Running the Deschutes River Trail

I finally feel 100% healthy after my nasty Feb/March sinus infection.  Winter has been very mild in the Northwest this year and many winter trails are displaying spring conditions!  (I'll happily let my sister in Dallas get all the snow.) 

I spent a few days in Bend, OR over the weekend.  Sadie and I ran 21 miles (10.5 out and back) on the beautiful Deschutes River Trail.  Enjoy some photos:

Running past an open meadow with
snow-capped Mt. Bachelor(?) in the background.

View from Deschutes River Trail.

View from Deschutes River Trail.

Sadie taking a river break.

Ancient lava flow.

Deschutes River

Benham Falls

We love to run.

Keep running!

Scott

Making Some Plans, and a Podium Finish

A nasty sinus infection kept me on the couch for about 3 weeks, but I'm getting back into speed and making up for lost training time. Maybe I'm crawling out of my winter blogging blues too.

Last year was a quiet year for me in terms of races. I'm feeling a bit recharged and have a couple big races on tap the next few months. I've been wanting to do the Spokane River 50k the last two years but haven't been able to fit it in my schedule, so I'm making that my priority spring race.

I'm not sure if I can swing an epic overseas trip this year, but I still want to get out of the States for a race and I've been looking at some races within driving distance in British Columbia. At the top of my list is the Edge to Edge Marathon in BC's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Yesterday, while researching races in the area, I came across a St. Paddy's Day 5k just down the road from me on the Snake River in Clarkston, WA. Though I woke up to snow this morning (the weather had been so beautiful until the last few days), I thought it might be fun to push my long run until tomorrow and drive down for the race.

I'm not big on speed workouts or wearing a watch while I run (if you've read my blog long enough you know the reasons why I run), so I had few expectations for the race. I'd run a 5k a couple years ago and clocked in at 22:41. I thought for sure I could better that, but my legs have been a little dead this last week and I really don't have a good grasp on my short distance paces.

My pre-race goals were simple:
1. Start off really fast, and then try to speed up along the way.
2. Beat my PR.

So I ran hard, and it hurt. The most amazing part of the entire race is when I didn't puke with about 100 meters left. Another fellow ultrarunner told me a couple years ago that if you didn't feel like your lungs are going to come out of your throat in a 5k, then you weren't running hard enough. Well, that's how I felt. And on this day it paid off. I placed 3rd overall (out of 110) and 1st in my age group with a 19:30 (results). This is my highest finish since I beat my little brother in a race across the street 25 years ago.

Playing with Sadie before start.
No snow in the valley.

Races are fun, aren't they?

After-race finish board and snack station.

3rd place medal.
Keep smiling!

And keep running!

-Scott

Austin Marathon Race Report

Austin Marathon Race Report

My brother was getting married in Houston on Saturday, Feb. 13. After the evening reception, a few of us thought it would be a great idea to make a little drive to Austin for a Sunday morning marathon that I would be running with my sisters Lisa and Melanie. We arrived at our hotel around midnight and left the hotel a bit after 5:30am to get our spot at the starting line. Not much sleep, but we knew it would be a hectic trip. My dad had hoped to run it with us, but being just over a year removed from a quadruple bypass he's simply not ready for a marathon (but he's close!). So this time he was there as crew/spectator.

Lisa, me, and Melanie in a parking garage near the start

And we're off

Looking back toward the start and the Texas Capitol

Sunrise near mile 6

We were feeling good. It was a good day.

Zoe (Melanie's), Mike (Melanie's), and Megan (my other sister)

met us around mile 18 with tidings of good cheer, and snacks.

Melanie's goal was 5:14:00, which is a 12-min mile and 25 minutes under her first marathon time. All three of us had a goal of crossing the finish line together. It was cold at the start but warmed up nicely after a couple of miles. The crowds were friendly and the sun was out. Running a marathon is a great way to see a city.

Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, and there were plenty of live musicians along the route - some of them were even good. Water stations were at ever mile and during the second half there were Powerade stations every other mile. The course was pretty flat (yeah, I know, this is coming from a guy who spends most his time running mountain trails), though there were a couple little hills that can get your attention. Overall it was a pleasant course.

Melanie was doing great and past the halfway point were were slightly ahead of schedule. We expected to slow down considerably during the last few miles and I told Melanie not to worry about the time so much. I know she wanted to hit her goal time, but I don't think she was stressing it too much. The most important part is that three siblings from three different parts of the country were together for a nice and easy 26-mile Sunday morning run. But as we were passing mile markers after mile marker our pace wasn't slowing much. Even with some extended walk breaks in the last couple miles we were still right on pace.

Some aid stations were better than others

I forget what mile we were near when I took this photo

Finish line on the other side of the Capitol

We hit a nice groove with less than a mile to go and pushed it toward the finish. There always seems to be a burst of adrenaline near the end. We planned to cartwheel across the finish line together and as we neared we slowed a bit to create some space between us and the runners in front of us. But sure enough, right as we were about to cross a couple runners sprinted up behind me and Melanie to block our attempt. Lisa was in the clear though, and completed her finish line cartwheel.

Final time: 5:14:55. Right on pace. Results

I usually run these race alone, so these opportunities I get to run with my family is special. Congratulations to Lisa and Melanie. They are both ready for their first 50k. :)

Finisher smiles

Keep running!

-Scott

Inching Toward Spring

I was told I post a lot of photos of Sadie. Yes, that is correct.

We've received a lot of rain the past couple weeks in the lower elevations and the hills are snow free. So, hoping for unexpected snow melt in the higher elevations, we decided we'd give the trails up on Moscow Mountain a shot. There was still a lot of snow up top, but for the most part it was clear and worth the trip.

Next Saturday, my brother is getting married in Houston. After the reception a few of us are making a late night drive to Austin for Sunday's Austin Marathon. I'll be running with two of my sisters, Melanie and Lisa. My dad had hoped to run, but he's playing it safe on his running road to recovery, so instead of trying to squeeze out 26.2 miles he'll be cheering from the sideline. It should be a fun trip.

I hope everyone is well.

Keep running!

-Scott

Winter Running Snapshots

Strong wind blowing the snow sideways is not
enough to keep me and Sadie off our 4 mile loop

Coyote hunting mice in the snow

Climbing toward the sun on a clear day.
Sadie's tracks show how she runs back and forth
the entire time. I'll run 5 miles, she'll run 10.