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.  
 

Chuckanut

Another Saturday morning run in the Chuckanuts. Out the door close to 6:30 AM, still dark. Coffee. At the trailhead around 7 AM. Still dark, empty lot.

I climbed the hills, first up to Fragrance Lake. Then up Little Chinscraper to the Cyrus Gates overlook. Steady hiking, a bit of running. Once on the ridge, I started running, and over the next couple hours made the loop out around Lost Lake, and then back down to the car.

Misty morning. I didn't see anyone for the first hour and a half, and the upper loop was pretty empty. The final hour was packed with trail runners, many presumably out preparing for next month's Chuckanut 50k, or perhaps the Fragrance runs. A good day to be out.

I am listening to a cd course on classical mythology.  I listened to it on the way out, and then worked on trying to commit different mythical figures to memory on the run.  Gaia is the earth. Chaos is a gap or void. Zeus is Zeus. Anyway, I spent much of my run trying to apply Greek stories to my run. It didn't work that well, but the mind goes to strange places when the trail is lonely. This was a good running morning.

Coming out of the Chuckanuts, i counted 10 eagles driving. A bunch of swans flew by as well. Birds are in their high season in the lower Skagit.

Cascade Trail Pizza Run

On Saturday, I ran the Cascade Trail from Sedro-Woolley to Concrete, as part of Skagit Runners' annual Annie's Pizza Run. Basically, Steve D. organizes a group run, at no cost, which ends at Annie's. Annie's is one of the best pizza stops in the State. I keep their menu in my glove box to call in an order when I'm coming down from the mountains. Deb loves it.

So, we were all supposed to meet at Annie's after doing our runs, at 11:15. I did a horrible job planning, and almost missed everyone, as I arrived closer to noon. But I ran farther than most, putting in 22 miles. Of course, I didn't really plan at all for this, and didn't realize it was that distance--I was thinking something more like 16 to 18 miles. Its not like we don't have maps, programs, and a glut of information out there. But I don't run with a watch these days, stuck in my Luddite ways. I run to escape, and increasingly in monkish fashion.

The trail and day were amazing.  I started at 7:15, after grabbing coffee, and ran with two water bottles. I probably should've filled up along the way--there are streams and you pass by the Skagit and its sloughs frequently. The trail is flat, flat, flat. I saw eagles in trees overhead, swans crossing fields, flocks of gulls and snowgeese. I saw the sun rise. I got my feet wet, running through an overflowing Wiseman Creek. I learned the distance from Baker Lake Road to Concrete is not to be underestimated. I met a dog.

I arrived just in time to nab a couple slices that were packed to go, and then gratefully caught a ride back with friends. Overall, a most excellent January day on trail.

Nookachamps Half

I ran the Nookachamps Half once again this past weekend. Ran and walked it, more accurately. It has been a very sad week, and so going out and running around the valley was good for me. Running, hiking, walking—these are things I do to connect with nature and myself, to help ground me.

The event was moved to Sunday, with regular start time bumped up to 9 AM. I did the early start, which means less people and traffic. Cars are more noticeable in recent years. The birds came out this year—swans, snow geese, gulls, a few hawks. We live in the best place for bird watching. The course passes Dean and Ruth’s house, and so I was glad to say hello and walk with them for a bit. A couple of my favorites. The weather overall was good—just a bit chilly, but clear. A fine January day.

My finish time was 2:34, which I record here for posterity. While not fast, this wasn’t really a race for me. I am in better shape than last year, though I have “many miles to go,” as the poem says. Just enjoying a beautiful January morning. Thanks are due as always to Kevin, Keefer, and all who put this event on, year after year. A fine cup of soup at the end, and a hello to Stanley, always working the finish line.

 

Best of 2018

This was a year to remember, like few others. I won't capture it all here, but as I do every year, here are some highlights from running, trails and travel for 2018.  

1.             New York City Marathon

I was thrilled to receive the news early this year that I lotteried into the New York City Marathon. I have wanted to run this marathon since I was a teenager, when I watched the now legendary finish where Rod Dixon passed Geoff Smith in the final half mile for the win. There's only one New York, and running the five burroughs in a day is a great way to see the city. I was just one of 50,000+ runners, making my way through town. 

The best part of the day was finding my wife Deborah at the finish line. It has been an eventful year for us. Her excitement and joy for me in this simple accomplishment warmed my heart in the best way possible. Just being able to get to New York to do this trip together was a mission extraordinaire, and one which had our focus until the week before. The race and trip were also special because my sweet sweet AC and her husband Dave joined us. Seeing them at Mile 16 was a highlight, as was attending the Lion King on Broadway with them. Throw in a visit to MoMA (Starry Night! Warhol!), some Bolivian after-race food, Central Park, and everything else NYC, and it was one amazing trip.

