08 August 2007

Fields of Gold... and Record Kleenex Sales

The green fields turn to gold faster than you can say gesundheit.

One of the great things about living in the Northwest, compared to the Texas I grew up in, is the changing colors. Most colors coincide with the changing seasons, but in the Palouse you can tell what time of year it is by the color of the fields. We're at the end of summer and everything has turned to gold, which means harvest time, which means lots of fun stuff floating around in the air, which means allergies, which means we've entered the only time of year when tissue sales in the Palouse are (likely) higher than micro-brew sales. I wake up, blow my nose, and spend the next 30 minutes sneezing. Not just little cute hee hee hee sneezes either. This are get out the Windex and clean some windows afterwards type sneezes. This lasts for about a month. We've bought stock in Kleenex. And Windex.

This week is a cutback week and I think I'm ready for one. My legs feel great, but it's pretty obvious that a week with less miles will do some real good. I hope. I'm getting into territory that I'm unfamiliar with so I'm going to trust my training schedule as much as I can.

I said goodbye to Sadie at the doorway (and Jeanie too) and headed for the trails. My last two runs have been on pavement and I felt like I was having trail withdrawal. Last Saturday's run has me so excited. So I went out to Moscow Mt. and did the Headwaters Loop. My goal was to run the entire thing - no walk, no stop, no skippity-do-da. It's a 5.5 mile loop that starts at around 3,000 ft and tops out around 4,000. I always have to walk at least part of some of the steeper sections. But today, minus the few seconds that I was rolling down the hill after a root vs. shoe encounter, I was able to run the entire way. This made me happy. I'm making some serious progress with my training and I think it's a safe bet to say that I'm in the best shape of my life. Even better than any point during my four years working for Uncle Sam.

I'm so excited about the progress I'm making. So excited that I went and did something crazy again. I sent in my application for the Cle Elum Ridge 50k trail race next month. It will be difficult and an incredible challenge but I'm pretty sure -- uh, I mean totally confident - that I can finish it. I know, I know, I haven't even run a marathon yet. Eh, who cares. (All naysayers and/or hecklers of my decision making please click here.)

As crazy as it might be that I'm going to run an ultra-marathon before I even run a marathon, there is something even crazier going on in our midst. Go check out Rob's blog and look at the race he has scheduled for Sept 8th-9th. If you aren't familiar with the race then go to the race's website and read the "rules" to get a better appreciation of just how crazy it is. Good luck Rob!

All in all I'm having a great time and simply love running. I've said this before but I'll say it again - this is fun.

Keep running!

-Scott


PS If you click on the last photo and look closely near the bottom left corner just in front of the trees you should be able to make out the moose that crossed in front of me on my way to the trailhead. Wish I could have gotten the camera out faster because there was a beautiful shot as she was crossing the road.

19 comments:

  1. Ahhh, the first pic looks like my home state... endless prairies full of wheat feilds... mostly on the western part of the state. I love the change of seasons and even look forward to snow!

    Umm... an UltraMarathon before a Marathon? Are you nuts?!?! Sure are! But, I look forward to reading about your training.... you are definitely well on your way, Scott!

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  2. I might need to link to the naysayers and hecklers as well after being outted like that. There's a post coming soon, but we'll let the thoughts churn for awhile first.

    That's sweet that you signed up for Cle Elum. I have not run that one yet as it always seems to come at a busy time of the year for me. I know you will do great. Enjoy the cutback week.

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  3. Scott, there is no right or wrong order to do these things in. Just put in the training and enjoy yourself, two things you are already doing.

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  4. Running 31-50 miles on a trail sounds a lot less crazy than running 26.2 miles on a road. Although I must admit than running 100 miles on a trail may be a little crazy. We'll do that in 2008. Why not...

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  5. I miss Palouse cloudscapes.

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  6. Love it!! Seriously man, love the attitude. " I know, I know, I haven't even run a marathon yet. Eh, who cares." Yup sometimes you just gotta say "f-it" I'm looking forward to seeing how this all plays out, and it's actually even better that you signed up for this so I don't have to wait for the back to back marathon/ultra reports. Sweet! You know what's crazy is that you'll have run this thing before I run my HM LMAO!

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  7. A moose? Good lord, the most wildlife I see on a run are gaggles of lizards (which are really hard to avoid stepping on), but I never see anything as cool as a moose!

    But I hear ya on the allergies. When I lived in MN, about this time of year, I had to live on Claritin and keep the Kleenex close. B/c I don't just sneeze, I swell.

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  8. You'll be fine! I actually thought about that one too, but am still worried about heat in September.

    I've never thought of your area as pretty - from my side of the mountains it looks dry and barren, but your pictures and your love of the area are making me rethink my lifelong bias.

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  9. oh, the familiar view... moose, eh? i am still so far away from a marathon, so i leave that one up to experienced ones.

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  10. I think you are awesome! That rocks that you signed up for an ultra next month! I can't wait to read all about the training and then the race report!

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  11. Oh hey, yes I'm new here..actually 2nd time here but I just have leave a comment b/c I'm also a nut for signing for Cle Elum 50K next month so that makes two of us!!

    I have to say you're alot better prepared than I am...I have to get my butt in gear and start putting in some trail runs.

    Now, I'm so excited but nervous at the same time, it'll be a blast!

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  12. LOL. I'm pretty happy because Wednesday night, I ran four miles straight on flat :-) Good luck with your 50K. You have the perseverance to finish strong!

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  13. Hey!!! I saw the moose...or at least her legs....that is such a view...you are so lucky to live there it seems...

    What part of Texas are you from?

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  14. Very cool post. I loved reading this. It seems we enjoy hearing about other people's nature and environments. I came across a huge deer on my path the other day. Not sure who was more scared so I just started clapping my hands and it took off. Do startled deer trample? I wasn't taking any chances, although I would have loved to just observe this beautiful creature. Nothing as cool as a moose though.

    Good luck with your training!! I'm working on marathon #1 also!

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  15. Good luck with the 50k, that sounds awesome! You can do it, especially after that epic run last week.

    I hope Sadie is feeling better.

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  16. Poor puppy...try making her food...Darwin, my dog, gets chicken and steamed vegetables with a sprinkle of flax seed...I guarantee her mile times will greatly improve. Did you get my email? I wanted one back! :)

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  17. Your runnings going from strength to strength so why not give it a go. You wont die wondering will you. Good luck & keep logging the miles.

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  18. i say 'hat's off' to you for having fun and signing up for the 50k. go get 'em. love your enthusiasm!!

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  19. You know how I feel about serif font! Thank you for the email! I'm now going to make you wait as long as I had to wait. Seriously, but really...I'll try to write back in a day or so:)

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