Pratt Lake and then some

Another day off and so another trail run in the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. This time I had Casey choose a run for me out of my 50 Trail Runs in Washington book and this is what she found...run #20 Pratt Lake, a 12 mile out and back. You can add mileage by dipping down to see some of the other lakes in the region, the Alpine Lakes Region, such as Talapus Lake and Olallie Lake. By adding those two, the mileage is upped to about 16.

The run started out wet and rainy, but I liked the cool air. Once I started making my way into the Pratt Lake basin, the sun came out as I made my way across the large scree areas. The screes were some of the most beautiful ones I have seen as of late, with lots of moss and foliage growing in, on, and around a lot of the rock.
Well enjoy the photos...

Baker Lake Trail Run

I had a day off so I decided to take a solo day trip. After flipping through the pages of my book, 50 Trail Runs in Washington, I settled on Baker Lake, a dammed lake. The run is a 26 mile out and back, along the banks of Baker Lake, which is near the base of Mt. Baker. From Seattle, this is a 2 hour 30 minute drive, but I figured I would getting my monies worth with the trail run mileage.

With my bag full of fruit, a few books, my camera,and lots of water, off onto the trail I went.

Turns out there is a 50k Trail Run there soon. Wish I could but I have to work that day for Sherman Alexie will be reading poetry at my branch.

Anyway, here are some photos of my trip.

Summer

So I am gearing up for yet another marathon (how many is that now??? who cares how many. I just love running.) The air is getting warmer so I am stripping down the layers and am soaking up the sun. I have noticed more people on the trails; it is like the sleepy city of Seattle is waking up after a long, cold winter.

I have been checking out the Evergreen Trail Run Series website hoping there are some dates that work with my calendar, allowing me to participate in some of these events. So far no luck. Either I am working or I already have plans so it is a little frustrating. Luckily, with Pacific Northwest trail running, there are always events to be had. There may be a few dates in August that work for me so in the meantime I will just keep on running.

I am really excited to visit some of my favorite day trail runs that have been closed due to the winter's snow. Come June, most of the trails are starting their annual thawing out process. I desperately want to see Mt. Pilchuck, Heather Lake, and Lake 22 again. My gear is all packed, all I need to do is run to the store, grab some mixed nuts, cheese, salami, baguette, and jump in my car and go.

Discovery Park Trail Run Sample

A day in the life of a Discovery Park Trail Runner....(04/21/2011)

Frankie Four

Yesterday I woke to the rain pouring down over Ballard. It was a cold, dark and dreary morning, not the kind of morning you want when you are scheduled for an afternoon beach swim suit shoot at Carkeek Park.

I went out for my morning coffee, per my usual routine, enjoyed an everything bagel with cream cheese, and spent the early morning reading some Washington Trails books. I am trying to plan out my trail runs throughout Western Washington for the upcoming summer months. If I can manage it, I would like to tackle a trail or two a week, with the goal being around 30 new trails to add to my arsenal.

It was still raining steadily as I finished my hot coffee and I headed home, to change into my running clothes. With the raindrops being as heavy as they were, I knew that Discovery Park would be all rivers and waterfalls and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to play around in this.

I ran around the park loop once (4.25 miles) running and jumping into puddles, taking in the rain and enjoying the cool crisp air on my face. When I got back to the beginning I didn't want to stop. It is just too much fun, after all I was already drenched, muddy, and still full of energy. I ran around the park a second time, reversing the direction for a new experience.

When I had my fill I rode back to Ballard and jumped in the warm shower and sipped some more hot Kona coffee, coffee that given to me as a gift from Angela and Jason upon returning from Hawaii.

The rain never abated and now it was time for our Frankie Four photo shoot, which is looking more and more like it will be an indoor shoot. Angela had made a lot of new men's vintage swim suits for me to model, as well as, our friend Charlie. Ruthie would be our female model, with Julie Harmsen our wonderful professional photographer. Any true Seattle native would tell you to take the weather in stride...it rains and then is stops...it then rains some more and then it stops. You just have to go with the flow. I feel like I am being more like a native Seattleite with each passing day, for I just take the weather in stride and it doesn't stop me from much of anything. The shoot was a lot of fun, even though we were a little constricted due to our location. I am just hoping something good turns out that Angela can use for her website. We will just have to wait and see.

