Very late we decided to join the "race" down at Juanita Beach. Since I wanted to bring Phoebe (dog) the 5K was the most suitable distance and she did really well, even at the start where it was crowded and tons of people with dogs (she can get a tad nervous when there's too much action/crowds).
Just upon entering 98th Avenue I stumbled - badly - fell flat on my stomach, and ripped open my left little finger as well as scraped my right hand and the watch band. But, this caused a small delay and the reward was the priceless showing of an "aerial fight" between a Bald Eagle and a Heron, just over our heads as we ran down Juanita Park Bridge. Had I not fallen, I would have been far past this spot and missed it all.
Truly amazing and yet another reason we we love this place!
Finished in a decent time, pulling dog the last mile, and realized that my finger had been bleeding all the time. My racing bib was nicely blood stained!
All in all, a good Sunday in Kirkland!
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, August 11, 2007
HelliZh Run and a night at the MovieZ
Due to boat issues, we had to bail on the Steamboat Festival at the Center for Wooden Boats. That sort of sucks, but a rock is a rock is a rock, and with no marine shops carrying Volvo propellers, well, boat remained home. So did the family. Wife sleeping, me taking care of the backyard.
Until I mentioned that I'd take Phoebe for a walk. That eventually resulted in a small argument and getting dragged in (or out) for another 14 mile run. I was up for a different route, preferably with some "scenery", but wife was dead set on "no hills" (what does she think, this is the Pacific NorthWest with ONLY hills).
So, ended up taking the same (boring) route as Sunday. Sammamish River Trail. did not feel good but I was at least "fluid". Could have gone a bit faster - thanks to great music in my ears, a first! Wife was behind, but did keep up OK.
Home again it turned out we were about 15 minuters faster than last weekend, but wife complained and told me she "hated every minute" of the run. My comments were of course "I did not pick it" and "why did we not turn around?".
After a quick shower, a bite to eat, we put the camping chairs in the car and went down to Carillon Point for an outdoor showing of "Casino Royal", the latest bond movie (part of the outdoor summer movies, organized by HopeLink). We hit the parking just in time, and got pretty good spot for our chairs.
Sitting outside on a slightly chilly summer night, with a good flick and a comfy chair, well it does not really get better. The legs needed som rest and we both enjoyed the movie before going back home and hitting the sack.
Until I mentioned that I'd take Phoebe for a walk. That eventually resulted in a small argument and getting dragged in (or out) for another 14 mile run. I was up for a different route, preferably with some "scenery", but wife was dead set on "no hills" (what does she think, this is the Pacific NorthWest with ONLY hills).
So, ended up taking the same (boring) route as Sunday. Sammamish River Trail. did not feel good but I was at least "fluid". Could have gone a bit faster - thanks to great music in my ears, a first! Wife was behind, but did keep up OK.
Home again it turned out we were about 15 minuters faster than last weekend, but wife complained and told me she "hated every minute" of the run. My comments were of course "I did not pick it" and "why did we not turn around?".
After a quick shower, a bite to eat, we put the camping chairs in the car and went down to Carillon Point for an outdoor showing of "Casino Royal", the latest bond movie (part of the outdoor summer movies, organized by HopeLink). We hit the parking just in time, and got pretty good spot for our chairs.
Sitting outside on a slightly chilly summer night, with a good flick and a comfy chair, well it does not really get better. The legs needed som rest and we both enjoyed the movie before going back home and hitting the sack.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
RunnerZ
Wife shook me about 7.30 AM, claiming that I had been given an extra hour to sleep.
After some slow moving, out of bed and so on, I was finally in the basement putting on my running shoes (wife, they are still too big).
Left the house sometime areond 8.00 AM and heading over the hills towards Sammamish River Trail. Plan was to do 14 miles in the morning hours. I actually felt pretty good/great, even considering I have not put in that long distance since the half-marathons of last summer.
I guess I should not be surprised, but I'm rarely up and out this early on a weekend, so it was pleasant to see so many bikers/runners/walkers along the Sammamish River Trail. It does get some good use - and not only people heading to the brewery.
A bit over two-houers later we "sailed" in through the front door. I had no problems continuing, but it is a bit boring running these distances out on the streets. Trails in the mountains might be more physically challenging, but it is easier on the psyche. The natural beauty just sort of keeps you going, and going, and going...
