Scary Times at Carkeek 12 Hour Run

Halloween weekend has a new tradition for some of us in Seattle - Carkeek 12 Hour Run - the toughest 12 hour run out there! The nice thing is (as in most timed runs) you don't have to run for all 12 hours. I did this last year, and ran six loops, or about 11.58 miles for an elevation gain of 2580 ft - not bad for an in town park! This year, I chose to spread my 12 hours out over the course of the day with five loops - three in the morning and two at the end of the day, with some napping, shopping and baking in between.

The start was at dark thirty (6 am) and we were gathered round a nice bonfire roaring in the firepit, overlooking Puget Sound (which was not really visible at that hour). My friend Tracy was hoping to go for all 12 hours. As for me, I had considered the option of starting late, but I rarely get to run in the dark, and this year, with glow sticks out on the trails (marking the major turns), it would be a bit easier to navigate. After a pre-race briefing, Sam said "Go!" and off we walked.  I stayed with Tracy (or should say, I hung on to Tracy!) and we had a nice up and down trot through the darkness, coming in to the aid station at about 30 minutes. Coming through the fish hatchery the third time, I heard a rustling of branches above me, followed by a spray of water and a "whomp whomp" sound. An owl was waking and not liking all these people so close to its nest. I heard that someone behind me got attacked, but not so bad that he couldn't relish in the excitement of it. It was really appropriate for Halloween! At the end of the third loop, I left Tracy and headed home.

I showered and napped, and prepped for a ChiRunning class for the next day.  Donn and I went to the U District Farmer's market, where he got a giant rutabega for carving. Apparently they used to do that in merry old England, before pumpkins were brought over from the New World. While a pie baked in the oven, I applied some "makeup", put on my "headgear" and went back to the final hours of the run. I had my Vibram Five Fingers on, but took my La Sportivas along, and planned to decide which to wear once I got there.  I stopped to pick up firewood (the checkout gal told me I scared her) and made it to the park in time to see Tracy come down to the aid station. I had just enough time to set the pie down and take off with her - in the VFFs. She said she was walking a lot, so I had no worry about whether I could keep up with her. We encountered a couple of other gals who were walking, and formed a nice conga line on the trail. I got several compliments on my makeup and headgear, and if my stride was too choppy, the headgear bounced and hit me just above the ears. I've discovered a new body sensing technique and will be marketing it as a training tool! The pace was nice and easy and Tracy called it a day at 21 loops, or 40.53 miles with 9030 feet of elevation gain!

After a job well done, a leg soak in the Sound, and good coffee, we all parted for our respective homes and Halloween.

I had fun on the way home watching people as they reacted to my makeup and head gear. Donn carved a beautiful rutabega, and, unfortuantely, no kids stopped by to get scared at our house. Oh well...next year....

Korima from Seattle - Caballo Blanco's Talk

Last Tuesday night, I went to hear Micha True, aka Caballo Blanco, speak at Seattle Running Co. He's the "mythical character" who lives among the Raramuri (aka Tarahumara Indians) in Copper Canyon, Mexico and has become well known through Chris McDougal's book, Born to Run. In this book, the author chronicles his journey into Copper Canyon, where he meets Caballo Blanco and learns about the indigenous people who live in the caves and canyons that form Copper Canyon. These people are known for their endurance running, and Caballo, an ultrarunner himself (5 times at Leadville 100) establishes a race for villages to compete against each other. He invites runners from the "outside world" to run one of these, with hopes it will bring awareness of these people to the rest of the world. The book carries the story of the race throughout, as well as McDougal's own journey into helping him solve his own running issues through minimal or barefoot running. His thesis is complete with research studies backing up his claim that barefoot running is the best way to go. The book, now a bestseller, has gotten almost a cult following with people determined to throw away their bulky, built up running shoes, and follow Chris in sandals, Vibram 5 Fingers, or barefoot. In fact, Vibram is having a hard time keeping up production as the shoes have become so popular!

So, naturally, at this talk by Caballo Blanco, 1) the house was packed (people were standing in the cold, watching through the store window!) and 2) I noticed Vibram 5 Fingers on several pairs of feet. I don't know if these people were expecting to hear him talk about minimalist running, or if they were just wearing the "race Tshirt", so to speak, or if they truly enjoyed wearing their Vibrams and won't put anything else on their feet. I enjoy a weekly run in my own Vibrams, or other minimal shoes, so I don't fault these folks for theirs. But it was just funny (to me) to expect to see them and there they were....

But Micah wasn't there to talk to the wealthy about the many options we have for shodding (or not) our feet. Rather, he was there to talk about the people he's come to love and the conditions in which they live. While he spoke, a slide show played, showing beautiful scenery of the Copper Canyon, and of the people who inhabit that area. They live very minimally ("when it all comes crashing down around us, these folks will be okay because they're already treading lightly on the earth" he pointed out) and subsist mainly on what the earth gives them - corn being the main staple. If there has been a drought, then they have a bad year, and don't eat so well. It's vice versa if the rain gods have been good. They live at 8000 - 9000 feet, so winters are fairly chilly, as their caves don't have central heating. Caballo first learned about korima (gifting) when, after pacing a Raramuri at Leadville (they were brought there by someone promoting their running talents), he asked for donations for sweaters and blankets to take down CC, and filled up his pickup truck so full he had no room to sleep! In return, the Raramuri kept him fed and allowed him into their homes and villages. After a year or so, he built his own little house (with the help of some of the locals) and spends most of his time living down in the CC with the Raramuri as his neighbors.

Today, the Raramrui are exploited by the Mexican government as a tourist attraction, and they suffer from malnutrition, lack of education,etc. Infant mortality rate is high, with tuberculosis being the main cause. Caballo's mission, so to speak, was to raise awareness of this culture that has been around for the last 10,000 years and to seek monetary donations to help them preserve that culture while meeting basic needs. His talk was well received, and Seattle came through, raising well over $500 (and $500 was matched by Scott Dunlap's company NearbyNow)! Way to show the korima, Seattle! As expected, some folks wanted to know what he wore when running. (He prefers sandals - anything cheap, but right now he likes Hi Tec Vitarroz.) But he reminded us we should run in what works for us individually. His main mission is to see that his neighbors are cared for by the rest of the world - and he got one step closer to that goal last Tuesday night in Seattle.

time on my hands

Facebook is down yet again and has been all afternoon and evening. What did I do before FB? I read blogs. And I blogged more. AND I got more other stuff done.

