James' Running Log

Boulder River Trail

This week's adventure run took us north to the Boulder River Trail. It was not too difficult to find and took about 90 minutes to reach the trail head. The gravel/dirt road (3.7 miles) was a bit rougher than I anticipated so I recommend a 4WD vehicle. The trail started out very very good. Apparently an old railroad grade this was more like a double wide trail with great footing and fantastic scenery. Unfortunately the trail's footing only lasted for about 12 minutes to the waterfall. After that it becomes a typical Cascade's single track trail with many roots and rocks on which one must repeatedly slow or stop to avoid falling. This of course slowed the pace considerably and we never did make it to the end of the trail 4.2 miles from the start (Although we're sure we were close :). Another factor in our slow pace was the sighting of a snake along the trail. This of course makes for more cautious running.

All together it was a good trip and a fun run. I think for those that like to hike or run short distances it was perfect. But for those of us that like to go for an hour it was a bit too uneven and treacherous. If we go back we'll probably stop at the "Last available toilet", 3 miles from the trail head, and run the road to the trailhead and on to the waterfall and back for a very nice 9 mile run.

Redmond Watershed

Ok, so I didn't get back to that update on June 4th, but at least I made it back before July 4th :) School is finally out for the summer. More time for running and definately time to enjoy some good weather.
Yesterday Nicole and I ran at the Redmond Watershed Preserve. Taking the Collin Creek Trail to the Tolt Pipeline Trail makes for a great bonus out and back for those that want to get in a full hour run or more.
All together I ran 5 times this past week for a total of 30 miles.

Fish Pictures

Running picks up after the marathon...see below for Alaksa fish pictures.

Thursday: 7 miles, 60th St
Wednesday: 0 miles
Tuesday: 5.5 miles, Discovery Park
Monday: 8 miles, Bridle Trails

Last Week - 42.5 miles, 1067.5 miles YTD
Sunday: 9 miles, Snoqualmie Falls adventure run
Saturday: 0 miles
Friday: 8.5 miles, Mt. Constantine (2000') and Cascade Lake Loop (Orcas Island)
Thursday: 5 miles, Queen Anne Loop
Wednesday: 12 miles, Washington Park (Anacortes) and Cascade Lake Loop (Orcas Island)
Tuesday: 6 miles, Copper Center, AK
Monday: 0 miles

The week before - 10 miles total, 1025 miles YTD
Sunday: 6 miles, Copper Center, AK
Saturday: 4 miles, Copper Center, AK
Monday-Thursday: 0 miles

First fish I caught in Alaska

Fish caught on Halibut Charter

Fish caught on King Salmon Charter

Lots of Fish On

A quick update:
Still no running this week. Feeling really good, but no time to run with all this fishing. Plus it was raining yesterday.
I've caught over 150 lbs of fish so far and now I'm looking for ways to bring the catch back home. Its down to only 70 lbs after making fillets and vacuum packing. BUT, we're doing more finishing tomorrow for King Salmon.
Today we're driving from Soldotna to Copper Center.
Only 5 more days of Alaska left to enjoy.

Miles this week: 0 miles

Fish On

Caught my first fish today, a 7 lb Kenai River Red Salmon. The link below shows where I was fishing when I reeled it in.

Fish On Here

Kenai Peninsula

I'm officially on vacation now. So nice to be able to sleep like all day long. My legs are still feeling alright and I'm even thinking about a quick 30 minute easy run tomorrow.
First I'm going to soak my legs in the river here while fishing for Salmon in the morning. I guess the Salmon are kinda between runs, but I'll give it a shot anyhow.
We stopped by the glacier today and now we're in Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula. I have another 8 days here to enjoy the midnight sun, natural beauty and fishing.

Miles this week: 0 miles, YTD: 1015, $ raised for LLS: $3600 <- PLEASE DONATE (HELP FIND THE CURE FOR CANCER)
Monday: 0 miles

Marathon Complete

Today's marathon report: I felt really strong through 21 miles and then slowly deteriorated from that point. I can only guess my splits since I didn't wear a watch, I only know that I was 13:03 at 2 miles and 19:39 at 3 miles. After those splits I haven't a clue, no times were read at any mile marks.
I did get a race udate at 15 miles from my parents where I was in 8th place and 1 minute 40 seconds out of 3rd place. I passed two runners to move into 6th in the next three miles still feeling good and had 3rd place in my sights, but resisted moving up more because I knew I would need the energy later in the race.
At 19 miles, I was passed by two late movers putting me back into 8th place. I could still see 3rd, but with over 10K still to get I couldn't motivate to go with the late movers. The next 6 miles of the race go through many parks and almost no fans so it was pretty tough staying focused and the lack of calories were making me get more and more dizzy. Going through the many tunnels (under roadways) I kept stumbling and feeling sick. I really hit a wall with about 1.5 miles to go.
I think the fact that I hit a corner and could see a good 2 minutes back on the course and didn't see anyone really made it even worse. Anyway I walked a good portion of the last hill and then finished highly dazed and confused.

