Broken Bridge Run

The big news in the Skagit Valley this month is the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River fell in the river one Thursday evening.  It's been a mess ever since, with traffic re-routed through the towns. At least 75 accidents based on the reroute. This is all well reported elsewhere. Fortunately, the powers that be have worked really hard to get a temporary bridge in place, as well as a plan for a permanent fix. The temporary bridge should be operational next week.

On Sunday, I decided to go for a run along the Skagit River, to see if I could get a look at the progress on the replacement "Bailey bridge," as it is called. Here are some pictures I took from that run. 

Race Beneath The Sun

Early June presents so many different terrific race and backcountry options.  I chose to run the Race Beneath The Sun 5 miler this Saturday morning, hosted by the Greater Bellingham Running Club (GBRC). The sun didn't cooperate, but we didn't get rain, so it was a fine enough day.

This 5 mile race starts and finishes in Fairhaven Park, in the exact same place as the old start/finish for Chuckanut.  It's mostly suburban trail.  After leaving the Park, there's a little downill towards Fairhaven, that has everyone running a step quicker. What goes down must come up---there's some work to do, to complete the course, including the C. Moore Loop. It's sort of cool to take that final turn, and finish just like the old C-nut. Not as many people watching though--I think less than 100 did the race. I'll take the small event any day.

I finished somewhere north of 47 minutes, which is about 9 minutes slower than the last time I did this race, some ten years ago.  I remember the course pushing me that day too. There is slight improvement as compared to last weekend, but I still fought shin pain and shortness of breath a bit, causing me to walk in 10 yard stretches a few times.

My plan is to keep doing smaller and shorter events right now, and work my way up to the longer distances.  I'm happy for now to try to focus on diet, core, and consistency.  I need to stick with the PT exercises better.  There will be some longer races down the way, but these short events are fun!

Good to see so many GBRC friends, like Rick, Polly, Julie, Dave and so many others volunteering. This is club running at its local finest. Thank you volunteers. My best to all my friends running elsewhere this weekend---Cougar Mounatin, Vashon Island, the San Diego 100, and wherever else. Run strong, be happy.

Dog Island 10k

I made my first visit to Guemes Island this weekend, for the Dog Island 10k, which benefits the island library. Guemes Island is a five minute ferry ride across from downtown Anacortes.

This race is a real gem. A 10:45 AM start makes it very accessible. The roads are quiet, with long stretches along shoreline and underneath beautiful canopy. The course itself is not fast, as far as 10ks go, with several hills. A few grinders, a few long downhill stretches, and all road. At one point, I saw five eagles circling above. Lots of caterpillars on the island right now, and lots of bushes flowering. Very beautiful.

I ran 1:01 or so, or just under a 10 minute pace. There was running and walking, because of the hills. I'm pleased, as a few months ago, I couldn't run much at all, due to IT and hip issues. Physical therapy has helped. The time is not too important to me, but it will serve as a benchmark. I needed to get out and participate in an event, and this was a good one.

Joe Tompkins and Stan Nakashima represented Skagit Runners, with the set up and finish line, along with the wonderful locals. Great to see them making things happen, as usual.

After the race, I walked and jogged the two miles back to the ferry landing. Recommend. A quiet country road, with all sorts of flowers, roadside sales, and island art.

Stay Hungry

We've had an influx of good weather locally, which seems to be good for the spirits.  I've been able to get out and run a bit after work on most days in the past couple weeks.  Today, I did the old loop around Blanchard.

I huff and I puff.  I walk and I run.  I'm not strong but the effort isn't bad.  I can picture a day when the running may come at least a bit easier again. I understand the snow level is up to 5500 feet in some places now.  Time to start thinking about looking east to the North Cascades for my trails, again.

I continue in physical therapy, about one appointment a week. The sessions are good for me, inasmuch as I'm thinking more about core stability and am constructively stretching.  I'm not the best student or patient, as my discipline is lacking. But there is forward progress.

I'm just about at that point where I'll sign up for an event. Maybe next weekend. Maybe not. I'm not too driven by events, checklists, or other persons' running calendars.  After a busy year, I mostly feel like I need to catch my breath. I also feel like I need to build up slow, gain some confidence, and enjoy running day to day.

But I'm also telling myself to "Stay hungry."  I heard a business owner say this was their advice to new business owners: "Stay hungry! You have to stay hungry! Appreciate your customers, and go after their business." For whatever reason, this advice stuck with me, but also has turned into a bit of a mantra for me as I make my way up hills and wrestle with the miles.

Running for Boston

Like everyone, I was horrified by the Boston Marathon bombing last week. 

Across the country, running clubs and groups responded by holding group runs to reaffirm all that is good about running. And human nature. Our own Greater Bellingham Running Club had just such a run on Monday night. I was glad to wobble down the trail with my friends.

My best wishes go out to all who were impacted by this terrible event. I suppose that’s all of us. Run strong, Boston.

 

Washington D.C.

I made a trip back east to Washington D.C. and Virginia last week.  It is cherry blossom time again in the nation's capitol, and so I snapped a few pics.

The trip was a whirlwind.  First, I got delayed by 18 hours or so at Chicago O'Hare, finally arriving at 3:15 AM.  I made it downtown on three separate occasions in about four days--lots of time on the Metro. Hear hear for public transport. One of my favorite things about east coast cities is the subway.

Highlights of the trip included taking in a Braves-Nats game with my brother and a friend, getting to meet my new niece, and seeing the folks. The cherry blossoms and nice temps were nothing to quibble about too.

Running...well, I'm working on it. Ran tonight.

Flowers in the Valley

April is tulip time in the Skagit Valley.  The daffodils precede the tulips by a couple weeks. Fields and fields of them. People come from all over to see them.

It's been a busy time for me, as always. Work has my attention much more than my running these days. Still, I've found my way into physical therapy four or five times this past month. I'm learning all sorts of new stretches. I've made a friend with a foam roller.  I'm convinced more core work will be good for me, but this I've always known. I'm really hoping to get my left leg working the way it should.

The miles don't come as easy as they used to. I ran in the pouring rain through the Nookachamps the other day.  I found myself short of breath.  And wet.  I ran by a row of cows, eating their hay, with their ears punched with tags. I figured I'm probably better off then them.

I have my eye on some events in the coming months. The first one or two will be ugly, I'm sure. But I'll get there one of these days.

Happy spring!