Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Just kidding!
While road running can be pretty boring, it is a necessary evil. So, yes, I'll write about the Earth Day Run.
Event 16 in the 50@50 Project was the Earth Day 5 Miler, held in Tigard, OR. Ah, the suburbs! Clean air, wide open spaces, strip malls, and everyone drivin' an SUV for no reason whatsoever.
You can read all about Earth Day at www.earthday.org The first one was held in 1970 and was organized in part by a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. That first event drew 20 million people to the streets, all across this great country. Most were hippies, of course. And coincidentally enough, this was also the day that set a record for the single largest amount of marijuana consumed in a 24 hour period.
The race was held in Cook Park in Tigard, a very nice area with playgrounds, soccer fields, trails, woods, water, etc. Really, a very cool complex. With a full slate of events set for the day - our 5 miler, a 5k, a 5k doggie walk, kids races - the park was jamming! Lots of earth-friendly sponsors were there, including Bottle Bill from OBRC, the beverage container recycling co-op. Bottle Bill is a person in a large green bottle costume - I presume his name is Bill. The Disney Channel or Disney radio was also a sponsor - there were 4-5 minivans emblazoned with logos for Disney shows. And Chez Marie was there to serve up veggie burgers.
Neat story for them: a small local business, one that (to their surprise) landed the Burgerville account. So they now provide 'dirt burgers' to all the stores in that chain, usurping big bad Garden Burger. I like Burgerville! Check out Chez Marie and their story at www.chezmarie.com while you're checking out www.burgerville.com .
As we were getting set for our run, the event organizers called us all to the start line to get ready. He called up a few people who had been at the Boston Marathon, either running in it or watching a loved one. There was a moment of silence, then a short prayer for all those impacted by the run. But then it was time to make the ultimate statement - by running.
The course meandered through the park for a while, then hooked up with another trail system. I say 'trail' but not the fun kind, in this instance - all paved. We looped around and wound up on Durham Road for a long straight stretch. Our route joined up with the 5k'ers, who started after us so it was kinda fun picking off that group, passing them one at a time. It was a nice distraction to spot someone, then push to pass them, then do it all over again.
Camera Crew and I got separated somewhere within the first couple of miles. But, again, I knew she was not far behind me. After the mud run the previous day, we were both feeling sore in odd places - core, shoulders, triceps, etc. - basically the non-running muscle group. This race was a good one for just shaking out the sore spots!
I am happy to say that I finished in just over 57 minutes - for me, my fastest 5 miler of the year. And Camera Crew was a just a wee bit back and finished in under an hour!! I was quite pleased! We did the requisite hanging out thing, had some water and tasted some tea from one of the sponsor tents. And... GASP!!
We were a little put off that we then proceeded to pick empty plastic water bottles out of the garbage at the tea booth. Not their fault - the garbage can just happened to be placed by their table. But - what the hell, people??? EARTH DAY, remember??? That was a little discouraging, actually. My two cents - given the theme for the event, the organizers could have made recycling options much more obvious and maybe even staffed them to TEACH families, especially the kiddies, about recycling.
Soap box time:
I feel that any sponsor who shows up at a race should be required to provide recycling for everything they bring in. Prime example: a few years back, Vitamin Water showed up at Bridge to Brews (a Terrapin event) and proceeded to hand out thousands of bottles of their product. Great, right? Except all of them are recyclable and there wasn't a recycling bin/bag/box in sight. So all the empties went in the garbage. If a sponsor brings in 10,000 full bottles, they should be prepared to take back 10,000 empty ones. Peace out.
Except for the recycling thang, the event was great! We had a beer from HUB www.hopworksbeer.com and a surprisingly tasty 'burger' from Chez Marie, then headed for home. Another double header weekend in the books!!
Now comes the weird part! We have NO events set for this weekend (April 27/28) or next weekend (May 4/5). I just may go through withdrawals!! Actually, it will be good for us. Camera Crew is fighting a cold and we each have little nagging injuries and soreness, so this break provides some healing time. We'll keep running and riding, though.
This is a good thing because up next in the 50@50 Project is Event 17, a 50 mile road ride in the beautiful Tri-Cities, WA. www.inlandempirecentury.org We'll be riding with our dear friends, the Miller's - Kyle and Raynee - our hosts for the weekend; and with my brother Rich, who is coming down from Spokane to join us. Can't wait to go to the Beautiful Burbank Tavern!!
Event 16 in the 50@50 Project was the Earth Day 5 Miler, held in Tigard, OR. Ah, the suburbs! Clean air, wide open spaces, strip malls, and everyone drivin' an SUV for no reason whatsoever.
You can read all about Earth Day at www.earthday.org The first one was held in 1970 and was organized in part by a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. That first event drew 20 million people to the streets, all across this great country. Most were hippies, of course. And coincidentally enough, this was also the day that set a record for the single largest amount of marijuana consumed in a 24 hour period.
The race was held in Cook Park in Tigard, a very nice area with playgrounds, soccer fields, trails, woods, water, etc. Really, a very cool complex. With a full slate of events set for the day - our 5 miler, a 5k, a 5k doggie walk, kids races - the park was jamming! Lots of earth-friendly sponsors were there, including Bottle Bill from OBRC, the beverage container recycling co-op. Bottle Bill is a person in a large green bottle costume - I presume his name is Bill. The Disney Channel or Disney radio was also a sponsor - there were 4-5 minivans emblazoned with logos for Disney shows. And Chez Marie was there to serve up veggie burgers.
Neat story for them: a small local business, one that (to their surprise) landed the Burgerville account. So they now provide 'dirt burgers' to all the stores in that chain, usurping big bad Garden Burger. I like Burgerville! Check out Chez Marie and their story at www.chezmarie.com while you're checking out www.burgerville.com .
As we were getting set for our run, the event organizers called us all to the start line to get ready. He called up a few people who had been at the Boston Marathon, either running in it or watching a loved one. There was a moment of silence, then a short prayer for all those impacted by the run. But then it was time to make the ultimate statement - by running.
The course meandered through the park for a while, then hooked up with another trail system. I say 'trail' but not the fun kind, in this instance - all paved. We looped around and wound up on Durham Road for a long straight stretch. Our route joined up with the 5k'ers, who started after us so it was kinda fun picking off that group, passing them one at a time. It was a nice distraction to spot someone, then push to pass them, then do it all over again.
Camera Crew and I got separated somewhere within the first couple of miles. But, again, I knew she was not far behind me. After the mud run the previous day, we were both feeling sore in odd places - core, shoulders, triceps, etc. - basically the non-running muscle group. This race was a good one for just shaking out the sore spots!
I am happy to say that I finished in just over 57 minutes - for me, my fastest 5 miler of the year. And Camera Crew was a just a wee bit back and finished in under an hour!! I was quite pleased! We did the requisite hanging out thing, had some water and tasted some tea from one of the sponsor tents. And... GASP!!
We were a little put off that we then proceeded to pick empty plastic water bottles out of the garbage at the tea booth. Not their fault - the garbage can just happened to be placed by their table. But - what the hell, people??? EARTH DAY, remember??? That was a little discouraging, actually. My two cents - given the theme for the event, the organizers could have made recycling options much more obvious and maybe even staffed them to TEACH families, especially the kiddies, about recycling.
