

Takes practice – and it's like the scene from Dumb and Dumber – but no OTC tool has the torque for our...special needs.

I probably shouldn't use the "feet" hashtag.

#running #ultrarunning

Looking through a wooded area at the rising sun. Most of the photo is gold from the sun, except for a blue patch of sky. A road is visible through the trees.

Well, it's full-on winter in northern Minnesota; as I write this, it's currently 4°F (-16°C). This photo is from a just-after-dawn run I did in Duluth's Chester Park earlier this week.

I shot it as a video – which I'm hoping to post in a week or so. Stay tuned for that. 😉

#trailrunning

Bear Creek Trail, Superior, Wisconsin - Scenic Virtual Run for Treadmill YouTube video by Virtual Runs with Mike

My run of the Makwa Ziibiins Miikana (Bear Creek Trail) and *Wisconsin* Point beach went live this morning. Not that you'll have reason to be on the treadmill. You look great!

Or, you can just watch the scenery while fighting a turkey coma on the couch. You do you.

youtu.be/knKxo95kkSA

Ordered last year's DJI Air 3 model (not the 3s) to use footage in some of my YouTube running videos.

Debating taking it on vacay to DR in a couple weeks. I'd love to hear other people's adventures/misadventures traveling with drones. The sillier the better.

#drone #dji #travel #aerialphotography