This all reminds me why I don't watch TV. Facebook is a lot like TV. It sucks you in and it becomes harder and harder to tear yourself away as you get involved in the daily (sometimes hourly) dramas and happenings that go on in others' lives. It's a quick look into friends' lives, changing moment by moment, with little need for sustained attention. You sit down to go through the latest updates of your friends and when you look up, two hours have gone by. That's two hours of your life you lost without noticing. And you wonder why your hips hurt, why your back is stiff, why your eyes are tired. And when FB is down, not available, frustration ensues. What do you do with all that empty time on your hands. What did you do before you got on FB, only a few short months ago? You lived those hours and life happened, with you as a participant. Time to live.

Burning Man 2009

Brevity is not my strong point so this is going to be a good exercise for me. The band Donn plays with (and I used to) Orkestar Zirkonium, was invited to play at Burning Man 2009 for the burn. I was lucky to go along as support (sous chef to the fabulous Erin Brindley). We left town Wednesday Sept 2 on the Mellinium Tortoise, aka Mel with Colin at the helm. There were 11 of us riding in this converted Greyhound bus - it was made into living quarters and had a dining area/ living room with a Mac, kitchen, bathroom, queen size bed, bunk beds, and a recording studio. Every bus should have a recording studio! The bathtub served as the pantry for non-perishables, and the fridge was stuff to the gills. We hauled a trailer full of bikes and water behind us, and our first stop was Eugene. We fueled, ate dinner in the Value Village parking lot (looking like proper gypsies) and headed to camp for the night, getting lost on the way. Getting lost on a bus is a lot different than getting lost in a car - your options for turn around space are a lot more limited. Jerry phoned Dean, the campground host, who met us at the gate on his Segway. He could really get around and puff on his cigarette at the same time! There we met three more people bringing our total to 14. Amazingly, we all fit and it was rather comfy!

Thursday we were on the road again heading towards Klamath Falls. We passed through some beautiful forest land and I kept an eye out for great trails! After fueling and lunch in the gas station parking area (we pick the nicest spots!), we headed on towards Gerlach and Burning Man. Going into CA, we remembered the fruit in the tub and when the inspector came aboard, she just looked in the fridge and declared us good to go. Whew! Later down the road, about 20 miles north of Alturas, Colin happened to look in the rear view mirror to watch the tire de-laminating on the trailer. Oops! He pulled over, put out the road hazard triangles, and proceeded to change the tire, only to discover there was no lug nut wrench for that size. So Anne started flagging down cars; one guy stopped on his way back from Burning Man and gave us a bottle of wine he said he made, but he didn't have a wrench. Meanwhile, Matt decided he needed to get a run in to get rid of his hangover, so he took off towards Alturas. The rest of the band members who weren't working on the tire got out their instruments and started practicing by the side of the road. It was all very surreal and added to the gypsy-like appearance. A forest service truck pulled over and they provided a wrench and some company. We managed to direct the sparse traffic around us, and finally, near the end, a CHiP pulled up to direct traffic and see if we were okay. Thanks, guy! He asked if the guy running down the road was with us and was he okay. Well, how can he be a drummer and be okay??? We took off, picked up Matt, got a new tire (and wrench!!) in Alturas and ventured forth.

The drive through the pass and then the desert was very beautiful with a nice moonrise. We got into Gerlach, the last town bfore Burning Man, about 9, where we fixed dinner and shopped the stands of Burning Man necessities. I got some goggles and a nice desert scarf and Tamara scored a cool pair of pants for $5! Finally we got back on the bus, and headed to the entrance. There we showed our tickets and they made us get out of the bus, and put our hands on it while they pretended to prepare for some bodily inspection. It was all very carnival-like and a little frat boyish. Next stop was another point where they "oriented" us virgins, having us roll in the playa dust, etc. FINALLY, we were allowed to go forth and find our camp, which was in Nectar Village. Sari, who had been there a couple years before, was very excited to get going and perform, despite it being midnight. Band bikes were unloaded, people changed into whites, and they took off to tour the playa, leaving Colin and me to find our exact location. Our host, Grady, directed us to the camp, where he and Colin immediately put up a shade structure. We shared camp with Gamelan X, a band from the Bay area that does Indonesian (mostly) percussion based music. Poor Colin had driven all day and was totally whipped but hung in there and got stuff set up. The band returned about 3:30, and left again, on foot this time, to play around the camps. I went to bed, stuck in my awesome earplugs (blocked out the constant bass beat of the electronica from the DJs on the playa and the art cars), and did not hear Donn get in the tent at 5:00.

Donn and I were up at 7:30, and I was in desparate need of an espresso! The propane hadn't been turned on and I didn't want to wake Colin, so we hopped on our bikes to tour the camps and buy and espresso at Center House. That and ice are about the only two things you can buy there; all the rest is self supplied or gifted. On the way there, we ran into my friend Dan, who goes every year, and Foxy, a first timer and mother of Master Nashwan. It was a fortunate meeting, as I had no idea where Dan was camped and I wanted to spend some time with him! We got my espresso (Donn brought caffeine pills) which was REALLY REALLY good and put me in the best mood ever, and rode back to camp. There, people were slowly coming alive and awake. The day was loose and free, with some going around to see stuff and others hanging out. I rode around and found Dan's camp, and visited a while. I was still getting oriented (I'm slow that way) so I didn't take in as much of the art as I would have liked. I did love riding my burner bike around as it made me feel like a little kid again! And I made lots of trips to the bathroom. The playa is laid out like a hemi-wheel, with the spoke streets numbered like a clock, every half hour, and the radial streets as letters starting with "A" in the center. Our camp was at 8:00 and Fossil (8 o'clock and F). The porta johns were on all the spoke streets every two blocks starting between Chaos and DNA. The theme this year was Evolution, so all the streets were named aptly.

Friday night, there was a marching band contest at Center House, and Orkestar Zirkonium was one of the five contestants. The band members rode their bikes to Center House while we support folks walked, but somehow we all ended up there at the same time. The contest was lots of fun and in the end, they took second to March Fourth, a fabulous marching band based out of Portland. If you have never heard this band, you are in for a treat. They will get you up out of your seat and onto the floor - such awesome energy! OZ played afterward and lots of folks danced and enjoyed their energy. Ivan's friend Jenna showed up with a gallon of whiskey, which was passed around the band, and disappeared quickly. I only took one slug as it helped clear up my nose from all the dust. But others weren't so frugal and consequences ensued later. We caught a ride on the Birthday Cake art car where the band played while it rode around the playa. It was a great way to celebrate Sari's birthday! Unfortunately, one person wasn't able to keep his whiskey down and he was whisked back to camp in another art car. Good thing we had walked, as we managed to get all the bikes back to camp. I had a blast riding Josh's bike, a little girl's sting ray complete with banana seat and coaster brakes. I even zoomed past Donn on his adult sized bike. I want one!!

Another late night to bed and then we were up early again. This time I had coffee in camp; it was Saturday, the day of the night of the big burn. I rode over to Hushville (Dan's camp) where I found Scot (Master Nashwan) and Foxy napping, but no Dan. I visited with them til Dan came back. Then Dan took me to meet God, who was holding a discussion with a rabbi who had stopped by. I sat on a couch and chatted with another fellow who was also a burn virgin. The rabbi sang a beautiful chant in either Yiddish or Hebrew, and then rode off. A woman came out of a tent and announced that gale force winds were headed our way in a couple of hours with major dust storms. I decided to hightail it back to camp to batten down the hatches and warn others. There were several minor dust storms going on already, and as the day progressed, they got worse. We spent a lot of time just hanging out in the bus, while others went out on to the playa in white-out conditions. Josh and Paul looked like old men when they returned, with white hair and faces. Sometime during the day (I think it was Saturday) Colin hopped an art car and lost his night time glasses, which were hooked on to his kilt. He was doomed to wearing sunglasses, but after trying on several of the campers' glasses, Donn's came closest to his prescription. So we were okay (sort of) if he had to do night driving.

That night, the dust was blowing strong, but the storm was predicted to die down by 10. The band had to be in position about 8:30, so after they dressed and Sari passed out our badges which would get us in the inner circle (!!), we processed towards the man. About halfway, the band split into two groups. Ours was the lead group, and visibility was down to about 5-10 feet. We pulled up next to some brightly lit art cars, and the drummers started playing, thinking this would attract the other group's attention. Several long minutes later they started to appear, coming towards us, but then headed off in a different direction. I ran out, got them and led them to the rest of the band. Whew! We made it to 3:00 where we waited for the procession to begin. Security checked our badges several times over, so it was quite the privilege to be in the inner circle. The dust storm slowly died down, our torch bearers appeared, and the band marched and played around the perimeter of the inner circle. It was really fun to tag along and dance, and at one point, a guy dressed completely in a drum major outfit appeared out of the crowd and directed the band! When the circle was complete, we settled down in the dust to watch the fire performers. They put on an amazing show; I hadn't seen anything like that since my first Trolloween in 1998 (the fire marshal put the kibosh on that!). At some point, we were asked to move further into the circle, which put us much closer to the fire. Soon, the fireworks started and before I knew it, the whole structure was ablaze. At one point it was so hot, everyone had to put on goggles. I was sitting next to Paul and we decided to lay down, which seemed to work, as it put us under the heat. It was quite a fire show - beautiful to watch!

The next morning I wanted to get to Center House for an espresso, but the line was really long when we got there. Donn gave me one of his caffeine pills at the usual dose for him, which sent my heart rate sky high! We rode out to the temple and checked out the scene. It was very heavy, emotionally speaking, with different people or groups mourning over lost friends and lovers from the past year. There was a beautiful poster of Shane McConkey, the extreme skier who died last December. I could only take so much, so we went out to our bikes. There were so many other bikes that ours were hard to find but my beautiful streamers and hi rise bars came through and we were on our way. We stopped by the slide, which was sort of a super slide covered in astro turf, with various objects (sleds, sheets, whatever) to slide down on. At the bottom, which was abrupt, there was a stack of cushions to crash into. I had knelt on enough astro turf in high school, as a drill leader at Band Day, that I had no desire to slide on it. Plus there was a sign noting that there were on average twelve injuries per day. Donn decided he had to try it. He found an old plastic sled and walked up to the top, where, eventually, he hopped on and slid down. It was a successful slide, and the cushions needed restacking. He helped put the last cushion high up on the pile, and something slipped, knocking his glasses off. I watched as they landed in two pieces, breaking at one side of the nose bridge. I grabbed them, and said 'dude, you're f**ked!' and then 'oh, we're f**ked!' They were meant to be Colin's back-up glasses - oops! We headed back to Center House to see if they could be repaired, but Playa Hardware was closed down so no luck. We got back to camp and told the tale, and Colin said no problem! He took Donn's glasses and fashioned a new nose piece out of wire and knots. It looked a little wonky on Donn, but it worked!

That night the band processed to the Temple and created lots of good energy. As we approached, they quieted down, as this burn was a more somber affair. Not everyone understood that but enough did that they weren't that obnoxious. There was a procession, which we couldn't see much of since we were towards the back of the crowd, but then flaming parachuters started appearing in the sky. That was totally cool!! I don't know how many there were but it was more than a couple! Soon after, the temple started burning, along with all the memorials that were put up. When it was about done, we stood up and the band processed out with Ethiopique. Very fitting. The River Boat art car owner asked Sari if the band would come play on it, so we headed that way, where we rode around the playa for a while. Afterward, we eventually ended up at camp and got ready for the long drive home the next day.

The bus got packed the next morning and we were on the road by 8:00, after goodbyes to Grady et al. We only sat in line to leave about 1.5 hours, and Sari gathered some playa dust in a baggie while we waited. The ride to Ashland was fairly uneventful, except when Colin tried to turn the bus around on the road between Klamath Falls and Ashland. Just didn't happen. We stayed at Emigrant Lake campground, and broke open that bottle of wine the burner guy gave us. It tasted a little funny, but Donn drank most of it. Apparently, he was really funny (I went to bed); who knows what was in the wine? He doesn't remember much. The next day we were on the road early and made it back to Boeing Field by 7:00 - ahead of schedule!

It was a fun trip and I want to return next year, early, so I can take in more stuff. I didn't take many photos of the art but there are some great ones out there. My pics can be seen here. And last, here's an interesting article about Burning Man. I'm looking forward to my next burn!

Cougar in the snow...

I got to join Chris and Tracy this morning for a short 7 mile run at Cougar. I've been rehabbing a sore posterior tibialis (result of protecting the opposite hip) and got the full go ahead from PT to start running - 3 min on 2 min off. I had already gotten in a couple of trail runs before that 'go ahead' while we figured this thing out and I've been working hard on my core strength and balance issues. So, with Tracy being slightly injured (knee) and in taper for next weekend, and Chris recovering from a longer run last weekend, I figured I could keep up. Or at least they wouldn't have to wait for me too long at the junctions.

Snow was predicted and we drove through some decent rain to get to Sky Country, but when we got up higher near the trailhead, all was dry, but cold. We set out towards the north side and soon the precipitation started, in the form of ice. I was having a blast running through it and really enjoying the moment! As we looped around and started heading south, the snow was really coming down. The plan was to head to Shy Bear Pass and decide whether to turn back or continue with a loop along Deceiver and then back up to Shy Bear, and home via Fred's Railroad and Old Man Trail. We were all feeling good and I was focusing on good form - landing under my center of gravity, listening to my glute to tell me if I was overstriding (great post by Rooster on this), and eating when I needed to. The climb back up to Shy Bear was a little challenging on my tight gastrocnemius and soleus, but I managed to grind it out. I walked when I needed to and overall I stayed ahead of or with the gang. It was fun to "break trail" on freshly fallen snow! Plus I could check my footprints to see what I needed to shore up, as in the Sandpit Exercise.

We got back to the car and a winter wonderland in about 2 hours. I love that Sky Country isn't a popular destination and there were only three or four cars there, including Tracy's. I took some photos with my cell phone to record the snow and then we were off to Starbuck's where I "discovered" they don't have short drinks. I ordered a double split shot dry cappuccino, and they wanted to know what size. How do you make a "grande" cappuccino without turning it into a latte??? As you can tell, I don't frequent Charbucks much but after a run like today, it really hit the spot. It's a good day - I hear the snow is headed our way. Bring it on!


Sky Country - this all happened while we were out running!


Tracy lovin' the snow!


Chris is done running and wants a hot drink!

Fun on Tiger with Chris

My new BFF (best friend forever, for the clueless) Chris, whom I met through Alison (thank you thank you Alison!!) lives part time next to Tiger Mountain. The other time is spent in Winthrop. I'm so lucky cuz when she is on this side of the pass, and not working, I get to join her and the dogs for a hike on Tiger, starting from her place. She and Dave have built a trail that joins other "neighborhood" trails and leads up to Tiger Mtn's trails. We hiked a four or so mile loop on MLK Day and then again yesterday. The dogs got in some good exercise and we got in some good talk time, though the pace was not leisurely by any means (I don't want it to be!) And yesterday, we were joined by Leah, new buddy Ted, and Eddie the Wonderdog (yes, I am in love with him.)

Ted is testing some new shoes that have a one mm sole made of puncture proof fabric. They allow him to still run barefoot but avoid puncture wounds from sticks and rocks. He was having a blast testing them out on all sorts of surfaces. Leah was being a patient but slightly nervous mom - Eddie is brand new to the trails and Chris convinced her he would be okay off leash. Amber and Diva knew the route and he pretty much hung with them til we got around a loop. He took off, and didn't come when called, so Diva went up to get him but came back empty-pawed. Chris suspected he was following our scent around the loop and we should stay put. After a few minutes Leah and Ted decided to go look for him. Chris and the dogs and I waited, and sure enough, about 15 or so minutes, Eddie came trotting up the loop with a hiker, like he knew what he was doing! He was so funny! The hiker was a nice fellow who didn't seem to mind the company at all. He left and we held on to Eddie til they got back. We finished our hike (where Ted got to really test the shoes over some sharp rocks) and then enjoyed being catered to by Chris with toast and tea, in a warm cabin. On the way home Eddie crashed until Ted started taking his photo and he wanted to know what all that beeping was! Here are some of the photos from MLK day and yesterday....


Self portrait - C&L


WTA built stairs


Diva on a tree that blew down in the recent storms. Chris's friend Bill attacked it with his chainsaw.


Ted holds up a potential table top


Those shoes are great for balancing on a log


They also did well over sharp rocks


Chris and the girls wait for Eddie's return


Sir Eddie looking very handsome with his lovely mistress Leah

Bridle Trails mudfest

In my quest to regain fitness, I did the Bridle Trails 10 miler Saturday afternoon. It's a 5 mile loop at Bridle Trails Park, an equestrian single track trail. There is usually mud and horse manure to deal with but the amount varies, depending on conditions. This year with all the snow and then rain, it was especially muddy. For me, I knew it was going to be a slow one. Along with lack of fitness, and my layoff while in Hawaii, my SI joint had been talking the last week or so, and a knot in my calf has taken up semi-permanent residence. Still, I couldn't bear to miss out on the fun! I picked up Danika and we arrived in time to sign up and visit with friends before the fun started.

We ten milers took off at 3:05. I was somewhere in the middle of the pack, with Danika, Ali, and Kathleen, and when I took off, at first I thought I was going too fast, then thought it was just race nerves and I'd settle in. I could have sworn I saw all of them ahead of me. The trail is mostly single track with a few wide spots here and there so it was hard to settle into a pace and not be worried about clogging the line up. About a mile or so in, Ali caught up to me and asked what I was doing there. She said I was going too fast and should slow down! I agreed - I was starting to pay for the speedy start. Danika was close behind and they both soon passed me. I guess I was stuck on a 5K pace from my New Year's Day run - not good for 10 miles! Other folks passed by and said hey, including my old podiatrist. I was surprised to see him out there.

