9/24/17 Bellingham Bay Marathon

My favorite marathon! Eleventh year in a row!  Ten year anniversary of joining the Marathon Maniacs!  Perfect weather!  Tracy and Mica to run with! Its going to be a great day!

After so many years we have this down to a routine.  Don't even have to remind Connie to have a bagel and banana ready for me in the morning.  Great to stay with them as usual.  Park in the same spot and make the second shuttle bus to the start.

I have gushed about how well organized this event is and how nice the welcome center is at the Lummi reservation. Another year of awesomeness. One of the RDs thanks us for supporting youth sports by running today.  Lummi singers and dancers do their welcome again and it is so cool.  Youth volunteers everywhere and so many along the course.

Start - We meet Mica's friend Cherry and the 4 of us are all thinking of running about 4:30 with no pressure for a time goal.  Tracy does not even have a watch.  Just a little cool when we get outside, but no wind and it is going to be fabulous weather.  Across the start mat and I hold back about two seconds, on the off chance that Tracy and I finish together at which point I will beat her by chip time.  That is so lame of me!

Mile 2 - So much for the slow pace.  Mica and Cherry have struck out ahead of us and now Tracy and I pass the 4:15 pacer.  I did not care for the crowded big pack when we were just behind the pacer, now that we are in front it is easy running, but probably way too fast.

Mile 4 - Bald eagle sightings.  Beautiful morning along the calm bay.  Chatting with Tracy.  She says how much success one can have if they can dissociate from what the feet are doing.  Talking with a friend makes the miles drift by so easy.  I hope that we can keep talking later in the race, when we need the distraction.

Mile 9 - So many youth out there at the aid stations.  It dawns on my that some of them were not born yet when I started running this race and others are now adults.  Long line of kids with water cups, but one boy has a container with salty corn chips.  Tracy and I both take some and the kids all start laughing.  Apparently that was his snack his mom had packed and he offered it out there as an experiment to see if anyone would partake.  Fun times.  Thanks kid!

Mile 11 - Now it seems longer to the out and back section.  But we get there and I like seeing the other runners.  Fellow legacy athletes Celina and Eric are here, so the three of us continue to keep our streak going.  By the way, the RD has given us free entries for life, as long as we keep the streaks going.

Mile 12 - Things start getting rough.  We have caught back up with Mica and Cherry because they have slowed.  Tracy and I start to slow just a little too.  Up and down my left leg from feet to knee to hip I get little pains and stiffness.  All last week, after the GOAT marathon, the tops of both feet had been sensitive, but they are fine now.  This stiffness is not fun and I sure hope it does not get worse.

Mile 14 - My energy level feels good but I am happy to take a walk break any time some one wants one.  Leg discomfort is not so bad but is nagging.

Mile 16 - Tracy stops at a restroom and I walk on, knowing that she will catch up.  Look back and don't see her.  Keep walking.  I see the big hill up ahead and I don't want to walk all the way there only to have her catch up and then us walk some more up the hill.  So I start jogging at a slow pace. Reach the hill and I keep running slowly.

Mile 17 - Merge with the half but the last runner may have gone by.  Takes me a while to pass one, then another.  It will gradually get more crowded with slow halfers but never be a problem.  I wish there were more, like in the old days when they started 2 hours after us and I was faster.  Then it was a big energy boost.  Now it is a little lonely and I am struggling by myself.

Mile 18 - Take the ibuprofen that I meant to take two miles ago.  Into the residential neighborhood with its little hills.  And then Tracy catches up to me!  Nice to have my buddy back and someone to get me through the miles.

Mile 19 - Just as I am remembering the cookie girl, there is her table with fresh oatmeal cookies.  So nice.  I am dreading the next 5 miles, but by the time we go through the park Mica and Cherry catch up and reach mile 20, my leg is feeling much better.  I don't know if it was the pills or a change in stride but the leg will be a non issue now.  Start doing math about beating 4:30.  Should be in range, but it is a long way to go.  Seems like it is still a good goal to push toward.

Mile 21 - My least favorite part of the course and I was complaining about it to Tracy, but it goes great.  Two miles mostly on sidewalk, with driveway crossings and along train tracks.  This is where I usually melt down and Tracy suggests that having a bad experience at one spot can have you remember it and then have it again the next year.  With fewer halfers out there we don't have to dodge much and I can't believe how soon we are going up the bridge hill to the area right by the finish.

Mile 22 - That short bit where we go opposite the runners sprinting to the finish.  Wendy Hawthorn sighting!  Coming in for a sub 3:45.  "Don't stop, Wendy!"  "Go get that 3:45!"  She does.  Now the gravel path.  Feeling really good, way better than an hour ago.  Tracy and I just chugging along, Mica and Cherry back a ways.  I hear a train and start hoping that we will be stopped at the crossing.  A forced break, where they will adjust our chip time, sounds great.  But alas we just miss being stopped and have to continue down to the water.

Mile 23 - We have been without a walk break for a long time.  Tracy seems willing and able to do anything I want.  I suggest that we walk the last bit of boardwalk, to enjoy the scenery, and then make ourselves run up the steep hill away from the water.  Stupid plan but we go for it.  Just as Mica catches us, we start running up the hill as she walks like a normal person.

Mile 25 - Sub 4:30 will happen.  Feeling great but need to dissociate. If we can keep talking I think I can do the rest of this without walking.  Tracy is a little concerned that Mica is going to zoom past us, we both know what a strong runner she is.  So I launch into a story about my long lost friend who I just reconnected with and who lives in Key West but did not evacuate during the hurricane, but she is OK.  And we keep running and the pace is fast enough that Tracy does not ditch me and we do not walk and mile 26 arrives.

Mile 26.1 - There is Jody and Jared and I try to explain how we ended up with two cars in Bellingham and I should just be enjoying the finish, but friends of Mica's yell and we realize that she is making her move and the four of us all cross within a second of each other.  So my sneaky trick at the start line works to give me the chip time advantage.  But I never would have been so fast and well run without each of my pals out there today.

Mile 26.2 - So happy and feeling great.  Find RD Ben and tell him how much I love this race.  Then find Jody and Jared.  Such a positive experience it makes me want to run more marathons!

4:25:46
187th place of 329
Race#426
Marathon or Ultra#159
Bellingham Bay Marathon#11
******

9/16/17 GOAT Marathon

Fourth time here with the same awesome course and same awesomely organized event.  This year I have Jody and Nickie running the half.  I sure hope they like it as much as I do.

Last dry day of the Summer.  Rain will come tomorrow, but today will be so nice and sunny and not too warm.  Trail is dusty in lots of places and I don't have my gaiters, but it does not matter.

Start - Uneventful drive and shuttle to the start area.  Pleasant cool temperature.  Nice to see Monte.  Another year where I am surprised at how small the race is, given my rave reviews.  We start off right on time.

Mile 2 - We should have thinned out sooner, but I am near the back of a lengthy bunched up group.  I count 9 right ahead of me and three behind me.  The pace is fine, but moving right along.  I know it will be a long day so I step aside and then walk a bit.  Now I am alone and will be mostly alone the rest of the way.  If I am lucky I will pass most of that pack.

Mile 5 - Passed one at the aid station, now making a move on another.  Feeling good and enjoying the day.  Fun to be here again and see the same sights.  Just when I remember the abandoned vehicle in the middle of the woods, there it is, with another year of rust.

Using the elevation on my watch rather than distance.  Walk a little up the steeper parts, but still a very runnable course.  I know that when I reach 1,900 feet I am at the top of the first big hill.  Then the gentle downgrade. 

Mile 13 - Join the half course.  Fun to think that Jody was here a while ago.  Hope to catch up to her, but it is unlikely. 

Then the clear cut and amazing view of the straight and Canada.  Back into the deep woods.

Mile 18 - Did I mention that I am under trained compared to previous years?  No injuries, but no marathon in 9 weeks.  Since July my mileage is OK, but long runs of only 18 and 15 have me concerned that I will not endure.  And now it does get tough.  And I think of the Bellingham marathon next weekend.  Lots of walk breaks and in fact it is getting very difficult to run at all.  The slightest uphill and I am walking whether I want to or not.  Try to keep drinking fluids and eating what I can. 

One more hill, then the semi clear cut and the rocky downhill road to the real dirt road.

The long slog on the road is better than expected.  I run slowly for a mile at a time, chugging along OK.  Even pass one half marathoner and a full.  Near the end I am pretty sure that I will not beat my worst time here.  With no one in front and no one behind and a long race next weekend, I have little motivation to push it. 

So happy to get on to the paved road and know that I am almost done.  Look back and no one catching up.  I walk up the steep hill, then cruise in to the finish.

Finish - Decent run today.  No falls and nothing hurts.  So great to see Jody with her feet in the water and in great spirits.  She really liked the race too and we both plan to come back next year.


5:18:31
31st of 41
Marathon#158
Race#425
GOAT Run#4
*****

8/26/17 Watermelon Rumble 5K

Late into August and I have not raced since mid July!  Training has been good and mileage is up, just the weekends are so busy with other things.  Some great hikes around Mt Rainier and the Olympics, I'm thinking of starting a blog for our day hikes.  When I read about this 5K I jumped at the chance.  I also realized that this would allow my streak of running at least one race per calendar month to continue past 32!

$10 entry!! Put on by Terra Perkins and Tailwind Runners!!  On the trails at Priest Point Park so close to home!  Weather is so nice!  Watermelon and raffles after!  5K and 10K options, I am going to run the 5K

Great to see some friends and even chat with runners I have not met before. 

Only issue before the race is not fully knowing the course.  I wish that I ran here more often.  I am provided with a map, but that only confuses me a little.  A little worried about the cross trails over near the water.  But Terra tells us all to take the long loop over there, staying along the water and also she has marked the route with ribbon.  I am uncomfortable enough that I take a copy of the map to carry with me.





Start - We line up at the rose garden, at the stop sign by the turn to the bridge.  We are all facing forward but will immediately turn left and go over East Bay Drive.  I position myself on the left so that when we start I am in front and have room to run.  There are about 50 runners here, most doing the 5K.  No fast folks other than Martinho and he is running the 10K.

Mile 0.1 - Over the bridge, right and down the parking lot, left on to East Bay and quick left on the trail.  I am leading the way.

Mile 0.4 - Gnarly trail.  Serious up and down.  Over wood bridges, up wooden steps, single track roots and rocks.  Martinho catches up to me and we navigate together.  No one else close behind.  When my heart is not pounding from the uphill climbs, this is super fun.  Side trail to the left, but that just goes to an overlook....I think.  Another side trail right and Martinho says that one goes down to the beach.  Unsure if we are going the right way, almost going to turn back, and then there is a ribbon. 

Mile 1 - Another questionable spot and I pull out my map which helps me gain confidence, then another ribbon so we are sure we are OK.

Mile 1.3 - "Major" trail intersection.  We stop and see a ribbon for our left turn, but to my dismay there are 4 runners coming at us from the right.  They clearly took a shorter route and since we saw the ribbons on every piece of trail we were on I am sure that they inadvertently cut the course short, but Martinho and I have done it correctly.  I think I am still in front but a pack is on my heels so I pick it up about as fast as I can on this wider flat section.

Mile 1.5 - Water stop and exit at Flora Vista Road.  I ask if I am in front and they say no, I am in 5th place.  Turn on to East Bay and I can see 4 runners ahead of me, some quite far.  So discouraging and frustrating!!  I have to have a serious attitude check.  I think of how some people would get all bent out of shape and demand justice from the race director.  But really this is meant to be a fun run and I am grateful to be out here.  The 10K runners should turn left here, but none of them do.  This will create mass confusion for that race. 

Mile 2 - Back over the bridge and loop down to the road again.  I pass one guy and enter the trail on the east side of the park.  Working hard I pass two together, who admit that their distance is short as we know we are near the end.  Can't see the first place person so no need to push it hard on the last bit

Finish - Cross the line and find that Jenny has been declared the winner.  We discuss the route and compare GPS distances as the others come in.  I seem to be about two tenths of a mile longer than the others.  My watch reads 2.91 miles.  There is no way to fix things, so Terra will just leave the results as is.  There is no prize for overall winner and I can claim first male if I want to brag. 





