Where's the Donuts?

Orcas Island 25k

Previous WeekRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesDavid Nelson's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageMonth ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Week
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2007200820092010201120122013201420152016
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

WA,

Member Since:

Feb 10, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

I was an 800/1500 runner in high school and college, with PRs of 1:55 and 4:08. I've run as fast as 16:15 for 5k and 1:20 for a half, but my bests in recent years are 17:07 5k (Dec. '11), 37:40 10k (Jan. '12), 1:23:49 half (Sept. '08), 2:53:12 marathon (September '10), and 4:45:06 50k (March '10).

Short-Term Running Goals:

Late 2015/2016 races: 

— Seattle Soltice 10k (Dec. 19)

— Nookachamps half marathon (Jan. 16)

— Toyko Marathon (Feb. 28) 

Personal:

I'm an editor at a newspaper in Bremerton, Washington and head coach of the Bremerton Jaguars youth track and field team.

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Total Distance
45.00
Total Distance
9.00

Finally, what I'd call a true easy, recovery day (but still with some good mileage). I was in Seattle and Krissy and I did a morning run from her house. Burke-Gilman trail east to the UW campus, then up through Ravenna Park to Green Lake. Once around the lake then back to Fremont. We started talking to the woman randomly before the lake, then ended up in conversation and just joined her for the lap, which made the run longer than planned. Thus the nine miles. But, the stranger was slow so it was great to lock in a really easy, conversational pace (8/min or so, maybe a touch over even). Very pleasant outside, and TONS of folks out on the roads. 50-degree weekend mornings are for runners what rainstorms are for earthworms. Legs felt good other than a little twinge in the right achilles, but it loosened up after a stop to stretch. 1:17:00

This concludes my best January since, probably ever. Helps when it's mild every day, Utah didn't offer me that (probably still doesn't). Just shy of 150/miles, so I'm pleased at where I'm at and hoping to pile some on in February to keep this year going well.

brooks cascadia -- 86

Add Comment
Total Distance
6.00

The new Manette Hills loop, though I needed a pit stop halfway through and couldn't find one, so I had to cut it short and hurry home. So, I ended up with a mile less than planned. Medium pace, didn't really have my head in it but that's fine. Really nice moon this morning. 46:00

supernova glide -- 245

Comments(7)
Total Distance
9.00

Beat the rain today, which was nice. First time out through Lions Park in quite awhile, turned around on Tracyton Beach Road at four miles because I needed to make a pit stop (which was two days in a row after not having that problem for weeks. Weird). That meant the pace was pushing for awhile, I needed to find a place. Ran back across the Warren Avenue Bridge and stopped at Samudra Yoga/Bakery to use the bathroom (I returned to purchase breakfast after showering, so I *was* a customer). Then back over Manette Bridge and along Shore Drive to the trail, then home. Kind of a windy way through that route, which boosted it to a nine miler. Felt pretty good, although the work day that followed was really lousy. 1:08:55

supernova glide -- 254

Add Comment
Total Distance
5.50

A 40-minute run around Green Lake in Seattle. A brisk pace plus 8x100 striders on a turf field puts my estimate a bit over 5. Cool, cloudy morning but a nice leg stretch before heading up to Orcas Island for the 25k. 42:00

brooks cascadia -- 91

Add Comment
Race: Orcas Island 25k (15.5 Miles) 02:10:57, Place overall: 13
Total Distance
15.50

Although I ran the Fishline 25k trail race last February, I think this was my first "real" trail race at this distance. Orcas Island 50k has 3,500 feet of elevation gain/loss, including a nasty 1,300-foot climb from around miles 4 to 5. I could have been in for a long day, so I didn't really go in with many expectations; wasn't even sure what time was realistic. It was beautiful outside though, so the sunny clear day promised at least a fun experience outdoors. 

I lined up a little further back than I should have with 150 runners (50k had about that many also, I was told), so the first mile of fairly easy terrain and single track was spent weaving around people to get a decent place. I settled with a pack, then took off from them at 2 or so, just after the first light climb. Had no idea of the mountain waiting for me, so two miles later I'm huffing it up Mt. Constitution, legs burning, convinced I'll be caught by that pack and they'll mock me. But I had two people ahead I was focused on, and after hiking for awhile passed one of them when the hill started to level, and hit the summit at 57 minutes. And actually, I had caught a second wind and had a little energy back (but finishing a hill always does that). Grabbed some aid at the summit, enjoyed a 40-second spectacular view of the San Juan Islands and Canadian Rockies (sorry, no camera, and I'm really, really sorry about that), and hit the trail again.

I chase a guy out of the aid station and we booombed downhill. I've never descended quite like that. Just totally free and letting the legs completely loose, banging away on a soft trail with some tight switchbacks. It was a blast, and I knew I was destroying some quads. Oh well. I caught him and we hung a bit, then I dragged him up some smaller rolling hills and we caught another guy. The second guy and I slogged another hill (nowhere near as extreme as the first hald, so I was trying to maintain a better hike/run ratio then) then I left him. But both caught up to me at the last high point, where we met two younger guys confused by an unmarked T. The five us of picked a route and it turned out to be right (whew, especially at that point).

Another downhill there, the two young bucks split so the three of us stuck together. We weren't bombing quite as much then, we knew we were within five or so and I was feeling beat in the legs. But we were chatty, just enjoying the forest and the day, really fun moment of the race there. We hit the base at a pretty decent clip and could smell the finish about two miles out or so. But my legs said 'enough' at that point, they weren't happy with all the downhill. My energy lagged a bit, but not too bad. The legs were just trashed. So I let the two vets go on, dying to stay with them but wanting to make sure I got in. Last two were a pretty easy jog, that was what I had left. Luckily it's mostly flat by then, a nice loop around a beautiful lake. I hobbled up the last hill then cruised down the grassy slope to the finish, really excited to be done.

The cameraderie was pretty great after that, definitely a different feel than most road races. People hung around a long time (part of that is being stuck on an island, I know), sat in the sun (again, another advantage not usually there in February) and listened to a bluegrass band (let's see that, any race but a Rock N' Roll). Then I worked in the kitchen spooning soup and washing dishes and making pizza dough for a few hours (which kept me loose, but I didn't refuel properly, and felt that around 4 p.m. when I crashed). The party kept up until late, just a great time gorging pizza and cookies and sitting around meeting other runners in the Camp Moran Lodge. Just a wonderful time with this little Northwest ultra community.

What I take away is that I'm in pretty good shape for early in the year; much better prepared in terms of fueling than I've ever been; and I'm fairly confident I can tackle the 50k next month and even shoot for a sub-5 hour time. I need a little more hill work, and more long distance runs that pass two hours and maybe get up to three. So there's six weeks of work ahead of me. I'll take it.

brooks cascadia -- 106


Comments(3)
Total Distance
45.00
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Recent Comments: