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.

Chuckanut in February

The last two weekends I've ventured into the Chuckanuts, in anticipation of the 50k in March. January may well have been the wettest month on record. February has continued that trend through the first week. We've had pineapple winds and all manner of rain--sideways hard, steady drizzle, relentless showers. The wind has caused trees to fall across the trails, and yesterday a mudslide shut down Chuckanut after I arrived at the trailhead. I had to route home via Old Samish Highway.  Perhaps that's why the trails seemed emptier than normal this weekend--a major difference from last week, when it seems everyone and their friend was motoring up the hills, past me, with smiles.

Yesterday, I only saw one person after passing Fragrance Lake Junction, up Chinscraper, and around the back on the Ridge/Lost Lake Loop. I hiked up to the top of Chuckanut, barely running, but I managed to jog the ridge, and jogged the back side and way back to the car.  I guess I probably put in 15 miles, at an unimpressive but better than hiking pace.

The water was flowing. As per below, the trail in parts was a stream. Puddles everywhere, and I had to watch my step on the ridge, as the wet roots were surely slippery. I guess on Orcas the runners for the past few weekends have been running through trail streams. No spills for me this weekend, but last weekend I landed on my butt, hard, coming off the chinscraper trail to Fragrance Lake Road.

I am parking inside Larrabee these days, because there have been a high incidence of broken glass car break-ins in the Lost Lake and Fragrance trailhead lots. You would think the State would set up some wildlife cams to record activity in these highly trafficked places. Not that hard to do, and with a sign or too, perhaps some deterrence. They could also place park vehicle in strategic places. And catch the crooks--they should do that too.

We are ready for things to spring up a bit around here. Too much dark and rain. The sound of the furnace kicking in is getting old.

Blanchard Loop

Nice day today running around Blanchard. Skies threatened rain the whole time, and the trails had less than usual on them for when I ran, around mid-day. I actually ran a fair amount of the loop, and while my steps were slow, I was steady.

There was a wind storm this week, and so many trees were down. Below is a picture of one of them, which has sign on it. I wished I had a rock hammer, as the fallen trees leave many rocks uncovered.

I miss the days when the trail was rough, and the signs were few. Still, thankful to see a WTA trail party out there, making the tail smooth and promoting the ethic of trail care.

Midway through the run, Deb texted me to give me the sad news that Kobe and his daughter died in a helicopter crash. Tragic, sad, sad, so very sad.

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

2019 Recounted

As I like to do, here is a year-end list for 2019--

1.              Arlington National Cemetery and Gettysburg

We laid my Dad to rest in Arlington Cemetery, and visited the Gettysburg to honor his memory. 2019 will always be the year I lost my Dad, and everything else was second, and so I have to have this slotted up top. Arlington is haunting, with its fields of white tombstones. Gettysburg too, standing by rocks on Devil's Den, knowing the close quarters combat that happened there, less than two lifetimes ago.

2.              Monogram Lake

            Mike and I had  a nice, hard hike up to Monogram Lake in the North Cascades, right outside of Marblemount. Be warned: this is a climb! Maybe 5k up, but it felt like more--it felt like we’d never get there. Round trip was over 10 miles. We made it, finally, and found a gorgeous  mid-sized alpine lake, sitting beneath a cirque of cliffs. We tried to catch fish—it was a way to honor my Dad, who loved to fish—but the best I could do was lose a lure and bobber, forcing me to go for an impromptu swim. Fishing is reportedly good here--I'm just not. Great blueberries and wildflowers (lupine, astors, heather) along the way. Bear country.

3.              The Big Island

            Deborah and I visited the Big Island again, and I am sold—I could live there. Our condo was right on the water—so close, I could throw a baseball and bounce it off a sea turtle, probably. We visited Hilo and the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii’s celebration of hula. This is a beloved festival for Hawaiians. I went for a pre-sunrise walk eight mornings in a row, which allowed me to see a quiet Kona and get coffee to start the day. No races this year., but a bit of running by the water. We toured a chocolate farm, visited Hawi and the north end, and attended my first luau, long overdue after many trips to the Hawaii. Aloha is a state of mind, which needs regular updating.

