MANSON — The Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon and Half-Marathon has announced the launch of its new website.

The site, which can be found at www.lakechelanmarathon.com, has detailed information on the marathon and half-marathon as well as the event’s 10-kilometer run. Runners and walkers can register by clicking a link on the site.

Other content includes news stories, past race results, course maps, volunteer contacts, travel tips, and detailed lists of Chelan and Manson lodging establishments, wineries and restaurants.

The site was designed by Apt Design of Wenatchee.

“We are committed to turning this event into one the entire region can be proud of, and part of that is upgrading our marketing, including the website,” said Joel Rhyner, race director. “Along those same lines, we want participants to enjoy their stay at Lake Chelan, so we made a point of including key visitor information.”

Rhyner also has added a new member to his team — former Wenatchee World editor Steve Maher, whose extended family operates the Eugene (Ore.) Marathon, considered one of the top marathons in the country. Maher will oversee the Lake Chelan event’s marketing efforts.

“Steve brings a wealth of contacts and knowledge on the sport of running that should benefit us immensely,” Rhyner said.

The Lake Chelan marathon, half-marathon and 10K will be held on Sept. 8. The mostly marathon and half-marathon courses begin on the lake’s south shore and follow the shoreline through Chelan and then on to Manson on the lake’s north side. The marathon, a Boston-qualifier, begins with rolling hills for the first few miles and then is mostly flat, while the USATF-certified half-marathon is flat. The 10K run begins in Chelan and ends in Manson.

 Do you know what those dark, wet, frigid winter days, the definition of runners’ misery, are good for?  They are excellent opportunities for dreaming of the past and planning for the future.  I’m writing this with my friends on the Cascade cross country team in mind, but runners of all ages can go through this exercise.

Remember those late summer/early fall runs when the heat was so intense that the air was denser with it, the pavement spongy with it, and a rivulet of sweat could be felt down your back in the first mile?  Our bodies adapted to the heat, and we would sweat and seek the shade.  After a hard run, cool water never tasted so sweet.

Relive a crisp October race when your energy felt boundless.  As the finish line approached you went faster still, your feet barely bending the grass and your competitors falling back, mere obstacles in your path.

 In these long winter weeks, when we grow pale from lack of sun and we tend to wear a groove into our sofas, the remembering of sun-kissed movement awakens us out of mental hibernation.  Now these stimulated neurons can leap forward to next spring.  By the end of May the daylight lasts seven hours longer per day.  Think of it – that’s over 400 more minutes or 25,000 more seconds per day!  Wow, all of a sudden, the possibilities to get out and do something, anything, seem endless.  How easy a run is when you leave behind the headlamp, reflective gear, ice joggers, mittens, hat and windbreaker.  Getting out the door is no longer a chore, and you almost feel like you’re missing something because you need so little.

 In the spring, even if your athletic focus is elsewhere, perhaps soccer, softball or biking, you can and should get out and run frequently.  Run because it is an acceptance of the gift of ice-free roads, sun on the skin, cool breezes, amazing wildflowers and great wildlife sightings that the season is giving to you.  Share the gift with a friend and more than double the joy.  If running becomes part of your weekly routine, then, come fall cross country season, that energy and power can be honed to take your running to the next level.

This is all food for thought in the depth of winter.  I like taking my memories of the past and expanding and multiplying the highlights in some imagined flawless race scenario.

As I write this I know that the present cold drizzle is not exactly luring me out the door.  But I am going to grab the headlamp, the ice joggers, the layers of clothing and an IPOD (to shake up the darkness), and ease my way out, with no expectations of the best run ever.  Guaranteed I will come back pleasantly surprised at how good it felt, how bedraggled I look (which I don’t notice until I stop running) and how my cheeks momentarily take on the flushed countenance that I see frequently in my daughter’s face after exuberant snow play.  Please, give it a try, move a little, while indulging in big dreams.

Marlene Farrell

By Marlene Farrell

The word “magnanimous” doesn’t slip freely from my tongue, but I can’t help but think it a fitting description of my friend, Greg.

I first met Greg through the virtue of his generosity. In 2007, he ran an entire marathon with a stranger (me) so she could achieve an Olympic Trials qualifying time. I remember Greg was a steady, calm presence, and I let myself follow the cadence of his and Uli’s footsteps. I could not have had the perfect race and a big PR without them.

Why did Greg do it? Primarily, I imagine (because I haven’t asked him) out of friendship with the other woman trying to qualify. But beyond that, Greg is a believer in the power of running dreams, and he does a lot to help others achieve those dreams.

Marlene Farrell

Since 2007 I have seen Greg at a lot of Seattle races, especially those of our masters cross country team. But he’s not been racing for a couple years due to a chronic injury. Still, he is out there, again and again, to witness the rest of us in the heat of battle and to celebrate or commiserate with us afterwards. This caring is a trait I’ve taken for granted.

At least until now — when I find myself sidelined as well by injury.

