Embracing Hills

As a runner, I have learned to embrace hills. When I get to the top, I change perspective, turn around and look back. It is this view that reminds me to celebrate accomplishment, to be glad for the challenge, to revel in the effort and to know that I am stronger for it.

Deception Pass 25K

This event will soon be written about in publications as one of the most beautiful trail runs in America.

The registration write up went something like this:

Deception Pass is a dramatic seascape where the tidal flow and whirlpools beneath the twin bridges connecting Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island move quickly. During low tides, the swift current can lead to standing waves, large whirlpools, and roiling eddies. This swift current phenomenon can be viewed from the twin bridges' pedestrian walkways or from the trail leading below the larger south bridge from the parking lot on the Whidbey Island side." Deception Pass State Park which is host to the race boasts equally dramatic "trailscapes" that mix dense old growth forest, beach front, mountain top, and grassy seaside bluffs into a delightful running adventure. The course snakes it's way through this small but bountiful park covering nearly every single inch of fun single track trails on both the north and south sides of the famous Deception Pass Bridge which runners get to run over twice!


They had me at dramatic seascape. I had clicked 'sign up' before the end of the sentence.

Trail running for me is the equivalent of Disneyland to a toddler: fun, adventurous, full of ups and downs-and in trail running, the cast of characters include the fluffy, the goofy, the princely, and the courageous.

Like Disneyland, it's the most magical when you get to share it with friends. In a 'wordle':

Words to Live By

I Choose...

to live by choice, not by chance
to make changes, not excuses
to be motivated, not manipulated
to be useful, not used
to excel, not compete

I choose self-esteem, not self pity

I choose to listen to my inner voice
not the random opinion of others

Seattle Marathon 2011

Seattle #4...Rain, Wind, PR

That was my Facebook post today.

I lined up today thinking I had accomplished two great goals this year (Mt Si and Austin 70.3). Today, I wanted this to be my fun run. No pressure. Just a tradition. The event that keeps me running through the fall to winter transition. The race where I see lots of friends and other maniacs on the course.

I started with the 4:45 pace group. I lost them on the bridge and Sonja, too. I waited a couple of minutes at the turn around, but I didn't see her. As I left the bridge to exit onto Lake Washington Boulevard, I had caught up with the 4:30 pace group. We saw the first runner heading North on Lake Washington Blvd toward the Arboretum. We were heading South, but we waved and cheered. I love running around Seward Park. It's like running through a forest surrounded by a lake. Just after Seward Park I got to see Shane. Since I am able to train on this route, I know the next few miles are the flattest, so I picked up my pace. I moved a head of the 4:30 pace group. I had mile splits under 10. At mile 18, my watch said 3 hours and change. My mind was racing...I actually might PR today. So I picked it up until Galer-Madison; the steep hill and continuous hill incline, then pushed through Interlaken. The rest is a blur. It's a little deceiving coming out of Interlaken. It still feels so far from Seattle, but at this point it's mile marker 23. And the 4:30 group had caught up to me. I stayed with them as long as I could. Then that little incline back toward Memorial Field-I had forgotten this hill. I was running out of u-m-p-h. I was very happy to see the big arrow pointing toward the stadium. I made it in at 4:31:41!

My first 70.3

October 23, 2011. Austin Texas.

The event was well organized. This is my first triathlon with two separate transition areas. Three large plastic bags with drawstrings were provided. The morning bag for items to put in last minute and things you need after the race. Bike bag for helmet, shoes, nutrition, race belt, and to put the wetsuit in after the swim. Run bag for shoes, nutrition, and fuel belt. It was definitely cleaner in the transition areas and there was no over lap with the person next to you. I also liked this aspect because the volunteers pick up your bags and all your gear is shipped over to a final pick up place.

Swim: The water was warm, so I used my O'Neil wet suit-shorter on bottom and top. The water was calm and the sun was coming up as the waves went out. This is the best race swim I have had overall. I felt calmer and more prepared.

T1: I had a rough night prior to the race. Sick-vomitting, chills and slept maybe 2 hours straight. So I took my time in T1 and drank a half a bottle of gatorade and ate a Larabar. At this point, I was thinking I might not be able to finish the day, but I would at least get to ride my bike somewhere I had never been.

Bike: Texas has beautiful scenery. It's so different from what I'm used to in the Pacific Northwest. There were bridges and small streams, over grown brush, tumble weeds, estate type houses and churches, beat up trailers, abandoned cars and some distinct Hispanic communities. It was like a country music song unfolding as I rode along. The surface of the roads are quite bumpy and at the half way mark, I got off my bike and stretched my arms. The challenge that day was the high temps and wind. This was the first time I have felt myself moved over by the wind while I was on my bike. It feels a little scary, especially down hill when there are other riders around you. Despite the conditions, my bike time was what I thought it would be. As I rode into transition, I got to see my friend Sonja on her run. That was definitely a boost and I thought, I am going to finish today!

T2: By this time in the afternoon, the sun was bright and hot. I had water left over, so I just dumped it over me and started for the run.

Run: The run course was changed due to the drought conditions. Apparently the trail portion was cracked-raised in parts and sunk in others and the race officials deemed it unsafe. I had three loops ahead of me without shade. I think this was more of a psychological challenge than physical. I have run 13 miles before and I knew I could do it, but I had to mentally prepare for the monotony of three loops in the baking sun. The first loop was great and it felt good to stretch my legs after the bike. I started to get really warm and I heard someone behind me say I was swaying. I slowed way down. I had made it that far and it was a fine line between pushing it and over heating or jog/walking and making it to the end. The route went by the lake and it was extremely tempting to jump in and be done. The crowd support was amazing. People were handing out ice chips and one group of spectators brought a hose hooked up to a water cooler and made a little shower. The finish line approach was more of a shuffle. I'll always remember the song over the load speakers as I finished in the cool air conditioned arena.

There are moments when I still can't believe I did it.