Decide to jog a mile cool down and find Martinho coming back on the road.  I run with him and when we have to stop to consult the map, Bill zooms by on his bike.  The 10K as Martinho ran it is going to be very short, so he loops around, finds a random trail and eventually connects with another 10K runner and they just run around until they get in 6.2 miles.

Meanwhile it is watermelon and raffle time.  Pleasant post race atmosphere.  A few raffles like a "Gu boquet" but the big prize is that Terra has divided the race proceeds into two prizes each of $250 cash.  Alas I do not win, but we are all so happy to see a young lady (going into 8th grade I think) take home one of the big cash awards.

So a mess of a course in a couple of places, but I would totally come run this one again.

29:17
Race#424, 5K#111
*****

7/22/17 WA State Senior Games 5K

 


Second time here.  This year we are at North Thurston High School so it is very close to home.  Sign up the day of and it is $42 with shirt.  I could enter more track and field events for only $9 each, but the 5K is enough for today.

Marathon last Saturday. After that my "Summer Sniffles" got worse.  Also lack of sleep with kids here.  Monday I had to get up at 3:45 to get them to the airport.  Monday I was so tired but as the week progressed I felt better.  Very easy running T-Th with a day off yesterday.

1.5 mile warm up.  Fun to start on the track.  Race is so small but there are lots of other events here so it is a busy place.  Saw an old guy struggle to get out of his car, then saw the can of Red Bull in his hand.  Chip timed by Terry again.  Small tag is pinned to my shorts at the left hip.  Guy asks me if that is my good hip.

Start - Start on the track.  I get behind Tim Oguri.  Either he or Pat will win.  No need to stress about possibly winning.  We start with the 10K and right away there are a bunch of people in front of me.

Mile 0.5 - Out the stadium, through the parking lot, along the road and police escort across Slater Kinney.  Now a longer straight bit.  Three guys way ahead, then one woman who I will not catch.  One guy closer and I slowly reel him in.

Mile 1 - Along Martin Way and now onto the Chehalis Western Trail.  Ron Volunteering.  Rachel sighting, she says that if I can talk I am not running fast enough.  It is hard to focus on the pace, but I feel OK.  Fun to be along the same course as last week.  Then it was mile 19 and a lot easier pace.  See two of the guys come back, one is going on for the 10K course.  Turn around and I take a quick cup of water.  The guy that I passed is not far behind, good incentive to keep working.

Mile 2 - Sad to leave the cool shade and return to the much hotter roads.  Just after mile 2 marker I see the 90 year old man finishing his first mile.  Doing great!  He will finish looking strong and well under an hour.

Mile 2.5 - Trying to focus.  Legs are sore from last week.  Getting really hot.  But my place is secure.  Once I hit the track I sprint to the finish.

Mile 3.1 - 3.09 on the GPS.  I am happy enough with my finish time.  Being the only one in my age group I get to stand on the podium and have a gold medal draped around my neck.


 



Fun event.  More folks should do it.

24:13
4th of 15, 1st in age group
Race #423, 5K#110
*****

7/15/17 Trials Legacy Marathon

My first time here at this second annual event, a marathon that retraces the course of the Women's Olympic Trials marathon, held in Olympia before the 1984 Olympics (the first Olympics that women where allowed to compete in the marathon).  I heard (but don't quote me on this) that the RDs are trying to raise money to erect a statue/monument in Marathon Park to commemorate that race.  I love the idea of another local marathon, though I could not make it last year, I was happy to register early for this. The $80 entry fee is not bad considering we get a shirt, socks, medal and a whole lot of volunteer and police support.

