March Point Half Marathon

I ran the March Point Half Marathon on Saturday. I've done the 10k a number of times, but this was my first time in the Half....and I liked it a lot.

The course starts at the Marathon Refinery, circles March Point, and then does an out and back on the Tommy Thompson Trail to Anacortes. A large part of the route is either next to or over salt water. I saw a family of seals, a big eagle, and a lot of smiling volunteers.  

I'm near ashamed to say that I've never been on the Tommy Thomson trail. This is a trestle trail, pictured above, over water. It crosses what appears to be an estuary, and then continues along the shore into Anacortes. The turnaround point is somewhere by Cap Sante Marina. 

The half marathon had about 50 participants. I like races small with big views, and that's what I got. Affordable price, with a barbq at the finish. I am a fan.

I finished in 2:30, with not a lot of people behind me. I could've gone a little faster, but wanted to have some energy for other activities this weekend.  Hopefully I build from this. It was a good way to spend Saturday morning.

Thanks to everyone who helped put this on. Events like this are great to have around.

Blanchard Mountain

Feeling really good. I got up early on the Saturday morning of a three day weekend and hiked and jogged around Blanchard Mountain. I threw in the British Army Trail, and looped back via the logging roads. Just an absolutely terrific morning on trail.

I have an old phone, and I'll replace it one of these days. It doesn't capture the best pics, but I'd rather throw these up here and have them then not. These pics are like rumors of the full view. The temps were in the 70s, not a cloud in the sky, and the trails were not too busy, because of the early start.

I've only taken the British Army Trail a couple times. It seems like t lot of work has been done on the trail in the last couple years, and the white scrapes suggest to me that it is part of the Pacific Northwest Trail. It's a less-traveled gem, and the logging roads back to the upper parking lot was a quiet, solitary experience--just how I like it.  On the logging roads, the view of Mount Baker was tres magnifique at one point. A "Well, hello there! Sweet view!" kind of moment.

Mount Rainier was out too. Sitting square in the middle of the view, from the Overlook, looking down across the Skagit Valley flats and Bow. I do this loop all the time, but don't typically see it. The white capped Olympics Range was also in full view, over Anacortes. All here, said the mountains.

The State Legislature is wrestling with whether or not to protect Blanchard Mountain from logging, and for recreational use. It's a ridiculous debate, but politics are that way sometimes, I guess. Frankly, it looks like a lot of logging has already occurred up there, selectively. The trail is quite a bit different from when I first started running and hiking up there, so many years ago.  Also, there is four to five times the foot traffic. The place is very much used and appreciated. Blanchard Mountain needs to be preserved as it is.

Off the mountain for now. Might go up again this weekend; the weather is good. Cueing up the barbq now, with some Bob Marley beats kicking. Might have to be a homebody, and garden, roof care, and all those sorts of things. Lively up yourself, says Bob.

Train rolling around the corner on the waterline

I promise--Mt. Rainier sits large in the middle of this photo, if you squint. Click to enlarge.

Bow, Chuckanut Drive and the Skagit Flats

Skagit Flats in the foreground, than March Point, and the Olympics Range beyond

Another shot of Bow/Chuckanut/Skagit Flats

Lilly Lake

Lizard Lake - fish were hopping

Here's a fail picture of Mt. Baker.  The lighting didn't work. But the view is special, from the logging roads retiring to the upper Blanchard parking lot.

March Point 10k

I ran the March Point 10k last Saturday. I think this was the 20th running of the event, which is a regional classic of sorts. The 10k starts at the Tesoro refinery, drops down a hill, and then you basically circle the hill, running for a few miles on the waterline. There is a big hill in the second mile, pictured above, which is a bit of a grind. Wind can be a factor.

Afterwards, a great awards ceremony, with hot dogs, drinks, and chips for everyone. All for about $12, if you pre-register. Great to see many Skagit Runners friends out volunteering, running or both. Took my time on the course, jogging and walking, dealing with a bit of lower back pain. Glad I showed up--so often, showing up is what counts. Gave me a great start to the weekend.

Anacortes Art Dash

Last Saturday I made it out to Anacortes to help out with the annual Art Dash. 5k, 10k, and Half-marathon options, kicking off the annual arts festival. Terry helped make another race in the Skagit happen, with Stan, Delores, and many others helping out. This little event is getting bigger and bigger, with over 600 people running this year. I held a timer and went click, click, click.

Afterwards, I did a jog around some of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. Anacortes has some terrific trails, circling Heart Lake, Whistle Lake, Mount Eerie, and other parts.  I mostly ran around the Whistle Lake area, which is a beautiful lake. Many were headed up that way to swim.

While u-picking Sunday, we came across a small nest, tucked high in the tayberry bush, with five tiny, little soft-blue eggs. Had to include a picture here. The weather has finally turned summer, the berries are happening, at $1.90 a pint, and the high country is opening up.

Congratulations to all those who were out there running White River last Saturday. A part of me really wanted to be there, but I think I need a refresher 50k first. And congrats to friend Seth for finishing his run across the U.S. And Terry, for his incredible Badwater run. If I start this, I won't be able to stop--very inspired by my friends these days.

Happy summer!