2.             The Fowl Run 10k

I run the Fowl Run in Mount Vernon most years, in early November. The race is so well organized, and is minutes from home. The course is flat, on a familiar route, passing through neighborhoods and fields, with swans usually somewhere along the way. I'm putting this event near the top of my highlights for the year because I ran the race in under an hour. I set this 10k goal at the start of the year, and here I met it. While not an extraordinary time, it reflect that this was my best year in running in the past five years.  Something to build on.

3.             The Big Island

 We went back to the Big Island! Aloha! The trip was spectacular. Several months later, I think maybe our favorite part was seeing the star show up on Mauna Kea. It was a cloudy, cold day up high, and we didn’t have much hope of seeing stars. But once the sun went down, the sky cleared and the universe opened up to us. Astronomers had their big telescopes out, and with their laser pointers they directed us around the Zodiac, the Pleiadies, and the Milky Way.  I've seen stars from high altitude before, but I think this was a first for Deborah. The rest of the trip was great of course too—when is it not great in Hawaii? Highlights included the Botanical Garden (amazing plant biodiversity), the Hilo Farmer’s Market, touring coffee farms, a horse ride on the range, and watching the Hawaii morning news with coffee. I managed to also fit in the Run for the Hops 5k, which is a well organized event, with the fruits of Hawaii at the finish line.

4.             The Woolley Runs Marathon

So, I did this event again, and not well. I really like it--flat, quiet, and a time to meditate on trail. This event ranks here, in a kind of infamy,  because I did the whole thing with an umbrella, in classic ultrarunner style. It wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty special in its own way--wind coming in hard, umbrella collapsing, a few chipper words from Stan as his tent blew over--just that kind of day.

5.             Nookachamps Half Marathon

 This one wasn’t pretty either, but it makes the list because Mike and Rich came up, and afterwards we had a full day of breakfast and birdwatching in the Skagit Flats. Just good to spend time with friends outside.

6.             Mercer Island Half Marathon

The only special thing about this one is that I did it,, for the first time, after knowing about the event for 30+ years. I've done most of the major, long-time events in Western Washington--probably Eastern Washington too. For me, this has been a glaring omission, especially since in my late teens, or so, I worked on Mercer Island. This is another terrific event, on a beautiful rolling course, with views of beautiful houses and Lake Washington. Hopefully I get back sooner than later.

7.             The Seattle Marathon

 
For the first time in a few years, I went ahead and did the full marathon. I used to have an annual streak on this race that was double digits. The course changed this year, and there seems to be fewer runners than in the past. I feel like the event needs a recharge. Still, I really enjoyed my day, and especially running the first half with Rob and logging some miles on the Burke-Gillman. 

8.            Spokane River Run 25k

I made the journey east to Spokane for the first time in probably a decade, to visit a good friend and his family, and then to run the Spokane River Run 25k. I managed to listen to all of Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology on the way. The Spokane River Run rolls through Riverside Park, mostly on soft trail through lodgepole pine. It is not technical, but it is beautiful eastern Washington running and supports a good cause. I sort of wish I had just done the 50k. Cause to return, I suppose.

9.            Washington D.C.

 I had to visit DC for a conference in December, and fit in some meaningful family time in the process. A brief window opened up, and so I laced up and ran the monuments, including the National Christmas tree. Washington D.C. is a great town for workout runs, because you can pass iconic site after site. My favorite discovery on this run was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, above the reflecting pool, where MLK's spot for his "I have a dream" speech is marked.

10.         Skagit Runs

OK, this is not an event either, but I had some downright terrific runs from our doorstep this year. I stretched things out a bit, going 10, 12, up to 14 miles. These runs quickly got me out into the corn fields of the Skagit flats, running by barns and farm equipment, as well as along the Skagit River, and into other quiet country places. My focus was to just maintain a pace, and these runs became valuable escapes for me on Saturday mornings. I made a conscious shift to focus on running a steady pace, as opposed to the run/walk pace that trails sometimes demand. We live in a beautiful part of the world, and there is a lot to be seen, right here in the valley. I feel like these runs, even more than the events, helped me get a little more back into the flow of running. 

The year was full, with many more events and runs.  As typical, I ran the Berry Dairy Days Half, the Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace, and the March Point 10k.  I ran my 15^thconsecutive Baker Lake 50k, on a beautiful day.  There was a Skagit Flats Half—a new tradition, I ‘m thinking; and a Padden Relays. 

I didn’t spend much time in the high country—hopefully I’ll make up for that this year. There was a day where Seth and I tried rockhounding, visiting the Walker Valley site in Skagit Valley looking for geodes. Pretty funny, the two of us pounding rocks with ordinary hammers, with motorcycles buzzing around. Found one, which though small, sits in my office. There were also numerous drives around the valley with Deb, including one memorable drive out to the Farmhouse. 

There were also some high quality shows. A Pearl Jam show with Seth F., albeit a tough one for me, though it was said to be one of their best. Deb and I saw the incomparable Angelique Kidjo cover the Talking Heads Remain in the Light album at Benaroya. We also saw the Lion King on Broadway with AC and Dave. And perhaps my favorite: Hamilton at the Paramount with Deb in February, a show to remember.

Washington D.C.

Work and family took me on a brief visit to northern Virginia and Washington D.C. this past weekend. The visit included a wonderful meal with the folks, a visit to Great Falls National Park, and then a conference downtown.

I made the most of a short window by running the National Mall before my conference, in the freezing cold. Probably four or five miles, with some painfully long stops at certain intersections. The sky was dark, and there was a headline-making snow storm just a bit south of DC. 

I started near the Capitol Building, and then ran by all the iconic monuments--the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool, and so on. My favorite find was the spot where MLK spoke after the Freedom March, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I also threw in a detour to the National Christmas Tree, over by the White House. Boring!

The next day, I took a quick walk through the National Art Gallery at lunch time. The Gallery is one of my favorite places, but on this day had very few visitors. Maybe it was the storm. It felt criminal, speeding through empty rooms with Monets, Homers, and the like. The place is amazing. I managed to catch the featured exhibits Whitebread and Corot, and then grab a highlights book on the way out.

My final adventure was finding my way to the airport on the Metro, for a late Monday night return. East coast trains and public transportation are always cool--makes me feel like a local.

Some pictures...

 

Seattle Marathon

Another Thanksgiving weekend ends with the Seattle Marathon for me. This was a most wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, certainly my favorite ever, having gone through a very hard few months recently, only to be able to spend a very happy time with Deborah and family. In addition to the Thanksgiving dinner, Deb and I got a hold of one of the grandkids and made our way down to the Seattle Marathon Expo, followed by Pike Place and Seattle Art Museum's Peacock in the Desert Exhibit (art from India). Priceless.

The marathon had a new course and start time. The start time was 7:30 AM, which means I had to leave Mount Vernon at 5:30 AM, which wasn't so bad, albeit a little early. The weather was a chipper 40 degrees--I wore gloves and a vest over a long sleeve shirt, which was about right.

The course still starts at the Experience Music Project, just east of the Space Needle. The first four miles wind through downtown and then onto I-5's express lanes. It is a bit hilly to start out. The course dumps out into the U-District on the 42nd Ave exit around Mile 4. This was kind of cool for me, as I lived for three years near here back in the 1990s, during the school years. A picture below of my old place, which so far hasn't been torn down. Cranes everywhere in Seattle.

I ran the first 13 or so with Rob from MV, who was great company.  We probably could've stuck together the whole way, but I kind of entered my pain place after that, and would not have been good company as I figured each step. I usually run events alone, but Rob really kept my pace good for the first half. He said we did the first half in 2:15, which would be quicker than my half times this year so far.

The last thirteen miles were a bit painful, though mostly flat on the world famous Burke Gilman Trail, until Mile 23. I saw many familiar faces along the way. Half exhausted, seeing Matt H. cheering folks on at Mile 23+ was really great. Also good to see Jenny and her crew volunteering.  The last mile or so is a fast downhill on Highway 99 into Queen Anne and Memorial Stadium. I finished around 4:54, which I'm happy with for today. That represents a steady pace with some walking, but no serious cramps and I don't feel too bad after the fact. A half hour faster than NY too. Little improvements.

I'd like to see the Seattle Marathon work on things a bit. I've been running this race since 1997. I'll continue to show up for the full and half, as I am able. The volunteers were terrific. That said, I feel like the Expo gets smaller each year, while the prices continue to rise. Little things bother me. Last year I registered at the Expo, and they took 3 or 4 months to cash the check and register me, which was annoying. The half marathon point on the marathon was not marked, and there was no timer there which there really should be. The after race food was lacking--long gone are the days when they served Ivars chowder after the cold run. Nothing against Dole Pineapple cups, but they should be able to do better for what we pay. Also, the medal is pretty much an ad for Amica, the title sponsor, with their slogan featured prominently on one side. It's very plain. I joked that maybe they should add a crane or two to the obligatory Needle.

The new course is ok, but I had to stop at a few points, to be waved across the street after traffic was once again stopped. Lots of gels, but the aid stations dropped off towards the end--one ran out of cups, etc.  I think Amica should demand more of the organization, as should the City of Seattle. Having just done the New York City marathon, I have a real feel for what a marvelous community event a marathon can be. Seattle can do better.

Despite that unload, I had a great day out there, and there was a lot of good cheer from volunteers, police officers, and spectators. Clear skies help a lot.