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30 Minutes of Minnesota Frogs / Free Public Domain Creative Commons | Michael G. Swanson | Runner, Maker, Senior Web Developer

June 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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/

30 minutes of Minnesota frog sounds recorded in the spring of 2025. Free to use under a Creative Commons license. Do your worst.

swanson.run

June 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

Amnicon Falls State Park & Tri County Corridor 🦫 Wisconsin Scenic Trail Virtual Run

Mike's #Bear Story from St. Croix State Park #trailrunning #minnesota #virtualrun

youtu.be

May 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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.com

April 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

April 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

youtu.be

April 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

March 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

Sint Maarten POV Trail Run - Back Bay/Guana Bay

March 18, 2025 at 11:18 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

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

March 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

March 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

Banning State Park - POV Scenic Trail Run for Treadmill

February 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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.

February 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

January 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

January 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

January 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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...

Bear Creek Trail, Superior, Wisconsin - Scenic Virtual Run for Treadmill

December 28, 2024 at 10:14 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

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

December 7, 2024 at 10:16 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

December 1, 2024 at 6:09 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

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.

November 30, 2024 at 4:01 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

Park Point Beach, Duluth - Scenic Virtual Run for Treadmill

youtu.be

November 29, 2024 at 2:21 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

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

November 25, 2024 at 11:27 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

In late November, you might notice upper-Midwesterners wearing brightly-colored outfits to celebrate a unique season that, by all accounts, is known only to them.

In Minnesotan, this garb is called, "Ya'haydehr jussoeyahnoe eim'nahtadeere kaythankya."

#minnesota #running #outdoors #midwest

Man running on a paved road wearing a headlamp, bright orange/yellow clothing and stocking hat

November 22, 2024 at 11:30 PM

Run with Mike (Mike Swanson)

@swanson.run

My new video is live: Duluth's Park Point Beach and Minnesota Point Natural Area. Check it out if you're stuck on your treadmill…or just want to take in a *different* kind of beach running from your couch.

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

#minnesota #parkpoint #duluth #lakesuperior #trailrunning