1/16/16 Loop the Lake Marathon

Instead of many loops around a little lake, this is one big loop around part of a giant lake.  This race has been done a few times before, but nearer the holidays.  This is my first time here.

Some really great things.  The race is free.  I registered on line, but there was no cost.  Clothing and money donations collected for those in need, so I did contribute a little cash. The start and finish are at The Balanced Athlete (indoor staging area) store at "The Landing" in Renton. Less than an hour drive and easy to find just off the highway.  Big empty parking garage next to the store.  75 runners and I know many of them.  Though I will run mostly alone, it will be comforting to have friends ahead and behind me.  There will be five aid stations.  That is amazing for a free event.

Some not so great things.  It is a race and should count for Maniac stats, but it is very low key.  We are told to keep track of our own times and results will not be published anywhere.  No medals or shirts but I am fine with that.  There are two clip boards going around and we add our names.  When we are done we can check out, so they know that everyone is in.  While the directions seem simple (keep the lake on your right) I know that there will be some tricky points.  The course has been marked with flour arrows, many of which will be dough blobs after the rain. Not every turn is marked.  But the RD gave some clear directions about some points and also said that we follow the little green signs with the bicycle icon, staying on a bike trail most of the way.

Still I am a little worried as I zoom in on the course map.  I never carry my I-phone with me during races, but decide to do so today, despite the rain.  It goes into a zip-lock bag and deep into my rain coat pocket, should it be needed.  I also have a trash bag, hat and gloves that I will not wear.  Carrying my water bottle.  Forecast is for rain, could be heavy at times.  It is raining at the start.

Start - We pose for a group photo and then are off.  Taking my time, we make a turn and are on the sidewalk.  Joe Schrum sighting.  Wait for a walk signal, then onto a paved trail where the Cedar River flows into Lake Washington.

Mile 4-6 - Rain picked up and the trash bag went on.  Sidewalk running with big downs and ups at every driveway.  Rainier Ave is super loud as the cars go by on the wet roads.  Make the turn onto Seward Park road and things quiet down.  But a long uphill (with Fontanel street at the crest!) was not expected.  This is all new territory for me. Photo op as I enter the aid station.

Mile 8-10 - Into Seward Park.  Rain stops and the trash bag comes off.  Been following Ted Eckert and gradually gaining on him.  He is running for two miles, then walking and averaging a 10/mile pace.  All of that works for me too.  He knows the route and I would be smart to just follow behind him.  On the sidewalks there was not room to run together, but here in the park there is room.  I catch up to him right at mile ten, aid station, and he diverts to the restroom.  I continue on my own, hoping that I find the way OK.

Mile 10-14 - Steady pace.  Weather getting nicer.  Easy route to follow and the course is the same as the Seattle Marathon, except we are on the sidewalk/trail instead of the road.  Fun to see the I-90 bridge get close.  I remember that I have my phone with me, so I snap a picture looking ahead and back too.  Christy Hammond is not far behind.

 I continue on.  Plenty of water in my bottle, I decide to skip the next aid station....but they have cookies!  So I take a chocolate chip and munch on it as I go on.

Mile 14-17 - Approaching I-90.  Things get a little confusing here but I see an arrow pointing left.  Coming back on the road is a runner with a Maniac hat, asking me if I am in this race.  She says that she added 4 miles here, and just could not find the bike path to take onto the highway.  I show her the arrow that I had just seen and we head up and to the left.  (At times the arrows were hard to spot, among all the city paint markers for this and that on the pavement)  We see a set of steps and I know that we are supposed to go up steps, but I am also sure that we are supposed to go under both sections of highway before going up the steps.  We go on, under the second bridge and there are the steps.  Up, up and up, is not too hard.  I stop for a photo, then we see the green bike sign and the path over the lake.  Now along the highway.  My new runner friend takes off.  Great form and if she really was four miles ahead of me, she must be super fast and also frustrated.  She becomes a small speck ahead of me.  I see the blue skies, remember my camera and get a photo looking back to Seattle and a tiny Christy.

