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.
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