Soap box time:
I feel that any sponsor who shows up at a race should be required to provide recycling for everything they bring in. Prime example: a few years back, Vitamin Water showed up at Bridge to Brews (a Terrapin event) and proceeded to hand out thousands of bottles of their product. Great, right? Except all of them are recyclable and there wasn't a recycling bin/bag/box in sight. So all the empties went in the garbage. If a sponsor brings in 10,000 full bottles, they should be prepared to take back 10,000 empty ones. Peace out.
Except for the recycling thang, the event was great! We had a beer from HUB www.hopworksbeer.com and a surprisingly tasty 'burger' from Chez Marie, then headed for home. Another double header weekend in the books!!
Now comes the weird part! We have NO events set for this weekend (April 27/28) or next weekend (May 4/5). I just may go through withdrawals!! Actually, it will be good for us. Camera Crew is fighting a cold and we each have little nagging injuries and soreness, so this break provides some healing time. We'll keep running and riding, though.
This is a good thing because up next in the 50@50 Project is Event 17, a 50 mile road ride in the beautiful Tri-Cities, WA. www.inlandempirecentury.org We'll be riding with our dear friends, the Miller's - Kyle and Raynee - our hosts for the weekend; and with my brother Rich, who is coming down from Spokane to join us. Can't wait to go to the Beautiful Burbank Tavern!!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
50@50 Project - Event 16 - Earth Day Run 5 Miler (Take One)
After two fantastic, fear-inducing, mud-covered, smile-making events (the Dirty Du and the Dirty Dozen), Event 16 in the 50@50 Project was a boring, regular, routine, mundane five mile road run.
The end.
The end.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Mud, Mud and More Mud...
Event 15 in the 50@50 Project brought us to Albany, OR for Run Wild Adventures' Dirty Dozen 5k. These are the same folks who put on the Buck Mountain 6.5 Trail Run that I greatly enjoyed. I am happy to say that they again put on a great event for us! This was the first time they'd done this particular event, so when this sucker goes global or turns into a reality show, we can say we were there for the inaugural running.
Knowing this event was going to be another mudfest, I hadn't bothered cleaning up my trail shoes from the Dirty Du last week. I just sorta knocked the big chunks off and emptied the dirt ('dried mud') from the insides so they'd be ready to roll. My assumption was correct - this course was a fun mess. The drive down to Albany took a little over an hour. The sun played peekaboo all the way down, so we had no idea what the weather would be like for the run. Once again, Run Wild did a great job with signage and got us straight to the parking lot. We did the usual walkabout and picked up our bib numbers and goody bag.
The race was being held at the Albany Motorsports Park, which was a pretty cool way to do this type of event. Because the track winds around, in and out on itself, you could see almost the whole thing from the stands. For spectators and participants alike, it was fun to be able to look around and see people at all stages of the race. They of course had flooded parts of it to make it extra slimy muddy. We could see mud bogs scattered all over as well as most of the obstacles. Tire crawls, big tubes on angles for climbing up, cargo nets, 4' chain link fencing, wood walls about 10-12' high to climb over, monkey bars - and of course plenty of mud.
We were fortunate to be in Wave 1 (of 3) - I say 'fortunate' because the conditions only get worse when more people trample through them ahead of you. They used the drop down barricade that is used for motocross racing to start us. The gate was raised, they counted down, then dropped the gate and we were off! I don't remember all the twists and turns. Suffice it to say that the course almost immediately took us through ankle deep, wet sloggy mud. A great start to the event! We approached the first obstacle, which was cargo netting strung horizontally about 2-3 feet off the ground, so we had to bear crawl on hands and feet (or knees) to get under that. Wrist deep and ankle deep in mud from the get-go = fun, fun ,fun!
The route wound through the woods that bordered the motocross track, and it too was appropriately flooded and muddy. Somewhere in this stretch, Camera Crew and I got 'bit' by blackberry bushes or some other sort of thorny vine. When we emerged, we both had cuts, scrapes and blood from this. Not to worry - the multiple mud pond crossings rinsed the blood off! And somewhere on the stretch Camera Crew slapped me in the chest with her muddy hands, leaving 'turkey prints' on my chest. I got even, though, leaving a nice one on her arse.
Once we were back out on the motocross course, the route was up and down hills, the ones built in for jumping the motorbikes. There were various obstacles strewn about. We approached the monkey bars - this one had an option of skipping the bar crossing and wading across in the mud. We chose this one - with my bum shoulders, it would have been tough to make it across and Camera Crew knew she would end up kerplunking into the pond anyway! We crawled up a cargo net onto a platform, then jumped off into a pile of sand, this mixing well with the mud. There was a cargo container which we were to climb up and over using one of two options. There was a slightly angled climbing wall with a rope; and a multi-level platform to climb up on, this being the easier method. So, yeah, we did the latter. Plus, there was a line at the climbing wall so we would have had to wait for our turn.
Let's see... we climbed through a set of big tractor tires. This stunt I found to be especially draining - not sure why. Maybe it was because I felt like a barely fit through, so the heavy breathing was really just a prolonged sigh of relief, perhaps? Yeah, let's go with that. We approached a big water tank that was laying horizontal. We were apparently supposed to make a run at this and jump up onto it to scramble over. It was partially buried but still came up to my chest. I sized it up and then took a little help from the volunteer working this obstacle when she squatted down to offer me her knee to use as a step. Meh, I'm not proud and I didn't want to insult her by not accepting her offer, right? Right.
After sliding off the far side, I turned to see Camera Crew standing about 20 feet from the cylinder, staring it down. She started running at it, got up to it and jumped. "Ooooooof!" as she hit it broadside with her full torso! She slid down to the ground then took the volunteers offer, as well. I was very proud of her for making such a valiant effort. It wasn't until later that I told her the look on her face when she smacked into the side of the tank was priceless! I'm smart that way.
We zigged and zagged along the motocross course, up and down hills, up an embankment that is normally not an actual path and then came to the 45 degree angle tubes, which we had to enter and then climb up. These were about 4' in diameter and probably 25' long. it was a little slippery inside with caked-on mud from racers that had preceded us, but we got up and out pretty quickly. Then we approached the chain link fences. At about 4' high, I could actually swing my leg over, keeping contact with my other foot until I got my balance. Then I shifted my weight and slid (somewhat) gracefully to the other side. There were four of these to climb over. Camera Crew paused at the first one to figure out her strategy, then decided to do what I was doing. Except she's shorter so when she threw her leg over, she had to hop up and slap her leg on the top bar. It worked for her but after four of these... let's just say it was no surprise that a huge bright purple bruise appeared on her thigh not long after the race. Yikes!
After the chain link fences, there were four walls built of 2"x12", ladder-like and about 10'-12' tall. We climbed up and over those, scrambled over some various hay bale barricades and hit the finish line!
Crazy fun! Big smiles! Tired and elated at the same time! We grabbed a beer and some food, and hung out enjoying the sun, which had made its debut during the race. Once again, excellent brews from Seven Brides Brewing from Silverton. I had a pilsner and CC had an IPA www.sevenbridesbrewing.com Haven't been to their brewery yet but looking at the website, the food looks great!
We 'showered' in the makeshift outdoor rinsing station they had set up for runners. Once we were cleaned up (sort of) we went the car to get out of the muddy-a** shoes and changed clothes. Once again we took advantage of our travels to find a new breakfast joint. The Original Breakfast in Albany is quite the place. It's right off I-5 and looks like it may have been a Shari's or Denny's or something like that, based on the shape of the building. I found this link to their website but had trouble getting it to open - try it yourself, if you're so inclined. www.theoriginalbreakfastalbany.com And if you Google them, you can find a link to a four minute commercial that played on the Food Network. Food was excellent! Bex! had the peanut butter-stuffed French toast and I had a carnitas and chili verde omelette that included home fries with gravy. Most excellent!!
Camera Crew dozed a little on the drive home. We spent most of the afternoon relaxing because this was another double header weekend. The Earth Day 5 Mile run was Sunday.
Who wants to sleep in on weekends anyway??
The route wound through the woods that bordered the motocross track, and it too was appropriately flooded and muddy. Somewhere in this stretch, Camera Crew and I got 'bit' by blackberry bushes or some other sort of thorny vine. When we emerged, we both had cuts, scrapes and blood from this. Not to worry - the multiple mud pond crossings rinsed the blood off! And somewhere on the stretch Camera Crew slapped me in the chest with her muddy hands, leaving 'turkey prints' on my chest. I got even, though, leaving a nice one on her arse.
Once we were back out on the motocross course, the route was up and down hills, the ones built in for jumping the motorbikes. There were various obstacles strewn about. We approached the monkey bars - this one had an option of skipping the bar crossing and wading across in the mud. We chose this one - with my bum shoulders, it would have been tough to make it across and Camera Crew knew she would end up kerplunking into the pond anyway! We crawled up a cargo net onto a platform, then jumped off into a pile of sand, this mixing well with the mud. There was a cargo container which we were to climb up and over using one of two options. There was a slightly angled climbing wall with a rope; and a multi-level platform to climb up on, this being the easier method. So, yeah, we did the latter. Plus, there was a line at the climbing wall so we would have had to wait for our turn.
Let's see... we climbed through a set of big tractor tires. This stunt I found to be especially draining - not sure why. Maybe it was because I felt like a barely fit through, so the heavy breathing was really just a prolonged sigh of relief, perhaps? Yeah, let's go with that. We approached a big water tank that was laying horizontal. We were apparently supposed to make a run at this and jump up onto it to scramble over. It was partially buried but still came up to my chest. I sized it up and then took a little help from the volunteer working this obstacle when she squatted down to offer me her knee to use as a step. Meh, I'm not proud and I didn't want to insult her by not accepting her offer, right? Right.
After sliding off the far side, I turned to see Camera Crew standing about 20 feet from the cylinder, staring it down. She started running at it, got up to it and jumped. "Ooooooof!" as she hit it broadside with her full torso! She slid down to the ground then took the volunteers offer, as well. I was very proud of her for making such a valiant effort. It wasn't until later that I told her the look on her face when she smacked into the side of the tank was priceless! I'm smart that way.
We zigged and zagged along the motocross course, up and down hills, up an embankment that is normally not an actual path and then came to the 45 degree angle tubes, which we had to enter and then climb up. These were about 4' in diameter and probably 25' long. it was a little slippery inside with caked-on mud from racers that had preceded us, but we got up and out pretty quickly. Then we approached the chain link fences. At about 4' high, I could actually swing my leg over, keeping contact with my other foot until I got my balance. Then I shifted my weight and slid (somewhat) gracefully to the other side. There were four of these to climb over. Camera Crew paused at the first one to figure out her strategy, then decided to do what I was doing. Except she's shorter so when she threw her leg over, she had to hop up and slap her leg on the top bar. It worked for her but after four of these... let's just say it was no surprise that a huge bright purple bruise appeared on her thigh not long after the race. Yikes!
After the chain link fences, there were four walls built of 2"x12", ladder-like and about 10'-12' tall. We climbed up and over those, scrambled over some various hay bale barricades and hit the finish line!
Crazy fun! Big smiles! Tired and elated at the same time! We grabbed a beer and some food, and hung out enjoying the sun, which had made its debut during the race. Once again, excellent brews from Seven Brides Brewing from Silverton. I had a pilsner and CC had an IPA www.sevenbridesbrewing.com Haven't been to their brewery yet but looking at the website, the food looks great!
We 'showered' in the makeshift outdoor rinsing station they had set up for runners. Once we were cleaned up (sort of) we went the car to get out of the muddy-a** shoes and changed clothes. Once again we took advantage of our travels to find a new breakfast joint. The Original Breakfast in Albany is quite the place. It's right off I-5 and looks like it may have been a Shari's or Denny's or something like that, based on the shape of the building. I found this link to their website but had trouble getting it to open - try it yourself, if you're so inclined. www.theoriginalbreakfastalbany.com And if you Google them, you can find a link to a four minute commercial that played on the Food Network. Food was excellent! Bex! had the peanut butter-stuffed French toast and I had a carnitas and chili verde omelette that included home fries with gravy. Most excellent!!
Camera Crew dozed a little on the drive home. We spent most of the afternoon relaxing because this was another double header weekend. The Earth Day 5 Mile run was Sunday.
Who wants to sleep in on weekends anyway??
Friday, April 19, 2013
50@50 Project - Event 14 - XDog's Dirty Duathlon @ Hagg Lake
"Finally! Some nice single track! Here we go, time to have some muddy fun!" After a pretty solid transition from the trail run, and knocking out the first couple of miles on the pavement, I was at the trail head. Time to give my new bike a good workout. The single track started mostly flat as it wound through the trees. XDog Events knows how to do these things right. They are the best at putting on extreme events, races that really test your physical and psychological resolve. The running portion of the Dirty Duathlon - Event 14 in my 50@50 Project - was a muddy, filthy, wet, fun mess. The bike ride was sure to be the same. Check them at www.xdogevents.com and tell Kevin that David and Bex! sent you!
I came around a slight left turn and there it was before me - the first big puddle. Up to this point the trail had been wet and a little slimy, spraying me and the bike with mud. But it had been pretty easy going. As I approached the puddle, I sized it up. Big, about 4 feet in diameter. Covered the entire width of the trail, so there was no going around it. I thought to myself "Well, I guess I'm going through it!" I pedaled harder to pick up some speed, the 29 inch tires on my Trek Rumblefish One mountain bike slipping a little as I applied more torque, but still allowing me to get my speed up.
I had a big smile on my face as I charged into the puddle and...
(flash back)
I'll be honest with you - I was pretty sure I had bitten off way more than I could chew by committing to doing the duathlon. As everyone knows, Camera Crew is the brains of our operation - she chose to do just the trail run. Me, I decided to tackle the entire thing. Yeah, I did the Spring Classic a few weeks prior but this promised to be different. XDog Events Dirty Du, held out at Hagg Lake, was guaranteed to be a filth fest. With light but steady rain in the days leading up to Sunday, conditions were prime for the 'Dirty' part of this duathlon. This was a two leg event - a 5.2 mile trail run followed by a 15.something mile ride around the lake. My trepidation was in the fact that my skills at mountain biking are average on a good day and that I'm fairly new to this bike, not quite used to how it handles and not so sure I have everything set, adjusted, tweaked the way I want it. I figured this event was as good a time as any to check it out and see how it handled.
We got up early Sunday morning, gathered our race gear, put the bike rack on the SUV and loaded up. Thoughts of 'loosely attaching the tie downs for the bike' went through my head as I gave in and cinched it all down tight. I was determined to make the best of this, even as the knot in my stomach grew. The drive out to Forest Grove and on to Hagg Lake was nice. It's really pretty and the roads were empty. It rained off and on during the drive, more frequently as we got closer to the lake. It was going to be slimy for sure.
Learn more about Hagg Lake here. It's a great recreation area and very close to the city.
We made our way around the lake to Recreation Area C, on the west end of the lake. One of the large covered picnic areas would act as Event HQ, the start and finish for the race. XDog's trailer was all set up, music was playing, volunteers were setting up the finish chute, and the hard core duathletes were setting up their transitions, double checking their bikes, jogging around to get warmed up. After a little walk about and getting checked in, I unloaded the bike (which had stayed on the car after all) and rode it around to the bike racks to set up my switcheroo from run to bike. Since rain threatened, this setup consisted of me placing the garbage bag with my bike gear on the piece of cardboard in the hopes of it staying dry long enough for me to get back from the run. Once that was done, we hung out til race time, praying the rain would hold off at least until the start.
The 5.2 mile run course was set in a figure 8 - a loop out one direction, then a pass back by HQ and another loop out the other direction. The first loop was about two miles, the second (obviously) the other 3+. Us weekend warriors doing the duathlon started at 10; the smart folks doing the trail run only were set to go off at 10:30 - this staggered start designed to allow the duathletes a clearer course so we could get back to our bikes for transition.
Standing around before start time is always hard because ya just want the damn race to start already. I stood with Camera Crew and stretched a little, getting ansty to get this thing started. My mind was already past the run and thinking about the bike ride. I was trying not to freak out. Oh well - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? In true XDog fashion, our race started with a guy sounding a conch shell, which was pretty sweet. I waved bye to Camera Crew and I was off!
The first mile or so was on the road, which was kinda nice because it gave me time to get warmed up and the legs loose. We cut off the road and hit a short section of flat single track, then it dropped down to the lake. With my feet sliding around in the slimy mud, just trying to stay upright was a challenge at times. I love trail running - it's a full body and mind workout. This run was even more so because of the mud and water. There were sections that were completely under water, so you just run through it as best you can. In anticipation of this, I had tied my shoes pretty snug and was glad I did! Some parts of the trail were that deep shoe eating mud, the kind that makes the sucking sound when you full your foot out. SSSQUAAAALLLLCCCCHHHH!!! Yeah, so keeping the shoes on the feet seemed important. I stopped and quickly tied 'em up even tighter.
After slipping and sliding my way around the first loop, I was pleased to see the runners hadn't left yet. I was looking in the crowd for my cohort, when I saw her standing out to the side waiting for me! I passed through, blew her a kiss, mentioned that she should snug her shoes up. She shouted encouragement as I passed, which always picks me up. I heard their run start as I headed into the woods for the back half. This part didn't have as much mud - still had plenty, mind you - but it had some nice XDog touches. Climbing over and under some logs, through some brush, things like that. They do an awesome job of making the route interesting. Yeah - 'interesting'. Let's go with that.
As I was nearing the end of leg one of my du, I came out of the woods and there was Camera Crew. By the smile on her face, she was having the time of her life! I wished her luck and gave her a quick hug, then we went our separate ways. I headed into the transition area to change gear and start my bike ride. Little did I know at that time, it would be over three hours before I saw Camera Crew again...
(flash forward)
... "AAAAAGH!" I hit the puddle and my front tire sunk into the bog almost all the way to the hub. Twenty-nine inch wheels, remember, so almost half that. I was going fast enough that when the tire stuck, the back wheel came off the ground and I thought for sure I was going endo. I unclipped my left foot from the pedals and was heading left. The back end came down (whew!) but I was falling left so I put my foot down to catch myself. Of course, putting that foot down meant winding up about mid-shin in mud and water. After laughing (nervously) and taking a deep breath, I got off the bike. I got my right (dry) foot onto semi-solid ground, pulled my left foot out of the mire, almost losing the shoe in the process. Then I pulled the bike out, knocked the mud off so it would spin in the fork, remounted and took off.
After tightening my shoes, that is.
What can I say - for me, the ride was extremely difficult. The mud was slimy yet clay-like, so it packed the tread on the tires, meaning very little traction was to be had. I'd push down on the pedal and the back tire would spin out and the bike would slide sideways. I'm not a good enough rider (yet) to know how to handle the bike in that situation. I'll get there, though. The only time the tread cleared was on those rare stretches that were somewhat dry or where the grass had grown over. Then the chunks just peppered my chest and face. Meh, whatcha gonna do. The other hard part for me to ride was in the areas where the ruts were so deep. Imagine riding in a trench that is 3-4 inches (or more) deep as the trail winds through the woods. If you don't stay centered, if you deviate even a little, you're going down quick.
As I've said before, I ain't ever gonna win any of these events. So, needless to say, I was at the back of the pack which means the trails were already chewed up by everyone who had gone before me. Which was pretty much EVERYONE. There were several times that I thought "If I had my cell phone with me, I think I'll just call Camera Crew and have her come get me. I'll make my way up to the road and wait." In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't have my phone. I'm glad I stuck it out.
My first goal was to just make the dam. if I could get to the dam, I knew I'd be over halfway done and then I knew I could make it. Well, getting to the dam seemed to take forever. Hagg Lake is mostly a big oval-ish body of water but it also has all these inlets that shoot off to the sides. And of course the trail has to follow the contour of that. So even when I got to the point where I could SEE the dam, I'd hit another blankety-blank inlet, and the trail would shoot off AWAY from the damn dam. Aaaargh. But finally...
The dam. Thank goodness. People who participate in the events we do are, by and large, a great group. But what we've found is that the people who do the dirt events - the trail runs, the mountain biking races, the scrambles, etc - are exceptionally cool and supportive. I'm not knocking the road runners/bikers, but there are way more of them and there can be a bit of an elitist attitude with some of them.
But I am here to tell you - XDog Nation rocks! As I rode over the dam, with a firm grip on last place, people were honking, waving, shouting encouragement. One guy saw me coming, pulled over, got out of his car and asked me if I needed anything (water, food, a beer). It really is a fine group, and if I have to be last place within that class of people, well, I'll gladly take it.
