Northwest Trail Running and Other Pursuits of Endurance

Unbreakable: The Western States 100 official trailer

2012-01-19T18:20:00.000-08:00

I am an avid follower of Anton Krupicka's blog, Riding the Wind. Unbelievable mountain runner...check out the trailer for a movie about Western States 100, featuring Anton and a crew of other awesome trail runners...if this doesn't motivate you, what will?!

FIRST Training Plan vs. Run by Feel

2012-01-17T06:39:00.000-08:00

Last Spring I decided to use the FIRST training plan while training for the Eugene Marathon. I highly recommend checking it out. It is basically a program based on 3 quality running days per week, with some cross training in between. Check out the link above, as there have been amazing results with that particular program/philosophy.

The reason I went in that direction is that I have had a tendency to get burned out following plans that are too complicated. I was following plans developed by the legendary running coach Jack Daniels. It seemed to suck the fun out of running over time. The FIRST training plan was simple and effective.

Moving on to the here and now, I have decided to run by feel over the next several months. I have run 17 out of the last 20 with my shortest run being 2 miles and my longest being 7. Ninety-Five percent of the running has been done on trails, which is best for me in many ways. The last three days have all been 6 miles and further. I have no aches and pains, but will take today off to play it safe. I am not sure what tomorrow will bring. I am enjoying running more than ever right now. I am hoping to keep riding this wave, listen to my body, and adjust accordingly. I am currently experimenting with a Heart Rate Monitor...more to come on that one...loving it though...

Check out the photos below. This is where I run most of the time...Port Gamble Trail System...

My German Short Hair wondering why I am running so slow.

The splendor of the Olympic Mountain Range

Single Track

The Brothers Peak, Olympic Mountains

Training for Chuckanut

2012-01-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it...I signed up for the Chuckanut 50K. It sold out in under two hours and now I have to figure out how to prepare for a 31 mile trail race having not run more than 10 miles since the Eugene Marathon in May. YEEEHAAAA!

Moonlight running in the morning

I have been getting up early and running just a few miles in the morning this week up and down a hill by my house. Trying to get used to running early morning. Next week I will hit it hard in the a.m. I am finding that I am enjoying the solitude of running in the quiet cold of the morning. The only sounds I hear are my breathing and the jingle of my dog's collar. A guy could get used to starting his day like this.

The weekends will be long runs. These primarily will be exploring the beautiful woods and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. As you can see below, my dog will immensely enjoy the experience, usually fitting breaks in while I catch up to her.

Oops...6:08, better get off for that run...

Dose cooling off in the water, even at 35 degrees!

Hitting the Trails with My Daughter!

2012-01-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Just got back from a run in the Port Gamble Trails with my daughter. The run was short, but hilly. We ended up gaining about 450 feet in three miles. This was two days after gaining 2100 feet in two miles at Mt. Walker on New Years Eve morning. Legs were sluggish for sure. I was impressed with Mikhaela, as she was really tough on the hills. I couldn't have gone any faster today and she was always a step ahead.

If you haven't been to these trails, I highly recommend them. There is a link to a map in an earlier blog post. Check it out here!

Chuckanut 50K Trail Race

2011-12-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was running some trails and decided to take the plunge and sign up for the Chuckanut 50K Trail Race in March. Although I have only run sporadically since running the Eugene Marathon last May, I am hoping I have just enough stored fitness to not kill myself on the steep inclines of Chuckanut Mountain. The race sells out within 2 hours and registration begins on January 8th. Check out the site for more information.

Over the next week, I am hoping to track at least 4000 feet of elevation gain on my new/used Garmin 405 cx. I am hoping that means a run up Mt. Walker, which gains 2000 feet in 2 miles. YEE_HA!!!!. My dog, Dose is staring at me as I type. I think that means this post is over...time for a run. Below, she is pictured waiting for me on our run yesterday.

Blogging Again

2011-12-28T19:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I took some time off from blogging. However, that doesn't mean I stopped trail running. Still been running, but haven't been racing much at all. Just enjoying the woods with my dog and my newest running partner, my 14 year old daughter!

My daughter, Mikhaela, had a very successful freshman cross-country season. This was her first foray back into athletics after spinal fusion surgery last March. I couldn't have been prouder of her as she continued to build her strength all season. She started the year on junior varsity and finished the year as the only freshman on varsity. At the state meet she was the fourth finisher for her team. Her team finished 8th overall in the state.

