Lake Youngs Ultra

I ran the Lake Youngs Ultra today, an annual event put on by Arthur and Jenn Martineau down by Lake Youngs in Renton.  They do a terrific job, offering a great event at a great price, with a wonderful barbq afterwards. There are always good friends and familiar faces there.

I think this was my third time running the event, and I was content with my time, which was about what I ran the last time I did it, a few years ago. Take that, Age! As if I really set the bar high....Anyway, we had good running weather today, with overcast skies, temps in about the 50s.

I didn't sign up until the last minute, but I realized I needed some good miles, and I wasn't likely to get an adequate amount without the push an event can give. So, I got up early, and left the MV around 5:10, stopping for coffee on the way out, and managed to show up with about 10 minutes before the event. BTW--really liking the new Death Cab for Cutie album, which got me a long way down the road. That, and coffee. My cousin told me today he thought I lived for early morning coffee and long drives to races.

The Lake Youngs course is on a wide trail, circling a lake which is sort of mythical, inasmuch as I don't think it is ever viewable. Three loops of the 9+ mile loop make for the ultra, which I believe comes in at 28.8 miles. Some do more, some do less. There are gentle hills, which get a bit bigger towards the end, and for me a big part of this event is seeing how well I can push through these hills during the last two laps.

Today, the first lap I started slow, in fact starting a minute behind everyone, because I was still getting situated. I didn't feel all that good at first, which seems a little too usual anymore, but seemed to blow through it. I had the shuffle on all day. I ran half the second lap with Mike, who was completing his 12th marathon in as many weeks. The third lap I just kind of plowed through.

A course record was set. Not by me--another guy. As if I really needed to clarify that, but I will say--he was running really smooth, when he lapped me towards the end of my second lap. The burgers at the end were great. Also, the Martineaus had a number of post-race giveaways which were very generous. Smiles all around. Took a bit of a soak in the brrrr baby pool at the finish.

After the race, I stopped in Kirkland in hopes of seeing my cousin's new son, but didn't luck out, but got good catch-up time just the same. Finished the day watching the NCAA Track and Field Championships on taped delay. Pretty cool watching those college teams and athletes go for it.

A lot of events this weekend have my running friends spread out all over. Best wishes to all at Beacon Rock, San Diego, and whereever else the running winds blow.