The first loop was a bit of a struggle from the too fast start, and I also realized I hadn't eaten anything since a light lunch of almond butter and honey sandwich. The tortilla chips I had with that were starting to make themselves known. Ugh. Glad I brought some gels along! Soon the 50K folks started coming by and I got to say hi to a lot of friends I hadn't seen in a while. It's always fun to see them out there and catch up a little, though my pace was too slow to have a lasting conversation! The usual mud was there, and I started to slip a couple times but managed to stay upright. My back was talking to me, and I had to work extra hard to protect it and keep my SI joint from going into spasms. I considered dropping, but decided to take the second loop and walk when I needed to. On the hills, when the little knot in my calf flared up, I switched to a lateral stride to take the pressure off and that seemed to help. And last, but not least, I was developing yet another blister under the callous of my right bunion. Lots to think about and feel on the trail. This turned out to be a good opportunity to learn how to deal with extra pain on the run!

I came in through the aid station slower than last year (not surprising) but can't remember if it was 51 or 57 minutes. Anyway, I grabbed some chips for salt and asked where the trail was - I really get disoriented at that one spot! The rain was really coming down now, but the canopy helped keep most of it off. One thing I've been dealing with since I had surgery is my core temp - it runs way higher than it used to. I can be a waterfall of sweat while everyone around me is fresh as a daisy. It's hard to predict how much I'll sweat if the temperature is cold, so I tend to overdress (which is really underdressed by everyone else's standards) and by a few miles, I'm carrying most of my layers. It's frustrating but something to keep working on...

The second loop was much slower and I tended to walk a lot. Jenny, Rob, and Steve caught up to me and I got to hear Rob narrate to Jenny what to expect in later loops. They were all doing the 50K. I managed to keep them in my sights for a while til they finally diappeared around a bend. Meanwhile, I played leap frog with a guy named Jeff. He was doing the ten miler and it was to be his longest run ever! I think I would have picked better conditions (like a dry road?) for that. He was working up to a half marathon in March - no doubt he'll do fine. At some point Uli went flying by and I watched him dance through the mud. It was a pretty sight and inspired me to lift my feet a little higher, if not for a while. The light was fading fast and I was glad I packed along my headlamp, which came in handy the last mile, which I think is the muddiest.

I finally came in a little under two hours and was so glad to be done. My back spasms held off, but I was drained from having to work hard to protect it and I was wet and cold. My fingers went numb pretty fast (thanks to Reynauds) and fortunately Danika was waiting in the car for me so she could let me in. She came in about 20 minutes ahead of me. Untying shoes was not an option, so I pulled my feet out of them, which caused calf cramps. I got into some dry clothes, and after saying goodbye to Danika (her husband had shown up) I got the heater blasting and headed home to a hot shower. A big bowl of Gypsy stew and a beer capped off the day, followed by a good movie!

I am inpressed the 50Kers stayed the course (or some of it) through the pouring rain and cold, and some even PR'd! I am also grateful to the volunteers (Glenn, Linda, Allison, Marty, to name a few) - you guys make the race happen! And I am also thankful to all the running friends out there - it really feels good to hear my name yelled out as I come through, and to see you on the trail! What a great community!

Waikiki to Cougar - a study in contrast

I found a couple more Waikiki photos from my last day there, Christmas morning, when I took an early morning run along the Ala Wai canal and past the deserted beaches. Today, Chris and I went up for a "short" run, more of a hike, at Cougar. While some of my friends were being moronic fat asses (really!) on Tiger, we were sticking to the lowland stuff. Still enough snow to make it a challenge, especially for someone as out of shape as myself! Enjoy the photos!


ala wai canal and Honolulu


early morning beach in Waikiki


snowy trail


blow down


Chris charging up the trail


yet another winter wonderland shot. You sick of 'em yet?


watch out where the huskies go. look out for the yellow snow. (Zappa)


the snow finally made it snap...


frozen fern

Happy New Year All!

I started January 1 off in my usual way - a 5K with Club Northwet (not a typo) Resolution Run and Trip and Drip. It was a sloppy day with lots of mud and puddles - great trail conditions. I started out with my friends Paul and Jim and had fun stomping in puddles to try and soak Paul. Of course he had to do the same....There was no use trying to go around the wet stuff - just like on the trail. It was lots of fun!

I wore my new bikini I scored in Waikiki under 3/4 tights and a jacket. No photos but I'll post if the race site has them. As I neared the water I took the jacket off, and also removed my shoes; I just felt like finishing off with a barefoot run! Tom C. was there announcing people passing by and he made sure everyone knew I was going in - hah! The poor volunteer standing in the water (in hip high waders) looked pretty cold and all around I could hear people gasping as they entered the cold. It wasn't so bad and I managed a few Alohas and a Mahalo to him. He returned a stare that said "are you nuts?" It was only when I made the final dip, covering my head, that it got overly bracing. Guess all those hot flashes I have count for something!

After gathering my discarded items (and returning to retrieve a tossed ear warmer - I wasn't in this for time), I had a wonderful sock shod run to the finish, laid my shoe on the mats to get the time, and finished up. Forgot to stop my watch for a minute or so - doh - another reminder time didn't count for me! It was a nice way to start the new year, though I think this has to be the coldest on of all the runs I've done.

I hope you all had a great time celebrating in whatever way you chose! Happy new year - may the new year bring you peace, happiness, and personal fulfillment!

Kauai Part II - the North Shore, with a little Waikiness thrown in

Thursday, Dec 18, we headed to the North Shore to cap off our vacation in a yurt. We first stopped in Lihue to exchange my phone - the first one I had kept freezing up and I would have to remove the battery to reboot. Not very convenient! I had been in daily touch with my kid who was house - and cat- sitting for us. He regaled me with tales of the snow and conditions in Seattle. I didn't grow up with snow and normally would have been bummed about missing it all, but every time I spoke to someone back home, I relished where I was even more. It was crazy there!

Our journey took us into Hanalei where we stopped by the grocery to stock up on food and beer. We also checked out some of the shops and bought some souveniers. Our gas tank was getting low - Donn realized later he was looking at the wrong guage. He likes to run the tank way down (and we have run out of gas before) whereas I like to keep a comfortable amount in there. My theory is it's because I grew up in hurricane country and you needed to make sure you had enough in the tank in case you had to evacuate. In the current case, we were heading into a very rural area with no room for breaking down on the road. We went on to the yurt with the promise that we would head to Princeville for gas the very next morning.