I consider myself in contrast to Greg’s shining example. It is easy for me to be a boisterous cheerleader for runners when watching a race I just completed myself. And I’m happy to cheer loudly at my husband’s races, or those of kids I help coach. But to watch runners, exhibiting health, hard effort, and efficiently moving limbs — from a perspective hobbled by pain and feelings of weakness and frustration — is not merely effort, but more akin to torture. When I drive by runners, I resist my compulsion to watch them and instead divert my eyes, keeping them staring at the road ahead.

My injury, which is longer lasting and more significant than any other I have experienced, has sapped the joy out of my daily ritual and makes other runners’ flushed exertions grate on the nerves of my inner runner, who has to relearn patience.

Did I mention that I have been injured for just over a month, compared to Greg’s slow recovery of over two years?

I am ashamed of my bitterness about this in a life otherwise full of so many joys. But to understand the extent of this emotional blow I need to say that this injury has amazingly bad timing. The seed of my dream was planted 3 ½ years ago after my Olympic Trials Marathon in Boston. I was determined to train with more dedication and knowledgeable coaching toward the goal of qualifying again and running my best effort at the next Trials.

Qualifying was not easy, but I did it in my first try at the Eugene Marathon in 2010. If you are a marathoner, you likely train for four months or so toward a goal race. For me, over a period of 19 months, the Olympic Trials Marathon in Houston this January has been the underlying theme and reason for all my running. It couldn’t help but be in my daily thoughts, especially during tough workouts and races.

So now I have come unmoored from this grand adventure and I am adrift. Without my early morning fix of endorphins I don’t feel right, and the day ahead seems more daunting. My family and friends have dealt with the Marlene who is tired and cranky after a long run. But now, even worse, is the Marlene that is the exercise addict in withdrawal, surly and depressed. I want to thank them here for supporting me and putting up with all of the side effects of a runner chasing her dream.

After deciding Houston, the race I had been calling “my last marathon,” will be a DNS, I have been surprised by my attitude adjustment. I am happy to report that I am no longer blindly angry, I have forgiven myself for digging my own grave with overtraining, and I’ve found ways to divert my extra energy. I am trying to keep up with my kids downhill skiing at Stevens Pass and my son is teaching me the importance of spreading holiday cheer continuously and copiously.

And it is actually nice to enter this busy season with one less thing hanging over me like a dark cloud. A few months ago, I envisioned this time as frenetic and me, wired on coffee, attempting the impossible of running like crazy in the dark and then doing the other thousand things that this time of year requires.

Now I realize that with a bit more sleep I can attend to those other things, like making cookies for Alice’s Nutcracker performance and preparing for Quentin’s ski birthday party, not to mention building train tracks with Alice and playing Battleship with Quentin, with the enthusiastic attention they deserve.

Other parts of my life don’t need to play second fiddle to my running right now, and I’m kinda liking this shift. I am perhaps a far cry from the magnanimity of people like Greg, but I am feeling less Scrooge-like everyday.

Marlene Farrell is a Leavenworth long-distance runner who qualified for the women’s U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2008 and 2012. She also is a freelance writer and blogs for RunWenatchee.

For complete results: http://www.buduracing.com/raceresults.php

Welcome to Wenatchee Valley’s 4th annual Turkey On The Run Thanksgiving Day 5k Run/Walk and 12k Run, benefitting the Women’s Resource Center.

This years event will take place at 9 am on  November 24th, 2011 at Rotary Park in Wenatchee, Washington. Bring your friends and family for this great community running event! 

Proceeds from this years event will go to support our Womens Resource Center, who  provides Emergency and Transitional Housing, Support and Enrichment services to women, men, and their families in an environment which honors diversity, promotes education and self-esteem and encourages mutual respect in our community.  We will once again be having a canned food drive to help support our Womens Resource Center, so bring a non perishable canned food donation(s) with you to the event.  All food donation goes to the Resource Center community food bank, which will allow dozens of families in our region to have a happy holiday meal. 

General Information:

5k Run/Walk: 

• Adult early entry fee is $25 for the 5k until November 23rd, then $30 day of registration.
• There will be day of race registration and Packet Pick up will be at Rotary Park starting at 7:30 am, November 24th. 
• Click here to register now! 
• Kids 12 and under can participate in the 5k run/walk free with a paid adult.  Day of registration only.
• There will be a kids (10 and under) turkey dash, approximately 1/2 mile, that is free!

 12k Run:

• Adult early entry fee is $35 until November 23rd, then $40 day of registration.
• There will be day of race registration and Packet Pick up will be at Rotary Park starting at 7:30 am, November 24th. 
• Click here to register now!

Race Course:  Is open to traffic, on city streets and county roads,  but it  is well marked and their are two aid stations. One at the 5k turnaround and the other at the turnaround for the 12k.

  Post Race Raffle/Swag: Lots of great swag, courtesy of our generous sponsors, SET Coaching/Black Diamond Sports Physical Therapy!!!

 Each participant will receive a commerative 20 oz coffee mug, courtesy of Libke Insurance! Also, each participant will be entered into our raffle drawing.Chip timing by BuDu Racing!Course maps are available for the 5k and 12k.Thank you to our sponsors: Yahoo!, Team Reliv, SET Coaching, Black Diamond Sports Physical Therapy, Libke Insurance, Inner Circle Gym, Performance Footwear, Chinook Music and ProjectGroundworks, If you are a local business and would like to sponsor or donate for a raffle prize, please email us at runwenatchee@gmail.com

Happy training and see you on Thanksgiving Day for fitness and fun before the feast!