The rest of the ride was more of the same - slippery, slimy mud, up and down single track. Mud bogs, slop, etc etc. I MUDdled through it (get it?) and finally saw the finish area. Over the last couple of miles, and knowing I had been on the course a loooong time, I was 100% sure that the only one who would be waiting for me was Camera Crew. At least, I hoped she would still be there! I assumed Kevin and his XDog trailer and the beer and the music would all be gone. I have to say I was a bit shocked when I came around the last corner. Yes, Camera Crew was there, beaming and clapping. The finish line was still there. The finish chute and the flags were there. Kevin and his great XDog volunteers were there. The music played. Seriously, I was so exhausted and mentally destroyed, I think I almost started crying.
I made the finish line, one of the volunteers tore off my bib number tag so they could record my time, Bex! hugged me and Kevin handed me a PBR and some pretzels. All I can say is - WOW! Class act, XDog! I was amazed they stuck around for me. I had it in my head that they would be gone and that I would have a DNF for the event. Yeah, I had my own watch running but it wouldn't be the same. I was wrong - they stayed and waited for me to complete the race! I see it like this: I made the effort, so they made the effort. Truly grateful.
You'll see in the wrap up video that I am completely wiped out. I could hardly string words together and almost opted to forgo filming. For me, part of this journey, this goal we have is for me to share the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. I was elated that I even finished - I placed 34th out of 34. Yep, small crowd, huh? I was exhausted and happy at the same time. I decided to do the video because I want to share with you and I want to record the event so when I look back at it later, I'll get to relive the experience.
it's been a great trip so far! What's up next? Since you asked...
Tomorrow, we are heading south to Albany, OR for the Dirty Dozen, a 5k with twelve obstacles, many of them mud related. This is why I didn't bother scrubbing the trail shoes! Check this one out at www.runwildadventures.com
These are the same folks who put on the Buck Mountain 6.5 Miler I did a while back.
And Sunday we are doing the Earth Day 5 Miler in Tigard. www.energyevents.com/earthdayrun
No rest for the wicked, they say. They must be talking about me!
I came around a slight left turn and there it was before me - the first big puddle. Up to this point the trail had been wet and a little slimy, spraying me and the bike with mud. But it had been pretty easy going. As I approached the puddle, I sized it up. Big, about 4 feet in diameter. Covered the entire width of the trail, so there was no going around it. I thought to myself "Well, I guess I'm going through it!" I pedaled harder to pick up some speed, the 29 inch tires on my Trek Rumblefish One mountain bike slipping a little as I applied more torque, but still allowing me to get my speed up.
I had a big smile on my face as I charged into the puddle and...
(flash back)
I'll be honest with you - I was pretty sure I had bitten off way more than I could chew by committing to doing the duathlon. As everyone knows, Camera Crew is the brains of our operation - she chose to do just the trail run. Me, I decided to tackle the entire thing. Yeah, I did the Spring Classic a few weeks prior but this promised to be different. XDog Events Dirty Du, held out at Hagg Lake, was guaranteed to be a filth fest. With light but steady rain in the days leading up to Sunday, conditions were prime for the 'Dirty' part of this duathlon. This was a two leg event - a 5.2 mile trail run followed by a 15.something mile ride around the lake. My trepidation was in the fact that my skills at mountain biking are average on a good day and that I'm fairly new to this bike, not quite used to how it handles and not so sure I have everything set, adjusted, tweaked the way I want it. I figured this event was as good a time as any to check it out and see how it handled.
We got up early Sunday morning, gathered our race gear, put the bike rack on the SUV and loaded up. Thoughts of 'loosely attaching the tie downs for the bike' went through my head as I gave in and cinched it all down tight. I was determined to make the best of this, even as the knot in my stomach grew. The drive out to Forest Grove and on to Hagg Lake was nice. It's really pretty and the roads were empty. It rained off and on during the drive, more frequently as we got closer to the lake. It was going to be slimy for sure.
Learn more about Hagg Lake here. It's a great recreation area and very close to the city.
We made our way around the lake to Recreation Area C, on the west end of the lake. One of the large covered picnic areas would act as Event HQ, the start and finish for the race. XDog's trailer was all set up, music was playing, volunteers were setting up the finish chute, and the hard core duathletes were setting up their transitions, double checking their bikes, jogging around to get warmed up. After a little walk about and getting checked in, I unloaded the bike (which had stayed on the car after all) and rode it around to the bike racks to set up my switcheroo from run to bike. Since rain threatened, this setup consisted of me placing the garbage bag with my bike gear on the piece of cardboard in the hopes of it staying dry long enough for me to get back from the run. Once that was done, we hung out til race time, praying the rain would hold off at least until the start.
The 5.2 mile run course was set in a figure 8 - a loop out one direction, then a pass back by HQ and another loop out the other direction. The first loop was about two miles, the second (obviously) the other 3+. Us weekend warriors doing the duathlon started at 10; the smart folks doing the trail run only were set to go off at 10:30 - this staggered start designed to allow the duathletes a clearer course so we could get back to our bikes for transition.
Standing around before start time is always hard because ya just want the damn race to start already. I stood with Camera Crew and stretched a little, getting ansty to get this thing started. My mind was already past the run and thinking about the bike ride. I was trying not to freak out. Oh well - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? In true XDog fashion, our race started with a guy sounding a conch shell, which was pretty sweet. I waved bye to Camera Crew and I was off!
The first mile or so was on the road, which was kinda nice because it gave me time to get warmed up and the legs loose. We cut off the road and hit a short section of flat single track, then it dropped down to the lake. With my feet sliding around in the slimy mud, just trying to stay upright was a challenge at times. I love trail running - it's a full body and mind workout. This run was even more so because of the mud and water. There were sections that were completely under water, so you just run through it as best you can. In anticipation of this, I had tied my shoes pretty snug and was glad I did! Some parts of the trail were that deep shoe eating mud, the kind that makes the sucking sound when you full your foot out. SSSQUAAAALLLLCCCCHHHH!!! Yeah, so keeping the shoes on the feet seemed important. I stopped and quickly tied 'em up even tighter.
After slipping and sliding my way around the first loop, I was pleased to see the runners hadn't left yet. I was looking in the crowd for my cohort, when I saw her standing out to the side waiting for me! I passed through, blew her a kiss, mentioned that she should snug her shoes up. She shouted encouragement as I passed, which always picks me up. I heard their run start as I headed into the woods for the back half. This part didn't have as much mud - still had plenty, mind you - but it had some nice XDog touches. Climbing over and under some logs, through some brush, things like that. They do an awesome job of making the route interesting. Yeah - 'interesting'. Let's go with that.
As I was nearing the end of leg one of my du, I came out of the woods and there was Camera Crew. By the smile on her face, she was having the time of her life! I wished her luck and gave her a quick hug, then we went our separate ways. I headed into the transition area to change gear and start my bike ride. Little did I know at that time, it would be over three hours before I saw Camera Crew again...
