Nookachamps Double

 

Another January, glad to be here. Most years I run the Nookachamps Half this weekend, as the start line is minutes from the house, and the road is one of my regular running routes. This year, COVID, still.

Anyway, I went ahead and ran a modified half on Saturday, for 16 miles, and then met with Craig, Chris and Jason on Sunday, running a modified 10k route, for 7.5 miles. Calling it a double, like shots, but not. 

Weather was great, and my running was pretty steady too. Actually, this weekend has been relatively restful, aside from the running. Took the Xmas tree down, finally. And someone got their first shot. A different kind of shot, the good one these days.

I've been seeing all kinds of birds lately. The other day I saw a belted kingfisher just down by Lion's Park. On these Nookachamps runs, the winter birds all checked in--eagles, swans, snow geese, other waterfowl, herons--good stuff. Last weekend I went by a flock of thousands of snow geese, which went nuts when someone started shooting. Lots of shotguns going off in the distance.

My running is going ok. I'm not doing too many trails, as I'm tired of rolling my ankle. But my road base is set, and so I'm able to jog roads well enough. I'm logging miles with my Circumpolar team, as we try to virtually run around the world. Right now we're 500 miles from the south tip of South America. We virtually passed some sea lions and penguins on Google maps this week. The team thing is different, but I'm liking it--I think we have two from Europe, four from Canada, and four from the US.  I feel like I'm more active than usual this time of year, when in the past I'd drop in the gym and do a soft hour on a bike or elliptical while reading.

The news of the world is tough these days. 

Nookachamps Half

A great day running around the roads near to home, at the Nookachamps Half.  The weather has been rough these past few days, with a few inches of snow. It really warmed up overnight, allowing for really good conditions for running.

The course was altered this year, so we didn't go on Highway 9 or through Clear Lake and by Dean and Ruth's place. Sorry not to see them. I did the early start, and there weren't a lot of runners. The roads have gotten busier in the past few years, but the birds were out in force, and the long views across fields towards snowy hills were beautiful. A really nice day to be out.

My goal was to cover 13.1 miles and not hurt too much tomorrow, so I can keep at it this week.  Mission accomplished. I took lots of pics and walked a bit here, and there, but I ran ok as compared to other recent events. I finished in 2:38, and could've clipped 10 or 15 minutes off that if I wanted to put the phone away and pound the ground harder. I have Chuckanut 50k on my radar, and so I'm trying to get things a bit more in order.

I love running down Francis Road, and do this run a lot anyways. Five minutes from home and all. The out and back was fine. The eagles stuck around for a second look. There were a ton of brussel sprouts on the side of the road for a one or two mile stretch. I'm guessing they were falling from trucks, after a harvest. Don't see that all the time.

Thank you to Kevin, Keefer and everyone who puts this on. Good to see Skagit Runners peeps. Now on the couch for some championship football.

Two eagles, not disturbed

RDs Keefer and Kevin at early start

Dropping down Francis Road

Brussel sprouts were all over the course -truck spill?

Milk truck at dairy farm blocking course

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.

Nookachamps Half

I ran the Nookachamps Half once again this past weekend. Ran and walked it, more accurately. It has been a very sad week, and so going out and running around the valley was good for me. Running, hiking, walking—these are things I do to connect with nature and myself, to help ground me.

The event was moved to Sunday, with regular start time bumped up to 9 AM. I did the early start, which means less people and traffic. Cars are more noticeable in recent years. The birds came out this year—swans, snow geese, gulls, a few hawks. We live in the best place for bird watching. The course passes Dean and Ruth’s house, and so I was glad to say hello and walk with them for a bit. A couple of my favorites. The weather overall was good—just a bit chilly, but clear. A fine January day.

My finish time was 2:34, which I record here for posterity. While not fast, this wasn’t really a race for me. I am in better shape than last year, though I have “many miles to go,” as the poem says. Just enjoying a beautiful January morning. Thanks are due as always to Kevin, Keefer, and all who put this event on, year after year. A fine cup of soup at the end, and a hello to Stanley, always working the finish line.