Trail Run and Library Thoughts

Yesterday I had a chance to trail run through Discovery Park before work, taking in the sunny weather as the first days of spring have arrived. What a great way to start my day, to get my blood flowing and settle my thoughts. My usual route, the Loop Trail, is a 4.25 mile trail around the park, through the forests, down the bluffs, and onto the Lighthouse beach. Because spring has arrived, however, there were Seattle Parks Department workers clearing and maintaining the trail (thank you) so I had to diverge and explore some other trails that zigzag through the park. It was fun hitting up those trails for I haven't visited them much lately, primarily because I have been sticking to the outer edges of the park.

Today we had a branch staff meeting, so I had to work the morning rather than have a full day off. No matter to me really, because after the meeting was over I had a lot to ponder over and I needed a place to think. Off the Discovery Park I went and with a lot of time to spare.

I ran the park trails twice and had to resist going for a third. I have a hard time holding back because there is just so much beauty in that park and it is so calm and serene that no matter how I am feeling I always leave feeling at peace. Now with spring here, a lot of the plants are starting to bud and the forest is getting denser and filling up with life. This was the first run I've had in weeks that the route was relatively dry too; I had hardly any mud on my legs.

At the Seattle Public Library, we are gearing up for the launch of our new Strategic Plan, a plan that will guide us and challenge us to be the best at what we do. It is an ambitious plan, but it must be otherwise what's the point really. If you don't set goals, if you don't challenge yourself, then really are you striving to be the best? Library work is all about service and innovation. This plan puts down on paper our motivations for why Librarians do what we do. And this is the kind of thinking that will keep us relevant. If we succeed in this Strategic Plan, it is easy to believe that libraries would be around for many years to come.

old friends

While running around Discovery Park today I ran into an old friend. I was in the middle of an 9 mile trail run and there she was, my friend Amy LaVare, one of the best Children's Librarians the Seattle Public Library offers. We worked together at the High Point location but since I have been moved over to the Ballard Branch, I haven't seen her in some time. Actually, the last time I did was over beers at the Beverage Place Pub for my going away party, a very bittersweet party. I knew I would be leaving good friends behind as I took the next step in my librarian career, but that still doesn't make it easy saying goodbye. I wish I had the time to really chat with her, to catch up, to check in, but it wasn't the time or place for this.
Amy, you are missed.

Running

I've been running a lot again lately and it has made me the happiest I've been in a while. It is funny how sometimes you just get so bogged down with life, with work, with educational advancement, that you are forced to sacrifice some things you love temporarily....and then you re-discover it.

Running around Discovery Park is one of things that makes me overly joyful. I love the feeling of it, the mud between my toes, the fresh crisp air, the serenade of the trees singing as I glide by, the birds chirping. The physical rush, the chemicals my body produces is also addicting, all the adrenaline and endorphins. An article (here) explains just what I am talking about and I am one who has to say I completely agree because I can associate with this wonderful feeling. Running is not painful, it is sheer bliss.

On my last run I almost stepped on a cute little chipmunk that darted across the trial in front of me. My closest call so far to stepping on a little animal. It made my heart leap a little, as I leapt across the trail trying to avoid it. It was also very windy that day, with branch bending and braking all around. It was really beautiful to hear. I know with the broken branches comes new life and I can wait to see it.

It is raining pretty hard at the moment. I am sitting in a coffee shop, with my Americano almost empty, with the itch to go running. I love running in the rain, the slap of tiny raindrops on my face, the coolness on my body. I love how with heavier rain comes little rivers all through the trails and I have to trudge through it, sometimes ankle deep.

Soon the snows will start melting in the mountains around Seattle and I will be able to tackle some new terrain. I am already mapping out some trail runs. For now I'll stick with Discovery Park and loving every minute there.

Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2010

I woke up this morning, earlier than you should ever have a reason to, and put on my race number and running shoes. Gobbling down raspberry yogurt, a banana, an orange, and toast with jam at 4:30 am is not an easy feat, not when your body is screaming at you "Go back to bed or at least give me some coffee!" It was time for me to embark on a journey, one that would take me 26.2 miles over 4 hours and 16 minutes.
I made my way downtown where there were shuttles taking runners to Tukwila's start line. Once I navigated the maze of road closures and was on the shuttle, I started getting the little 'day of race' nervous feeling, which is such a strange feeling. I am not concerned with how I will do; I will simply give it my all as I always do, so why the nervousness. Who knows?