The yurt was past Hanalei about six miles, just past the Hanalei Colony resort. After a couple of turns on dirt roads we found it. Here's what we saw when we pulled in to the property:



We let ourselves in as no one was around, and made ourselves at home. It was on the property of the owner, Christine. She and her husband paint airplanes and travel a lot, so she was gone at the time we got there. We found inside a small refrigerator (couldn't fit all of the beer and food in there at the same time so the food had to stay out - kidding!), a hotplate, some appliances, a full bathroom (the shower was outdoors though - we used that exclusively), entertainment (TV, DVD player, CD player, games, books), a sofa, dining table, bed, writing desk, and small closet. Pretty soft for a yurt! I loved it!! There was a fan in the middle that hung from the ceiling, which had a skylight in it. Also, Donn got a new pet - a gecko....




Outside, the yard had a couple of plumeria trees that gave off a delicious scent at night. The wind would carry this through the yurt and the smell would fill it up. It was very intoxicating.



There were also a lot of other trees and the backyard was left as when they moved in an built the house. Christine also worked as a gardner and volunteered at the Limuhuli Tropical Garden. She did a wonderful job lnadscaping the yard with native plants! There was also an outdoor table which we dined at a few times. My favorite was the hammock - I had at least one nice nap in it under a couple of palm trees! It was all very peaceful and serene, and so different from anywhere I've been lately! Our directions said the beach was nearby. It took us a while but we found access down a little trail to a somewhat secluded beach. At any given time there may have been as many as four other people there; Tunnels was a couple of beaches away and that's where most of the people went. Plus the access here was known only to the locals. So nice!!



Friday, we headed back towards Princeville and rode in on fumes to fill up the tank. I was a nervous wreck so Donn made me drive. I told him I would kill him if we ran out of gas, and that I was sure the locals would support me! We shopped in Hanalei where I found my favorite store - a little variety store in the Ching Young village. The owner was an older local guy. I saw another older guy shopping there who was wearing an old tank top that said Boston Marathon on it - made of cotton, not technical material! I asked him about it and we struck up a conversation. Turned out the owner of the store qualified but didn't run it. He was 22 at the time and did a 2:59 at the Honolulu marathon. I think it must have been a long time ago cuz he was no spring chicken! After getting some board shorts and a tank top (I was starting to get the local look) we headed back to yurt central and to the beach for some snorkeling.

Our beach had a lot of live coral and it was really tricky maneuvering around it, but we saw some really cool fish. My favorite was one that looked like the sand. When it got spooked, it would burrow down til you could only see its eyes. If you didn't know it was there, you would think you were looking at a couple of rocks. The water was on the cool side so we didn't stay in long. We got back to the yurt and warmed up in the hot tub, while sipping a beer. Christine came home from her travels for the weekend and we had a nice chat. After a lovely dinner made by Donn, and a game of Scrabble in which he kicked my butt soundly, we headed off to bed and listened to the wind. We fell asleep smelling the plumerias...mmmm!

Saturday we headed to the Hanalei Farmers market. It was set in a field with a beautiful backdrop of Kaliki mountain (I think). The crowd was as thick as the University District farmer's market in the summer and the food was as good and diverse. I overheard some women exchanging Solstice wishes and how glad they were that the sun was going to be around longer. I had to laugh and said at least it's not dark at 5 here. They said but it's dark at 7 - in the morning! Then they realized I meant 5 PM! It's all relative - they won't have the luxury of it being light at 9 pm in the summer.




As I was walking around, I spied a very tall girl with only one arm and it clearly was not a birth defect. I could see the scar from where they sewed the surgical flap. It was Bethany Hamilton, and she was there shopping, wearing the local surfer uniform - board shorts and tank top. Very pretty girl - she's about 18 now. Last time we went to Kauai in 2004, she had recently been the victim of a shark attack. She was 13 and was out dawn surfing with her best friend and her best friend's dad. They were home schooled, and the dads took turns taking them out surfing in the morning and afternoon. She was already being looked at as a potential pro - she was that good. Anyway, she was bitten and lost the lower part of her arm; later they removed the rest up to the shoulder. She opted out of a prosthesis and vowed to get back on the board, and today she is (I believe) one of the top ten women in the world. She competes in the same category - i.e., not handicapped. Pretty inspirational! She's got a book out about her comeback called Soul Surfer, and a movie is in the works about it. Seeing her at the Farmer's market made my day, if not most of my vacation! You can check her out at her website.

The rest of Friday and Saturday were filled with more beach time and snorkeling. We walked to Tunnels and checked out the snorkeling there - it was even better than where we were, though swimming out to the second reef through the deep water made me nervous about sharks, especially since that's where Bethany was attacked. But we snorkeled on and enjoyed the scenery. One of the days, we walked down the beach all the way to the end, at Ke'e beach. It was a long walk - about 2.5 miles, in the sand. We checked out the scene at the end of the road and headed up the road, with a short stop by the trail head at the Kalalau trail. We would decide later whether to hike it Sunday. I was feeling torn - I could hike/run at home, but snorkeling wasn't going to happen any time soon when we got back to Seattle. I love the water and its one of the things I miss about not being near a swimmable beach. We walked the raod back home and took in the sights there. We were both pretty worked from the long walk and spent a quiet evening hanging out in and around the yurt. At night, the stars were out and we walked down to our beach and gazed and gazed. It was just too beautiful!

Sunday morning was nice, so we headed out to the beach and got in a snorkel session. Donn saw a turtle - I missed it. Boo! We came back for lunch and hung out after an outdoor shower (which we had been taking advantage of after every snorkel session). Later, we discussed whether to get in one more snorkel round or hike the Kalalau trail. As I mentioned above, hiking in Seattle was an option but snorkeling wasn't. Plus we were both a little tired from the walk the day before. In the end, we stayed "home" and snorkeled and napped on the beach.

We got our things organized Sunday night and I called Hawaiian airlines to see if we were flying to Seattle. They weren't sure but said they would call and let us know if it was canceled. Christine said we could have the yurt one more day if we needed. Monday came, and no call, so we headed out for Lihue to return the car and fly out. At the ticket counter, I asked again if we were flying all the way through to Seattle. The guy said they would know better when we got to Honolulu. I thought I should keep a bathing suit in my carry on just in case but opted not to. I did pack my trail shoes in it though, since I thought I'd need them in the snow back home, along with warm clothes. We flew to Honolulu, deboarded, and checked the Seattle flight. Canceled. What??? Other planes were going in and out of Seatac! But by that time SeaTac had closed down and Hawaiian couldn't get their planes back to fly us home!

