Nookachamps Half Marathon

It wasn’t the coldest race we’d run but it was darn close. The roadside thermometers all read in the low 30′s on the way up to Mt. Vernon for the Nookachamps Half Marathon. And it didn’t help that we had to get up at 0′dark thirty to get up there. We weighed in at Weight Watchers, grabbed some coffee, picked up Marti and hit the road. We arrived in plenty of time so we wandered around and hopped in the line for the bathroom.

At the start it didn’t look like that many people were running but they indicated about 700 people had signed up. We took off. Not even two minutes later Kathy stopped to fiddle with her shoe and that was the last time we saw her. She ended up doing the 10k run instead. As we were heading out there were a bunch of bystanders cheering people on. One guy was standing on top of a rock wall when suddenly I heard a thud and then a kid started crying. We couldn’t tell if he slid down the wall and landed on the kid or if he was holding it and they both fell. Either way, it didn’t look like it felt too good.

We had a gentle incline for a ways then a big downhill. We ran between fields that may have grown corn. Some of the stalks were still sticking up from the ground. There were Trumpeteer swans, horses, turkeys, chickens and dogs. All of them had something to say to us. Some of the horses were running around their fields and a turkey spread out its feathers and gave us a gobble-gobble-gobble. Dogs barked at us and chickens clucked.

We hit the 5 mile mark and I was darn near ready for this race to be done with. I wasn’t particularly hurting but I just wasn’t into it. We hit the aid station at mile 6 and turned onto a single-file lane through ‘town’. The lane was marked by orange cones on the street side and a 10 foot dropoff to a ditch on the other side. Better not loose your footing here. Soon enough we were turning off toward a neighborhood. It lasted all of about two blocks. We hit the halfway point right after this and decided to have a Gu. Not a minute too soon either. I was having some negative self-talk from nearly the very beginning and the caffeine perked me up. For a little while.

We came to an aid station at around mile 8 and this section was an out and back. We wound our way down the street finally hitting the turnaround. The volunteer there said, “almost home” to which I replied, “I wish it were homier”. We headed back up the gentle slope back toward mile 9 and the aid station. By the time we got there they were about to load up the aid station and volunteers. Great.

I had heard about a killer hill between miles 10 and 11. We headed up it and decided to walk a little way. We alternated walking and running but it wasn’t really that big of a hill. It just went on forever. By the time we crested the top a volunteer pulled up in his truck with trailer and pulled the 11 mile sign. He was picking up the cones and aid stations right on our tails. He gave us directions to the finish and took his time gathering stuff up so he wouldn’t pass us. Well, he eventually did pass us but we only had about 1 1/2 miles to go. Most of the rest of the race was downhill. Yay! Morrie and I got down to about 1/2 mile to go and we saw Susan up ahead. She wasn’t that far ahead of us. We rounded the corner into the parking lot. Morrie was concerned that this wasn’t the right way to go but we turned another little corner and there was the finish line. Whoo-hoo! We crossed in 2:45:42.

There were showers at the finish line so we all hobbled into the locker room and cleaned up. Then, as is our tradition, we headed off to eat. We ended up at the Calico Cupboard Cafe where I had a delicious vegetarian chili in a bread bowl. Soon we were off heading down the highway back to Seattle.

Bridle Trails 10 miler

I wasn’t real thrilled that this run started at 3pm. I didn’t feel like I could really do anything with my day prior to the race. Well I tottered around the house that morning and then Morrie and I went to Subway at noon for something to eat. We came back and got ready to go. Susan came over and we headed out to pick up Nic. Nic brought Boost for everyone for after the race. We hadn’t tried it before but we accepted his gift.

We found our way to the park. It didn’t take us long to get there but parking was a mess. We managed to find a spot in the back of the lot then made our way to the start. The first task was to find out which line to get into. They were having a 5 mile race, 10 mile race and a 50k so, you know, three lines to choose from and none were marked. Oh, and there was a line for day of registration. So, four lines. After we found out which line we belonged to we quickly made our way to the front. We got our bib numbers, put them on our shirts then jumped into the even longer Honey Bucket line.