Looking forward to writing about some of our running exploits in the future. I am glad she prefers running the trails, as I do! Will spend some time looking for a race to hit in January together.

La Sportiva Crosslite 2.0 - Port Gamble Trails

2011-05-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my brother and I did our last run longer than an hour before the Eugene Marathon. We decided to hit the trails in the Port Gamble Trail System. This is my favorite place to run and is only 10 minutes from my house. It was one of those rare days where we both felt awesome and totally prepared for Eugene. We ran 8 effortless miles or so which included dense forest, clearcut areas, mountain views, and single track switchbacks. The time went faster than usual and we both wanted to continue the run...but knew we had better save ourselves for the upcoming marathon.

I was looking forward to putting on my new "mountain running" shoes the La Sportiva Crosslite 2.0. I have to tell you, I wasn't so sure about the shoes as I first slipped them on. They felt really minimal and I am used to heavier shoes for mud, dirt, snow, rocks, etc. It was a comparable feeling to putting on road racing flats for the first time after wearing trainers. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, as the name is "Crosslite" after all. You can check out a photo of the shoes at the La Sportiva website link above. (I will add some photos later, the blog is rejecting photos at the moment)

I knew I liked the shoes from the moment we started running on the rocky trail. The first set of single track had the potential for dirt, debris, and mud getting into the shoe, but the shoe uses a flexible fabric that covers up to the top two lacing holes. There is no way anything was getting in and it is made of mesh to allow for breathability. The best part of the shoe is that they are fairly narrow. Most of my trail shoes are boxy which allow for side to side movement. These shoes are truly form fitting and as close to "minimalist" shoes as I have ever worn. The responsive was excellent as I hit tight corners and made cuts around trees, etc.

Like some of the other La Sportiva Mountain Running shoes, the Crosslite has the "impact braking system". This technology absorbs impact, helps during traction, and hold while braking. In other words, flying down dirty, dusty, single track you can be assured that your feet won't rip out of your shoes if you have to stop suddenly for a bear. Also, it means for a lightweight shoe, you will have a comfortable ride! All in all, I was pleasantly surprised and haven't run on the trails without them since they arrived. I am looking forward to trying them in the ice and snow of the Olympic Mountains soon. My understanding is that they are almost as good as Yaktrax without having to strap anything on...I will keep you posted!

Eugene Marathon

2011-05-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago I ran the Eugene Marathon. Now I sit here typing away with sore knees and a nasty chest cold. I am guessing I would have neither had I not run the race. Was it worth it?! Absolutely! I highly recommend running this pancake flat race in Track Town USA. The scenery was gorgeous, the course is well supported, and the spectators are awesome. They even opened up some of the buildings on the University of Oregon campus for runners to stay warm before the 7:00 a.m. start.

My brother and I were both attempting to break 3:20 and qualify for the Boston Marathon under the last year of the current qualifying standards (check the new standards out here). Leading up to the race we did most of our long runs together (which was very cool to connect and hang with my bro) and followed the FIRST plan. This three quality days a week training plan is perfect for a hectic schedule. Basically it entails one track workout, one tempo workout, and a long run. The idea is to cross train on the off days, but I rarely got much of that in. However, I still ran a personal best in my fifth marathon.

My brother was meticulous in his planning and came prepared with a tape laminated card showing what splits he wanted to run for each mile. He planned on being able to slow down by about five minutes in the second half of the race and still make his goal time. Once the race started, it was clear to me immediately that he was going to start out much faster than I planned. At that point, I decided to run my own pace. As I have experienced in other marathons, all was well until about mile 21. I ran a few slow miles and didn't pick it back up until mile 25. I ended up with a decent final 1.2 miles and ran 3:23 and change. My brother ran a perfect race and ran 3:19! He will be going to Boston without me...however, I still plan on qualifying at some point in the near future.

On a side note, a buddy of ours left Seattle at midnight and met us at the starting line in Eugene just before the start of the race. He also ran Boston 2 weeks earlier. He finished with a PR by 6 minutes and finished in 3:15. Hmmmmmm. I better talk to him about his training plan....obviously he did something right and I am quite sure it wasn't driving all night, drinking mountain dew, and going ninety miles per hour down I-5.