(flash forward)
... "AAAAAGH!" I hit the puddle and my front tire sunk into the bog almost all the way to the hub. Twenty-nine inch wheels, remember, so almost half that. I was going fast enough that when the tire stuck, the back wheel came off the ground and I thought for sure I was going endo. I unclipped my left foot from the pedals and was heading left. The back end came down (whew!) but I was falling left so I put my foot down to catch myself. Of course, putting that foot down meant winding up about mid-shin in mud and water. After laughing (nervously) and taking a deep breath, I got off the bike. I got my right (dry) foot onto semi-solid ground, pulled my left foot out of the mire, almost losing the shoe in the process. Then I pulled the bike out, knocked the mud off so it would spin in the fork, remounted and took off.
After tightening my shoes, that is.
What can I say - for me, the ride was extremely difficult. The mud was slimy yet clay-like, so it packed the tread on the tires, meaning very little traction was to be had. I'd push down on the pedal and the back tire would spin out and the bike would slide sideways. I'm not a good enough rider (yet) to know how to handle the bike in that situation. I'll get there, though. The only time the tread cleared was on those rare stretches that were somewhat dry or where the grass had grown over. Then the chunks just peppered my chest and face. Meh, whatcha gonna do. The other hard part for me to ride was in the areas where the ruts were so deep. Imagine riding in a trench that is 3-4 inches (or more) deep as the trail winds through the woods. If you don't stay centered, if you deviate even a little, you're going down quick.
As I've said before, I ain't ever gonna win any of these events. So, needless to say, I was at the back of the pack which means the trails were already chewed up by everyone who had gone before me. Which was pretty much EVERYONE. There were several times that I thought "If I had my cell phone with me, I think I'll just call Camera Crew and have her come get me. I'll make my way up to the road and wait." In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't have my phone. I'm glad I stuck it out.
My first goal was to just make the dam. if I could get to the dam, I knew I'd be over halfway done and then I knew I could make it. Well, getting to the dam seemed to take forever. Hagg Lake is mostly a big oval-ish body of water but it also has all these inlets that shoot off to the sides. And of course the trail has to follow the contour of that. So even when I got to the point where I could SEE the dam, I'd hit another blankety-blank inlet, and the trail would shoot off AWAY from the damn dam. Aaaargh. But finally...
The dam. Thank goodness. People who participate in the events we do are, by and large, a great group. But what we've found is that the people who do the dirt events - the trail runs, the mountain biking races, the scrambles, etc - are exceptionally cool and supportive. I'm not knocking the road runners/bikers, but there are way more of them and there can be a bit of an elitist attitude with some of them.
But I am here to tell you - XDog Nation rocks! As I rode over the dam, with a firm grip on last place, people were honking, waving, shouting encouragement. One guy saw me coming, pulled over, got out of his car and asked me if I needed anything (water, food, a beer). It really is a fine group, and if I have to be last place within that class of people, well, I'll gladly take it.
The rest of the ride was more of the same - slippery, slimy mud, up and down single track. Mud bogs, slop, etc etc. I MUDdled through it (get it?) and finally saw the finish area. Over the last couple of miles, and knowing I had been on the course a loooong time, I was 100% sure that the only one who would be waiting for me was Camera Crew. At least, I hoped she would still be there! I assumed Kevin and his XDog trailer and the beer and the music would all be gone. I have to say I was a bit shocked when I came around the last corner. Yes, Camera Crew was there, beaming and clapping. The finish line was still there. The finish chute and the flags were there. Kevin and his great XDog volunteers were there. The music played. Seriously, I was so exhausted and mentally destroyed, I think I almost started crying.
I made the finish line, one of the volunteers tore off my bib number tag so they could record my time, Bex! hugged me and Kevin handed me a PBR and some pretzels. All I can say is - WOW! Class act, XDog! I was amazed they stuck around for me. I had it in my head that they would be gone and that I would have a DNF for the event. Yeah, I had my own watch running but it wouldn't be the same. I was wrong - they stayed and waited for me to complete the race! I see it like this: I made the effort, so they made the effort. Truly grateful.
You'll see in the wrap up video that I am completely wiped out. I could hardly string words together and almost opted to forgo filming. For me, part of this journey, this goal we have is for me to share the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. I was elated that I even finished - I placed 34th out of 34. Yep, small crowd, huh? I was exhausted and happy at the same time. I decided to do the video because I want to share with you and I want to record the event so when I look back at it later, I'll get to relive the experience.
it's been a great trip so far! What's up next? Since you asked...
Tomorrow, we are heading south to Albany, OR for the Dirty Dozen, a 5k with twelve obstacles, many of them mud related. This is why I didn't bother scrubbing the trail shoes! Check this one out at www.runwildadventures.com
These are the same folks who put on the Buck Mountain 6.5 Miler I did a while back.
And Sunday we are doing the Earth Day 5 Miler in Tigard. www.energyevents.com/earthdayrun
No rest for the wicked, they say. They must be talking about me!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
50@50 Project - Event 13 - Camp Odakoda 5k
Lucky #13!
Event 13 was on April 13th (ooooooh!) out in Happy Valley in Clackamas. As is always the case this time of year, the threat of rain was imminent. Fortunately, it held off which made the morning darn near enjoyable, considering that sleeping in on a Saturday for a change was a very appealing idea just an hour and half earlier.
Camp Odakoda is a facility in Falls City, OR - about 45 minutes west of Salem. It is here that they hold Camp Quest, which is for children who have high functioning autism spectrum disorders and Asperger's syndrome. You can learn more about the fine work they do at www.asdoregon.org Our 5k race and the accompanying silent auction was a fundraiser for this camp. A great cause and, looking at the turn out, a successful event.
What made the event super special was that some members of Team Guatemala came out to cheer us on! Our fearless leader, Little Dave, was joined by my brother-in-law Frijole Blanco, Donut Lady, Rasta Phil, and Duncan the Coffee Man. It was great to have them there to support us! It's always good to see the team but to have them get up early on their Saturday says a lot about the camaraderie of our MTI team. However, our efforts to get them to sign up and join us for the run were met with much feet shuffling, taking of 'emergency phone calls', awkward stares and claims of not having the correct shoes. Um... yeah... sure.
After some brief confusion over which event was being run first - the 5k run, the 5k walk or the Kid's Dash - the announcers figured it out and the kid's were up first. Gave us a few extra minutes to stretch and eye the maple bars that Donut Lady brought for the team. Soon enough, we were off, heading out of the parking lot and up the hill from Happy Valley Middle School. The course consisted of rolling hills, quiet residential streets and even a few spectators who cheered from the sidewalks. It reminded us of the Hazel Dell 8k course.
I got slightly ahead of Camera Crew but I always know she is back there, stalking me, waiting to make her move. I try not to look over my shoulder. It's nerve-wracking, really. We made the turn into the final stretch before returning to the school and since it was mostly downhill I let gravity work its magic. It always feels good to change up the stride, even a little bit.
With shouts from Team G, I picked up my pace as I approached the finish line, getting in ahead of 'some guy' who was trying to beat me. Ha, nice try, dude. Camera Crew was, of course, right behind me. A very nice event, a good cause, and great support from my Guatemala teammates. The weekend was off to a great start!