10K women: Karen Weber, 49:25

For complete results: www.buduracing.com

Running Rooster with his coach, Doc Stalwart

FYI, a rooster can run up to nine miles an hour, compared to the average human, who tops out at seven miles an hour. But we digress. Here is what Running Rooster had to say:

Q: Have you heard about Shore to Shore and River Run?
A: A cockadoodledoo yes to you. Word travels fast among us birds. I’ve since some done pecking along both courses.

Q: What makes the two events special?
A: I’d have to say the views and the close proximity to two famous bodies of water. With Shore to Shore, it’s Lake Chelan, and with River Run, it’s the Columbia River. Everybody around the country has heard of those places but few get the chance to run alongside them in an official event.

Q: Have you ever been to NCW?
A: I have some friends in Wenatchee — Quail and Crow. Good flappers, those two. Plus, I am related to Turkey, who has a rather big role in your Turkey on the Run race in November. I did the Shore to Shore a year ago and the Wenatchee Marathon two years ago. I had a lot of support on power lines and in trees along the way.

Q: How is your training going by the way?
A: Good. Just finished a 16-miler in the heat. Thankfully, I had my heart-rate monitor with me.

Q: Curiosity has gotten the best of us. What’s the fastest you’ve ever run a marathon?
A: Well, I did a 3:05 in Portland. Beat my PR by 15 minutes. I owe it to the fact I was chased by a dog for five miles.

Q: Would you recommend either Shore to Shore or River Run for a newbie?
A: Absolutely. The Shore to Shore Marathon and Half-Marthon are flat and are going to have great aid stations and plenty of support this weekend. The same with the River Run Half-Marathon. And if you’re not up for one of the longer distance runs, there is a 10K at Chelan and a 10K and 5K at Wenatchee. Give one of them a try.

Q: What else stands out for you?
A: I hear the River Run is giving out coupons so runners can get $5 off at the Taste of the Harvest Festival’s wine garden in downtown Wenatchee right after the race. What better way for a participant to soak in their well-earned accomplishment. Plus, I understand the Farmers Market is going to be up on what you folks call “the Ave” for the Harvest Festival. Corn. Peppers. Apples. Melons. That’s my kind of place.

Q: Do you drink wine?
A: Try not to. Don’t want to let my guard down. There is always that coyote around the bend.

Q: Well, thanks much Running Rooster for your time. We’ll be in touch again soon.
A: You, too. Now it’s time for me to take a little rest in the hen house.

To register for Shore to Shore: http://www.active.com/running/chelan-wa/shore-to-shore-marathon-marathon-relay-half-marathon-and-10k-2011
To register for River Run: http://www.active.com/running/wenatchee-wa/runwenatchee-river-run-5k-runwalk-10k-run-and-half-marathon-2011

To register: http://www.active.com/running/wenatchee-wa/runwenatchee-river-run-5k-runwalk-10k-run-and-half-marathon-2011

I’ve been injured for the last couple of months.  I pulled my left hamstring and began running too soon.  I then overcompensated and injured the other hamstring.  Genius move, I know.

It’s been such a bummer.  I’ve missed three races I had planned on running this summer.  I’m definitely losing my speed.  Other runners are getting fast while I’m getting slower.  It just sucks.

At least that was my initial attitude.  Come to find out, this injury is completely running specific.  I am able to bike, hike, swim water run and do most other forms of cross training.

During my first road bike ride, I quickly remembered how much I enjoy biking.  I kept thinking, “Wow, this is really, really fun, why don’t I ride more often?”  In addition, I have this great group of friends that get together for a bike ride and dinner every Tuesday.  During my healthy running days, I excelled at the dinner portion of the night usually skipping the biking.  I have recently joined in the fun of the ride with my fellow bike chicks.  It’s nice to be a legitimate bike chick.

While our summer here in Wenatchee has been a bit cool this year, we have had some nice, hot days.  On those hot days, I head to the pool to water run.  I soon realized that water running in the nice cool pool certainly beats a run on the hot pavement.  You may ask, “what about a great morning run?”  The fact is that I have tried for many, many years to be a morning exerciser to no avail.

I’ve spent plenty of time at Black Diamond Sports Therapy and SET Coaching in the last few months.  Some time in front of the camera for a run analysis at SET coaching and some strength testing at Black Diamond Physical Therapy did the trick.  Coach Jason, from SET coaching, has figured out a strength routine so that this (historically reoccurring) injury will no longer be a problem.  Probably the most useful knowledge that I’ve gained is that these injuries are a result of a muscle imbalance in my hips that alter my running form. The pros tell me that I’m going to be that much stronger and faster after this injury than before.

So, it begs the question:  Curse?  Blessing?  I’ll say this:  It’s like most things in life. It’s all about perspective.

To register: http://www.active.com/running/chelan-wa/shore-to-shore-marathon-marathon-relay-half-marathon-and-10k-2011