The races were staggered starts, 5 minutes apart. Well, that’s how it was supposed to go down. The five milers were to start first, at 3pm. I think they started around 10 after. Then our turn! The ten milers. Two loops around the park. From what I could see it looked to be pretty woodsy. And it didn’t look particularly muddy so that was nice but we were still just around the main area and who knew what it looked like out there where the horses were.

We headed out and quickly made a right turn into the woods. So far, so good. I was a little anxious since this was only my second trail run and the last one was painful. I started out with a little bit of a lead on Susan and Morrie. Up a little hill; down a little hill; through some mud; around some horse poop. That’s pretty much how it went. All the while people were passing me. I passed a few but mostly they just passed me. I was feeling pretty good and soon Nic went by and issued a brief pep talk, “Don’t let Morrie and Susan catch you. Especially Susan”. Then he disappeared. I didn’t see him again until after I finished the race and he came in from his third lap of his 50k.

Some of the trail ended up being pretty muddy. There wasn’t as much horse poop as I had expected though. That was nice. Though I suppose if I think about it long enough I can figure out what exactly the mud was made from. I finished the first loop in an hour and three minutes. I was expecting it to take much longer. On some of our Alki runs earlier we had gone 5 miles and it took me an hour and six minutes. I must be getting in some kind of shape!

I started out on the second loop feeling pretty darn confident. I ate a few Clif Blocks at the beginning of the loop even though I didn’t need them right then. I was anticipating the need later on. Sure enough. I probably could have eaten a full sleeve of them and still struggled at the end.

The sun was setting quickly and with the trees it was getting dark. I decided that I would run as much as I could without my flashlight. I could see pretty easily and could ‘sense’ dips and roots and other obstacles in my way. Then it got dark. I could still see but I slowed down considerably. I wasn’t real sure where I was going. I thought, “Am I going up a hill? I can’t tell”. I slipped a few times but caught my balance. Then, it was really dark. Someone passed me and said, “Watch out for this root” then proceeded to slip on said root himself. I felt kinda bad. I decided then to pull out the flashlight. It was pathetic. Everyone else on the trail had nice LED lights that lit up the entire area. I had a cheapo flashlight that put a spot on the trail that was bright enough to ruin my peripheral vision. I didn’t like using it because I couldn’t tell what was ahead of the spot.

I chugged along but by now my legs were hurting. I took more walk breaks and twice I saw a bat skirting around me. I hate bats and I don’t care what anyone says. I kept going. And going. And going. This loop was taking a lot longer than the first one, that’s for sure. But about that time I started to hear people cheering. I assume it was because people were crossing the finish line and not because I was hallucinating. I kept thinking the big downhill right before the finish was right around the corner. No? Ok then, right around this one. Nope. But soon enough it was there and I managed to pick up the pace a little bit. There was a little confusion as to which chute to go through…the guy said to stay left but I couldn’t remember which was my left. Anyway, I finished at 2:18:39 which I consider a pretty decent time.

I hung out with Morrie’s mom and we waited for Morrie and Susan to finish. We all stood around for a few minutes and eventually Nic showed up after his third lap. We wished him luck and headed out. On the way home we had the Boost that Nic gave to us. It was ok but a little too much like milk for my liking. Susan had hers and got an upset stomach. Our plan was to go home, take showers, then go to Cafe Revo for dinner but Susan still wasn’t feeling well so we left her at the house and settled on Zeek’s instead.

I liked this run a lot. I didn’t realize how much until the next weekend at the Nookachamps Half Marathon (more on that later). My legs hurt in places that don’t normally hurt on road runs but it was fun running through the woods. The mud didn’t even bother me that much. Then, this last Sunday, I made the declaration: I like running trails better than on the road. Morrie was quick to point out that trail runs are usually longer and I just smiled back at her.

First Call to Run

We were going to start the new year off right with a half marathon on January 1st. What better way to ring in the new year than with a 13.1 mile run? Well, we went back to our tried and true race director and back to the Lake Sammammish trail, a flat, out and back course.

The weather reports were calling for rain and winds of up to 25mph. Good times! We got to the start and picked up our ‘bibs’ (this time they were hot off the home printer and scotch taped for water resistance). We tried to make one last bathroom pit-stop but the bathrooms were locked and the McDonald’s had been razed. We decided to take our chances. Morrie and Susan made it to the first bathroom at mile 2-2 1/2. I didn’t need to go so I pushed on. Not much later Susan past me. And then Morrie caught up to me. I spent most of the race regretting having brought a water bottle to hand carry instead of my hydration pack. I wanted to throw the bottle into the bushes on more than one occasion.

Morrie and I continued on together. Soon we saw people coming back. I think they were the marathoners and/or the 50k’ers since they had started an hour before we did. It was nice to see people with Half Fanatic shirts on along the way. People automatically said ‘Hi’ when they saw our shirts. It’s nice to belong to a group.

We came up to about mile 4 and someone told us to turn around at mile post 3 because someone had stolen the cones marking the turnaround. There’s some bad karma coming to a person who makes off with another persons cones. We make the turn at mile post 3 and Morrie is slightly ahead of me. And then the lead grew. And grew. And grew some more. Pretty soon, she was out of sight.

I trudged along. My legs were getting sore. The outside of my right foot was starting to hurt like it was bruised. My spirits dampened. I tried to get out of my funk by looking around at the scenery. The weather report had been wrong. It misted a little at the beginning of the race but now there was a big patch of blue sky above. And the 25mph winds never came. There were little gusts but nothing big. I couldn’t cheer up though. I counted off the miles 7.5 – 8.5 – 9.5. I hit the last aid station with about 2 – 2 1/2 miles to go and I started walking. I didn’t walk for very long but when I started running again it was painful. My goal had been to break the 2:50:00 mark. At that point I would have needed two 15 minute miles and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep that little pace up. My foot was killing me with each step.

I walked several more times, never for very long. I saw 2:50:00 come and go. But the good news was that I had less than a mile to go so I picked up the pace a little. Very little. Soon, though not soon enough, the bridge showed up and I picked it up a little more. I was so happy to see the finish line. I grabbed a cookie – something with oatmeal and chocolate chips in it. I grabbed another one. I had to sit down and drink and get off my feet.

After Kathy crossed the finish line we all went over to Alexa’s Cafe for food. Delicious! Then off to home for an ice bath.

Santa Half Marathon

We signed up for the Santa Half Marathon against the advice of a few people. Apparently the guy who runs it has a bunch of teenagers (a la Christmas Rush) volunteering and not doing a very good job at keeping correct time. Also, you may or may not get an age award regardless of whether you actually won it or not. We were willing to give it a shot, besides, we needed a half marathon in December so we could bump up a moon level on Half Fanatics.

Morrie and I went on vacation to Doe Bay on Orcas Island earlier in the week then we came home and adopted a dog from Seattle Animal Shelter. It was a very busy week. Thursday night we invited Susan over for dinner, we had tacos, then we watched The Biggest Loser finale. After the show, I took Susan home.

I went to bed with a slightly upset stomach. I figured it would die down after I laid down for a while. Nope. I woke up every hour or so sweating. Then I’d cool down, then wake up sweating again. Finally, I woke up around 3:30 Friday morning and started vomiting. Then my skin started to hurt. By the time 7am rolled around I was fully engulfed in the flu. By 7pm Friday evening my temperature was at 100.7. I didn’t have anything in my stomach to throw up so I was good there but I wasn’t drinking any water either. I did manage to get some saltines and a Sprite down and later I managed some broth.

Saturday I couldn’t make it to the kitchen without nearly passing out. I ate more saltines and had some tomato soup and another Sprite. Sunday morning was race day and my head was pounding with a migraine and I still hadn’t had any solid foods. I was a little weak so I decided to stay home and skip the race. I took an Imitrex and that seemed to ease the migraine. I tried to eat some solid foods but my stomach hurt afterward. I stuck with soup and crackers.

Morrie and Susan went on and did the race so they will have to provide the actual race report for you.

Christmas Rush 10k

Well, if the Banner Bank temperature indicator is to be believed, and I do believe it, it was a balmy 26 degrees in Kent as we arrived for the Kent Christmas Rush 10k. We had to navigate closed off roads to get to the parking lot. Then we had to navigate stupid people chatting in the middle of the lane in the parking lot. I wanted to run over a couple Marathon Maniacs who were apparently having a meeting in my lane. Hello? Move your asses! Finally, they moved and we proceeded to the back of the lot where there were very few stalls left. Clearly I was cranky at the people but also at the temperature. I hate being cold. Yeah, ok, so I’ll warm up eventually after I get running and that’s fine. What isn’t fine is the time between getting out of the car and when I start to get warm. It always takes much longer than I care for. And that’s why I want to live in Mexico.