After visiting for a bit, we said our goodbyes and headed to the Arleta Library Bakery and Cafe for food. Since we knew we'd be out that direction for the run, we researched brunch options and came across this place. It looked great and then we found the confirmation of that assumption - the clip from 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' on the Food Network when Guy Fieri paid them a visit. This clinched it and it was well worth the visit. Check 'em out at www.arletalibrary.com Sweet potato biscuits and gravy was da bomb! There is also a link to the YouTube clip of the show on their website, too.
After eats, we headed home, where I sat around the rest of the day psyching myself up/out for Sunday's Event 14: X-Dogs Dirty Duathlon at Hagg Lake.
Oy.
Hard to Write - But Write I Will
It's hard to write about my 50@50 Project events from a few days ago. Yesterday I was just plain wiped out from Sunday's race. Plus I jammed and twisted my right index finger during the ride, so typing is... interesting, especially since I use the 'Columbus Method' of typing (find the key and land on it). But then I saw the news and that put a halt to the small amount of ambition/energy I had in me to post to this blog.
It's surreal. My wife and I have now crossed 14 finish lines this year on our way to achieving the goal I set forth for my 50th year. Over the years, we've completed four marathons, numerous half-marathons, countless 10k's, 8k's, and 5k's. We've done large events, with 10's of thousands of runners. And we've done small events where there were maybe 30-40 participants. Each and every one of them requires a commitment from not only the runners but the race organizers, the volunteers, the sponsors, the medical support, the police and city to block streets and manage intersections, supporters in the form of family, friends, race lovers, etc. A LOT of work goes into these events.
There are few more overwhelming feelings than crossing the finish line after running for 26.2 miles. Your emotions are out of control. Part of you wants to collapse. Part of you wants to keep running. You want to cry, you want to shout, you want to hug anyone who will be hugged. You want to find loved ones who came out to support you. For me personally, I've found it's a great way to meet your future in-laws for the very first time. When I run long distances, I let my mind wander. It's a way to let yourself escape from the grueling run, the pounding you're forcing your body to endure, while you fight the growing desire to sit down on the curb for just a few minutes. It's time spent thinking.
Thinking...
about all those finish lines I've crossed these last 6+ years...
about all the races I've done with my co-conspirator in this project...
about the first marathon I did, the 2007 Portland Marathon...
about Anne and Mike running along with me as I introduced myself to them while we ran the last few blocks toward the finish line...
that at around mile 12 of that same race I stopped to kiss and hug my first grandchild, Judah Dale Meckel, who came out with my daughter and son-in-law to cheer me on - I have a great picture that I will always cherish of that moment of the race...
about how good it was to see my son and his new bride, hoping he was proud of me...
about seeing my sister's cheering me on - Susan looking so proud and Pat who, with tears flowing, gave me a quick hug...
about all my friends and co-workers who came out to cheer, running along side to encourage - and offer me beer ("No way, not now")...
about how best to hold my arms and composure when I crossed the finish line...
Thinking about a million other things.
Escapism.
And now today I think about what it would have been like to have any of that interrupted, destroyed, ruined - taken from me - like it was for the runners in Boston.
I'm pissed. I'm sad. I hurt for them. I can't help think 'What if...'
I will keep on with the 50@50 Project. Camera Crew will, as well. I'll keep writing about our exploits and posting silly videos. And I hope this makes you smile, laugh, cringe, and smile some more. I hope you are, in some way, inspired.
I'll try not to be on 'high alert' before, during, and after events - especially the large ones - and will make every effort to fully enjoy the moment and the feeling of accomplishment. If I'm afraid or paranoid or don't immerse myself in the achievement then I am allowing myself to be robbed of my time, my moments, my memories.
I'm not willing to let that happen.
It's surreal. My wife and I have now crossed 14 finish lines this year on our way to achieving the goal I set forth for my 50th year. Over the years, we've completed four marathons, numerous half-marathons, countless 10k's, 8k's, and 5k's. We've done large events, with 10's of thousands of runners. And we've done small events where there were maybe 30-40 participants. Each and every one of them requires a commitment from not only the runners but the race organizers, the volunteers, the sponsors, the medical support, the police and city to block streets and manage intersections, supporters in the form of family, friends, race lovers, etc. A LOT of work goes into these events.
There are few more overwhelming feelings than crossing the finish line after running for 26.2 miles. Your emotions are out of control. Part of you wants to collapse. Part of you wants to keep running. You want to cry, you want to shout, you want to hug anyone who will be hugged. You want to find loved ones who came out to support you. For me personally, I've found it's a great way to meet your future in-laws for the very first time. When I run long distances, I let my mind wander. It's a way to let yourself escape from the grueling run, the pounding you're forcing your body to endure, while you fight the growing desire to sit down on the curb for just a few minutes. It's time spent thinking.
Thinking...
about all those finish lines I've crossed these last 6+ years...
about all the races I've done with my co-conspirator in this project...
about the first marathon I did, the 2007 Portland Marathon...
about Anne and Mike running along with me as I introduced myself to them while we ran the last few blocks toward the finish line...
that at around mile 12 of that same race I stopped to kiss and hug my first grandchild, Judah Dale Meckel, who came out with my daughter and son-in-law to cheer me on - I have a great picture that I will always cherish of that moment of the race...
about how good it was to see my son and his new bride, hoping he was proud of me...
about seeing my sister's cheering me on - Susan looking so proud and Pat who, with tears flowing, gave me a quick hug...
about all my friends and co-workers who came out to cheer, running along side to encourage - and offer me beer ("No way, not now")...
about how best to hold my arms and composure when I crossed the finish line...
Thinking about a million other things.
Escapism.
And now today I think about what it would have been like to have any of that interrupted, destroyed, ruined - taken from me - like it was for the runners in Boston.
I'm pissed. I'm sad. I hurt for them. I can't help think 'What if...'
I will keep on with the 50@50 Project. Camera Crew will, as well. I'll keep writing about our exploits and posting silly videos. And I hope this makes you smile, laugh, cringe, and smile some more. I hope you are, in some way, inspired.
I'll try not to be on 'high alert' before, during, and after events - especially the large ones - and will make every effort to fully enjoy the moment and the feeling of accomplishment. If I'm afraid or paranoid or don't immerse myself in the achievement then I am allowing myself to be robbed of my time, my moments, my memories.
I'm not willing to let that happen.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Bridge to (Hills to More Hills to) Brews - Event 12
We completed Event 12 on Sunday! Yes, one dozen races are in the books. We are 24% of the way to completing the 50@50 Project! How awesome is that!?
I know - pretty dang awesome, right?
Camera Crew and I did the Bridge to Brews 10k on Sunday, the start and finish being at the Widmer Brothers Brewery, with a couple of bridges in between. It's a well run event and a very unique one because the course takes you up and over the Fremont Bridge. Spectacular views of downtown and out to the St. Johns Bridge - pretty epic!
I admit it's still a little weird going down to the brewery. After working there 18+ years, it feels a little like going 'home', like driving by the house you grew up in, remembering the trees you used to climb, imagining the layout of the house, thinking back on holidays and BBQ's. Mostly, it's remembering a place you did a lot of growing up. Fond memories, for the most part.