After the race we enjoyed the post-race atmosphere at Hayward Field for a while and then headed north to Portland for the night. We stayed at the Hotel Lucia within easy walking distance of four breweries and the Pearl District. We lucked out with sunshine...and the local (well-deserved) beer was incredible. The hotel was definitely impressive. It had a modern, comfortable feel with friendly staff. One of the best parts of the stay was enjoying many of the 680 David Kennerly photographs on display throughout the hotel. David Kennerly is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and Portland, Oregon native. Apparently, Kennerly served as personal photographer to President Gerald R. Ford and his work has appeared in LIFE, TIME, GEORGE and NEWSWEEK magazines. Judging from the people he photographed, he hung out with some amazing people! My brother and I plan on surprising our wives with a trip to Portland soon. The vibe in Portland is fantastic and we will be staying at the Hotel Lucia again.

I have run once since the marathon and hope to get a few miles in this weekend. Trails, trails, and more trails until the legs start feeling better...looking forward to it!

Green Mountain, Beaver Pond

2011-04-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

My brother Steve and I ran up at Green Mountain today. Click here for a map of the area. Green Mountain is a "working forest". The good news is that the area is surrounded by over 6000 acres of state forest. It is a trail runners paradise pacific northwest style. Even though motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails, I haven't seen or heard motorcycles on the trails for a few years. Maybe I am just lucky.

Usually we stay on Wildcat Trail, but this time we took a turn on Beaver Pond Trail. Good choice for sure. We didn't see a soul and enjoyed the bridges over small creeks, beaver ponds, and the solitude and peace one can find in the woods. Dose my German Shorthaired Pointer was with us and we only saw her when she ran back to "check" on us....always wondering why we couldn't stay up with her.

While we didn't go on a sunny day, check out the view one can have from the top of Green Mountain, East to Seattle.

Today was awesome. All told we ran for 3 hours in preparation for the Eugene Marathon in 3 weeks. Hopefully we will be enjoying the fruits of our labor today!

Directions:
Going north on Hwy 3, past Bremerton and before Silverdale, take the Newberry Hill Road (Silverdale) exit and turn left/west. Follow Newberry Hill road for about 3 miles then turn left onto Seabeck Hwy. Follow Seabeck Hwy for about 2 miles and turn right onto Holly Road. Follow Holly about 2 miles to the Wildcat Lake trailhead. There is a green sign 500 ft from the double entrance.

Perspective

2011-03-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

I am at the hospital with my wife and daughter as she recovers from spinal fusion surgery to correct severe scoliosis. She will be here for approximately five days and will be out of commission for many weeks/months. Contact sports such as soccer are out of the question for a year. It is times like these that remind me to enjoy the simple things in life. It is silly that it takes something like this to find that perspective.

While my daughter loves soccer, she found much confidence during her first season of track last spring. She ran the 1600 meters and was bound and determined to break 6 minutes by the end of her 8th grade year. She pulled it off during her last meet with an inspiring last 200 meters in the league championships. The pain etched in her face told met that she found out how to run through the pain when the going got tough.

As I look at her now recovering, I know that her short time as a distance runner will help her recovery period. Distance runners constantly push the limits and learn how to push through rough patches. I am glad she has proven to herself that she can withstand pain and on the other side of pain is comfort.

I am looking forward to taking a run with her this spring/summer as she recovers and I will be sure to enjoy the simple things.

Mountain Running - Mt. Walker

2010-12-28T11:27:00.000-08:00

Just got back from running up Mt Walker. The trailhead starts at 800 ft and climbs to 2800 feet in two miles. There was snow on the trail starting at about 2000 ft. As usual, Dose Wallips, our German Shorthaired Pointer was leading the way and loving every minute of the run.

It was so cold and rainy/snowy at the top that I didn't waste any time heading back down. It was hilarious watching my dog skid uncontrollably around the switchbacks, not once going completely off trail. One thing that strikes me is how natural dogs are running through trails. I find myself watching her trying to mimic her light springy steps and fluid motion. So far, not much luck in that department.

While I enjoy running in the snow, I am really looking forward to hitting the trails on a nice, sunny, Pacific Northwest day. ....yes, it is true, we do get nice sunny days in the Northwest. I will post some pics this spring and summer to prove it.