A number of things happened recently to take away my competitive spirit though.  I have not run farther than 7 miles since June 18.  Trip to England and then Caleb and family visiting messed with my normal routine.  Birthday party with cake and ice cream last night.  Started feel a cold (the Summer Sniffles) coming on yesterday.  Seven days ago I ran very hard to win the Mcleary Bear 10K.  I think that my legs will be OK, but my competitive spirit needs a break.  No desire to push myself hard.  Oh and it is going to get very warm out, another reason to take it easy.  Plus the course......not having run this race before and knowing that it is a small event, I am afraid that we may be on sidewalks a lot and probably have to stop for traffic lights at times.  At packet pickup yesterday I learn that there are only 35 runners registered.  So disappointing.  The Lakefair half and 8K will be going on at the same time, with hundreds of runners, but I will be out there all alone.  Best thing is to find someone or two who are OK with a slower pace and stick with them.

Enter Vicki and Emillie.  I first met them in April at Blooms to Brews and have since seen them at Capital City and the Seattle Rock and Roll.  I knew that today is a special day for them and since they finished behind me at each of those races, I hope to run with them today and have it be easier for me than if I really ran for time.  This will be Vicki's 100th marathon and she is finishing a goal set be her late husband, so it is a very meaningful day for them.  They are pleased to see me and seem happy that I want to tag along with them.

Start - At Heritage and Evergreen Parkway.  Easy parking here, but getting back from the finish (3 miles away) is not entirely figured out.  Bright sun and warm enough to start in just short sleeves.  Crockpot is here as is Maniac Laura, so I have another option of someone to run with, but for now I will stick with Vicki and Emillie.  Chipped timed, but no mat at the start line.  Such a small group though the start is smooth with plenty of room to run on the quiet street.

Mile 4 - A bit of a rough start  but now I am feeling warmed up and running relaxed.  Over Highway 101, down second ave to Littlerock road.  Over I-5 and up Capital Way.  I know this whole course but seldom run on any of the first 18 miles.  Traffic will build and the roads will get busy.  It may have been a nice course in 1982, with closed roads, but with all the development and our little race, it may not be so fun.  Yes it is as flat as you can get around here, but I would take scenery and hills and quiet roads compared to this.  Matt sighting, followed by Rob sighting.  Thanks for volunteering!

Mile 13 - 2:18 on the clock.  We are hoping to beat 5 hours, so we are in great shape.  Very uneventful morning so far.  Warming enough to start pouring water on my head.  So pleased with the number of volunteers, course marshals (in bright shirts) and police at road crossings.  No waiting for traffic lights.  Aid stations every two miles.  Never a questions of where to turn on the course.  But the best part by far is running with my new friends.  They think that I am sweet to run with them, but the miles are just easing by in pleasant conversation and I am happy to be here with them.  Perhaps mother and daughter have run out of things to talk about after 8 marathons in 16 weeks, they seem so happy to have me with them and to talk about whatever.  They keep saying how nice I am, plus they think that I am a fast runner.  They also have family and friends up from Portland just to spectate and help them celebrate this achievement.  It is a nice diversion every time we see them.  In the mean time we have settled in to a steady pace.  Yelm Highway sidewalk, College Street, 45th Ave, Ruddle Road (with cones so we can run in the road); these are roads I would never choose to run on.

Mile 15 - Starting to tire.  I expect that we will take walk breaks soon.  But Emillie says that her Mom does not walk, just slows a little. Emillie is still running on her toes, like a deer.  For now Vickie is running strong and I begin to wonder if I will be able to keep up.  Yes I came in ahead of them in three races this year, but now that I think about it, they were very close behind me in each one.  We really are very well matched to be running together. Right shoulder is bugging me.  Water bottle with phone is heavy.  I take two ibuprofen.  I often carry some with me but seldom use it.

Mile 18 - Through St Martins, then back along and over I-5.  Now the course will get nicer.  The shade on the Western Chehalis trail is so welcome.  After that long gradual uphill, we get a nice downhill.  We pass a couple of runners and are maintaining our pace.  I feel better after that bad patch.  Just hot and tired, nothing hurts, shoulder is under control, I think the ibuprofen helped. 

Mile 21 - On to 26th street (no road shoulder or shade) for about 2 miles and then it will be along the bay and gentle down to downtown. Vicki is running like a machine.  I want to take a walk break.  Instead I push on ahead.  Until this point I had been careful to not get ahead, let Vickie set the pace, but I just want to be done with this section.  I can see the aid station and the turn onto Ames road up ahead.  I get into the zone and trudge on, planning to wait for them in the shade.  Alone for the first time in this race, work really hard to get through this section.  Walk into the aid station and look back, and Emillie and Vicki are only a few feet behind me.  No rest for the weary, we continue on together.

