Today my daughter and I decided to hike on the Marin side of the bay. This was a 4 mile trail that had us traveling through gentle hills of greenery and rock and ultimately landing us on the coast of Tennessee Beach. We brought Pete but then noticed a no dog sign. We spotted a few dogs ahead of us so we brought Pete along. We kept him on the trail and leashed but his nose was busy so there must have been scents of animals. All Trails said there were deer, coyote and birds spotted in the area.
Even though cars were lined up down the road from the trailhead, the trail was actually pretty empty. We noticed lots of offshoot trails and many cyclists so we guessed the plentiful number of trails dispersed the crowds. Picnic tables and benches were strategically placed in several areas. Overall, this was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.
Mt. Rainer has been on my must-do-list for a long time. As my time in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest winds down, I am a bit more urgent about achieving some of those must-visit goals. Mt. Rainer did not disappoint. Fairly last minute, I was able to get a hotel room at the Whittaker Hotel & Bunkhouse. The nightly rate was “reasonable” given high season, the rooms were rustic and the staff friendly. I also liked that the hotel was an homage to Lou Whittaker, who died in Ashford at the age of 96 and summited Mt. Rainer at the age of 12!
I left Portland at 6 a.m. and went right to the park, with no timed entry at the Nisqually pass. I started at the visitor center and did the Skyline Loop (5.5 miles). This loop trail is the quintessential Paradise area trail. It starts at the main visitor area up through subalpine meadows. Along the way I viewed Mount Rainier, glaciers, Panorama Point, Myrtle Falls and the Tatoosh Range, with glimpses of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. It was full sun exposure with 1700+ elevation gain AND beautiful!
On day two, I hiked Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Trailto Dewey Lake (about 5 miles) in the morning. Wildflowers and four different lakes rewarded me with the challenging uphill climb. And, of course, Mt. Rainer was present from all angles.
Reflection Lake to Narada Falls on the Lakes Trail Loop (about 6 miles). This large lake was another beauty with Mt. Rainier front and center (and its reflection on the lake) but the real reward were the multiple falls on the Lakes Trail Loop.
I met several people along the way that could not believe the natural beauty that I live in daily. I agree the world is a beautiful place and the lush, green forest coupled with larger than life mountains makes the Pacific Northwest a pretty special place.
Yesterday I ran my first 10k race. Even though I have been running 10k practice runs for a while, there is something heart-pumping about running during a race. First of all, the conditions are not usually ideal given that you are up at the crack of dawn and running immediately. Although, that is what I do during the work week, on Saturdays, I like to be a little more relaxed about when I run. I usually have my coffee, cull through my emails, dilly dally a little bit and then run.
Also, race day almost always guarantees I will be running a faster pace–which is a good thing! My competitive spirit jumps to the forefront when I am surrounded by other runners suffering just like me! I like to end my runs with a sprint, but with the faster overall pace, it makes sprinting much more challenging.
I always know I have had a good race when at the end, I want to sign up for another race. That is exactly what I felt after yesterday’s race. I felt really strong during the race and knew that my consistent training had paid off. Of course, runs in the winter in the Pacific Northwest almost always guarantee wet running and I am not sure I am up for that. So, I think I will keep training and sign up for a 15k in the spring. Any takers?
Today was my last day of vacation. We take an annual trip the week leading up to Labor Day to Sunriver, OR or otherwise known as the high desert. I always know that the week will be filled with biking, tennis, swimming, eating and good times with friends. Since the elevation is 4200 feet I usually find myself reluctant to run. This year, though, I managed to run three times! The first time was the first day I arrived. My friend Amy asked me to go with her. I figured I wouldn’t get lost on the myriad of paths if I went with someone. I huffed and puffed and pushed myself to run 30 minutes. Then on Saturday, equipped with my daughter’s iPod, I ran 40 minutes. I never run with music so it was great to have the extra motivation. Then today, as soon as I woke up, I decided to run while my husband packed up the car. Again armed with the iPod, I set my goal at 45 minutes and managed to run 50. I actually felt strong…as if the elevation no longer bothered me. As I was breathing in the crisp, fresh air and looking at the blue, blue sky, I reveled in my luckiness. I managed to see 10 deer on my run, too. And I felt such gratitude and knew I must cherish times like this…the quiet, the strength, the determination and the feeling of success.
So much success, I came home and registered for the October 21st Run Like Hell 10k. Join me if you want.
seniyegroff 