Anyway, out of the car where I debate taking off my sweatshirt. What if I just wear it for the race? What if I do and I get too hot? There’s a clothes check at the start line, I could just check it in. Ok, I decide to wear it for now and see how it goes. But really, it’s 26 friggin degrees out. We head out toward the start line but make a brief pit stop at the bathrooms where there’s a line, naturally. I contemplate going into the men’s room but then we decide to see if there are any Honey Buckets near the start, so off we go.
There are plenty of Honey Buckets at the start, along with a line that we get into. But first, the stupid chatty Marathon Maniacs are at the end of the line so we ask if they are in line. No, of course they aren’t, but they apparently like to stand where they are in the way. Up goes the crankmeter. It’s freezing (actually, below freezing) and there’s no way I’m checking in my sweatshirt. We get through the Honey Bucket line fairly quickly and we’ve got about ten minutes to go.

We line up at the start and hear a few guidelines, blah, blah, blah and then the countdown and we’re off!  We head out of the parking lot, take a right onto Meeker and across the bridge.  After the bridge, we make another right and are on some service road.  After about 1/2 mile we’re on a trail.  Apparently it’s the Green River trail, or something like that.  It follows the Green River.  Pretty soon we hit mile 1.  Really?  It seems so much further than that.  The river winds it’s way and the trail follows.  The river has trees in it, all set there to prepare for the expected flooding because the Army Corps of Engineers couldn’t get it together to fix the dam in time.  The trees are all lined up, roots to tip, roots to tip.

The path starts to get crumbly.  There are parts of it that are washing away down the hill.  And mile 2.  Ok, seriously are these miles accurate?  Feels like mile 3.5 to me.  The trail starts to narrow.  They have orange fencing and hay bales on one side to stop the hillside from washing down onto the trail.  About this time the leader is heading back.  He’s on my side of the trail.  Do runners follow basic rules like car drivers do?   Or do they just run where ever the hell they feel like?  I move out of his way because he thinks he’s special or something.

I’m really cranky now.  I’m just now getting warm and I’m only 2+ miles into this thing even though I believe I’m really 4+ miles into it.  Finally, the turnaround is ahead.  Oh, nope, it’s just a roundabout in the road.  Two women are at the back of their house blaring Manheim Steamrollers or whoever they are and their Christmas music.  Getting crankier, but trudging right along.  Finally!  The end (of the out portion) is here.  I grab some water but don’t really stop.  I want this thing over with.

Quickly past the blaring music and “merry christmas”s and still trying to get into a groove.  Occasionally I pass a group of volunteers (who all appear to be from the local elementary school) and they inaudibly mumble out a time.  Or not and just continue talking to one another.  Once, I heard them give a time similar to “55:47″ only to get to the next set of volunteers to hear “52:16″.  ???  Kids these days.

Susan stops to wait for me and I catch up to her.  She runs with her headphoneson  so occasionally she’ll turn around and say “did you say something”?  No, I say.  I must be getting close to the end but I don’t see the bridge or the golf course.  There are a bunch more people now so I figure I’m catching up to the 5k walkers.  Wait!  Is that the golf course?  Yes!  Oh, the bridge!  Taking a left onto the street there are people now walking 5 abreast and many of them have strollers.  I’m about to throw several of them over the side of the bridge.  I can see ahead the corner into the parking lot and what I suspect is the finish line.  I get around the corner thinking it’s something like 1:25:59 but it isn’t.  It’s 1:10:14.  Huh?  How could the run feel like it was 72 miles long but it only took me an hour and ten minutes?

I’m thankful that it’s over and we walk down the chute where they take our tear aways from our bibs.  Somehow I got in front of Susan so technically our times online are switched.  We head over to find water and guess what?  They ran out.  They ran out.  They ran out.  Of water.  It’s not like this was the first ever Christmas Rush.  In fact, they’ve been doing this thing for something like 27 years.  Well, I guess if you can get your kids and their friends to volunteer then why bother getting enough water.  Heck, there’s a river right there and a 7-11 just down the street.  I’m fine with never doing this run next year.