 

Nookachamps Half

Ran the Nookachamps Half today. And walked it. It was the first time in a few years that I did the half. I was plenty slow. Rich came up and ran it too, running strong.  Mike showed up at the finish. Many of the usual characters were there, volunteering. I ran into Dean out by their place, which is out by Clear Lake. Great to see the Cross-Country teams doing their part. Thank you!

The weather was very mild. If I was fast, I could've ran fast. It seemed like there were more cars than usual. I probably shouldn't have listened to the radio, but I'm trying to bring music with me again, to help with the step to step motivation.

Afterwards, Rich and Mike and I headed to Calico, and then we drove around looking for birds. Bird nation represented--they were all over the place. We made it out to Edison and Fir Island.

A very good day.

 

Nookachamps 10k

Ran my first race of the new year today. The Nookachamps 10k. I didn't feel too much like running, and I switched down from the half marathon. So, I ended up walking parts of the final three miles, finish in 1:12.

The weather was terrific. I did see swans. The crowd seemed a little thinner, perhaps because of the Women's marches going on in Bellingham and Seattle. There were some runners in pink, showing their support for the marches.

I didn't run enough in December and early January, and so I've fallen off. That's when you get back on the horse, or so they say.

Nookachamps 10k

I ran the Nookachamps 10k for my first time today.  I've done the half marathon at least a half dozen times, and have always wondered about the 10k course.  Now I know.

The principal difference with the 10k is that it finishes on the running paths of Skagit Valley College, Obviously, its also 7 miles shorter.

I'm just going to keep signing up for things like this, and try to get my running legs back. Right now I have extreme inflexibility when I run, compounded by a need to lose some pounds up top.

I always like going to this event. Five minutes from home, and so I was back in plenty of time for the NFL playoffs. I had a chat with a number of friends beforehand.  Great event.

At the start, I said to myself, "I dedicate this one to David Bowie."  I didn't honor his memory much with my time, and I knew I wouldn't, but I've been smiling all week at old memories associated with his music. Changes...Diamond Dogs...Heroes...Ashes to Ashes....Rebel Rebel...Space Oddity.....so many great songs.  Sad to hear of his passing.

Nookachamps Half Marathon

I ran the Nookachamps Half Marathon today.  At times, it was about as windy and rainy as I can remember any race I’ve done.  Big winds—I don’t know how fast, 40 mph?—but big winds with sideways rain as we ran through the middle sections.  At the time, I was ready to file the adventure in the Dumb Files.  But now, as I sit watching the Seahawks game, still in the rain and wind, the whole thing feels good.

The Nookachamps Winter Runs are a Washington classic, as far as events go.  The starting line is five minutes from our place.  There’s always a big turnout, but the January weather is unpredictable.  I’ve ran some cold ones here, but nothing so windy and rainy as today.  I’ve ran the race a number of times—not sure how many offhand.  My friend Craig was kicking out his 25^th Nookachamps in a row today—wow!

I really should’ve done the 10k.  I’m not in shape for a half, and I just couldn’t get the blood circulating or the lungs breathing right, and so it was a walk/run in the ill conditions.  I did not have a finisher’s mentality for much of the race.  It was more of something between, “What am I doing here?” and Nirvana’s “I think I’m dumb. I think I’m dumb.” But then the mile markers go by, and the aid station kids smile (local cross country runners, whom the race benefits, I believe), and the finish line gets nearer.

I saw more birds today than I typically do in this event.  Probably five or seven eagles.  A really big one sweeping over a lake out Clear Lake.  A few groups of trumpeter swans too, sitting in the field.  Usually they’re up and around, pecking the ground for eats, but the wind had them still.  A number of horses in fields.  Some downed trees from last night’s windstorm and some mildly flooded flats. No pictures today--the camera stayed in the car. But for what it's worth, this is a wonderful time to visit the flats of the Skagit Valley.