Nice run, but I still think wife was a bit mad at me since I could do it w/o any "real" effort. :-)
After some slow moving, out of bed and so on, I was finally in the basement putting on my running shoes (wife, they are still too big).
Left the house sometime areond 8.00 AM and heading over the hills towards Sammamish River Trail. Plan was to do 14 miles in the morning hours. I actually felt pretty good/great, even considering I have not put in that long distance since the half-marathons of last summer.
I guess I should not be surprised, but I'm rarely up and out this early on a weekend, so it was pleasant to see so many bikers/runners/walkers along the Sammamish River Trail. It does get some good use - and not only people heading to the brewery.
A bit over two-houers later we "sailed" in through the front door. I had no problems continuing, but it is a bit boring running these distances out on the streets. Trails in the mountains might be more physically challenging, but it is easier on the psyche. The natural beauty just sort of keeps you going, and going, and going...
Nice run, but I still think wife was a bit mad at me since I could do it w/o any "real" effort. :-)
Monday, September 04, 2006
RedHookZoo and run...
During what must have been a week moment at Everyday Athlete, I agreed with wife to run the Super Jock'n Jill half-marathon on LaborDay. I think I really only wanted the cool blue shirt, but I agreed to be signed up as well. Some of you remeber me running a half-marathon in July, only to be beaten by the wife. This time it should be different!
Over the next weeks, wife was training hard. She joined a runner's group, did speed work-outs in midweek, and distance on the weekends. Me? I was tied up digging up the yard - and enjoying the weather. I did not get one mile's training in prior to this "event".
The morning of the event, we also had a silent argument of who was to take the dog out for a walk before we left for the early start. I guess I "won" since I decided to stay in bed for another hour. Hence, wife was like a bee when we finally left to drive over to the start.
It was early, way too early for my taste, but it was later than the (stupid) 7AM start for the last race. We got there w/o problems, parked, and walked over to the start area.
I had been over (for hours) the day and evening prior at a neighbor's Labor Day party. It was fun, and a lot of new faces. Sure, a few beers, but nothing excessive. I also remembered to gulp down some serious amounts of water before going to bed. Despite the early morning, I felt sort of great.
The gun went off and the crowds were on their way. Tried to stay with wife but realized that I had a slightly faster pace this morning. Took mark a a pair running together. They seemed to be keeping a pace that I liked and decided to follow them, only to pass them after appr. 3 miles. At four miles, my pace was still just over 7 minute miles - way too fast. But it felt good so I kept it up.
At six, there was a long and devilish uphill into Bothell, it did good to slow down my pace. I knew how long this race was to be (13 and some miles), but I only had a faint idea of the actual course. After looping through Bothell, we did a number of (unnecessary) loops at the U of W, Bothell Campus. More hills! There's nothing that can kill a runner's mood as fast as "running in circles". Once down FINALLY, on the trail again, I had a very good hunch of how much I had left to run. At the ten mile sign, I stopped to walk a little and fight with opening of the two Clif Gel packages I had been using as "dumbells". I almost expected wife to catch up to me here. She had trained and was in very good shape.
A guy (father) with twins in a runner's stroller had passed me earlier. I was duly impressed over how he could drag his kids around - and keep up such good speed (as well as manage the uphills). Well, out on the flats again he was forced to slow down and I passed him easily. In fact, I passed quite a few people that had sort of glided past me earlier. Looking for the eleven mile sign, but it was nowhere to be seen. Darn, I really needed a time mark. Continue running and suddenly there is the twelve mile sign. OK, only a little more than a mile left. This feels good...
To my big surpise - again - the finish line comes earlier than expected. I do not pass any 13 mile mark as I had anticipated. The race is only 12.89 miles (20.74 km) which in my book is no "full" half-marathon. Sort of a few yards short...
But, checking the time, I pass the line at 1h48m17s. I had not seen wife passing me, could it be that I was really ahead of her all the time. Grab a bottle of water and return quickly to the finish area. As I look for her I see my old colleague Tomas just racing in to the finish line. I beat him? He has trained a lot (at least accoridng to his wife). Just as he passes, I hear my name called out and wife is sitting on the grass, only to point out that my white running shirt is blood stained. I had no idea, but it seems like the synthetic shirt has rubbed my nipples so they started bleeding. Does not hurt, but the bloodspots are more like big splashes. Ok, that was both the first and last time I run in a "non-cotton" shirt.
