Kauai

 

We went to Kauai not too long ago, and so I want to include some photos here of that trip, as I'm catching up here. There wasn't a lot of running, but there was a boat ride on the legendary Na Pali Coast, as well as a tube ride through irrigation tunnels that were sometimes a half mile long. Farmers markets, a luau, and lots of aloha every day, looking out at the ocean blue.

A visit to the Kauai Museum - Hawaiian history is very interesting.

A tribute to surfing legend Andy Irons of Hanalei. 

I didn't bring my camera on the tube ride, but it was better than advertised. The actual tube ride was about an hour long I think, and it went through five tunnels on an irrigation ditch. The tunnels were claustrophobic--they went on for up to half a mile and were truly underneath mountains/hills, with limited overhead clearance. We had helmets and headlamps.

Just another Kauai sunrise..

Father and son at a well known ukulele store-they were great

I have so many of these pics--they never get old

Bought this from a guy making them at Wailua Falls for $10

Na Pali cliffs from our Blue Dolphins snorkel tour--I think this is Kalalau Beach, but not 100% sure as I type - we got there

That's a dolphin--maybe two. There were lots of spinners.

Love the farmer's markets. Prices seemed higher than in the past... a common story everywhere, I suppose.

Luau at the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue - we've been to a few of these around Hawaii and this was on the upper end of our faves

Hanalei taro fields

Tiki Iniki - Michele and Todd Rundgren's bar in Princeville. Todd is a R&R HOFer and well-known innovator. This bar was great. We are proud owners of a Tiki God goblet now, thanks to friends.

Hanalei pier - one of the prettier places I've been, though this pic fails to capture that

Kauai Sunrise

Kauai Moonrise

Washington D.C.

I've been pretty busy this year, but not at this blog. I'm going to try to get a few posts up, but the short story is my running has not been strong, but I've been to a few interesting places and gotten a few good runs in. Starting with...back in March, Washington D.C. As the above picture shows, I was back there for business, but whenever in DC, I always try to get in a run down to the Lincoln Memorial, by the Washington Monument and reflecting pool. It just so happened this year I was back during near-peak Cherry Blossom Festival time, and so the cherry blossoms were popping, especially over by the Jefferson Memorial. My run was a bit of jogging, walking, take a photo, and then start jogging again.

After Washington D.C., we drove down through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, through North Carolina, down to Greenville, South Carolina. Pretty drive, but no pics. 

 

Baker Lake 50k

I finished my 20th Baker Lake 50k in a row today. I'm pretty happy about that, and I'll wait and see how things go, but this may be the end of the streak. Or, I may switch down to the 25k next year. I don't know, but the 50k distance was a bit much for me today, aside from the finish.

The weather was great, as the pictures here show. The course is terrific, and it was dry, although the bridges were a bit slippery. A few mosquitoes later in the day.

I never felt right. I've been active, but I haven't really been doing marathon or ultra training. I basically ran a bit over 4 hours going out, and over five hours coming back.  I walked a whole lot on the way back.  My left hamstring started cramping, and so I had to be cautious, since that was happening about within the first hour of the return.

I've had a few streaks over the years. I ran something like 15 Seattle Marathons in a row, a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for a long time. Today's finish banks another year with at least one ultra or marathon. That goes back to 2001, I think.I used to have a list. But Baker Lake has been a fall routine for me. It's a wonderful race and I fully expect to be back, for at least one of the distances. Always my favorite.

 

Skagit Flats

I volunteered Sunday at the Skagit Flats races. My job was to monitor the half marathon turnaround. I guarded this cone with all due diligence. Honestly, watching the runners run around the cone, I felt like I wanted to be out there running too. We had good weather and a good turnout--lots to be happy about.

Cutthroat Classic

 Glad to get out, get east, and run the Cutthroat Classic again. Ran the event with three family members, which made it particularly special. Crossed the finish line together with Dan, near the back of the pack. Camped out the night before at Lone Fir Campground. Highway 20 was open--it's been shut much of the summer-- but near Blue Lake you can see trees smoking and active fire from the road.  

Little Bear - Cascade Crest 100

Last week I had the pleasure of once again visiting and volunteering at Cascade Crest 100.  I helped out at the Little Bear Aid Station with BJ, Rich, and many other friends, some new, some old. The aid station was at Mile 16 or so. The weather was warm to hot, but not so much at the aid station itself. BJ made some great signs coming into the aid station. 

The drive to Little Bear is a bit of a beast, out past Stampede Pass and lots of rugged forest roads. Glad to catch a ride with Chris and Suze--good times. A bit of mountain time felt like one extended exhale. Many laughs, too.

Props to all those who carried up the water to Little Bear on the day before. This is no small task--steep hill, worthy of tall trees, tough trails.

I got up and out the door from Mount Vernon at 4:30 AM, so I could meet at the start of the race. I got to see many old friends. This is a good place. It's a little harder to get up there with the Friday start, but I marked this day off on the calendar for some time.

After the aid station closed down, got to hang out a bit longer. Then I closed out the day with a drive further east to Thorp for some peaches and eastern WA fruit, and then the evening drive home.

A bit of a photo dump here...

 

The Great Sedro-Wolley Footrace

 

For the record, I participated in the Sedro-Wolley Footrace on the 4th of July, once again. My finish time was around 57 minutes for the 5.17 mile course. It was hot and I was very slow, as I just came off of COVID for the first time a week or two before. I felt it as I tried to shuffle through the loop. Glad to be able to run and be out there, nonetheless. Many of the usual suspects were there, and it was good to say hello to all before the race. After the race, I beelined for the car, home, and a movie on the couch.

I'm off pace this year for my once a month average. It seems like there are less 10ks around, and with the price of gas and other family and work duties, I'm not quite as anxious to find a line to toe. I do have a few things I'm signed up for in the months ahead. I'm also doing the GVRAT virtual run again, but I'm about 70 miles behind schedule as I write, due to travel and being sick in June. I'm not quire ready to throw in the towel though, and I can use the steady training.