Hansville Greenway - Buck Lake

2010-12-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

The Hansville Greenway is a great place to hit the trails. This morning I went with my German Shorthaired Pointer for her regular morning jaunt. The new surroundings and fresh scents were of particular interest to her, as we usually stay in the same section of wilderness near my house. Click here for a trail map of the areas.

We went for about 4 miles today and I am feeling like I am getting my legs back after running the New York City Marathon. I will start training officially for the Eugene Marathon on January 4th. That will give me about 17 weeks of training to try for a Boston Qualifier. I plan on running 3:15 in Eugene. That would be a PR by about 7 minutes or so....think positive!

I highly recommend the Hansville Greenway for trail running, especially if the hills tend to scare you away...the hills are gentle for the most part starting out at Buck Lake, with beautiful views of the water from several different spots. Hansville is about ten minutes north of Kingston, WA.

Hope to do some snow running within the next week or so...plan on running up Mt Walker and back down on the fire road with the snow shoes....good for about 2000 feet of elevation gain on the way up...hope to blog about the run within a few days. Happy Trails!

New York City Marathon

2010-11-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I ran the New York City Marathon. This was truly one of the most fantastic sporting events in which I have every participated. Not only was the run incredible, our visit was a blast. I had never been to New York City before and the bright lights didn't disappoint.

The training leading up to the marathon was going quite well for me and I was on pace in my training to give 3:20 a shot, which is a Boston Qualifier time for my age. Unfortunately a problem I have been having with my IT band didn't allow me to run over 18 miles in my preparation. Two of my longer runs ended up with me having to walk the last few miles home. Needless to say, I adjusted my goal for the race.

On race day I decided that 3:30 was within reason. I went out in 1:44 for the first half and finished in 3:34:58. While this was 13 minutes or so off of my best time, it was one of my proudest efforts. My body felt creaky the entire time and I felt like I was plodding along the whole way. I took the opportunity to really see and take in the vibe of the 2.5 million spectators lining the city streets. I found myself relaxed and enjoying myself more than I ever have in a race. I am wondering how I can bottle that feeling and uncork it when I am going for a personal best.

This was my fourth marathon. After the first three, I wasn't all that interested in signing up for another. This time I cannot wait. I plan on running the Eugene Marathon on May 1st. I will qualify for the Boston Marathon that day...how is that for positive thinking?! Goal Pace: 3:15....After that, my wife and I may run Pikes Peak in August. Let the fun begin!

Times Square two nights before the marathon

Staten Island around 5:45 a.m., waiting for a 9:40 a.m. start in 38 degree weather!

Participants attempting to stay warm in one of the several tents set up in the waiting area

Marathon Training - Running Long on the Pavement

2010-10-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I ran the Duckabush River Trail 8 miles out and 8 miles back with a friend. The run took 3 hours and the terrain was rolling single track with some serious switchback climbing at the beginning. As we were finishing our run, I made the statement that since we were out running a tough 16 mile route, it should count for a twenty miler in my marathon training! Running the same effort for three hours on the road would have been at least 20 miles.

I am off soon to test that theory. I am hoping to hit 20 miles on the road this morning. I am sitting here drinking coffee and blogging instead of running because I don't feel like running in the dark today. Also, I am a bit hesitant to hit 20 miles on the road...in looking at my log I noticed over my last 60 runs, only three of them have been on the road. Since I am running the New York City Marathon in a few weeks, I think it is probably a good idea to get some time on the pavement today.

Check out this interesting article: The Myth of the 20 Mile Long Run I have read similar articles before. It asks you to consider the cost benefit of running 20 miles long runs if your weekly mileage is less than 50 miles per week. I have found that even running 40 mile weeks, I benefit psychologically from running a few 20 milers before a marathon. However, the article has its merit...I just haven't found the time or energy to get my miles up to 70 miles per week, yet I still have the desire to hit a few 20 milers in my marathon prep.

Okay, time to get hydrated and hit the road for a solo 20....

Roots, Rock, Trail Series - Port Gamble Half Marathon

2010-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Port Gamble Half Marathon was the final event for those looking to collect points in Poulsbo Running's Roots, Rock Trail Series. There were about 100 people running this fantastic event through the trails that run between Port Gamble and Poulsbo, WA. After the event was a post race barbecue, beverages, and an awards ceremony. Finally, as is usually the case, the Poulsbo Running Store gave away a ton of gear in their customary raffle. All in all, the race series has an excellent vibe with a relaxed attitude. All race proceeds go to local cross-country teams and the North Kitsap Trails Association.