Mile 17-20 - On to Mercer Island.  Overall pace has slowed with the steps, unsure turns and photo stops.  I don't care.  Up around the bend and there, standing still is the fast runner, very unsure of where to go.  The paved trail splits off and there are no markings.  I believe that we are to stay close and parallel to the highway except when we go above it on the "Mercer Cap".  I tell her that I am 90% sure that this is the right we.  She gets ahead of me pretty quickly.  But farther onto the island, it gets more confusing.  There are the green bike trail signs, (mostly) but no course markings.  Lots of crisscross side paths and sidewalks.  Coming back on one is the fast runner.  She must be so frustrated!  We navigate together now.  I ask her name and when she says Amanda, I know who she is.  I should have recognized her running form.  I have no business running with her at this stage in a marathon, she is way out of my league.  But that is the fun thing about these races, the unexpected company. We talk a bit and it is nice.  Twice I ask locals if I am heading the right way, because it is not so clear.  Finally we get off the island and reach another aid station. After a few more sketchy turns we are on a clear bike route and it should be straightforward from now on.  I am keeping pace with Amanda who is probably going slow to stay with her navigator.  But I will never hold this pace the whole way and it would be wise to dial it back for now.  I send her on and we both will reach the finish and stay on course.

Mile 21-26  - Nice route right along I-405.  Stop for a photo.  Walk at times when I feel like it, but run slowly long stretches.  No real wall, but tiring legs and little motivation.  All alone and I am not even looking at my pace.  Every once in a while I look back, but there is no one there. 

Surprise on the course is to run right past the VMAC, home of the Seattle Seahawks.  They have a playoff game tomorrow.  I stop for a photo.  Then I send a Snapchat to my family.  Really not having my head in the race.

Clouds come in and it starts to rain a little.  Finally I come up with a goal of beating 4:40.  Uphill, then a nice downhill into Renton and I know I am close.

Mile 26.0 - Stopped at the first of two big intersections.  Waiting forever for the walk light.  Body thinks it is done running.  Cross the street and have to wait again.  Might lose that 4:40, but after I cross it is just a short way to the end.

Mile 26.4? - At the store.  GPS reads 26.23, but the RD had said it would be 26.4.  I go into the store and turn off my watch.  Pigtails and Amanda are there to greet me.  Body feels pretty good.  I sign the clipboard and count the number that have come in, to determine my place.  Need to get home, so I head out right away

Earliest in the year that I have run a marathon.  Glad I did it and I would do this one again.

4:38:45
18th of 75
Race #375, marathon or ultra #134 
*****

1/9/16 Run for Faith 10K

Elma WA.  6th annual event and my 4th time here.  Twice I have done the 5K, this will be my second year in a row for the 10K

Beanie instead of a shirt is a welcome change. $30 pre registered with proceeds to the church's food bank.  Course has some minor changes and sounds a little confusing, but I am not worried.

A little rain on the way over, but it is dry now.  Cool but not too bad.  A half mile into my warm up and I am back at the car to put on a jacket and gloves.  But after another mile, I decided to race without them, and not wear a hat either.  Shorts and two long sleeve shirts will be fine.

It is the Run for Faith, so we gather at the start and have a short prayer.  Barb gives us directions and our little group sets out.

Start - 5K and 10K together on the open road and sidewalk, but I positioned well and there is no passing or being passed.  I try not to go out too fast, but I did warm up well and am moving along.

Mile 0.5 - Pass one guy.  Now the sketchy bit behind the school and through a narrow gate.  Right on Third and over Highway 12.

Mile 1.5 - Just behind Mike Henderson, but like last weekend he is doing the shorter race, so he reaches the turn around and waves goodbye.  Two runners ahead of me.  I saw Loren at the start so I knew that I would not win today.  That took the pressure off, wondering who would show up at this little race.  Now I wonder if there are any runners behind me.  What if everyone else is doing the 5K?  At the right turn I look back and do not see anyone, so I am either in last place, or comfortably in 3rd.

