Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon

Last Saturday I ran the Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon, for the third time I think. It was a terrific morning to be out, with an early chill and later warming up into the 50s. That's about the best you can hope for in February. I like this event, because it puts me on Whidbey Island by the ocean, and the trails are really runnable.

Morning coffee at home with Deb. The race starts at 10:10 for the second wave, which gives folks a lot of time to make their way up to Fort Ebey from southern ports of call. For me, its about a 50 minute drive, and a beautiful one at that, with the flats of Skagit, Deception Pass, and Whidbey roads along the way.

On Monday, I was scheduled to go down to Seattle for a litigation training, which is actually kind of intense. So, for most of the run, I was switching between thinking about my running flow and then how best to present an opening statement for a company defending a specific sexual harassment claim. I didn't get to pick my side--they split the participants up. Anyway, for much of the run I was basically talking to myself, rehearsing statements. This is unusual, as typically when I run I'm not thinking about much more than observing the nature around me.

Maybe that all helped me keep the run going, as I ran an improved pace over the last time I did the event in 2015 or so. I can't remember--I probably walked a bunch that time. All was going well, but frustrating enough--I rolled my tricksy ankle with a quarter mile to go. So now, I'm typing with a still sore ankle, one week later.  A bit of concern with Chuckanut coming up in a few weeks. I imagine I should see a specialist, or a physical therapist, and maybe I will, but I think I'll take up some stretch band exercises, and make sure there's some ice in the freezer.

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

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.

Woolley Half Marathon

Technically, I finished the Woolley Half Marathon on Saturday. It really was just a pleasant long walk with Seth on the Cascade Trail. Perhaps my slowest half ever. No worries, be happy. We had a great day--beautiful ice and snow, a few birds, many friends, fresh air.

We've had snow this past week--more than in recent years, and folks have come to call it Snowmaggedon. It hasn't been that bad, but the Cascade Trail was mostly covered still, which made for a crunchy time. The standard course was changed into a double out and back, but one and done was the way to go. The temps sat around just under 40 degrees, and for the most part the skies were large, with some interesting clouds, but only a bit of rain.

Always so good to spend time with Seth. Great to really meet Ellen. Also good to see so many of my Skagit and ultra friends---Craig, Terry, Stan, Toi, Delores, Chris, and so many other familiar faces. The after race barbq on this event was/is the bomb. Terry and crew do such a great job.

Afterwards, we visited some antique shops and then made our way to Fir Island, to look at birds. We found ourselves down on the mud flat near Snow Goose. We watched eagles chase each other over scraps of food, chirping, diving, fighting. We saw a large flock of snow geese, lots of swans, a pair of herons, and other anonymous birds. There were a few moments, standing on a log and just listening to the birds fly over head, which took me away.  
 

Mercer Island Half Marathon

I walked and jogged the Mercer Island Half Marathon a week or so ago. It was on a Sunday morning, and I registered months earlier.  I really wasn't into doing it, but I got myself up and went down at 6 AM for the early start.  I figured I'd be happier after the fact if I did it, as long as I didn't make it too painful. That was about right for me, and I'm glad I did it.

I've wanted to do this race for years. It is one of the older races in the Pacific Northwest and its fair to call it a classic.  I can't believe I've never done it, which is part of the reason I wanted to check this box.

For me, this race is a real throwback. In the 1980s, I used to be the Circulation Director for the Mercer Island Reporter.  I think I earned $9.07/hour, and I thought that was awesome. I was a Manager! The newspaper was published by Bellevue's Journal-American company (no longer operating), and was a once weekly newspaper. The job was nuts. Basically, every Tuesday night-Wednesday morning, I drove all over Mercer Island, delivering all the routes that I couldn't find carriers for. And on Mercer Island, a well-to-do area, the kids were often doing other things besides delivering papers. So, there were lots of routes to deliver personally. The rest of the week was great--basically, I would look for carriers, run sales crews, and I did a little bit of advertising sales.  On the Rock, as we called it.  I eventually quit this job so I could go look for work in Yellowstone, which didn't really work out.

Anyway, wandering around the Island really took me back. The course itself circles the Rock--it's a very natural half marathon--almost a perfect 13.1 mile loop.  I suppose there are some hills, but its not too bad--definitely not by trail runner standards. Tons of volunteers with big smiles. Thanks you Lions Club! Some amazing views of Lake Washington, and I really enjoyed checking out the houses, which are great examples of NW architecture. 

Anyway, I rolled around the island in under three hours, mostly walking.  I would definitely do this race again, and hope I do. 

