Wolf Moon Snowshoe to Artist Point

It has become somewhat of an annual tradition to snowshoe to Artist Point with friends on a winter full moon. Thanks to friend Dean for organizing the trip, which went up last Saturday.  I'd say about 15 of us made the trip this year, and a good time was had by all.

This year was marked by warm temperatures and far less snowpack than typical. When we started out, at dusk, I would guess the temperature was 40 degrees, with limited wind. This is unusual, as typically it is around 20 to 25, with wind making it seem far colder up on the Point.  The trip wasn't particularly challenging physically, at roughly 4 miles, and the snowpack was such that some wore microspikes and boots while others opted to crack out the snowshoes.

We made it all the way up to Huntoon Point.  No one camped, though a few campers were out there. The evening started up with cloudy skies, but the clouds broke, and we were able to see the milky way and a full sky of stars and planets, with the mountains silhouettes of Shuskan and Baker in the distance.

Chair 9 for pizza afterwards.  An epic Seahawk win over the 49ers the next day.  Placing last weekend in the Win column.

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!

A Frosty Morning on Blanchard Mountain

I got out to Blanchard this morning and did a loop, which is 9 or 10 miles.  I took a few photos and so I'm throwing them up here. Blanchard is pretty much my favorite place to run nearby.

Signage at the trailhead says they're closing the trail that connect the lookout trail (aka Larry Reed Trail) with the mid-level parking lot. Thanks to Dean for pointing this out. As this is a favorite stretch, I made a point to get up there.  I saw there are some new switchbacks too on the connector between the hang glider lookout and the climb to Oyster Dome.

It was pretty cold this morning. I'm not sure its fair to call what I was doing running. The picture above shows the work of a beaver on a tree. A few of these other pics show frost and a view over the Skagit in January, with little growing.  The birds are all over the valley, and I heard duck hunters shooting this morning.

Best of 2013 Runs

Sockeye spawning - Mile 18 Copper Ridge Loop

Years ago—maybe 2001 or so—I decided that I would try to do at least 12 events a year.  The idea was that participating in events on a regular basis leads to good things. I’m pleased to reflect back now and see that I still remain true to this goal, despite my infirmities and all the other things I have going on. It didn't really feel like it, because I didn't have a string of long finishes and I was always slow, but 2013 turned out to be an ok year for running. Another couple ultra finishes would've been nice, but I'm going to give myself a break and focus on the good, and I had my share of adventure this past year.

So, every year, I put together a list of highlights. The rankings aren't particularly material, but I do them anyway, just like I'd do with a list of desert island discs. It's nice to revisit a list like this down the road, maybe click on the links, and share with my friends. 

So, here's a list of my favorite running related memories from 2013:

10.       Cutthroat Classic 11 Miler.  The Cutthroat Classic begins of Highway 20 at Rainy Pass, climbs the Pacific Crest Trail to Cutthroat Pass, and then descends in a series of switchbacks to Cutthroat Lake.  It’s gorgeous and I’ve done it many times.  It was all the more special this year since I camped with family on the Methow River, and ran the race with Dan and Holley.

9.         Dawg Dash 5k.  As a UW alum, I’ve always wanted to do this event.  This year I finally did, along with my sweetie (who’s not a runner) and family members. Afterwards, lunch at the Ram.  The day was also memorable because the great Don James passed away. R.I.P.

8.         Running for Boston.  The GBRC organized a weekday evening run related to the Boston Marathon bombings.  Runners are always running for causes, but this was a particularly special gathering.  I ran with long-time friends who may not run as much these days, but who wanted to come out and show support for Boston Strong.

7.         Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon.  This seems so long ago, but Rich, Chris, myself, and other friends ran all over Fort Ebey trails of Whidbey Island.  Loved these trails. I ran the half marathon, slow, but enjoyed the morning looking out at water and checking out the trees.

6.         Dog Island 10k.  Towards the middle of the year, I sought out local 10ks that I’d never ran, including this Guemes Island gem. A short ferry ride from Anacortes landed me on Guemes for the first time.  The quiet roads wind around the island, with plenty of water views. Loved it. Some year I may string together a bunch of island events, for an informal island series, because there is some terrific island running around here. Thanks to Joe, Stan and others for volunteering.

5.         Broken Skagit Bridge Run.  I imagine when the Skagit Valley Herald recounts the top stories of 2013, the I-5 Skagit Bridge will top the list.  On a weekend soon after the bridge’s failure, I ran the Skagit River dike and then took pictures of the bridge reconstruction.  Kudos to the powers that be for getting the bridge fixed so quickly.

4.         Berry Days ½ Marathon.  This too involved a long run on the Skagit River dike, in association with Burlington’s Berry Dairy Days Festival.  It has been 10 years since I last ran the festival runs.  This new course was beautiful, passing by strawberry fields and along the Skagit, with long views in all directions across the valley.