Mile 2.0 - Long straight flat part.  Keep losing my focus.  Thinking about work, its been so busy.  Bring my mind back to running form and I go faster.  Orange shirted Steve is a ways ahead of me, but when I put on a burst, I am catching up a little.  I can't not handle the speed for long and have to ease off.

Mile 2.7 - Right turn into the "airport".  Quick turn around, staffed by volunteers.  Back to the main road, then a volunteer points me to a trail for a short out and back.  I am happy to see three runners well behind me. Later I will see one guy walking.  So I am right in the middle.  Rough narrow trail along the lake.  I stop for a second to let Steve pass by coming towards me, ahead of me.  Then I reach the turnaround and keep following him.

Mile 3.2 - Back on the road, now another diversion, around the little lake.  Paved trail this time, but we have to go up a giant curb and over some grass the get there.  Volunteer points the way.  Smooth running around the lake but my average pace has slowed to just over 8/mile.  I wanted to be sub 8/mile and under 50 minutes.  Last year I ran this (slightly easier course) in 47 something.  I know I will be slower today, just like I was last week.  But I feel better than last week.  I am able to pick up the pace for a bit.

Mile 4.5 - Quick water stop at the aid station.  Then over the bridge and into town. Left turn.  Watch for traffic.  Behind the school now.  Gaining on Steve but he is too far away.  Look back on the up hill turn but don't see anyone.  Cruise into the finish with a pretty good kick.

Finish - 6.16 on the GPS.  Slower than last year but I'll take it.  7:53/mile so a good even/negative split.

Now inside for the raffles.  So many prizes and so few runners, that we each get to pick three items from the table.  Barb has results together quickly and I get a ribbon for winning my age group.  Really happy to take home a pie and honey.

That is it for "fast" running for a while.  I have a couple of epic adventures planned, both urban and wild, in the coming weeks.  Still enjoying the races and happy to be injury free.

48:54
3rd of 7
Race#374
*****

1/1/16 Steilacoom 5 miler

14th time racing on January first.  Pre registered and easy to get up here for the 9AM start.  Great to see old friends, continuing racing into another year.

New chip timing should really speed up results.

Super cold.  About 25 degrees at the start, sunny and frosty but not too slippery.  Will have to watch for ice spots though.  I decide to wear tights along with jacket hat and gloves.  Rare to race in long pants, but it is just so cold.  Start warming up at 8:40 AM and a couple of loops around the track have me ready to run.

Start - Smaller crowd than previous years, with many people doing the 5K.  Still packed on the track.  We get going OK and I only have to pass a couple of people to reach my desired pace.

Mile 0.15 - Just after rounding the track I can feel stress/pain in my left ankle.  No warning, warm up was fine, I have not felt anything like this in a while.  It is not so bad, I just keep running and hope it goes away.

Mile 1.0 - 7:45 - Left ankle bothers off and on, but it is not stopping me, or slowing me much.  So cold, it is harder to catch my breath than normal.  Pass a couple of people and now gaining on Mike Henderson.

Mile 1.55 - Mike reaches the turn around for the 5K race and I have no one to follow.  Working hard and glad that I only have one mile till my turn around.  Lose some speed on the little uphills.  One guy about my age gradually catches me.  We will go back and forth and spur each other on for the next couple of miles.

Mile 2.5 - Turn around and now more downs than ups.  Every time I try to speed up I am only good for a few steps and then my breathing gets me and I just can not keep moving my legs so fast. Not having a great run today.

Mile 4 - Still pushing hard but I don't think that I can beat last years time, which was my slowest here.  Do my best and hit the track for a decent finish.  Never find that fast gear though.

Mile 5 - Mile 5.06 on the GPS.  Cross the finish.  Ankle seems OK.  Hurts a little with some movements, I think some rest will make it fine.  My slowest time on this course, but still nice to get out and race on the first day.