We moose around in the area, eat some goodies, and look for Tomas and his wife. Meet up with them, chat for a while and enjoy the wonderful weather and setting. Had originally planned to go in to Redhook and have a few beers (rehydrate) but end up heading home for a shower and some rest. All in all a great day (I beat both wife and Tomas...) :-)
Over the next weeks, wife was training hard. She joined a runner's group, did speed work-outs in midweek, and distance on the weekends. Me? I was tied up digging up the yard - and enjoying the weather. I did not get one mile's training in prior to this "event".
The morning of the event, we also had a silent argument of who was to take the dog out for a walk before we left for the early start. I guess I "won" since I decided to stay in bed for another hour. Hence, wife was like a bee when we finally left to drive over to the start.
It was early, way too early for my taste, but it was later than the (stupid) 7AM start for the last race. We got there w/o problems, parked, and walked over to the start area.
I had been over (for hours) the day and evening prior at a neighbor's Labor Day party. It was fun, and a lot of new faces. Sure, a few beers, but nothing excessive. I also remembered to gulp down some serious amounts of water before going to bed. Despite the early morning, I felt sort of great.
The gun went off and the crowds were on their way. Tried to stay with wife but realized that I had a slightly faster pace this morning. Took mark a a pair running together. They seemed to be keeping a pace that I liked and decided to follow them, only to pass them after appr. 3 miles. At four miles, my pace was still just over 7 minute miles - way too fast. But it felt good so I kept it up.
At six, there was a long and devilish uphill into Bothell, it did good to slow down my pace. I knew how long this race was to be (13 and some miles), but I only had a faint idea of the actual course. After looping through Bothell, we did a number of (unnecessary) loops at the U of W, Bothell Campus. More hills! There's nothing that can kill a runner's mood as fast as "running in circles". Once down FINALLY, on the trail again, I had a very good hunch of how much I had left to run. At the ten mile sign, I stopped to walk a little and fight with opening of the two Clif Gel packages I had been using as "dumbells". I almost expected wife to catch up to me here. She had trained and was in very good shape.
A guy (father) with twins in a runner's stroller had passed me earlier. I was duly impressed over how he could drag his kids around - and keep up such good speed (as well as manage the uphills). Well, out on the flats again he was forced to slow down and I passed him easily. In fact, I passed quite a few people that had sort of glided past me earlier. Looking for the eleven mile sign, but it was nowhere to be seen. Darn, I really needed a time mark. Continue running and suddenly there is the twelve mile sign. OK, only a little more than a mile left. This feels good...
To my big surpise - again - the finish line comes earlier than expected. I do not pass any 13 mile mark as I had anticipated. The race is only 12.89 miles (20.74 km) which in my book is no "full" half-marathon. Sort of a few yards short...
But, checking the time, I pass the line at 1h48m17s. I had not seen wife passing me, could it be that I was really ahead of her all the time. Grab a bottle of water and return quickly to the finish area. As I look for her I see my old colleague Tomas just racing in to the finish line. I beat him? He has trained a lot (at least accoridng to his wife). Just as he passes, I hear my name called out and wife is sitting on the grass, only to point out that my white running shirt is blood stained. I had no idea, but it seems like the synthetic shirt has rubbed my nipples so they started bleeding. Does not hurt, but the bloodspots are more like big splashes. Ok, that was both the first and last time I run in a "non-cotton" shirt.
We moose around in the area, eat some goodies, and look for Tomas and his wife. Meet up with them, chat for a while and enjoy the wonderful weather and setting. Had originally planned to go in to Redhook and have a few beers (rehydrate) but end up heading home for a shower and some rest. All in all a great day (I beat both wife and Tomas...) :-)
Sunday, July 09, 2006
CraZy Run...
My wife decided some time ago that we should run the half-Marathon of the SeaFair marathon. She has been pretty good in training regularly, I haven't. Probably gotten 10-15 miles totally in over the past few months, but that's it. Exercise have mostly been "walking the dog".
So, low and behold, today was the day. Wake-up at 6 AM(ouch!), chased out of the house at 6.30 AM in order to find a parking spot and be on the line to see the start of the Marathon at 7 AM. We missed that with a few minutes but were on time for our start at 7.15 AM.
Crowded field, quite a few that looked like they should not run, and quite a few that one gladly could run after... In other words, it's a mixed field.