Thanks to all the volunteers—Kevin, Keefer, Terry, Stan, and a host of others made things go great.  Nice new design to the shirt/hoodie, and a nice finisher’s medal too. For me, I have a benchmark to improve upon as the year goes on. And now, a nice warm blanket, a remote control, and a Seahawks team up at half. #GoHawks!

Nookachamps Runs

Instead of running, I helped out at this year’s Nookachamps Runs.  The Nookachamps Runs start and finish at Skagit Valley College, five minutes from my home, and is one of the older running events in Washington.  About 800 runners showed up to run either the 5k, 10k, or a half marathon.

This year was perfect running weather. The night before was one of the colder nights of the year, but there were clear skies come morning, with temps in the thirties. Several friends showed up to run or volunteer, and so it was a good time hanging out. Afterwards, I got in my own run around town.

Good news--I made a bit of progress this past week with my left leg troubles, by finally getting into to see my doctor.  I've been putting this off too long. He went through all sorts of range of motion tests, and then prescribed me physical therapy time. He noted with age the loss of elasticity in some muscles, and the increased need to stretch. Basics, I suppose, and I suspect there’s more at play than this, but I’m giving myself a gold star for finally seeking outside professional assistance.

1/2 Marathon Winner

Stanley - pulling tags

Padilla Bay

Last week we had our first big snow storm of the winter and 2012.  Schools closed all week.  I get a kick out of watching the evening news when big weather events happen. They make such a big deal about it--reporters in the field measuring ice depth,  the smiling anchor, and then the weather expert "explains" it all. It just really makes me smile.

I didn't get out that much. Gym is my new friend. Actually, that's not too unusual for me this time of year. I'm taking it relatively easy until I feel whole, and I expect I'll do less longer events than in the past few years. There's something in me that just doesn't want to rush to register for anything right now.

I did make it to Padilla Bay on Saturday.  Padilla Bay is an estuary, sitting between Mount Vernon and Anacortes, near the junction to Whidbey Island. A beautiful flat two mile trail cuts through the flats, along the water, and is a great place for bird watching and a good little run, even if the wind is blowing at 40 mph, as it seemed to be on Saturday.

Saw a flock of herons on Whidbey Island on Sunday, at Cornet Bay.  There must've been 12 or so, all together, sitting in a couple conifers. Ran Nookachamps in the afternoon.

The Birds Are Back In Town

I went for a run this morning and the geese and the swans were going nuts. Skagit County is phenomenal for birds, and we get a lot of migratory birds in the winter, including eagles, big geese, big swans, snow owls, and probably a lifetime of other birds to figure out. Many of the birds go to the far north in the summer, and then travel down to our somewhat warmer climes in the winter. So, when they return, it marks the change of the seasons.
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I hesitate to say what I was seeing this morning, as I’ve come to realize that I don’t know the difference between a goose and a swan. I just went to the Skagit Audubon Society site, and I learned that we have all sorts of big white birds that come here around this time, like Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and Tundra Swans.
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As such, I will just write that I saw at least 500 large birds feeding in a Nookachamps field. They were having a convention, coming, going, just hanging out. They'd fly in threes, sevens, twelves, all sorts of formations---probably swans, with their long necks and loud honks, flying low above the fields. I ran near the Skagit River, alongside stripped corn fields. Skies were pink, sun rising, 32 degrees. Around one turn, I kicked up a heron. Around another, an owl took off and flew alone towards Clear Lake. At the top of a hill, there a were a thousand pipers, on the wires, on the fence, lifting off, coming back, as I stirred them up.
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I got charged by two dogs, no leashes--a golden retriever and later some sort of black retriever. Friendly doges, no problems, but there was contact with the golden retriever. Then a young cow cantered or loped or ran however young cows do, from halfway across a field, and paced me alongside a fence as I turned up another road. I think it thought I was going to feed it.
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Then---and this is sort of classic---a car full of Jehovah Witnesses pulled over, stopped me, and gave me some Watchtower literature. I was like, ok. I thought the guy who stepped out was going to ask me for directions. Not so. This is a first for me. I suppose he’s shining his light on a hill.
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After running, I did a brief volunteer stint at the Turkey Trot. Lots of great folks running and volunteering. Then yardwork. Swept my roof. Then work work. A comfortably ordinary weekend. So far.