New Garmin Fenix 3 watch, with lots of features.  It kept track of my mile split times which were:
Mile 1 - 7:44
Mile 2 - 7:52
Mile 3 - 8:02
Mile 4 - 7:43
Mile 5 - 7:50
Mile 0.06 - 26 sec

39:39
32nd of 91
Race#373
****

12/19/15 Pigtails Marathon

My 7th time here and my tradition of "sticking it to the Solstice".  I am sad that this might be the last year for this race as RD Pigtails is retiring (I am so appreciative of her putting this on all these years) but maybe someone else will take up the challenge.  At least I am here this year and the weather looks good.  Cold but not too bad, and just a few drops of rain during the race.  My feet will stay dry and I will be comfortable the whole way.

Start - Crowded on the narrow trail for the short out and back, but not so bad.  I don't worry about pace and I stay relaxed.  Then back across the bridge and onto the real trail.

Mile 1 to 5 -  With Mike and Ted.  Catch up to the Prez and Krez.  There is an 80% chance that they will finish well ahead of me today.  I would be 80% dumb to pass them here.  So I just hold back, run with them and mostly settle in behind them.  Also new to me Lisa and Wendy are rounding out our pack.  About 9:25 per mile.  That seems just a little faster than I should be going, but not at all unreasonable.  I would be fine with a sub 4:20 finish today.  This pace would be about 4:10 and if for some reason (unlikely) I am feeling great, I can always speed up later.  Yes, I am running smart today.

Mile 5 to13.7 - Lose Mike and Ted at the aid station.  The five remaining stay together to the turnaround. Missing the Rogue Wave.  We had some epic times here.  Raven flies just overhead.  Wonderful aid station with warm salty roasted potato pieces, thanks to Christie's family.  Old school Maniac Central with so many happy runners.  Steve Walters sighting.  Rikki coming back from the turn around going way faster than I expected.  She will go on the be the fist place woman.

Mile 13.7 to 19 - Turn around.  Now wave to the the runners just behind me.  Prez and Krez stop to use the bathroom and my whole race strategy is shot.  I am not going to wait for them so I go on ahead.  Lisa and Wendy running the same pace so we just keep going at that speed.  Try to not look at my watch too often and just let the miles accumulate.  Get into some nice grooves and keep up the pace, though I lose a little time at the aid station.

Mile 19 to 26.2 - Get a little bout of light/fuzzy headedness.  Not taking any chances I slow to a walk and pop my third S!Cap.  This is a symptom that I know all too well, but also know the cure.  Slow down and get that salt pill down and I will be fine.  Back on track.  But now my hips begin to bother me a little.  Shorten the stride, slow the pace and look forward to the last aid station.  There it is.  Less than 5 miles to go.  Wendy now a ways behind me and Lisa too far ahead.  I will run the rest of the way slowly (walking the bridges) but fearing the Prez and Krez.  From here out I have to run a ten minute mile to get under 4:20 and that will not be easy.  So I work hard, but do not struggle all out.  Look back too many times.  Finally there is the finish line.  Cutting it close I just get in under 4:20 ( about 40 seconds faster than last year) and am pleased enough with that.

Change clothes, get some soup and quesadillas and sit and hang around the finish area longer than I have at maybe any race.  Over an hour of just enjoying the company of friends, cheering runners in and relaxing the tired body.  Super nice day, I really hope that this event will continue in some form.

4:19:56
13th of 56
Race#372
Marathon or Ultra#133
*****

12/5/15 Saint Martins Jingle Bell Run 5K

Third year in a row here.  Not a race I need to run, but Jody has a work thing and I do want to run today.  Pick up my 10th T-shirt of the year.  Getting close to 100 lifetime 5K races.

Got my number and swag bag yesterday, so it is extra easy to get here and be ready to race with little time to wait.  Heavy rain on the drive here, now at 8:40 it lets up just in time for a warm up.  Light rain, a little wind and 42 degrees at the start.  Dark clouds.

This 5K is for "competitive runners who can run it in less than 30 minutes." In 2013 there were 577 finishers.  In 2014 they added the fun run after the competitive run and the total in my race dropped to 204.  This year we are down to 145 runners, but with a much larger group (many in costumes) in the later event.