4.              Chuckanut 50k

            This year's Chuckanut 50k was probably not a good idea for me, but I finished, for the seventy time, fifteen yeas after my first. I am a not a good example on how to approach this though. I got up in the C-nuts before the race to train, but not nearly enough. This was a serious snow year. RD Krissy put in an early start and added an hour to the finish. I needed most of that time to get it done. I was passed by runners and walkers all day, and it got to be funny hearing how people addressed me:  “Thank you boss!” “Thank you sir!” “”Looking good!”(No.)   Great job as always by Krissy, Kevin, Gretchen, and everyone. So good to see many friends. Due to peer pressure, I am scheduled again for this event this coming March. We'll see.

5.              March Point Half Marathon

            This local course out by Anacortes is so beautiful, circling March Point and then traveling over saltwater on the Tommy Thompson Trail. I saw some seals, eagles, and herons. A small crowd for the half, but plenty of support, and a great barbq at the end. I love all the local options for events around here. Annually, there are probably a dozen half marathons within a half hour or so of home, if I start counting them up. This is one of the best.

6.              Sourdough Mountain

            My friend Craig and I both list Sourdough Mountain as one of our very favorite hikes around Washington State. It is a hard climb, but the views up top are outstanding, and it has great history and character. We finally got to cover the loop together. I was a little nervous, wondering if I was up for the distance, but it all went fine, and the hike was beautiful as always.  The back side seemed longer than ever though, with no water from the top down, and a barely cared for trail. The back side gives an entirely different view. Craig’s company made this day, as we chatted quietly about everything from John Muir to current events.

7.              Lookout Mountain

 After reading a great book on lookouts in Washington, I wanted to start tagging some of the ones I haven’t. This was a wonderful quiet morning in the early fall,  alone, This is a tough climb, and I didn’t get much in the way of views, but the Lookout was really cool.. I loved the quiet alone time on trail. The first half of the hike is the same route as Monogram. Love the North Cascades, and this one is a great trail for the hard workout and proximity to home.

8.              Monterey Bay, California and Big Sur

            I made the most of a work trip, visiting Monterey, Point Lobos Nature Reserve, Big Sur, Cannery Row, and the Salinas Valley. The clam chowder on the wharf is memorable. I also threw in a 5k—the only open race—on a beautiful out and back course in Pacific Grove.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium is really worth visiting—very educational on conservation issues, and downright stunning  aquatic viewing. 

9.              New York City- Global Citizen and Central Park

            We attended the Global Citizen Festival again, on the Great Lawn in Central Park, which was incredible. My favorite was Alicia Keys, especially her New York song. Queen was great too, and Carole King. The passion of the kids and celebrities supporting great causes was inspiring. I also got out one morning and ran the full 6 mile loop of Central Park. Crazy to see commuters on skate boards cutting through the Park. We visited Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Little Italy, and Chinatown.  We also walked through the Park to go to The Met, and I got my fill of Van Gogh and Rothko.  The Play It Loud exhibit, filled with instruments from all the legends, was terrific. A really great trip.  Now, every time when we see we the Big Apple on a TV or a movie, which is just about every day,  we say, “We were there!”

10.       Packrafting the Sauk River

Seth and I got out twice this year, as I recall.  The first was a very pleasant walk in the snow on the Cascade Trail for the Woolley Half Marathon. We walked most of the way, and the conversation was good. Terry joined us for a bit. Later in the year, I tried "packrafting" with him and Ellen on the Sauk, a tributary of the Skagit.  I was a complete and total disaster on the river, and we had to walk me out after I got hung up and later dumped. Alive and well, it makes for a funny story now. This will always be a favorite memory of mine for this past year, due to the adventure of it, and thepure beauty of the Sauk River. 