For a while, it was a mess, trying to find our luggage, calling my boss (who said just enjoy my extended vacation - it was too crazy in Seattle), finding a cheap hotel, getting rebooked and figuring out how to get there. We got on a flight on Christmas day - direct to Seattle. They had wanted to fly us through Maui but we didn't want to take any chances! I called a friend whom I knew had been to Honolulu several times and she recommended staying in Waikiki. We found a reasonably priced hotel and figured out the bus line to get there. We still didn't have our luggage, but the awesome rep told me she would send it to our room. So off we went to wacky Waikiki on the local bus. We got quite the tour on the way there - even saw the Dole Pineapple factory! Our room was on the 14th floor and the whole experience was a huge culture shock from the yurt!! OMG - it took a day or so to adjust. The beach was way less secluded than "our beach" and the buildings were a lot taller.....



After checking in, we went out exploring and checked out the International Market. I picked up a very cute bikini for $20 in case our luggage didn't arrive. We ate some Mexican food at the food court and made our way back to our hotel. It had become a very, very long day. Our bag had arrived and I was amazed at how my spirits had lifted. Our snorkel gear was with us and we could wear summer clothes again!! We went back out to the grocery store and checked out the local scene. There were lots of Japanese tourists and there were all these people wearing sandwich boards for an indoor shooting range where you could "shoot real guns!!" We guessed they were directed at the Japanese tourists since most of them had probably never seen a real gun, much less shot one. They were also way into Christmas - it was like Disneyland for them. Crazy!

There was a lot more to do in Waikiki, but the thing I enjoyed most was the people watching. We were across the street from Fort Derussey, which led to the beach. I got in a couple runs (did some in Kauai too, that I forgot to mention - heat and humidity were killers!). Wednesday we walked to Kapiolani beach and found a snorkeling site that was reputed to be one of the best in Hawaii. It was shallow, and the coral was mostly dead (sunscreen kills the coral, as well as standing on it or grabbing it), but there were lots of fish because they feed them. We saw some species we hadn't seen before, as well as the usual. It was nice because when you got tired you could just stand up. The water was on the cool side, and a couple we met who went in with us, got out much earlier. He had snorkeled in the Florida Keys and said it was much warmer there.

The walk back was filled with more people watching, but Donn got a sore spot on his metatarsal, from walking in loose shoes or flip flops. That, and the fact that we decided too late in the day to go, put the kibosh on plans to hike up Diamond Head. So I went to the beach and got in some swimming instead. It was really fun siting off of Diamond Head and getting a good swim in! Again, people watching was primo, and I watched this woman walk backwards with a bottle of water balanced on her head, listening to her ipod. When she would pass the lifeguard stand, she'd remove an earbud and yell Merry Christmas and continue to walk backwards! We went out to eat that night at Irifune's - a Japanese restaurant my friend Tracy had recommended. The food was quite good, although I would go for sashimi stuff next time. I had the ahi stir fry, and it was cooked through. I like my tuna almost not cooked.

Christmas day I got up and got in a five mile run around the Ala Wai canal and the beach front all the way to Kapiolani Park and back along the canal. Really humid!! After a shower, the shuttle came and took us to the airport. The flight home was uneventful - we had seats in the very back - nice! Shuttle Express was not going to residential drop offs so we shared a cab with a guy who lives near us. It was another shock to be home in so much snow - and I understood it was half of what it had been! But home, we were. I really didn't want this vacation to end, and didn't expect the surprise of getting "stuck" in Waikiki. Had I been there the whole time, I would have been ready to come home. As it stands, we are already looking at other tropical places to visit - we gotta start saving pennies now!

Kauai Part I- the South Shore

Donn and I got away on December 11 and flew through Honolulu to Kauai. It was pouring rain in Honolulu when we went through - not a good sign. Especially since the marathon was in a few days (I had a friend running her first marathon there). Storms usually pass through quickly in Hawaii but this one seemed to be hanging on. Our flight was uneventful and we landed in Kauai in time to visit a couple of places on the island before checking into our cottage in Poipu.

When we got to our cottage - Koloa Landing Cottages - we found the manager in our unit cleaning up and looking very tired. The storm we saw in Honolulu had passed through Kauai early that morning and the place, save our cottage, was a disaster. Her office was flooded and all the other cottages had leaks; she had been there since 5 AM! These cottages are slated to be razed when the economy picks up for building more condos. Ours was a cute studio that used to be a boat house and was built pretty solid. Throughout the weekend the storms came and went; some were pretty spectacular but we stayed dry. Waikomo Stream near our place; it dumped into the ocean at Koloa Landing. When we arrived this is what it looked like:

By the end of the weekend it was a torrent of raging red dirt and mud:

The housekeeper at the cottage said she had lived here 19 years and had never seen anything like it! We had considered shipping our snorkel gear back home since we thought we'd not get any in with all the murky water; so glad we didn't.One of the benefits of the rains was seeing the small animals that usually live out of sight. We got a new pet - not sure what to name him (her?)- maybe Sluggo. He (she) reminded us a lot of our cat. There were also anoles hanging out eating all the bugs, which helped keep the mosquito population down.

Our friends Sarah and Zach had been up on the North Shore three days and came into town Sunday afternoon. They were going on a snorkel tour the next morning that went along the Na Pali coast. It didn't look good for snorkeling due to all the mud in the water (sharks can't tell you from a sea turtle) but we wanted to see the coast, so we managed to secure a spot on the boat. They picked us up early Monday morning and after a little talk by Captain Trent, we were off to sea in a big catamaran! I took lots of photos -too many to post here, but here are a few:


Sarah heading to the open sea


Zach contemplates life in Kauai

When we were heading back to port, someone spotted a whale or two off in the distance, so the captain steered the boat over for a look. It was a humpback and her calf. She put on quite a show, breaching and slapping her fin. Too bad my camera was below deck by then! We also saw some porpoises and a manta ray. My favorite part was laying on the deck and relaxing to the gentle sway of the boat. After a good lunch and a beer, that really hit the spot! It was a long and fun filled day and Sarah and I were pretty tired near the end of it!

zzzzzzzzz......
All afternoon I took naps and that night I slept the best since being there. Tuesday we visited the farmer's market in Lihue in the pouring rain, and that afternoon I sneaked into the pool associated with Sarah and Zach's place. It was longer than 25 yards and had a water slide and hot tub. We took advantage of it all, getting in a nice workout, some good sliding, and good gossip in the hot tub. After dinner at our place, we met them at the bar at their condos and were treated to the best Pina Coladas I have ever had. Plus a "baked Hawaiian." Mmmm!

