2019 Recounted

As I like to do, here is a year-end list for 2019--

1.              Arlington National Cemetery and Gettysburg

We laid my Dad to rest in Arlington Cemetery, and visited the Gettysburg to honor his memory. 2019 will always be the year I lost my Dad, and everything else was second, and so I have to have this slotted up top. Arlington is haunting, with its fields of white tombstones. Gettysburg too, standing by rocks on Devil's Den, knowing the close quarters combat that happened there, less than two lifetimes ago.

2.              Monogram Lake

            Mike and I had  a nice, hard hike up to Monogram Lake in the North Cascades, right outside of Marblemount. Be warned: this is a climb! Maybe 5k up, but it felt like more--it felt like we’d never get there. Round trip was over 10 miles. We made it, finally, and found a gorgeous  mid-sized alpine lake, sitting beneath a cirque of cliffs. We tried to catch fish—it was a way to honor my Dad, who loved to fish—but the best I could do was lose a lure and bobber, forcing me to go for an impromptu swim. Fishing is reportedly good here--I'm just not. Great blueberries and wildflowers (lupine, astors, heather) along the way. Bear country.

3.              The Big Island

            Deborah and I visited the Big Island again, and I am sold—I could live there. Our condo was right on the water—so close, I could throw a baseball and bounce it off a sea turtle, probably. We visited Hilo and the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii’s celebration of hula. This is a beloved festival for Hawaiians. I went for a pre-sunrise walk eight mornings in a row, which allowed me to see a quiet Kona and get coffee to start the day. No races this year., but a bit of running by the water. We toured a chocolate farm, visited Hawi and the north end, and attended my first luau, long overdue after many trips to the Hawaii. Aloha is a state of mind, which needs regular updating.

4.              Chuckanut 50k

            This year's Chuckanut 50k was probably not a good idea for me, but I finished, for the seventy time, fifteen yeas after my first. I am a not a good example on how to approach this though. I got up in the C-nuts before the race to train, but not nearly enough. This was a serious snow year. RD Krissy put in an early start and added an hour to the finish. I needed most of that time to get it done. I was passed by runners and walkers all day, and it got to be funny hearing how people addressed me:  “Thank you boss!” “Thank you sir!” “”Looking good!”(No.)   Great job as always by Krissy, Kevin, Gretchen, and everyone. So good to see many friends. Due to peer pressure, I am scheduled again for this event this coming March. We'll see.

5.              March Point Half Marathon

            This local course out by Anacortes is so beautiful, circling March Point and then traveling over saltwater on the Tommy Thompson Trail. I saw some seals, eagles, and herons. A small crowd for the half, but plenty of support, and a great barbq at the end. I love all the local options for events around here. Annually, there are probably a dozen half marathons within a half hour or so of home, if I start counting them up. This is one of the best.

6.              Sourdough Mountain

            My friend Craig and I both list Sourdough Mountain as one of our very favorite hikes around Washington State. It is a hard climb, but the views up top are outstanding, and it has great history and character. We finally got to cover the loop together. I was a little nervous, wondering if I was up for the distance, but it all went fine, and the hike was beautiful as always.  The back side seemed longer than ever though, with no water from the top down, and a barely cared for trail. The back side gives an entirely different view. Craig’s company made this day, as we chatted quietly about everything from John Muir to current events.

7.              Lookout Mountain

 After reading a great book on lookouts in Washington, I wanted to start tagging some of the ones I haven’t. This was a wonderful quiet morning in the early fall,  alone, This is a tough climb, and I didn’t get much in the way of views, but the Lookout was really cool.. I loved the quiet alone time on trail. The first half of the hike is the same route as Monogram. Love the North Cascades, and this one is a great trail for the hard workout and proximity to home.

8.              Monterey Bay, California and Big Sur

            I made the most of a work trip, visiting Monterey, Point Lobos Nature Reserve, Big Sur, Cannery Row, and the Salinas Valley. The clam chowder on the wharf is memorable. I also threw in a 5k—the only open race—on a beautiful out and back course in Pacific Grove.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium is really worth visiting—very educational on conservation issues, and downright stunning  aquatic viewing. 