Mile 24 - So nice coming down East Bay.  Gentle breeze and gentle downhill.  Making great time.  We want Vickie to finish however she wants but we all realize that a sub 4:40 is very possible.

Mile 26 - Downtown, so great to see that mile marker.  No problem reaching 4:40.  But then the last 0.2 miles seem long.  My watch had been running 0.1 miles long, now it reaches 26.4 at the finish. 

Mile 26.2 - Vickie's friends are here with balloons and 100 roses.  I make sure that they finish a step ahead of me.  Hugs all around.  Each of us happy with how the run went.  Watermelon and orange slices and water.  Jared and Caleb are here to drive me back to my car so I do not stay long.  Buy a cold Mountain Dew and it is so good!

My watch read 4:38:40 but a volunteer at the finish said that our time as 4:37:40, looking at a clipboard.  Also I did not see a chip reader at the finish, don't know what is up with that, but I don;t care.

I had a much more fun day than I expected, thanks to my new friends and a well organized and supported course.  The running was good too, with great pacing and an even split time!  The course with the mostly ugly busy roads and long stretches in the hot July sun, and the small numbers are reasons why I might go back to the half at Lakefair next year.


Results pending
Race#422, Marathon or Ultra#157
*****

7/8/17 Mcleary Run From The Bears 10K

Today the Mcleary Bear Festival 10K will join the pantheon of races that I have run at least 5 times.  Fun little race that is an easy choice if I don't have better plans for that day.  Sunny and warm.  I arrive in plenty of time to get my parking spot.  Same RD as last year, who is again not really advertising this race.  Last year we had six in the 10K and this year there will be seven.  The two miler option is more popular with about 20 runners and walkers in that.  Same course as last year, except we will run the loop counterclockwise this year, finishing down main street before a final turn to the finish line.  Same side of the road as previous years, this way will be facing traffic which will make it a little safer.  $10 Day of Race entry with the no shirt option is much appreciated.

I jog the 0.2 miles from the registration/finish area to the start line on the quiet side street.  Then a longer warm up and I am feeling ready to race.  Just before 9AM the other runners and the RD, volunteers and a police officer arrive.  We are all standing in a semi circle listening to the safety briefing as I evaluate the competition.  One young guy looks really fast and my hopes of winning are dashed.  Also two very fit looking woman who I imagine could be faster than me. 

Start - With little fanfare both races take off.  Very short way down the quiet road and cross the larger street to then turn right, as the two milers turn left.  I am even with one woman, but out of the corner of my eye, I see the young guy turn left to run the 2 miler.  I pull ahead of the woman.

Mile 0.2 - There are so many ways that one can feel while running.  Very rare for me is the exciting yet scary feeling of leading a race.  I know that someone is right behind me and that I need to just do my thing and not go so fast.  Steady but strong and able to go a little faster if needed.  10K is a tough distance to get right.  My breath is worse than my legs.

Mile 0.8 - I know that there is a left turn ahead.  The course is not marked on the road itself, but there are plenty of yellow signs sticking up, warning drivers about the race.  I see a left turn and no marker ahead, but the road says "dead end" so that can not be my turn.  I hesitate a little and look back.  First woman is maybe 25 feet back.  I go straight and soon see a yellow sign, then the real turn.

Mile 1.5 - Getting warm.  Aid station. I drink a little and splash a little on my head.  Look back and I have extended my lead but not by much.  Hot in the sun, cooler in the shade.  Steady pace, but it is harder in the sun and a nice relief in the shade.  Last year's new chip seal road is much more runnable this year.

