Orcas Island 25k

This guy showed up at the Orcas Island 25k last weekend, and crossed the finish line. I was pretty close to not going, but the weather forecast was good, the fee was paid, and I figured I'd kick myself if I didn't. Bravo, me!

I took the 5:35 AM ferry over. Early does it. Stayed in the car, typing out some work stuff. By 7:30, I was at Moran. Good to see Randy, Kurt, Glenn, Heidi and other friends before the race.

The course is obviously shorter than the very tough 50k, but it still touches most of the highlights, and has some 4000 feet in climbing. The power line climb is as tough as ever. The last push to Mount Constitution is also worthy of curses. I was ok on the uphills, horrible on the downs. I finished towards the back, just over 5 hours. I was jogging, not racing, but just shooting for the finish line. As much as anything, I wanted to clear my head of all the nonsense going around, and just focus on some green trails for a long morning.

The view from the top was as good as I've ever seen. Squinting, I could see the tall buildings of Vancouver, and turning south, Mt. Rainier. And everything in between--though as I write this, I don't recall looking for Seattle. So, most of Skagit and Whatcom were easy to pick out. The Olympics too.

Great weather. A little overcast. Maybe 35 to 45 degrees. No rain, little wind. This race can get some tough weather. Not this year.j

I didn't have a lot of juice to stick around. I headed to the ferry afterwards, and missed my ferry by three cars. Subsequently, a three hour wait, eased by fish and chips at the Orcas Hotel.

This race has changed as much as any race I've been a part of.  I ran the 50k in year one, maybe ten years ago, or so, and there weren't many runners--maybe 30 to 40, I think. We might've got a little lost. Now the event is broken down into three weekends, with 25k, 50k, and 100m. James and the people of Rainshadow Running have created a classic. So many smiling faces. Great to take a Saturday and join in.

Orcas Island 50k

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, blah blah, blah.

I did this race two years ago, and at the time it might've been the hardest race I had ever run. When you have to run with your hands, something's up. Once in high school I ran an early season cross country race the morning after I "experimented" with orange liquer. That might've been harder. There have been a few others, but Orcas two years ago was up there.

Orcas Island is one of my favorite places in the world. Maybe my favorite. I've been going there since I was thirteen years old. Moran State Park even, where this race is held. I guess my Dad used to go there too, as a Boy Scout. The trails and views are spectacular. Moss, big trees, islands, volcanoes, mountain lakes, taco trucks, everything, it's all there.

This year, the course was SUPPOSED to be easier, with less elevation gain, because the course was revised due to snow up high.

This year, I felt I was in better shape.

This year....

Well, it was a two lapper. The first lap, I did the early start and messed around taking pictures. This was intentional--I planned on running easy the whole day. I still don't know what happened, and I'm not going to think twice about it, it's alright. All I know is the wheels came off, way early. I tried wearing a camel back, which I never do, and it busted. Most of my pictures didn't come out. My shoes felt like wood blocks with straps. My stomach was completely broken, and my GU was leaking. I was smiling, but everything was off.

The second lap was worse. I felt like I had the bubonic flu or something. I switched shoes, and the new ones were worse. I had a tough time walking downhill. The worst of it is, for the second race in a row, I missed a loop turn. This other guy and I agreed on a way to read a sign, and we were wong. So, after busting my butt for 30 miles with about 7000 feet of elevation gain, I technically did not get a finish. They'll probably make a "special" column for me. We're all special, in the end.

Still, what a great day! My running difficulties aside, the lakes were cut out of an old Life magazine, views from Canada to Mt. Baker, and some of greatest folks anywhere, everywhere.

James Varner and Alison Hanks, Fun Directors, have really dialed things in for this event, and their enthusiasm spills over. Bunks for everyone for the whole weekend, t-shirts, the race, bluegrass band at the finish, homemade soup and cookies, a keg....all for $45. Ridiculous. Roughly 200 people took part. I was happy to be one of them, and I will be back.