Montana Marathon

Very nice to get away last week, and run the Montana Marathon, and then visit Little Big Horn and Yellowstone. Great road trip, where we probably put nearly 2000 miles on our rental car (a sporty Dodge Charger), and drove through Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

The initial focus was getting out to Billings, Montana, to run the Montana Marathon, one of the few events actually taking place this year, due to COVID.  The event took many precautions, both for packet pickup, getting to the start line, and in the race. There were only a few more thna 200 runners in the full marathon, and the event felt safer to me than visiting a grocery store. I wouldn't say it was risk-free, but I don't want to catch COVID, and so I did everything to minimize risk vectors in each moment. I noted that some runners showed more concern than others, but the organizers seemed to exercise due diligence in each phase.

For packet pickup, they spread things out in a gym, required masks, and only allowed race participants in the gym. This was a point to point race, and so racers had the option of getting themselves to the start line, or taking a bus. They doubled the normal number of busses, and required only one person per seat, with maks, and left the windows open. Participants were assigned a bus by letter (e.g. you're on bus F), and then use of portapotties at the start line were linked to bus number, for contact tracing, if necessary. I suppose a loop course would've been better for COVID, but I really liked the point to point. I haven't heard reports of COVID since, for whatever that's worth.

The race start was staggered in waves of about 30 per wave start. Aid stations had some precautions, though I kept my distance just the same, as much as possible. I liked that the race took on the challenge, and I liked having a race to go to. As time goes on, it gets harder to live cloistered away.

The race itself was one of my favorite road marathons ever. I like a small event. The race starts way out in the Montana prairie in a little burg called Molt. You basically have to run back to Billings, and the first half of the race is pure prairie league stuff. Beautiful. Caught the sunrise in the middle of nowhere. The race is at a little bit of altitude--I think in the 3ks. At about 11 miles in, the race comes around a curve, and you can see for miles and miles and miles, down into the valley which is Billings. The second half of the course then has a whole lot of downhill for a road marathon. Eventually you wind through the neighborhoods of Billings and finish downtown, by Pioneer Park.

I was doing pretty good for me for the first 18 miles, on about a 4:30 pace and without too much effort. However, things fell apart from there, and I had to walk things in for the last few miles. Not sure if it was the sun, which came on towards the end; or the moderate level smoke, which has been a problem; or just plain not being ready for the downhill. My hips and quads did hurt this week. Whatever, I was happy to be out there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I think this was my 17th year in a row of doing a marathon distance race. I would go back to this one, for sure.

Many thanks to the sponsors and especially the good people at the Billings YMCA. Great job.

 

Copper Ridge Lookout

Craig and I did a long day trip to Copper Ridge Lookout about three weeks ago. The views were spectacular, as the skies were clear. This is one of the best spots for views in the North Cascades, and these photos don't do the 360 degree mountainscape justice.

We saw a mama bear with two cubs near the lookout, foraging. We also saw a goat right below the lookout. The marmot pictured here was very accomodating.

The hike was pretty dry--running water wasn't to be found after Boundary Camp, although there was a snow patch up high. We talked ot the lookout ranger--she was on an eight day stint, and I sort of envied her getaway. 

We didn't do the full loop, as I did a few years back with Mike and Rich, but I heard the sockeye were swimming the Chiliwack. The trail itself was in terrific condition, due to the work of trail crews. Very runanble, though we just hiked fast.

A great day, overall--certainly a highlight in a year lacking them. 

As I write this, the skies are now full of ash and soot, from horrible wildfires that have taken over the Washington, Oregon, and California. It's hard to fathom these remarkable views, just three weeks ago. The fires were really bad in 2018 as well, and have been increasing, presumably in relation to climate change. I know in my lifetime I've witnessed changes in the high country--this hike is a good example, as we expected more snow cover in August on the ridge, which in the past some times does not even open up. Also, the glaciers in Hannegan valley seem to have receded from when I first did that hike in the 1990s. 

The Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee

Three day weekends are sometimes an opportunity to catch up on this and that, and I'm running a post or two behind where I'd like to be with this blog. The world slowed down with the pandemic, but it didn't come to a halt, and I've been out doing a few things, at a proper social distance.

For me, this summer will always be remembered in part for my virtual run across Tennessee. Virtual races is something I was doing before the pandemic with the UPWCs, occasionally. It's an interesting thing, for us who do lots of races and events. The inner argument is there as to why pay someone else for something that you do yourself, etc., and all that. Well, everyone can decide for themselves, but I've found some community and some personal motivation from some of these events, and I've always been less social than some, and so for me a few of these events have worked well. 

I signed up at the end of April for "The Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee", as I think I've mentioned in earlier posts. A number of good running friends joined me, though I never ran a mile with any of them "in real life." We stil emailed, messaged, phoned and otherwise communicated about our progress, which was motivating in itself. Congrats to BB, JM, EF, et al.--all finishers.

The first goal was to run, walk, or otherwise ambulate 635 miles or so between April 1st and August 31st. An online reporting site was created, and it interfaced with Google Maps, to show where you are vitually in your Tennesse crossing. One day I'd finish next to a church. Another day it would be a cemetery, fried chicken diner, or tire shop. I found that all somewhat amusing/entertaining.

For those who wanted more, they could go from "RAT"-run across Tennessee, to "BAT"- back across Tennessee. And many did, logging miles for three or more hours a day, probably avoiding the chaos in the news and maybe households during these COVID-strained days.

I wasn't running too much when I started, but my goals reset a bit as I kept going. I started doing lunch runs, and then evening walks, bumping my average day up towards 8 to 10 miles. On weekends, I went on tours around the Skagit, often following the path of the river out by Conway, over by Burlington and Sedro-Woolley, and around Mount Vernon. 

I ended up getting to the first finish line on July 11th, and then crossed the 1000 mile mark aroudn August 19th. As the summer went on, this whole thing was pretty much a success, as I lost some pounds, am running a bit better now, and saw the valley in a different light. I finished August at over 1100 miles. Buckle and pin awards pictured here. The buckle is as shiny as it looks, and has a picture of Elvis near Memphis on the map, which I think is kind of cool. 

Some of my favorite things from this experience were walking at night, as I got to know some of the constellations better and in particular scoped out the visiting comet Neowise. Jupiter and Saturn were constants all summer. I also came to really enjoy going out to Conway and back, on Saturday mornings. And the dike road behind Wal-Mart became a favorite loop from home. I saw deer, snakes, beaver, eagles, swans, herons, and so on--wildlife is not as wild as it used to be.

A very good experience. I've now signed up for the "Circumpolar Run Around The World", which is sort of the same idea but requires a team of ten. I don't know anyone on my team--or not that well--but we have some Canadians and Europeons, and it is looking to be a fun way to keep things going.

Wishing well to all my friends.