I enjoyed most of the race, especially the last 7 miles or so. The first half was a bit painful, as I was having some stomach distress. The last 6 were great. Lots of downhill running, which I happen to love to do. The best part of the series for me is the fact that it gets the old competitive juices flowing. With about 5 miles to go, I caught another guy that I recognized in the 40-49 year old age group and I was assuming he and I would be duking it out for third place honors. I was correct...we chatted for awhile and with about a mile to go I decided to pick up the pace for about 200 yards to see if he would come with me. I realized after about 201 yards that this may have been a mistake as I was starting to feel concrete filling my legs. Thankfully I had just enough to continue for a strong finish and a placing in my age group.

This brings me to my next thought...as this blog entry is turning into a veritable, rambling mess. Sometimes in road races, trail races, and other racing events I settle into a pace and may even start having a brief chat with someone. This has happened to me in my last several races. Each time, in my mind, there comes a point where you can keep talking or start racing. Is it rude to stop talking and surge? I know I never feel bad if someone takes off, sometimes I am actually relieved if I am having trouble talking and staying up with the person at the same time. However, I know that everyone joins events for different reasons. Some are content with running, relaxing, and enjoying the surroundings, without really thinking about racing. I tend to vacillate between racing or relaxing. I need to make the transition to racing AND relaxing. It shouldn't be "either" or "or", it should be the genius of "and"! Anyhow, enough rambling. I will just go with the notion that people are really out there just doing there own thing for the most part and that is okay with me! Can you tell I have had one too many cups of coffee this morning...okay off for a long run!

Red Mountain Run

2010-08-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

View of the Yakima River from the top of Red Mountain

My wife and I were visiting some friends in the Yakima Valley a few weeks ago and we took the opportunity to run up to the top of Red Mountain while we were there. Red Mountain is somewhat of a misnomer, as when I think of a mountain I think of something with a bit more elevation. Red Mountain ranges anywhere from 500 to 1500 feet. Nonetheless, it was a tough climb with spectacular views.

We ran up the mountain twice in two days. I also walked to the top with my son, Sloan and our new dog, Dose Wallips. Dose sprinted up to the top while turning around periodically with a silly look on her face. She seemed to be telling us to hurry up, but we were going as fast as we could.

We have done many cool things this summer, but spending that 60 minutes or so with my son was certainly a highlight. Sometimes it is the simplest things that can have the biggest impact. Looking forward to many more hikes and runs with Michelle and our kids. I hope they continue to see the wonders in nature as I do each and every day.

Something tells me Dose likes to run.

Dose after trying to dig up a beetle with her snout.

Sloan trying to stay up with Dose up the trail.

The sun setting on our way down.

My son and our dog contemplating the jaunt back down the mountain.

Looking forward to many more trail runs and hikes together.

Dose ready for a long nap after the mountain run.

Brooks ID Program

2010-08-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I will admit it, I am a Brooks fanatic. I have owned 4 pair of the GTS series (click here for a photo history of the GTS) and 3 pair of the Brooks Cascadia Trail Running shoes (favorite pair being the bumble bee yellow and black). I love their light and airy race singlets as well as their shorts. As long as they are making the Cascadia, I will buy the latest version. I buy shoes and clothing from other companies, but I generally go back to Brooks. For this reason, I am considering applying for the Brooks ID program.

The following was taken from the Brooks ID web site:

Brooks I.D. Program

Brooks I.D. stands for Inspire Daily. These two simple words guide the principles of the program. Brooks I.D. is made up of over 800 members who are active in their running communities and share a passion for the Brooks brand. They are runners who are winners in their own right: Winning their age divisions, accomplishing their personal goals, pushing their own limits, and, by extension, encouraging others to do the same. They are coaches, mentors, and leaders.

I.D. Member Benefits

All Brooks I.D. athletes enjoy 40% off purchases made at brooksrunning.com and are invited to connect with other members at Brooks-sponsored events nationwide. Members who exert an unusual level of influence in the running community also receive a complimentary product package. All I.D. members also receive a monthly newsletter highlighting new products and I.D. member achievements.