Warm up is OK but not great.  Seattle Marathon was six days ago.  Line up giving all these young fast looking kids a place ahead of me.

Start - Feel pretty good and go out fast.  I know that I will slow on the clumpy grass part.  Wet.  Soon it gets difficult to maintain pace.  Terra passes me.

Miss my mile one split time.  Lots of runners with me, passing and being passed.  No one I know or that I can really stay with.  Slow on the grass as expected.  Hard time up the hill, then more trail and out to the pavement.  Feet are wet.  Finish the first loop at about 7:43/mile which is dissapointing.

Grind out the second half as best I can. I-phone 6 on the ground getting rained on.  I will check for it after I finish, but it will be gone, hopefully back to the owner. Kali Walker sighting.  All runners got a jingle bell and I tied mine to my shorts and the constant ringing is bugging me.  Lots of runners have done the same and the bells were fun for the first five minutes. Slow on the grass and hill, but running about the same pace as earlier. 

Confident of beating 24 minutes but as I get nearer to the finish, I really need to speed up to get that time.  Quite a bit slower than the past two years but really everything felt pretty good.  No injuries or nagging spots.  I will blame it on the Seattle Marathon and the weather today.  Chip timed with results available right away.

23:54
55th of 145
Race#371, 5K#96, SMJB5K#3
****

11/29/15 Seattle Marathon

I have not run here since 2011.  This will be my 5th Seattle Marathon, dating back to 2005.

Jared is taking a class at NU that is combination Bible study (Hebrews) and marathon training, culminating in today's race.  Some of his classmates are running the half and three or four of them are here for the full.  So exciting to get to run a marathon with my son.  We did one long training run together, and he got in one 20 miler with his group.  He is hoping for 12 minute miles and has set a realistic goal for his level of training.  I feel a little pressure to make sure that he has a successful run, but the pace should be easy enough for me, to relax and enjoy the event.

Jody drops us off at the start and will be a champion spectator.  It is cold, but dry and no wind.  Hat and gloves will stay on most of the way, but it is really decent running weather.

Start - We line up well and it takes us about a minute to get to the chip mat.  Crowded but everyone is mellow back here.  Lots of Quadzilla runners.  And so many Maniac friends, we will always be near someone I know.

Mile 1 - We see one person run into the Monorail support.

Mile 3 - Run with Deb and Marie for a couple of miles.  The tunnel is full of spooky noises.

Mile 5 - The out and back on the I-90 bridge.  Jared is shocked by how many people I know.  Lots of hand slaps. Stop to shake Tom's hand (his 100th marathon).  I had forgotten how much I like this race.  Great course and so many runners I know and get to see on the out and back.  Pedro is "sleeveless in Seattle" as usual.

Mile 8 - Just before the Lake Washington Blvd. we stop for a quick photo.

Now the long route along the lake.  Keeping Jared supplied with energy fuels and making sure he drinks at each aid station.  Great support every two miles.  Mel Preedy sighting. See a crow hop off with a shiny empty Gu packet.

Mile 12 - The long loop around Seward Park.  Walk a bit before the half mat.  We are ahead of schedule at 11/mile.

Mile 13.1 - 2:25.  Pass a woman dressed as a red Starbucks cup.  Then we pass Alexa, one of Jared's classmates, the one that he is secretly hoping to beat.

Mile 18 - Walking the aid stations, but running everything else, though at a slow pace.  Alexa catches up and we run two miles together.  then she pulls ahead and gradually gets out of sight.

Mile 20.5 - Finally off the lake.  Now the classic, steep Galer street hill.  Distract Jared with some Power Gels and then we remember to use our arms.  Walk the hill and try to get him running again.  Leapfrogging lots of people from here to the end.

Mile 23 - The Arboretum is really nice. Long gradual hill.  Jared is running but much more slowly.  No pain complaints so I try to push him a little.  His run up hill is so slow that it is hard for me to run that slowly.  But if I walk, he thinks that it is Ok for him to walk and we slow even more.  I keep getting 5-10 feet in front of him and have to stop or walk until he catches up, then try to get him going faster.  But we are getting it done!  And everyone else around us is struggling, so it is a group effort and we do not feel like we are getting passed much at all.