Mile 3 - I look at my watch just at it clicks to 3 miles and see that I ran that mile in 7:45.  My overall pace is 7:54, so that was my fastest mile so far I think.  I am hot, but if I can hold this pace I should be able to win.  Now the second aid station.  Cup of very cold water.  I tell the volunteer "thanks, that was great".  She says "that is Karang (?) water".  "Oh that's so good" I say.  She replies "Do you know what that is?  Do you want to hear about it?"  I am already 30 feet past her and trying to win a race so I shout something about not having the time right now, sort of in a hurry.  Later I will try to look it up, but I don't think that I remember the name correctly.  I do peek back and see that my lead is extended and fairly comfortable.

Mile 5 - The wheels start to come off.  Legs stiffen a little.  New chip seal here.  Frightened that I will really fall apart.  I really want to know how far my lead is.  But looking back is a sign of weakness and fear.  But I am weak and scared so I might as well look back.  I do and see that I am still comfortably in front, confident now that I will win.  Soon the big smoke stack comes into view and it does not look so far to the finish line.  Down Main Street where people are starting to gather for the parade.  No one cheers for me though.  Then the last turn to the finish where a small crowd waits and cheers me in.

Finish (mile 6.2?) - But my GPS reads 5.79 miles.  First woman comes in less than a minute later and says that the course is short and she keeps running to get in an even six miles.  Second place woman finishes and her watch reads 5.76 miles.  We each get a cold bottle of water and medal and recount our adventure.  None of us, nor the RD can figure out why the course is reading short.  Maybe because I was exhausted from running so hard, but the simple answer comes to me a few hours later.  By turning right instead of left at the start, we never covered the short bit of main road from the quiet street to the finish line.  In previous years we would do that at the start of the race and then again as we approached the finish line.  So my finish time looks very fast, but really I am happy with the pace I ran and of course to get the victory.  Then I realize that I was the only male out there, so in addition to first overall and first male, I was also last male runner. 


46:27
1st place of 7
Race#421, Bear run 10K #5
*****

7/4/17 Steilcoom 4 on the 4th

My tenth time here!  Off and on since 2000.  My last race here was in 2014 and I remember being a little unhappy with my finish time.  But it is a quality event steeped in tradition.  Back from England yesterday afternoon, the jet lag had me in bed early but also up before the alarm and feeling well rested.  I know to get there early, so I can get a good parking spot, with easy exit after the fair is all set up and in progress.  Great DOR at $20 with chip timing by Terry Fritz and crew.

Sunny and warm.  Beautiful views across Puget Sound, to the snow capped Olympics.  1.6 mile warm up finishing with strides at a decent speed.  No injuries to report.  Very little running in the past 10 days, but lots of walking around England.  No speed work in, so little expectations to be fast.

Start - Nice to see Wayne.  No other friends here though.  But it is a very good turn out, with lots of families and young runners.  National Anthem and we are off.  Crowded.  Three groups pushing kids in wheel chairs which is great, but do they need to start right in the front?  I will beat at least two of them by a long way. One guy standing still fiddling with his watch.  Some of the kids and young adults are not patient and are zigging and zagging in a dangerous way.  Close calls but no tripping.  By a tenth of a mile there is room to run and everything settles down.

Mile 1- 7:21 - Zoomed down the big hill and now it will be flat.  Keep the yellow lines to my left but try to run the tangents as much as possible.

Mile 2 - 7:38 overall pace.  Staying even with most runners but passing the small kids who went out too fast.  Take water and splash more on myself than goes in my mouth.  Trying to focus on keeping up the pace.  Mostly it is my breath more than my legs.  I can put on very small surges, but they don't last.  Running so that I will have no regrets that I did not try hard enough.  This is tough.

Mile 3 - Along the water.  Bald Eagle flies across the road and lands in a tree just ahead of me.  So fitting for the 4th of July.  Back to race focus and then the uphill to the end.  Confident that I will beat an 8/mile pace, I relax just a little.  A couple of runners pass me, but none look like they are in my age group so I do not freak out.  Can't help but slow on the hill.  Give it a good effort to the finish.

Finish - 4.04 on the GPS.  A little nauseous, it takes a few minutes to recover.  Then with this great timing service I can get my result and third place in age group ribbon.  Happy to see that I finished 9 seconds faster than three years ago.

Don't stay long, but really happy that I raced today.

31:15
77th of 341
Race#420, 4 on the 4th #10
*****