The next morning we met them again for an early morning snorkel - first of the trip- finally!! I saw some cool fish and had fun hanging out in the water. Later, Donn and I went to Waimea to use the internet at a cafe/art gallery and check out the west side of the island. The weather turned out to be a little cool and rainy, with some residual flooding which closed some of the roads. We kept hearing people talk about digging mud out of their homes and how much water they got, etc. Later we headed over to Kapa'a to the farmer's market. It was quite a bit bigger, and the rain had stopped, bringing out more people. Lots of hippies on this side of the island made for good people watching! Two older women who looked like aging hippies were selling vegetables. We wanted to get some kale, and one of them started giggling at her own joke about it being Russian kale - it's rushing around! I told Donn I make it a rule to never get stoned before doing retail.

The weather continued to improve and by Thursday morning it was perfect for a surfing lesson with Sarah! We hooked up with Amy from Aloha Surf lessons; we were her only two students for that 2 hour session! We did a quick ten minute lesson on land and then carried our boards down to the water where Amy stood armpit deep and helped us catch waves. She interpersed the lessons with stories of growing up in Kauai - like when Hurricane Iniki went through during her first week of high school. It destroyed the school, which made for a bunch of really happy kids! The roof blew off her house but that just meant they had to sleep in the open for a while. It was all good. Meanwhile, Donn was up on the beach and snapped photos of us. Here we are attempting to look like real surfers:

up on the board

steady now...

WIPEOUT!!




Surfin' Sarah shows great form!

It was great fun and after 1.5 hours, I was toast - There were a lot of plank poses and push ups involved, along with paddling. We took a break and then went out to try and catch some waves on our own, but they had gotten pretty crumbly. We have both vowed to continue lessons back home....

Donn and I took off for the North Shore that afternoon to our little yurt near Hanalei. More about that in the next post. We were so glad we were there for longer than a week, as the weather slowly improved. In Hawaii, just wait a while and it will get better!

Been a while....

It's been too long since I last posted. I seemed to notice I'm not the only one guilty of that. I think it's good to take a break once in a while, like you do (or should do) with running. So this post is meant to be a little catch up...nothing more.

Running is slowly coming back. I've been getting out on the trails with the old gang and last week did the NW Trails 10 miler at Soaring Eagle park. I did a run 8 min/walk 2 min with Robin and we had a nice time. I felt very strong coming in the last mile and my hip cooperated, giving me minimal soreness afterwards. I've decided not to worry about time (not that I did that much before) but to enjoy the moment of the run more, and it seems to be paying off.

Today I did three hours of the Carkeek 12 hour run, getting in 11.7 miles and 2580 feet of elevation gain. Not much compared to those who did more loops or all twelve hours, but it was enough for me! It was a 1.9 mile loop, which gave me lots of opportunities to catch up with friends I hadn't see in a while. I hadn't run on the trail in the dark before (I know, hard to believe) and this started out in the dark. We startled one woman who was walking her dog (with no light) through the trails in the dark. I thought that was kind of odd that she would be out there in the dark; obviously she knew the trail better than me! The more I think about it, the nicer that sounds, especially with a big dog. Anyway, I was only going to get in about three loops but it was so much fun, I kept going back for more! Put this one on your calendar for next year - and work on hills before hand! That climb out of the aid station is killer!

That's about it for now - looking forward to Wednesday when the suspense will be over. I'll either be moving to Canada or cheering in the streets. In either case, I'll be glad to see this current administration end. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out!

Baker Lake - more volunteer fun!

Though some might think I'm going for maniac status for volunteering, I'm really using it as an excuse to go hang out in the woods all day long. That said, I worked the aid station at Baker Lake 50K, got some more "forest time" and had a pleasant time getting to know more folks in the ultra scene. Robin and I were the aid station captains, but I felt I barely had to lift a finger thanks to the folks hanging out waiting for their runners. They were runners themselves and knew what made a good aid station work!

When the runners had all come through the first time and were safely ensconced on the trail, I sat down to my knitting to finish the cuff on a slipper. I got it done just in time - a minute later James came barreling in! He threw off his shirt, grabbed some goodies and headed back out. He was having a lot of fun! Other folks rolled in in his wake, including Eric and Michelle Barnes, celebrating their 29th anniversary with a trail run together! Steve Stoyles and his son Robin were with them at the 20 mile mark. One of the stellar helpers, a veteran of several Western States and Leadville runs, was helping Robin refill his water bladder. He told him he really needed to clean it. Turned out Robin had borrowed it - I won't say whose it was but he knows who he is! Geez - they make stuff to clean it; so use it already! Anyway, it was another fun day in the woods and the race seemed to come off really well, despite the frantic last minute re-routes. And the rain held off til the end! Nice job Shawn and tc! Enjoy the photos!

Cle Elum - more volunteer duties - briefly

Cle Elum Ridge 50K volunteer report in brief.....

Friday night - beer and pizza in Roslyn with JV, AH and WW, followed by camping and sleeping under the stars at the race site.

Saturday morning - Socializing, ES shows off his fancy water, and race starts. DM and I head to AS2 and set up; enjoy beauty all around;



replace ES's fancy water (in drop box) with empty Pringles can.



Runners start coming: JV in lead; ES panics over missing water (priceless); chat with MB waiting for SS (they later go to crew EB and RH at Plain); yuk it up with DM and the ham radio guys; go out to meet sweeps....try to take GT's photo



GT's powers prevent clear pic



meet last three runners on trail; meet sweeps and head back; take LB back to finish.

At finish - eat good food and get one of GM's beers. Shoot the breeze then head home. Good times had by all.


photo -Glenn Tachiyama