Mile 23.5 - Then he spots Alexa walking up ahead.  Jared gains some mental energy and speeds up and gradually catches up to her.  We walk when she does and run when she does and stay behind for for a little bit.  Then we make our move past her. Hoping she will not notice us, but she does and that stokes her fire.  Over I-5 and the nice downhill for a while.  We are running much faster, but Alexa gets away.  Jared still keeps running, with very short walk breaks.

Mile 25.5 - Almost over now.  I am trying to get us to beat 5:15, but that really does not matter.  We will have a faster than expected finish time, that Jared can be proud of.  Jody gets a photo of us smiling, then it gets a little emotional as we turn on to the soccer field and the finish.

Finish 26.2 - 26.27 on the GPS.  Get our medals and space blankets and hugs all around.  Most of the food is gone at the finish area, but there is enough of some things.  Long slow painful walk to the car for Jared, but it is good for him to keep moving.  Proud of his endurance and accomplishment!


5:15:44
1406th of 1630
Race#370, Marathon or Ultra#132, Seattle Marathon#5
*****

11/7/15 Puddle Jump 10K

I ran the 10K here in 2010, maybe the first year of the event.  It was a long course and there were other problems with how the race was put on.  I came back for the 5K in 2013 and found it much improved.  Its on my B list of races.  Nice because it is local, but no compelling reason to run it.  I was not registered and it was not until Thursday that I realized I could go do this and be back home before Jody was back from her Saturday morning run with Nickie. 

Could have had a 40 mile week, but I took Friday off to rest up a bit.  Recovery from Dog Lake has been rough.  Tight sore calfs and quads for over a week.  Just starting to feel better in the past couple of days.  I hope to run sub 50 minutes today, just get in some miles, not stress about it and have fun.

$35 Day of race, same price for the 5K and 10K.  Since I am one of the first ones there this morning, they still have T-shirts, so I get that and a little bag with lip balm, deoderant and a rubber bracelet for my collection.

Rain.  Off and on.  Not too stormy, but it will be a wet one for sure.  New start/finish right at the school.  This will allow the 10K to not have to cross a road just before the turn around.  I do a half mile warm up and feel ready to go.  They have the 10K start five minutes before the 5K and we are all lined up with a few minutes before the start time.  I let the announcer know that it is Terra's birthday, so we all sing to her.

Start - I positioned well, plus we have plenty of room, so I just do my thing from the get go. 

Mile 0.1 - Oh yes, this is the race with the mile marker at 0.1 miles.  Later we will have markers at 0.6, 1.1 and so forth.  Pass Judy Fisher.  Nice to have her just behind me so that I can run scared the whole way. 

Mile 1 - 7:39 - Faster than I expected. Terra getting smaller up ahead.  I feel good and settle into the pace.  Wet leaves on the trail,  no big puddles though.  I have run and raced this paved trail many times.

Mile 3.1 - Reach the turn around.  Stop for a brief drink of water.  Legs are good, it is more my breathing that is labored and making it hard to hold this pace.

Mile 3.6 - One guy catches me and we run together for a while.  It seems like he wants to pass me, but I hold on.  Nice to have some one right there with me.  Finally after at least a half mile, he pulls ahead.  I try to focus on the running, but I keep day dreaming.  Spotted Towhee flies by.  I will have to remember  to add that to my monthly bird list.  I really need to think about the running! 

Mile 4.6 - Merge with the 5K walkers.  Not too many of them and easy enough to navigate around.  Start doing math and that sub 50 minutes is looking probably.  Its hard work, but I keep up the pace as best I can.

Finish - 6.23 miles on the GPS.  Terra came in second overall female.  Judy Fisher not far behind me.  I am really happy with my time and how the legs felt.  So glad that I decided to race today.

No raffle for me, but I do earn first in my age group (out of 4) and get this very cool metal sculpture:

48:41
12th of 52
Race#369
*****