The year was filled with many other great experiences. I think one of my favorite moments was attending the Rolling Stones concert with Deb in Seattle. They were outstanding, and a band I always wanted to see. Giddy. We also saw Queen and Adam Lambert in Tacoma with Dan and Heidi, in addition to at Global Citizen. Mike and I caught The Who at T-Mobile not too much later, with a guest appearance from Eddie Vedder. Deb and I saw the Mariners and the Aquasox a few times, always a summer joy. There were local birding trips. I rekindled my joy for reading books, opting for books over other forms of entertainment often. 

There were a number of other races. I finished my 16^th Baker Lake 50k. Another Nookachamps Half in the books, slow if I recall correctly. I also completed the 50^th edition of the Seattle Marathon, on a chilly day. Another Skagit Flats half, and some  volunteering with Skagit Runners. I also volunteered at Cascade Crest 100 at Little Bear, visiting with many old friends. It wouldn’t be the Fourth without a Great Sedro-Woolley Footrace. Mike and I also ran the Labor Day Half, a race I PRed in back in the late '90s, on a Redmond trail I've biked, hiked, and ran on since the early '80s. Who says you can't go back?

In between football games on Sunday, I put down a beautiful 10k on Little Mountain, to support local trail work efforts. Also, so great to hike the back end of the Baker Lake Trail one rainy Saturday with Deb, Carrie, and Brad. Going slow here opened up new sights to me, and it was the company that made the day special. There was a crazy night, where I got up at 12 AM and drove out to Samish Island, to look for the aurora borealis. I saw a few columns, standing in a spooky field. Early in the year, I ran most of the Cascade River Trail by myself, to join Skagit Runners for pizza at Annie's. This is a club tradition.

Today is the start of a new decade. New goals, new hopes, new adventures. Thanks to all who check in here, and for your continuing friendship. All my best wishes for the new year and decade to you and yours.

Seattle Marathon

I walked and ran around Seattle a bunch today, in the Seattle Marathon. This was the 50th edition, which is well noted on the medal and shirt. My first Seattle Marathon was in 1997, which math says was the 28th edition. In between, I've gotten much slower.

I had a really hard day out there. I'm not sure what the problem was, but my legs did not want to run. It was kind of cold out--around 34 degrees at the start. Sometimes that's a good thing, but I guess not today. I never got it together, and each mile was a slog.

Last year, the Marathon modified its course considerably, basically trading out Mercer Island and Seward Park for I-5, the U-District, Sand Point, back to Gasworks and Fremont, and then the Aurora Bridge. The course had a few more changes this year--nothing major, but the route went through GasWorks and took a different turn to get up to Aurora. There are a few hills on this route, with a pretty big climb up to the Aurora Bridge, and then the Bridge is also a climb. The last two miles are a relatively quick descent to Memorial Stadium.

I've seen a few completely different courses since 1997. Back then, the course went from Marymoor to the UW.  For nearly 20 years, the route has included a trip out to Mercer Island and a loop around Seward Park--basically the other side of town. This route is better, I think, as its kind of cool to run on I-5 into the U-District, the Burke Gilman is flat and fast, and the view at the end on Aurora Bridge, looking back towards the I-5 Bridge where I was earlier, is kind of cool. I'm not sure where the current Rock & Roll course goes, as it has changed course a few times as well, but I ran it one year over the now deceased viaduct, and that was probably my favorite route.

At the finish, someone handed me a CBD tea mix as a freebie. Washington State.

During my slow tour of the city, I couldn't help but notice how much Seattle keeps changing. It really is startling.  The tunnel is open. New condos and hotels are everywhere. South Lake Union is unrecognizable. I saw tents in a few places. It is somewhat disorienting.

I think I'll probably try one of the other T-day weekend races in the coming year. Two trips to Seattle (expo and race) is kind of a pain, and the race is getting a bit spendy. Gone are the $40 early registration days. We were stuck in traffic returning home the other day for an extra hour or so, after picking up my bib. Also, the race now starts at 7 AM on Sunday morning, which has its pros and cons, but I miss the days where I could leave the house at 6:15 or 6:30.

I didn't really have a good time today, and I ache, but I'm glad I did it, just the same. I'm guessing this was my 15th Seattle Marathon.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

 

A great place to visit!