A retired school teacher sat next to me on our little field trip. Wow, she was sure chatty at 5:30 am. I think I can write her memoir, if only I could recall her name. She was really sweet actually. One of the first things she did was pull up her pants to show me her scares from a recent knee surgery, one that has enabled her to move better than she had in years. You could just see the sheer joy in her eyes as she was telling me these things and I couldn't help but be inspired. It turns out she is an avid book lover, former high school tennis coach, and voracious audio books listener. Sounds like my dream girl right, only 40 years older :) She was running the half marathon, having only recently run her first 8 miles with her new knee. I wonder how she did for she was truly delightful.

Fast forward (you don't want to hear about all the waiting in lines and pre-race stuff).
I am in my corral. Corral #20. There are about 500 other runners in there with me, all with the goal of running a 4:30 marathon (that is about 10-12 minute miles but I eventually didn't like that slower pace so I ran harder and made my way to the 4:15 group, hence my time) The gun went off at 7am sharp, and off in the far distance I could see the trickle of people stripping off their layers and tossing them into the clothes donations bin as they start the race. It would take 25 minutes for the trickle to reach my corral. At 7:25 am I started running. I never stopped.

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon sold out months ago and had 30,000 participants from all over the country and all of whom have a penchant for running (well that may not be entirely true, let's just say most of them do). I met some girls from Massachusetts, a man from Florida who was loving the cooler 65 degree weather, and some other girls from Canada. This is something I love about these sorts of races; the opportunity to meet people from all over and from all walks of life.

Oh by the way...I am sitting in a coffee shop in my dear beloved Ballard, sipping that Tall Americano I should have had hours ago.

At mile 12 I saw my favorite Josie St. Peter! Love her! That was wonderful and I sort of surprised her too even though she was looking for me and her friend Erin. Despite my sweat she gave me a wonderful and loving hug and well, it just felt nice.

Most people know that I always smile. I can't help it. It just happens. So of course I am smiling all race long and several spectators commented on this as I ran by them. I heard one woman laugh at me saying "that guy is actually enjoying this." I found that so funny because it is true. I was enjoying it. So I waved at her. I mean, why in the world would you put yourself through this if you didn't enjoy it right? That just seems crazy to me. I find that smiling puts me in a different frame of mind...I don't think it is possible to be smile and not be happy. So I smile.

Each mile had a different band playing. I am pretty sure I heard 'Don't Stop Believin' like 3 times. Don't get me wrong, that is a great song and it is the universal karaoke song, but 3 times was plenty. I loved the energy the bands gave off, as well as their time and support. I didn't really have a chance to truly enjoy them but the little glimpses I got were good enough. As one band faded from view another appeared over the horizon. It was lovely.

For all my barefoot runners out there...I saw 3 pairs of Vibram Fiverfingers. Yay. Two girls and a guy. I didn't wear mine today, since I was not on a trail, but I was envious when I saw them.

People often ask me what I think about when I run. Usually it is my time for reflection. I think about a lot of things. I think about my family back in California and about Angela and Jason here. I think about my friends Sarah, Ian, and Sylvie and how they are all leaving so soon. I think about Jimmy and Josie and how they are leaving even sooner. I think about Portland (not the city). I think about Portland (this time the city). I think about how nice it was having a cat and if I ever got a new one I would name him or her 'Stevens' and refer to it as 'my cat Stevens.' I think about how nice it is to be able to run and how I should be grateful. I am grateful.

