Great Sedro-Woolley Foot Race

I'm not sure how many times I've done this race, but I found a ribbon last week from 2003. I'm guessing that's the first time, and then probably two out of every three years since then.

This year's event was a bit overcast. Excellent running weather, as a finisher exclaimed to me afterwards. As usual, I did the 5.17 mile circuit, as opposed to the 2 miler. Lots of characters dressed up in red, white, and blue. Streets lined with chairs, for the subsequent parade.

I wasn't too happy with my running, but I know I've been slower. 52:20 or so, so 10 minutes per mile, more or less. My lower back is tight, perhaps from years of sitting in a chair at the office, perhaps due to core and weight. I also started a ways back, while conversing with friends, which made for a scramble through strollers and little kids as the race took off.

This is a really fun race, for the smiles and enthusiasm everyone brings. A democratic affair in a republican town, with persons of all fitness levels representing. Great to see all my friends from Skagit Runners, and great appreciation for the volunteers of Woolley, who make this happen, year in, year out.

Happy 4th of July! 

Cascade Trail Pizza Run

On Saturday, I ran the Cascade Trail from Sedro-Woolley to Concrete, as part of Skagit Runners' annual Annie's Pizza Run. Basically, Steve D. organizes a group run, at no cost, which ends at Annie's. Annie's is one of the best pizza stops in the State. I keep their menu in my glove box to call in an order when I'm coming down from the mountains. Deb loves it.

So, we were all supposed to meet at Annie's after doing our runs, at 11:15. I did a horrible job planning, and almost missed everyone, as I arrived closer to noon. But I ran farther than most, putting in 22 miles. Of course, I didn't really plan at all for this, and didn't realize it was that distance--I was thinking something more like 16 to 18 miles. Its not like we don't have maps, programs, and a glut of information out there. But I don't run with a watch these days, stuck in my Luddite ways. I run to escape, and increasingly in monkish fashion.

The trail and day were amazing.  I started at 7:15, after grabbing coffee, and ran with two water bottles. I probably should've filled up along the way--there are streams and you pass by the Skagit and its sloughs frequently. The trail is flat, flat, flat. I saw eagles in trees overhead, swans crossing fields, flocks of gulls and snowgeese. I saw the sun rise. I got my feet wet, running through an overflowing Wiseman Creek. I learned the distance from Baker Lake Road to Concrete is not to be underestimated. I met a dog.

I arrived just in time to nab a couple slices that were packed to go, and then gratefully caught a ride back with friends. Overall, a most excellent January day on trail.

The Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace

If it's the 4th of July, and I'm home, I'm probably toeing the line for the Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace. Its always good to see my local running friends, and the 5.17 mile course remains the same.  My times, however, seem to get slower every year.  This year I finished over 56 minutes.  I have ran this one in under 40 in earlier years.  Nonetheless, I was happy, as I could barely walk straight, when I started, because my quads and legs were a mess from hiking up and jogging down the steep Sourdough Mountain, two days before. The flip side is I was about 5 minutes slower than two years before.

Perspective.

Effort.

Smiles.

The Great Sedro-Wolley 5.17 Mile Footrace

Another Fourth of July, another Loggerodeo 5.17 mile run. Weather was perfect, and spirits were good. I ran about the same as I did last year, which isn't good, but that is an improvement over my run last week.

I've been running this event on and off for over a decade. It is flat and fast, going through neighborhoods along the parade route, with folks lining both sides of the street, watching from their lawn chairs. There is a 2 mile and 5.17 mile option. The 5.17 mile race goes slightly outside city limits, taking a road by farmland, and then along the Skagit River and by the fairgrounds. Pretty fun as you finish up to see people selling balloons and flags from grocery carts, and others selling burgers and hotdogs. Afterwards, a parade of rodeo queens, chainsaw artists, and John Deere tractors follows.

As always, great to see the turnout, and so many friends from Skagit Runners. Thanks to Terry, Delores, Kevin, Stan, Brannon and to all the other volunteers from the Rotary Club. Service clubs like Rotary really make a difference in communities.

Raced out of there to watch the second quarterfinal match of World Cup. Hooked, as usual. We finished the evening on the Skagit River, watching fireworks over Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon. Happy birthday USA!