Heeling

Cascade Crest did a number on my right heel. Actually, I'm pretty sure somebody in my family would correct me on that, and say *I* did a number on my right heel. I felt a bit like an idiot limping around a week after the race. One friend was like, “So…why do you do this?,” and all I could do was make fun of myself. I’m not sure whether to be pissed at my socks, my shoes, or me.
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I got two blisters on the heel. One was obvious, with ripped skin wrapping all the way around the back of the heel. It hurt, but I wore open heeled shoes to accommodate it, which helped. The other one was less obvious—there was some sort of blister deep underneath the thick callus of the heel, and it made stepping painful. That got really old.
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I’m finally up and running again this weekend, as the deep seated blister finally healed up. I made it out into the Nookachamps this afternoon. Nothing remarkable, but I like to keep this blog up a bit to keep a record of my running, for better or worse. It was so nice to run with the good weather we had this weekend, and I ran pretty quick because the rest of me was ready to knock out some miles. The corn fields are high. I did see a dead eagle on the side of the road. Very sad. and something I’ve never seen. There are a lot of raptors in this area. I imagine it got hit while eating something in the road.
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In other news, I volunteered at the Skagit Flats Marathon this morning. There were a lot of participants this year—more than ever, I was told. Proceeds benefit scholarships for high school runners in the area. Skagit Runners runs the marathon on an all volunteer basis, and RD Terry S. really pays attention to the details. Special props to Stan, as today’s marathon was number 300 for him! I think it was his 30th Skagit marathon in a row.
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Also, for the record, the Skagit River is down about as low as I’ve ever seen it, and people are lining the banks, going after salmon. Kings are open this year, for the first time since 1992 I think. I don't really fish, but I feel like I'm missing an event.
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Next up...I’m going to take it relatively easy the rest of the year, but Baker Lake and Seattle are sure things, and I expect to get up to the North Cascades once or twice more.
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Nookachamps

Before the Nookachamps Winter Runs

I ran the Nookachamps Half Marathon this morning. The start line is about three minutes from my home, and so this was the easiest way to put in the weekend miles and see some friends. I run this course all the time, or some variation of it, and this was my 3rd or 4th Nookachamps race. Lots and lots and lots of runners--probably 600+-- doing the 5k, 10k, or 1/2 options. Everyone hangs out in the gym before the race, which are the pics here. There was a thick fog this morning--an aggresive mist---hanging over the Skagit farm fields, which made barbed wire fences, the occasional horse in a field, and the quiet ponds and standing water all a bit more mysterious.
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I ran horribly--I have no speed right now, and the all-you-can-eat spaghetti deal at the Co-op is inadvisable before any race shorter than a marathon. Living, and learning! Actually, I'll probably go back. I'm not too bright on these things. Really, I'm not. Some Homer Simpson in me, I'm afraid. Anyway, my hip also hurts these days ("You should stop running!"), and my hamstring is a tad too tight, and it was about 32 degrees starting out this morning. Then, also, I chose not to wear music, which was a total mistake, and my SHOES are getting older, and my socks, they were poorly chosen. Also, my hair is ALWAYS growing and I hadn't shaved, which is a total rookie error, with the wind drag and all. Whatever. It's January. I foresee more aerobic exercise in my future, and yoga, which scares me way more than it should. In the big picture, I ran with a herd in the foggy Skagit this morning, and I'm living well.

Skagit Valley College Bleachers

The Finish