What We Look for

Brooks I.D. athletes members use their athletic talent to help carry out the Brooks mission: To inspire people to run and be active. We look for athletes who have a passion for Brooks, race and train in Brooks' shoes and apparel, and enthusiastically evangelize the brand.

(this is where my commentary kicks in...)

While it is tempting to apply, it is still nice to have the freedom to wear other brands. However, my track record shows that I go back to Brooks anyways! So I may go for it. If so, and if I am accepted, I will share something out to the blogosphere.

RUN HAPPY!

New York City Marathon - Team for Kids

2010-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Only 91 more days until my wife Michelle, and I line up for the New York City Marathon. If that can't get me motivated to get my long runs in, I don't know what can! I am also trying to raise money for Team for Kids. Team for Kids is an awesome charity. Team for Kids is a team of adult runners who raise funds for critical services provided by New York Road Runners Youth Programs. These programs combat childhood obesity and empower youth development via running and character-building programs in low-income schools and community centers throughout New York City, around the country, and in South Africa.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this charity, please click the link below:

Team for Kids Donation

Your giving helps New York Road Runners Youth Programs to:

Serve over 85,000 children in more than 400 U.S. schools and community centers with FREE programs.

Reach children of all fitness levels - with a heightened focus on reaching out-of-shape and overweight kids with little or no athletic experience.

Help overweight or obese children make lifestyle changes today to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that lead to health-care costs in excess of $100 billion annually.

Thanks for considering!

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

2010-07-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I rode in the STP for the first time. This 200-mile bicycle ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 10,000 participants riding from Seattle to Portland in either one or two days. I rode it with my wife Michelle, my father-in-law Greg, and our friends Elisa and Shelley. We opted for the two day version.

Day one was awesome! It started out cloudy and ended up sunny and beautiful by the time we arrived at the halfway point in Centralia. Along the way we witnessed a few crashes and many flat tires; luckily none of them were people from our group. We had smooth sailing for the most part. However my father-in-law and I did have to make some creative pit stops along the way. It was fun pretending like we lost the peloton when we got back on the bikes and chased our group down. For the most part my body cooperated on day one. However, by the time we arrived in Centralia, my bum was thanking me profusely for getting off the bike seat.

We arrived at Centralia Community College to find Greg's wife Lynn (Thanks Lynn! You rock!) waiting for us with an awesome spot for our tents. We were all thankful to see her there with the chairs set up and cold beverages in the cooler.We were all starved by the time we rode the 100 miles to Centralia in spite of having quite a bit to munch along the way so we quickly showered and headed to dinner. Azteca is usually quick to serve, but not quick enough for our tired bodies. When we were finished with the third bowl of salsa , Michelle threatened to lick it clean and take a bite out of the bowl. Thankfully our food came, so no worries about porcelain splinters. After our walk back to the college, we headed for the tents for some rest before our 5:30 a.m. wake-up call. Unfortunately, we were next to the disco dance party tent. I awoke around midnight as Michelle was on her way out the tent to ask them to put the music to bed for the night.

Day 2 was mentally and physically tougher than day 1 for sure. It might have something to do with the fact that my training did not include any back to back rides! Anyhow, thankfully I had some GU's with me, as I hit a dizzy spell with around 30 miles to go...the last few miles through Portland was stop and go with many traffic lights, but it was really cool riding through the city. All in all we had an awesome time. I definitely wish to do this again in a few years. We had to choose between a shower or the beer garden when we were done, as our bus back to Seattle was set to leave at 7:00 pm. The choice was easy....we sat around and had a few beers to celebrate our two day ride.

On a side note, I continue being impressed with my father-in-law. He is in incredible shape. There is a picture of him in the dictionary next to the word work horse. I hope to be riding as strong as he is when I am his age. (Heck, I would even settle for riding like he is at my current age!)

Roots Rock Trail Running Series - Timber Town 10K

2010-07-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Poulsbo Running put on another fantastic event yesterday. The Timber Town 10K started and finished in Port Gamble, WA. Click here for more information about the Roots Rock Trail Running Series. Click here for a decent trail map of the Port Gamble area.

The Timber Town 10K was the second race in the 3 race Roots Rock Trail Series. The first event was a trail 5k and the last event is trail half-marathon on August 8th. The race fee for the half-marathon is a reasonable $20 with a nice Adidas technical shirt for $10. The races are well done and worth the price of admission for sure!