3.         White River DNF.  I made it 37 miles, but I was too slow.  The PT had helped, but I just wasn’t there yet.  In some ways it was a defeat, but it’s all perspective. I choose to remember the wildflower fields above Corral Pass and at Suntop, the amazing views of Rainier this year, and the campfire afterwards. It was a good day.

2.         Baker Lake 50k.  I ran ok for the first half, albeit slow. I was really slow for the second half, and opted out of the 100k option.  Still, a beautiful day, my longest finish of the year, and my 10^th Baker Lake finish in a row.

1.         Copper Ridge Loop.  Mike, Rich and I did this 35 mile loop in the North Cascades in late summer, and despite some cloud cover, the route did not disappoint. Here's Mike's writeup, with great info. Good times with good friends, and I checked the box on a loop that had been on my list since 1995, when I first crossed the North Cascades with a backpack. The highlight of the day was fording Indian Creek and the Chilliwack River at Mile 18 or so, amidst spawning red and green sockeye.  Pure Pacific Northwest. The cable car crossing a little later on was pretty cool too.

I could’ve done this list a number of other ways.  This year's list really doesn’t reflect my travel, but there were trips to Panama, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.  Panama is particularly noteworthy, for seeing the Canal and spotting green birds and big lizards on a short beach run. San Francisco was a wonderful trip, but I didn't do a lick of running.  

I also made it up to the North Cascades a few times, including a very nice hike with Seth up to Easy Pass, always a favorite. The view of the Fischer Creek valley from there is one of my favorites anywhere.  Some other local events included the good old Loggerodeo 5.17 miler, the Race Beneath the Sun,  and the March Point 10k.  Unbelievable to me that this is the first time I did the March Point 10k--that's a cool little event.  Thanks Terry et al. And then there was an Orcas 50k DNF, and the always beautiful Deception Pass 25k.  Thanks Rainshadow Running.  I finished the year with Dean’s headlamp event, the Northern Lights Almost Solstice 5 miler. There's nothing like a starless December night sky, while running on snow, across open fields.

I was also inspired and just plain floored by my friends' achievements on trails this past year. Friends, you know who you are. Wow! Thank you for the inspiration. And thank you friends for the good times--let's find some more time together soon.

As always, I’ll look for new adventures this next year. Already, I'm excited about plans for a bit of Hawaiian island running and trails. ( :  

Northern Lights Almost Solstice Headlamp 5 Miler

On Friday night, my friend Dean hosted a run he calls "The Northern Lights Almost Solstice Headlamp 5 Miler." Dean originally put this event on in 2007--and I was there!--but the event was called off due to inclement weather in 2008, and then he and Ruth flew the coop to Whatcom County for a few years. So good to have them back in the Skagit now.

The run is held out east of Sedro-Woolley at the Northern States grounds, where elk are known to roam, and the fields are wide open.  The focus of the event is to have it on or near to the Winter Solstice (December 21st), in the dark, for headlamp running.

This year, we just happened to have snow the night before the scheduled event.  Some of the course was marked with arrows in the snow.  The course wasn't really all that complicated, and Dean took the time to put up little signs here and there, directing the way.  I think what I liked best, besides the peeps, was looking up at the winter sky, which held many different shades of darkened gray.  No stars.

So, the nighthawks ran again.  We only had about 10 runners on the course, and I'm sure some people with the best of intentions bowed out due to the weather, which was questionable.  But those who showed had a great time.  After a good hour of running around in the snow, we finished to a propane tank fire in the middle of a field, minestrone soup, and smiles.

Thanks Dean and Ruth!  Good to see Craig, Heather, Terry, Sam, and all the Skagit peeps out there, representing.  Afterwards, Anchorman 2, making for an altogether fine Friday night.

Deception Pass 25k

Ran the Deception Pass 25k yesterday.  Conditions were perfect for a mid-December day in the Pacific Northwest, with overcast skies and temperatures rising to the 40s. This year the 25k and 50k are being held on different days. I ran the 25k because I’m really not up for the 50k right now. 

I saw three seals swimming in Deception Pass as I crossed the bridge the first time.  Beautiful views throughout the course.  This is one of the more beautiful 50ks out there.

I was reduced to walking and jogging, due to ongoing issues. I finished towards the back.  But it was a good morning.  I stopped for cod and chips at the Shrimp Shack on the way home, prior to more Christmas activities.

Hopefully I can use this one to kickstart me towards more systematic training. Not sure what the next event will be, but I need to line something up.

Thanks Rainshadow Running and everyone involved in organizing the run.

Dawg Dash

Several folks in my family participated in this weekend's 28th Annual Dawg Dash at the University of Washington.  Purple and gold everywhere.  The 5k course winds all over the main campus, and the 10k course adds a jog out towards Ravenna. Dogs welcome.  Afterwards, lunch at the Ram!

R.I.P. Coach Don James.