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.

 

Seattle Half Marathon

It's been a terrific Thanksgiving weekend, with family and friends, capped by the Seattle Half Marathon.

I met up with one of my oldest running buddies, over from Spokane, and we toed the half at 7:30 AM.  Hard to recall the last time we ran a race together, but if I had to guess I'd say it was a Bloomsday in the mid-2000s. Always in touch over the years, and many trail runs, but our first race in while. I was going to do the full, but stepped down, when he stepped up. Probably for the best, since I would've taken forever on the full. Surely for the best, since we were able to get breakfast afterwards.

The Seattle Marathon has a new course. It is hillier. The course starts down by the Space Needle, and finishes at Memorial Stadium, as has been the case for many years. In between, it re-routes through the International District, avoiding I-5, and then takes some trails and streets above Lake Washington, before eventually picking up at the Arboretum, as in the past. It is harder, though still a road race.

This was another one of those days where the stomach didn't cooperate. I walked a bunch. We were fortunate to miss the worst of the rain, in a day full of gullywashers. I have a better sense of what I need to do for race prep, besides preparing for the race, but my execution is not excellent.

Good to chat with Brad beforehand, as he headed out on page 4 of Quadzilla. Good to head down to the expo with Mike, despite dropping a bit of money on this and that there. Last year I missed this race, and I realized during the nice weekend at home that I really like this routine on Thanksgiving weekend. I'm not sure how many offhand, but I've done a lot of these.

When I got home, Deb and her son had the Christmas tree up in the living room. That time of year again, ready, set, go.

Skagit Flats Half

Today, during the Skagit Flats Half, I saw:

Cows

Horses

Barns

Corn fields

Berry fields

Pumpkin fields

Burlington-Edison High School

Skagit Cross-country teams volunteering at aid stations

Friends volunteering

A church

A big dog at the end of a driveway (barking)
Birds

North Cascades mountains

San Juan Island mountains

Local police and search and rescue

Thirteen mile markers

This is one of the Skagit Runners Club's key races. I think the first time I did the half was in 2001. My friend Stanley first did it in 1979.  It's a simple out and back, with an option of a full or a half. There were about 400 runners, I'm guessing, and plenty of space on quiet country roads on the return side of things. I was slow, but I was happy. Afterwards, the first week of the NFL season. A good way to kick off the fall.

Berry Dairy Days Half Marathon

No pictures, alas. I did the early start, along with some other 30 runners. We headed down Fairhaven Avenue, out of Burlington towards the cow fields. There were yards and fields with berry bushes, and extended views across the Skagit Flats. A turnaround, and then back and to the Skagit River dike. A few folks fishing on the banks. People playing horseshoes and soccer in the fields to the right. And then a finish, along the parade route, with people taking their seats to watch firetrucks and dairy queens on horses.

This race is great. It's flat. It's simple. It's local. And the price is nice.

Good to see Stan, Dean, Brannon, Kevin and other friends. Great weather.

I jogged, walked, jogged, walked, jogged, ran a little, walked, jogged, ran to the finish. Every weekend I toe a line is a win for me. Onward.

Sunflower Half Marathon

I returned to the beautiful Okanagan in Central Washington yesterday to run, shuffle, and walk the Sunflower Half Marathon. It was a gorgeous day, which after a while got really hot, reaching 87 degrees, without shade. 

The course is one of the better half marathons you'll find anywhere, at least when the flowers are in bloom. The Sunflower runs have been around for 35+ years, and include a relay and an "iron" or marathon distance. This was the first year for the half marathon distance, which is a point to point jaunt from the Chickadee trailhead to Twisp. I've ran the full marathon and the former 21 mile distance, and I think the half grabs the best section of the route. 

The trail is frequently lined with balsam root sunflowers and violet-blue lupine. Portions of the route are along a plateau, with views of the snow-covered North Cascades in the distance. Views of Patterson Lake and other lakes around the route. Rolling hills of the Okanagan, still green with spring. Sections of the course were burned in recent fires, and are just starting to experience new growth. The finish drops from the plateau back down to the Methow River and Twisp.

There are many runners, between the marathoners, the relay teams, and the half marathoners. The marathoners and half marathoners are bussed to the start, to enable the point-to-point. The altitude is a bit elevated, around 2000 feet. There are some climbs here and there, including a somewhat stiff one about mid-way through the half, after an exchange.