The first part of the run started innocently enough in a grassy field and quickly entered some twisty single track in the forest. I wasn't paying attention at the start, so I was stuck behind quite a few people before I entered the forest. I settled in and decided starting slower than normal would be a good thing. Nothing wrong with conserving some early energy and passing people towards the end.

The 10K course is beautiful. It is a nice balance between single track and fire roads. The course is rolling with most of the uphill happening during the first half of the race. The last 1.8 miles or so are mostly downhill. Chris Hammett, owner of Poulsbo Running along with his wife Brooke, did an excellent job of marking the course as usual.

As for my hope of starting slower and gaining momentum as the race went.....worked out well for a change! It also helped that I love downhill running. I passed maybe 10-12 people over the second half of the race. Mentally, this is always a good thing. The competitive juices are flowing again for me as well. With about a mile to go there was a guy ahead of me that I keyed in on and was determined to pass before the end. I decided to pass him with confidence and hold the faster pace for a good 100 yards or so, with hopes he wouldn't bother trying to stay with me. I was relieved to find he stayed back because I didn't think my stomach could handle an all out kick at the end.

After the race, my wife and I stayed for the awards. There was a nice spread with Heed, bananas, bagels, cream cheese, and watermelon. Chris and Brooke are awesome race hosts. I always enjoy Brooke's sense of humor as she announces the awards and conducts the race drawings. Just about everyone walks away with something, as the raffle prizes are abundant and they usually have some schwag to throw in for those that hang around to the end.

Thanks to Chris and Brooke for all they do for the Kitsap County running community! I truly appreciate their hard work and dedication to the sport.

Future Trail Runner Extraordinaire - German Shorthaired Pointer

2010-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

A week ago we officially became a family of 6. Well, 7 if you count the red-eared slider turtle in my son's room. We bought a German Shorthaired Pointer...sure to become a wonderful trail running partner for my wife and I for years to come.

Thankfully my wife is very understanding; as this was an impulse buy on my part after wanting a dog for many years. We were vacationing in Lake Chelan and she happened to mention that "if" we ever got a dog, it would need to be a medium sized dog, preferably a Brittany Spaniel. The very next day we were home and I was researching various dogs noted for their endurance and stamina (including Brittany Spaniels). In my research, I found that there weren't many Brittany Spaniels in a desirable price range for us and many wouldn't be ready for taking home until September. On the other hand, there were two possbilities to buy a German Shorthair Pointer within about 2 hours of our house. My son and I jumped in the car, headed to the ferry, and were off to visit German Shorthaired Pointer breeders on the other side of the Puget Sound. Yes, I think some part of me actually realized my wife wasn't talking about purchasing a dog immediately, but some other part of my brain took over. I plead temporary insanity. Did I happen to mention that my wife is very understanding?

Dose (Wallips) is a beautiful 9 week old bundle of voracious energy. She spends half of the time running as fast as she can through our yard and house and the other half tuckered out sleeping like a baby. Luckily we live on almost 3 acres and there is plenty of room to roam. As I sipped my coffee this morning and watched her romp around our yard, I was imagining how fun it will be to take her for early morning runs once she gets a bit older. I am rather content watching her happily play in the yard for now. However, the stunning view of the Olympic Mountains this morning made me hunger for some mountain running...hopefully I will be blogging about a sweet run up Mt. Townsend within a week or so...(minus Dose, of course)

Fartleks - Swedish Speed Play

2010-06-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

The first time I heard the term Fartlek I was a high school cross-country runner. As you can probably imagine, the term elicited a few chuckles from the rag-tag bunch that made up our team that year. I remember vividly when Coach Clay told us it meant "speed play" in Swedish. I also remember it breaking up the monotony of our usual 3-5 mile run. Basically all you are doing during a Fartlek run is incorporating periodic bursts of speed into your run lasting anywhere from 30 seconds on up. Usually I pick a point of reference up ahead on the road or the trail and run hard to that point. This is followed by some slow jogging.