So now I am done. Post race I took my photo, had a free beer (which was god-awful MGD and made me gag, bleh) and hoped on the bus back to my car. Once I got home I took a shot of celebratory Tequila, hopped in the shower, and tried to nap but really I just laid there thinking about what I had done. It was worth it.

ps. please don't worry about any grammar or spelling errors. I just ran a marathon. Cut me some slack :)

Camping Weekend Gold Basin

Before I really write anything you should look at the photos because they will do so much of a better job than I can in describing what took place.
(http://picasaweb.google.com/105068785704661864798/GoldBasinCampingWeekend618620201002#)

Ok, so this past weekend Angela, Jason, Ian, Sylvie and I went on our camping trip. Sarah was hoping to go as well but sadly wasn't able to find the time.
It is somewhat difficult to write about this trip because it was simply just soooo amazing and breathtaking. Not only did we have an amazing campsite, good company, wonderfully prepared and slightly gourmet meals, and the views....wow the views, but it was utterly serene and peaceful. We slept by a winding river, the Stillaguamish, that would put me to sleep each night. The first day the sun radiated off of the rocks, baking your exposed and sun kissed skin. Next time I am bringing floaties or an inter-tube.
The hikes we went on winded through old growth forests, where remnants of ancient stumps remain with new trees growing among the decay. In several of the stumps you could still see the loggers' notches that were carved for support as they would cut away, cutting into the past while preparing for their own, and often uncertain, futures. At times it was sad to see this, but I have to understand that these people were creating their own new starts, using these humongous trees to build their log cabins and shelters. Seeing these stumps made me think of our past, and my past, and how I have come a long long way in certain respects. It also gave me a glimmer of hope for my uncertain future.
I really don't know where I am going, will I stay in Seattle or will I move to Portland if a library job opens up. These are the sorts of things that were running through my mind as I hiked on these trails, past the streams, past the waterfalls, over the moss covered bridges, up the mountains, around the lakes, into the ice caves, and back to my campsite where a fire would warm up my hands and a "Brass Monkey" would fill my stomach. (Thanks to Jason and Angela via Andy....a Brass Monkey is 3/4 beer-Rainier or PBR- and 1/4 orange juice....try it for it is disturbingly delicious).
I always love camping with Angela and Jason. Their excitement only adds fuel to my own and I cannot think of a time when I didn't have fun with them. Jason, in particular, really shines when he is playing his ukulele or guitar by the fire. Angela is a super trooper, storming up the mountain with a full backpack and no complaints. You can tell she is a Koroshec, for her endurance and strength are pretty evident. She is a strong woman, both mentally and physically, and now that Angela and Jason are together they form some sort of super couple. I am lucky to have them both in my life.
I wish Ian and Sylvie could have spent more time with us, but timing was a factor. When they arrived it was just starting to drizzle, which turned into rain and we had to put up tarps, with the rain preventing us from playing in the river. Like Angela and Jason, Sylvie and Ian are one of those power couples, who balances each other out so perfectly and are truly a delight to know and spend time with. I have really come to love trail running with Ian and it will be hard once he leaves for Africa to not miss that.
This past weekend has really made me appreciate those few key people I have in my life. When you surround yourself around good quality people it is hard not to strive for greatness and through them and with them you can achieve that.

Barefoot Running

Barefoot running is going through a sort of revolution right now. This is partly due to the recent success of Christopher McDougall's book "Born To Run," which is still on Best Sellers Lists' and circulating wonderfully. In addition to this, the release of Vibram's Fivefingers has torn apart the running shoe business, stripping it back down to the basics; a place where it should be.
The idea behind Fivefingers is a basic running shoe. You don't need all the cushioning that is prevalent in modern running shoes, which is overkill and also flat out wrong. We already have all we need when it comes to running...we have springiness and elasticity in our legs, both things that absorb and naturally cushion the impact of the ground. Your feet need to spread out when you run, reaching for the ground to stabilize your stride.
As a child I used to run around barefoot on my parent's property. I loved the way the earth felt under my feet and how I felt more in tune with nature. It just made sense. Having grown up it only makes sense to re-live that feeling. Once again, now when I run I run with a smile, a smile that was absent when I would wear modern running shoes because all the sensation was lost in the shoe.
It is funny how, as a Capitalist society, we are drawn towards the latest new thing. I admit that I fall victim to this sometimes too. Sometimes what we need we already have but it isn't until there is monetary value that we forget about it. People have been running for centuries barefoot while running with modern running shoes only since the 70's. What changed? Well, the business of running was born.
All I can do now is fight against this by running barefoot and running barefoot with a smile; a natural smile, a natural run.