Woolley Half Marathon

I ran the Woolley Half Marathon today.  It was a start and stop affair for me, as I couldn’t really get a steady run going.  Tightness in my stomach, shortness of breath, and inflexible muscles pretty much set that scene. Happy to have ran it, just the same.

The course is a flat out and back, with half, full and 50k options. As Sedro-Woolley is 15 minutes from my doorstep, it’s an obvious Saturday morning workout, and I’m thankful to Terry, Delores, the Krells, and everyone else for putting it on. Great to see Stan out there on the course at Mile 4.  Good to see Kevin, Heather, Ras and many others too. Great hot dogs and chilli afterwards. 

There was a pretty stiff headwind going out, but we managed to avoid any rain. 40 or so degrees. I enjoy the course a lot—there are farm animals on either side of the trail, views of the North Cascades in the distance, and an occasional creek crossing. Lots of birds in the Skagit right now, including swans, eagles, ducks, and gyrfalcons. Everything looks a little wet and brown.

There are a lot of events this weekend. I wanted to do something, but struggled a bit in choosing between Ebey, Fragrance Lake, and doing my own thing. In the end, I kept it close to home, with a simple course. Hopefully I’ll inject a bit more discipline in my life, and start picking things up. Regardless, running is so personal for me. I’m happy to limp along, lost in my thoughts and music, looking at trees, birds, whatever. Saturday morning restoration after a long week.

I ran with music today. This was a first in quite a long time, for what used to be standard operating procedure. (Still no watch though.)  I got one of those Apple devices for X-mas—what are they called?--and finally I gave it a play.  I had a big smile when Jackson Browne’s “These Days” came on. “Don’t confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them.” One of my very favorite songs, checking in randomly via shuffle. Nice to be plugged in again on the trail.

Now, a little bit of House of Cards, Season 2.  Recommend.

The Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace

The Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace is a 4th of July tradition for runners in Skagit County.  This year marked the 36th year of the event.  The event is all road, starting and ending in "downtown" Sedro-Woolley, along the Loggerodeo parade route.

We're lucky to have so many wonderful community events like this, so close to home. Skagit Runners, the local running club, was well represented on the course and volunteering at the finish line. Great seeing so many friends running and volunteering.

My running is improving a bit.  I was winded after a mile by what used to be an easy training pace for me. Still, I ended up running 44:13 for the 5.17 mile course, which is over 4 minutes faster than my off the couch effort last year, and about a minute per mile faster than what I've been doing in my other "Run Local" events this past month. On the other hand, I know I've ran this event several minutes faster than this before, so there's always another chestnut to reach for.

I think testing my wind in shorter events, and also trying to focus more on core and diet, are probably more effective than just signing up for the longer, more expensive events right now. Physical therapy has been helpful too. I couldn't even run a few months ago. Keeping it fun while trying to incrementally improve a bit--that's the right approach, I think.

Loggerodeo

 

The Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace is a Fourth of July tradition in Skagit County.  I just call it Loggerodeo, after the name of the small town festival that Sedro-Woolley puts on every year.  The week long Loggerodeo festival is known for its chain saw art carving contests, dancing in the street, the footrace, a rodeo, and a Fourth of July parade.

The race itself has a 5.17 mile option and a 2 mile option.  It’s all road, basically flat, and fast.  The two mile option stays in town, running by stores, craftsman homes, and through tree lined streets.  The 5.17 route goes further, out by horse and farm fields, briefly along the Skagit River, past a carnival, and then finishes in town on the parade route, with people watching and cheering from chairs on both sides of the street for almost a mile.  It makes for a fun way to start the Fourth.

Today’s weather was great.  Near spectacular really.  So thankful for the weather we have here in the Northwest, after talking with my family back east and in Colorado.  I’m running mostly on memory these days, huffing and puffing my way down the street, but I’ll keep it up with the baby steps approach.  Glad to get back to this wonderful event.  Been too long.

And, GREAT to see Skagit Runners volunteering, as they always do—people like Kevin, Stan, Delores, Katie, Brock and others.  Great also to hang out after the race with Craig, Heather, Ruth and Dean. 

Happy Fourth of July, all!