I can look through the windows and picture the kinds of days they're having, how busy it must be, dealing with the same headaches and probably some new ones as the crew strives to put out some of the best beer in the market.
I miss it and I don't miss it.
One item for the 'miss it' category - Bad Bill Benowicz. This event reminded me of my good friend and mentor. Bill ran in all the races, especially ones the brewery sponsored. It was weird, him not being there. He had a knack for somehow showing up right before race time, at the last minute, but always making it! Bill was always encouraging and had a smile and a 'let's get 'er done so we can get a beer' attitude that was infectious. I miss him. In fact, my good friend and former co-worker Fred S. commented on this, too.
The weather report leading up to race day was - rain, rain, rain. And more rain. But we know how accurate the predictions are(n't) in this town so Sunday brought partly cloudy and no rain. Looking good!
Because there is no parking at, near or around the brewery - and because we know better - we took the train over the river and to the race. We got there a little on the early side but the alternative was a a train arrival just before the race start. So early was better. There was a little breeze which made it feel cooler than it really was. An attempt to get a cup of tea from the Stash Tea booth was met with the poor woman who had been there since 6 AM and every time she turned on her electric water kettle, it popped the circuit breaker. She was frustrated, to say the least. My first instinct was to fix the problem - but then I remembered I don't work there and there are plenty of capable people who could handle it. No tea for me.
We lined up in our pace group, reset our watches and waited. All of sudden, it was count down time, although they started us in waves to lessen congestion. So it was '3...2...1...go!' followed by frantic cries of 'Stop!' as we moved forward a little at a time. This start/stop pattern was repeated until we finally made it across the start line in the 4th or 5th wave. Although this was 'just' a 10k, the course is a little brutal because the first mile or so is the climb up and up as you get to the on ramp for the bridge, then it dips, then you climb up and over the bridge itself. The first climb is hard because there is no time to warm up - the race starts and you're climbing. The second climb, on the bridge, you don't notice because of the views. It's hard not to smile when you're looking out over the city, with I-405 traffic going by in the other lanes, honking and waving encouragement.
After crossing to the west side, the course meandered through NW PDX in a seemingly never-ending series of zigzags, block by block, as we made our way west then north, then west, then north, etc. Finally, upon reaching a point where they couldn't send us north any farther, we turned back toward town. Again, the route took us right by my brothers' apartment but no sign of him. I figure if I do enough events, odds are I'll see him eventually! Back over the Broadway Bridge, loop around to Interstate and north to the brewery! But... there was yet another series of zigzags to get us in proper position to cross the finish line without piling up at the beer garden. Which everyone ends up doing anyway, right?
I crossed the finish line in 1:15, which was my goal. A few minutes later, Camera Crew came around the corner with a smile on her face. After a little cool down, some water and snagging our warmies from the clothing check, it was time to celebrate with a beer! Widmer Brothers Columbia Common tasted quite good, especially after a race. Check 'em out at www.widmerbrothers.com The pub is quite fantastic, too. By this time, it was sprinkling with threats of outright rain, so we decided to head home.
Of course, the route home took us right by our favorite little brunch spot, so we of coursed brunched! If for some reason you haven't been there yet , you really should check them out! is located at - trust me, you won't regret it.
And... to Bad Bill - a prost!! Here's to you, my friend.
I know - pretty dang awesome, right?
Camera Crew and I did the Bridge to Brews 10k on Sunday, the start and finish being at the Widmer Brothers Brewery, with a couple of bridges in between. It's a well run event and a very unique one because the course takes you up and over the Fremont Bridge. Spectacular views of downtown and out to the St. Johns Bridge - pretty epic!
I admit it's still a little weird going down to the brewery. After working there 18+ years, it feels a little like going 'home', like driving by the house you grew up in, remembering the trees you used to climb, imagining the layout of the house, thinking back on holidays and BBQ's. Mostly, it's remembering a place you did a lot of growing up. Fond memories, for the most part.
I can look through the windows and picture the kinds of days they're having, how busy it must be, dealing with the same headaches and probably some new ones as the crew strives to put out some of the best beer in the market.
I miss it and I don't miss it.
One item for the 'miss it' category - Bad Bill Benowicz. This event reminded me of my good friend and mentor. Bill ran in all the races, especially ones the brewery sponsored. It was weird, him not being there. He had a knack for somehow showing up right before race time, at the last minute, but always making it! Bill was always encouraging and had a smile and a 'let's get 'er done so we can get a beer' attitude that was infectious. I miss him. In fact, my good friend and former co-worker Fred S. commented on this, too.
The weather report leading up to race day was - rain, rain, rain. And more rain. But we know how accurate the predictions are(n't) in this town so Sunday brought partly cloudy and no rain. Looking good!
Because there is no parking at, near or around the brewery - and because we know better - we took the train over the river and to the race. We got there a little on the early side but the alternative was a a train arrival just before the race start. So early was better. There was a little breeze which made it feel cooler than it really was. An attempt to get a cup of tea from the Stash Tea booth was met with the poor woman who had been there since 6 AM and every time she turned on her electric water kettle, it popped the circuit breaker. She was frustrated, to say the least. My first instinct was to fix the problem - but then I remembered I don't work there and there are plenty of capable people who could handle it. No tea for me.
We lined up in our pace group, reset our watches and waited. All of sudden, it was count down time, although they started us in waves to lessen congestion. So it was '3...2...1...go!' followed by frantic cries of 'Stop!' as we moved forward a little at a time. This start/stop pattern was repeated until we finally made it across the start line in the 4th or 5th wave. Although this was 'just' a 10k, the course is a little brutal because the first mile or so is the climb up and up as you get to the on ramp for the bridge, then it dips, then you climb up and over the bridge itself. The first climb is hard because there is no time to warm up - the race starts and you're climbing. The second climb, on the bridge, you don't notice because of the views. It's hard not to smile when you're looking out over the city, with I-405 traffic going by in the other lanes, honking and waving encouragement.
After crossing to the west side, the course meandered through NW PDX in a seemingly never-ending series of zigzags, block by block, as we made our way west then north, then west, then north, etc. Finally, upon reaching a point where they couldn't send us north any farther, we turned back toward town. Again, the route took us right by my brothers' apartment but no sign of him. I figure if I do enough events, odds are I'll see him eventually! Back over the Broadway Bridge, loop around to Interstate and north to the brewery! But... there was yet another series of zigzags to get us in proper position to cross the finish line without piling up at the beer garden. Which everyone ends up doing anyway, right?
I crossed the finish line in 1:15, which was my goal. A few minutes later, Camera Crew came around the corner with a smile on her face. After a little cool down, some water and snagging our warmies from the clothing check, it was time to celebrate with a beer! Widmer Brothers Columbia Common tasted quite good, especially after a race. Check 'em out at www.widmerbrothers.com The pub is quite fantastic, too. By this time, it was sprinkling with threats of outright rain, so we decided to head home.
Of course, the route home took us right by our favorite little brunch spot, so we of coursed brunched! If for some reason you haven't been there yet , you really should check them out! is located at - trust me, you won't regret it.
And... to Bad Bill - a prost!! Here's to you, my friend.
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