9.              New York City- Global Citizen and Central Park

            We attended the Global Citizen Festival again, on the Great Lawn in Central Park, which was incredible. My favorite was Alicia Keys, especially her New York song. Queen was great too, and Carole King. The passion of the kids and celebrities supporting great causes was inspiring. I also got out one morning and ran the full 6 mile loop of Central Park. Crazy to see commuters on skate boards cutting through the Park. We visited Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Little Italy, and Chinatown.  We also walked through the Park to go to The Met, and I got my fill of Van Gogh and Rothko.  The Play It Loud exhibit, filled with instruments from all the legends, was terrific. A really great trip.  Now, every time when we see we the Big Apple on a TV or a movie, which is just about every day,  we say, “We were there!”

10.       Packrafting the Sauk River

Seth and I got out twice this year, as I recall.  The first was a very pleasant walk in the snow on the Cascade Trail for the Woolley Half Marathon. We walked most of the way, and the conversation was good. Terry joined us for a bit. Later in the year, I tried "packrafting" with him and Ellen on the Sauk, a tributary of the Skagit.  I was a complete and total disaster on the river, and we had to walk me out after I got hung up and later dumped. Alive and well, it makes for a funny story now. This will always be a favorite memory of mine for this past year, due to the adventure of it, and thepure beauty of the Sauk River. 

The year was filled with many other great experiences. I think one of my favorite moments was attending the Rolling Stones concert with Deb in Seattle. They were outstanding, and a band I always wanted to see. Giddy. We also saw Queen and Adam Lambert in Tacoma with Dan and Heidi, in addition to at Global Citizen. Mike and I caught The Who at T-Mobile not too much later, with a guest appearance from Eddie Vedder. Deb and I saw the Mariners and the Aquasox a few times, always a summer joy. There were local birding trips. I rekindled my joy for reading books, opting for books over other forms of entertainment often. 

There were a number of other races. I finished my 16^th Baker Lake 50k. Another Nookachamps Half in the books, slow if I recall correctly. I also completed the 50^th edition of the Seattle Marathon, on a chilly day. Another Skagit Flats half, and some  volunteering with Skagit Runners. I also volunteered at Cascade Crest 100 at Little Bear, visiting with many old friends. It wouldn’t be the Fourth without a Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace. Mike and I also ran the Labor Day Half, a race I PRed in back in the late '90s, on a Redmond trail I've biked, hiked, and ran on since the early '80s. Who says you can't go back?

In between football games on Sunday, I put down a beautiful 10k on Little Mountain, to support local trail work efforts. Also, so great to hike the back end of the Baker Lake Trail one rainy Saturday with Deb, Carrie, and Brad. Going slow here opened up new sights to me, and it was the company that made the day special. There was a crazy night, where I got up at 12 AM and drove out to Samish Island, to look for the aurora borealis. I saw a few columns, standing in a spooky field. Early in the year, I ran most of the Cascade River Trail by myself, to join Skagit Runners for pizza at Annie's. This is a club tradition.

Today is the start of a new decade. New goals, new hopes, new adventures. Thanks to all who check in here, and for your continuing friendship. All my best wishes for the new year and decade to you and yours.

Best of 2011

Time to reflect!

It’s been a hard year of running for me, as I never really seemed to put things together, due to hip and hamstring issues.  I might be getting old.  If so, I’ve always said the joy of getting old will be figuring out how to manage such things.  I will always find a way to get outside, and am thankful for every opportunity.

But then again, I didn’t give myself much rest, and there were a few points in the year where I ran ok, by my limited and very personal standards. AND, I did more long races this year than ever before--—15 in all, and that doesn’t count non-events, which are often more interesting anyway. Too many events maybe, and too long. But the offerings are so good in the Pacific NW, so what do you do?

So, I will say, emphatically, IT WAS A GREAT YEAR, despite the injuries. Many thanks to my great friends, who help me get out there, keep me inspired, and made it so. 

AND NOW, introducing my top ten list for the last year--

10.   Vancouver Fat Ass 50k.  This will get a laugh from Rich if he reads it, but this really was a great day, touring Stanley Park, Pacific Spirit Park, and along the Vancouver waterfront, with perhaps the best weather the event has seen in nearly 20 years.  We ran awful—truth, we walked--but the skies were clear, the mountains were out.  We got an early start on the year and day, driving north before the sunrise, and then getting lost in Vancouver, and then hanging out afterwards with the great peeps of Club Fatass.

9.   Maple Pass.  This is a relatively simple hike, near Washington Pass in the North Cascades National Park.  Maybe 8 miles.  Joined by Deb, we stomped around in the snow on cliffs above Lake Ann, and caught the famed larches at their golden peak.  One of the best places to see larches, I’m told—and I’ve always wanted to be here at the right time.  This year I finally was.

8.   Lost Lake 50k+.  My third year now running this Alvin special (with all the more thanks to Skagit Runners, including Terry, Shawna, Joe, and Kevin.)  This is old fashioned ultrarunning in the Chuckanuts—small crowd, big hills.  Rich and I took off at the early start and were leading for a few minutes.  It was epic.  Rainy day, and one very muddy climb on the backside of the lake.  Didn’t race well, but ate well afterwards.  Thanks friends.

7.   Seattle Arboretum.  Some runs just turn out special.  They don’t have start lines, finish lines, or times.  One day, early in the year, I did my old training run near the University District in Seattle.  I ran this run most days when I was in school, and finally returned, more than a decade later.  It was like meeting an old friend.

6.   Deception Pass 50k.  This was the race I really shouldn’t have ran.  My leg hurt.  I was maybe an hour slower than what I would’ve been earlier in the year.  But the course!!  Beautiful!  Cliffs, bluffs, bridges, saltwater, sand, old growth…all thirty minutes away from my doorstep.  Had to do it. 

5.   Sauk Mountain.  Another perfect day in the right spot.  Stomping knee deep in fresh snow, just east of Concrete.  Clear day, views of the San Juans Islands in the far distance.  8 eagles circling above me, as if I were a meal in the making.  Mountain all to myself, the Skagit River valley below.

4.   Gorge Waterfalls 50k.  Probably the most gorgeous 50k event I’ve ever done, with so many, waterfalls, gushing, full-tilt, and views of the Columbia Gorge from cliffs.  I didn’t really start running seriously until mile 15, because every turn had a cliff or waterfall I had to stop, gawk, and photograph.  We actually ran behind one waterfall. Giddyup. 

3.   Knee Knackering 30m.  This North Vancouver tour of the Baden Powell has a lot of tradition and love from the Vancouver running community.  I’ve wanted to do it for years, and finally got around to it.  I ran on a bad ankle, which was just silly, but still worth it.  This course is tough.  Great hanging out with Mike, Marlis and Steve beforehand.

2.   Bull Run Run 50m.  One of the older 50 milers around, put on by the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club. Blue v. Gray. The trail takes you through patches of Virginia bluebells, across the first battlefield of the Civil War, and into some classic hardwoods forest.  Running through the woods, I heard the crack of muzzleloaders in the field nearby. The aid station around mile 31 had pizza. Muddy this year. My sister and her soon-to-be husband came out and supported me.

1.   Annapurna Circuit.  Some call it the greatest trek in the world. I don't know about that, but it was a special time. I have wanted to do this for 15 years, and for once, I made a dream come true. And with friends! Seth, Rich and I spent roughly 11 days circling through the Himalayas in Nepal. Our high point was nearly 18,000 feet, but it was the rivers and gorges, the suspension bridges, and the people, villages, and religion that made the adventure. Not much running, but truly an amazing time on trail.

There isn't a lot of science to the list--just my favorite memories. The list leaves off many other remarkable days.  My 4^th White River 50m, which I ran horribly. After Knee Knacker, I've never been the same. My favorite race, the Baker Lake 50k, 36 hours after flying over the North Pole from Nepal. Also not a good showing. That was so hard I sort of want to forget it, but not really. 

There was the slow meander up Park Butte in the snow, and the early snow trip to Big Beaver Valley. For good measure, I include a pic above of a trip to Sahale Arm in the North Cascades. Described by some as a holy place.  I like it. Then the road runs, like R&R Seattle Marathon (crowds) and the Seattle Marathon (9th in a row, second worst weather year I can remember). The timed runs-- Watershed Preserve (12 hours) and Invest in Youth Run (6 hours). If I had a wait list, Orcas Island would  probably be first in line--yet another amazing Rainshadow production.

Now, for 2012. Already thinking, planning.  The songs may change, but the band will stay the same.  I'm not sure what the year will hold, running or otherwise, but I am hopeful.