Today I only felt like running 3-4 miles or so. However, I also wanted to incorporate some Fartleks into my run through the woods. I think Fartlek (speed play with the emphasis on play) is the appropriate term for this kind of running; especially on the trails. I enjoyed flying through the woods with a reckless abandon. It felt great to revisit the increased stride turnover rate that has been missing from my running lately. I am hoping this will be a nice bridge into a bit of interval and speed training this summer. For the time being, I will be content with joyfully bounding through the trails like a carefree kid.

Poulsbo Marathon 2010

2010-06-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

My wife, Michelle, and her friend, Elisa are organizing the first annual Poulsbo Marathon!

The event will take place in the beautiful town of Poulsbo, WA, also know as "Little Norway" for its rich Norwegian heritage.

The marathon and half marathon will take place on October 17th, 2010. The race is still in the planning stages, but it is never to early to SAVE THE DATE!

Click here for more information: http://www.poulsbomarathon.embarqspace.com/

Blue Lake Duathlon

2010-06-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

My wife Michelle and I headed down to Portland, Oregon early Saturday morning to pick up our race packets and drop off our bikes at the site for the Blue Lake Duathlon/Triathlon. The event was actually 15 miles east of Portland in the town of Fairview, Oregon. We arrived at Blue Lake Park to beautiful sunshine and a pleasant 70 degrees or so. We dropped off our bikes, picked up our race packets, and headed back to Portland for what promised to be a relaxing evening.

We stayed at the historic Benson Hotel in the Pearl District. The Benson Hotel has been in operation since 1913 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is beautiful and the location is perfect. There are three restaurants within the hotel located conveniently on Broadway. The hotel is also within walking distance to one of my new favorite places to have a beer, the Deschutes Brewery. The staff of the Benson Hotel was very friendly and the concierge had great suggestions for our evening. I would highly recommend the Benson Hotel for the outstanding quality, location, and ambiance. Click here for a look at their beautiful guest rooms.

Much to our surprise the Portland Rose Festival was in full force during our weekend stay. We watched the annual Starlight Parade from our 10th floor window. Before the parade started 4000 people took part in a 5k race along the parade route. It looked more like a costume party than a race! Michelle and I looked enviously from our window, wishing we had known about this beforehand. The parade lasted until around midnight and we needed to be up by 5:30 to get ready for our races.

We woke up on Sunday morning to pouring rain...what happened to the sunshine?! Michelle took part in the Olympic Distance Triathlon (1500 meter swim, 40K Bike, 10K run), while I opted for the Olympic Distance Duathlon (5K run, 40K, Bike, 10K run). I was impressed and proud of Michelle...she is really becoming quite the swimmer. Her confidence in her swimming abilities is growing thanks to her unwavering perseverance and tenacity. She kicked butt in the swim and continued to do so in the bike and run. I really enjoyed the duathlon. I felt great in the first two legs of the event and hit the wall during the 10K run. All in all I was pleased with my effort, but looking forward to doing a few trail runs next week (more in my comfort zone). It didn't stop raining the entire 5 hours we were hanging out at Blue Lake Park, but it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the participants.

Next event: Timber Town 10K Trail Race, Port Gamble, WA

La Sportiva Raptor Review

2010-05-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

I became interested in the La Sportiva running shoe company after happening upon their mountain running website. It is a very informative website filled with information about all things mountain running. After following their website for a few months, I decided to give a pair of their shoes a try. I have been doing all of my trail runs the last few weeks in the La Sportiva Raptor.

The Raptor is touted as an “aggressive, technical trail shoe” by La Sportiva. I didn’t know exactly what this meant until I took the shoes for a spin on one of my favorite trails near Port Gamble, WA. The shoes worked perfectly for the slick rock and muddy trails I encounter regularly on this trail. I was particularly impressed with the responsiveness of the shoe. Most of the trail shoes I have owned have had a little bit of “slop” in them. However, the Raptor really stayed tight even on the sharpest of muddy hairpin turns.

The Raptor also has impressive grip. The outsole of the Raptor is made out of something called Frixon XF. La Sportiva is known for climbing shoes and the Raptor’s outsole is just one category below what is used as an outsole for their climbers. This provides a ton of grip on wet, mossy rocks, and other slippery surfaces encountered on the trails of the Northwest.

I really hit a hard tempo run the other day on a seriously slick portion of single track. Trusting the Raptors I went barreling down the last section of technical trail at a rather reckless speed. I never lost my footing and will continue to use these shoes in wet conditions. For more information check out Lasportiva.com.