I drove over in the early AM, which isn't too tough from Mount Vernon. My effort was a struggle, as my left leg and shin didn't participate for the first few miles. Then it got hot, and I melt in the sun. I dunked my hat in streams at least three times, but have some bad sun burn today. Still, the distance was short enough that there was no real crisis--just slow times. I also took a bunch of photos.

Great to see friends over there from B'ham and the Okanagan. Great job by MVSTA, as always. The registration was gifted to me by a friend of a friend--thank you friends! Such a wonderful place to visit.

And then there's that North Cascades pass drive. Lots of people were out on the trailheads, with skis, snowshoes, and other gear.  I listened to the Seattle Springsteen concert on the way out and back, which we attended in March. It was an awesome show--Eddie Vedder even showed up. I purchased the cd, and it was pretty cool to hear the whole concert again on the drive. For me, the drive is all part of the journey to visiting the Methow, and so it's part of the memory, and so I mention it here.

Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon

Ran and hiked the Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon out on Whidbey Island yesterday. This is a terrific rolling course. The race works out perfect for me, being about 40 minutes from home. The views off the bluffs of Whidbey Island towards the Olympics are as good as anywhere.

We had wind all day, but it never really rained. Appreciated the later start--actually got to have a cup of coffee at home before starting out.

Rich, Linda, and Jamie were there. Rich and Linda ran the full; Jamie ran the half.

Step by step, trying to get back into shape. My third event in the last five or six weeks. Hoping I can get my legs swinging the way they need to.

Seattle Half Marathon

I did the Seattle Half Marathon last Sunday. I have the medal to prove it, and my legs still hurt a bit. I'm downright bothered by the precipitous decline in my amble. Then I'm not bothered.  Then I sign up for another race, after a few weeks of non-training.  It's time to break this vicious cycle of inactivity.

The Half is a first for me, after having done the full a dozen times or so. I liked it. The course feels a little more natural than the full, which carries on over the I-90 Bridge to Mercer Island and back.  As far as half-marathons go, I suppose this course is challenging, with significant hills at Madison Park and through the Arboretum. You still get the I-90 tunnel, views of Lake Washington, the Cascades, the Olympics, and the volcanos. You get it all--it's a good course.

This year's edition featured sub-freezing weather and clear blue skies. Pretty nice to be able to see Mount Baker, my hometown mountain. Not so cool to weather the cold.  I had a bad bronchial cough afterwards, and I may or may not be under the weather this week.

My favorite part of doing the half was to have Deb with me. She got up early with me, we shared the coffee and the drive, and she got me home in one piece. Usually I head down to this on my own.

Next up is Deception Pass.  I'm not ready for that either.

Footnote:  I did the Fowl Run a couple weeks ago. Aaron's first 10k!, and he came in second in his age group. Always a good event.  I'd like to say the training helped me with the Seattle Half, but I'd be lying.  Thank you Skagit Runners! 

Wind Horse Half Marathon

I ran the Wind Horse Half Marathon today in Bellingham.  The course is an out and back on the Interurban, out to Clayton Beach and back to Fairhaven Park.  The race is a benefit for the Blue Sky Education Project, who's mission is to assist with child education in Mongolia.  The race also seems to honor Bellingham's sister city relationship with a city in Mongolia, amongst others.

For me, this was the right measure for this Saturday.  After many days of relative heat, today we had light rain, light wind, and cooler temps. Perfect for running, and questionable for alternative adventures in the high country.

As far as my running goes, I struggled, with start and stops on the way out.  It seemed like I cracked things after that though, and there was some genuine running for parts of the way coming back. Mostly, though, this horse was winded.

The last few months and even year have been full of big change--as things settle down, I'm hopeful to find my legs again. I'm not worried about how much endurance I build--I just want to have a steady, good run. Might have to mix in some bike and other activities. I was pretty happy though when I finished up today.

The picture above is the bridge in Arroyo Park. Could've worked harder on pics, but it's the Interurban, which is not news for local trail runners. The Interurban is a rail trail most of the way, with a bit of single track in Arroyo. I run this trail routinely, and it's part of many other races, such as the Chuckanut 50k, the Chuckanut 7 Mile Run, and at least part of a few other events.  As familiar as it is, that doesn't change the good fortune we have to have such a gem in our community. The race had a few aid stations which serve double duty, since its an out and back. The course is slightly slower than a road half marathon, I think, because of a few small hills and gentle up and down inclines.

Great medals and shirts with a horse on them, and mongolian beef kabobs at the finish line. Good to see Bill, Lindsay, and a few other familiar faces.  Thank you to the Race Director and the volunteers for all their work too. Success!

Great way to start the weekend. I'll just keep at it.

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.