Wife starts out way too fast for my taste, but I keep up and somewhere around the 4 mile mark, wife is no longer to be seen (behind me). I tell myself to run my race, not someone else's (it is easy to spick up speed way too early), but find a group pf people that seem to have a good pace.
I feel good, gaining on people on the up hills, and loosing some going downhill. At 8 miles, time is 01h07m. Wow, With just about three miles to go, I should be crossing the line at about 1h30m. Not bad for a guy who has not trained at all.
Coming down towards Richards road, heading north towards I-405 freeway and Bellevue downtown. I can almost see where the race is to end. But here, lesson one. Remember how long a half-marathon is. It is NOT 11 and some miles, but 13+ miles. In order to match that distance the organizers have sneaked in a "detour" (at least in my mind) and the course heads south, AWAY from the finishing area. I start to loose steam (maybe more mental), and also a bit concerned over cramps. Slows down a bit, not sure it helps but it feels good. Once the course turns north again, I remember how far it is to the finishing area from here. I get really tired. Start walking, streching my calf muscles until someone bumps my back with a "no walking" alert. Wife has caught up, and she is steaming towards the end. I try to keep up but realize that I have nothing left to keep up that pace for another mile or so. I remember to "run my race", and that finishing behind wife (=shame) is much better than not making it at all.
All in all, I cross the line at a respectable 01h52m03s, better than the race I did back in 1999 when I actually trained a lot. Not too far behind wife either, she only beat me with about 30 seconds.
We finish early enough so see the winner of the full marathon cross the line. He is a very small and thin guy from Kenya, and in about a time that is mine +30 minutes, he has run the double distance. Amazing. Wife goes up to congratulate him, and we figure he should have a pack of "groupies" and staff following him. But no, he just sits on the curb, catching his breath, drinking some water and looking like this is a day like any other day. We later see him leaving the area, still alone, no groupies in sight.
Oh well, another beautiful Sunday in the Pacific Northwest. I might be talked into doing this again, something I most likely will have forgotten, should the opportunity occur...
So, low and behold, today was the day. Wake-up at 6 AM(ouch!), chased out of the house at 6.30 AM in order to find a parking spot and be on the line to see the start of the Marathon at 7 AM. We missed that with a few minutes but were on time for our start at 7.15 AM.
Crowded field, quite a few that looked like they should not run, and quite a few that one gladly could run after... In other words, it's a mixed field.
Wife starts out way too fast for my taste, but I keep up and somewhere around the 4 mile mark, wife is no longer to be seen (behind me). I tell myself to run my race, not someone else's (it is easy to spick up speed way too early), but find a group pf people that seem to have a good pace.
I feel good, gaining on people on the up hills, and loosing some going downhill. At 8 miles, time is 01h07m. Wow, With just about three miles to go, I should be crossing the line at about 1h30m. Not bad for a guy who has not trained at all.
Coming down towards Richards road, heading north towards I-405 freeway and Bellevue downtown. I can almost see where the race is to end. But here, lesson one. Remember how long a half-marathon is. It is NOT 11 and some miles, but 13+ miles. In order to match that distance the organizers have sneaked in a "detour" (at least in my mind) and the course heads south, AWAY from the finishing area. I start to loose steam (maybe more mental), and also a bit concerned over cramps. Slows down a bit, not sure it helps but it feels good. Once the course turns north again, I remember how far it is to the finishing area from here. I get really tired. Start walking, streching my calf muscles until someone bumps my back with a "no walking" alert. Wife has caught up, and she is steaming towards the end. I try to keep up but realize that I have nothing left to keep up that pace for another mile or so. I remember to "run my race", and that finishing behind wife (=shame) is much better than not making it at all.
All in all, I cross the line at a respectable 01h52m03s, better than the race I did back in 1999 when I actually trained a lot. Not too far behind wife either, she only beat me with about 30 seconds.
We finish early enough so see the winner of the full marathon cross the line. He is a very small and thin guy from Kenya, and in about a time that is mine +30 minutes, he has run the double distance. Amazing. Wife goes up to congratulate him, and we figure he should have a pack of "groupies" and staff following him. But no, he just sits on the curb, catching his breath, drinking some water and looking like this is a day like any other day. We later see him leaving the area, still alone, no groupies in sight.
Oh well, another beautiful Sunday in the Pacific Northwest. I might be talked into doing this again, something I most likely will have forgotten, should the opportunity occur...
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