I'm really happy with the outcome though. 7th place and 2:53:46 accomplished my main goal of finishing top 10. I also really enjoyed the scenery of the course and liked the trails. The "tank road" was less than good. But considering they made a big deal about how much work they put into making it runable, I guess it could have been worse.
As for physical condition, my IT Band is pretty tight, but my quads, knees, hips, are not to worse for wear.
Now, I'm off to the victory celebration party for the Team in Training group and to take in some refreshments.

Mayors Marathon

Miles this week: 38 miles, YTD: 1015, $ raised for LLS: $3600 <- PLEASE DONATE (HELP FIND THE CURE FOR CANCER)
Sun: Bar Stool 16 oz press (10 sets of 16 or until I pass out)
Sat: 2:53?, 27 miles, Mayors Marathon
Fri: 3 miles, Lake Union, Flight to Alaska
Thurs: nada
Wed: 8 miles, Track workout (Goal Pace: 6:30, 12x400 at 98-96 w/ 200m recovery jog)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 0 miles

Catching my plane to ALASKA!

I'm off! Not much time to update now, but hope to find internet after the race.

Miles this week: 0 miles, YTD: 977, $ raised for LLS: $3600 <- PLEASE DONATE (HELP FIND THE CURE FOR CANCER)
Sun: Bar Stool 16 oz press (10 sets of 16 or until I pass out)
Sat: Mayors Marathon
Fri: Flight to Alaska
Thurs: nada
Wed: 8 miles, Track workout (Goal Pace: 6:30, 12x400 at 98-96 w/ 200m recovery jog)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 0 miles

Final Preparations

Making final preparations for the big race. I'm both regretting my decision to fly out friday night and thanking myself for it. On one hand I could pull an all nighter tonight and finish up everything for the school year and have made it on the 6 am flight tomorrow and had 48 hours to relax in Anchorage, but on the other I'd definately have had to stay up all night and not taken a break to run tonight.

Only finishing up grades, packing/cleaning my classroom, and cleaning my old apartment, and packing for the trip left on the major to do list. This should allow me to actually get 8 hours of sleep the next two nights.

Today on the track I'm learning to run 6:30 pace. I have no idea what the workout is, but it'll be about 4800meters and I'm forcing myself to do it entirely at 6:30 pace. I feel ready to run fast, no injuries to speak of and lots of incentive to run 2:50 or faster. The only question that remains is how 26x6:30 miles will effect me. Will I be too sore to run the next week? Will I even hold it together for 26.2 miles?

Inquiring minds will find out in a few days.

Miles this week: 0 miles, YTD: 969, $ raised for LLS: $3550 <- PLEASE DONATE (HELP FIND THE CURE FOR CANCER)
Sun: Bar Stool 16 oz press (10 sets of 16 or until I pass out)
Sat: Mayors Marathon
Fri: Flight to Alaska (morning run?)
Thurs: Easy hour
Wed: Track workout (Goal Pace: 6:30)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 0 miles

6:30 pace

6:30 pace! That's the new goal...and equates to a 2:50 something marathon. I haven't done much 6:30 pace in the past month or so. The new plan is to do some 6:30 pace running tomorrow and Wednesday to get a feel and then rest thursday and friday. Today is also a rest day.

Miles this week: 41.5 miles, YTD: 969, $ raised for LLS: $3400
Sun: 5.5 miles, Bridle Trails with N
Sat; 8 miles, Gasworks Park
Fri: 6.5 miles, Lake Union Loop
Thurs: 8 miles, North 8 loop
Wed: 7 miles, 4800m tempo (5:56-5:46-5:17)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 6.5miles, Central Park

1 More Week

My first run from my new apartment! Not very exciting but as runs in the middle of a major city goes it wasn't too bad. I ran a well known loop around Lake Union, which I must say needs some improvement. I think my next vote for Seattle city mayor will be based on whether park like loop around Lake Union is in the candidate's platform.

I did get to see Crowther at the start and finish of the Fremont 5k. I wish I was running as strong as him. But that'll have to wait for at least awhile. Too many other irons burning in the fire right now. I'm glad he got his new PR and even though he got outkicked, I'm sure he would have killed that guy in a 60 miler!

I hope that the weather in Anchorage is as good as Seattle is today. :( The long range forecast is for RAIN. Approximately 55 degrees and raining at the start. Not exactly ideal, but maybe the cold/rain will keep me from overheating and I'll run fast anyway.

I'm down to less than $1200 from reaching my fundraising goal :) Everyone I've asked so far has been very generous. I have a few more people to ask in the next few days, but if you know anyone that might want to help out, PLEASE send them this way for me :)

Miles this week: 36 miles, YTD: 963.5, $ raised for LLS: $3220
Sat; 8 miles, Gasworks Park
Fri: 6.5 miles, Lake Union Loop
Thurs: 8 miles, North 8 loop
Wed: 7 miles, 4800m tempo (5:56-5:46-5:17)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 6.5miles, Central Park

Rain in Seattle?

Only 8 days left. I'm starting to panic. I'm not ready!
I am however doing my best to avoid the temptation to run more during my taper.

Miles this week: 21.5 miles, YTD: 949, $ raised for LLS: $3004
Thurs: 8 miles, North 8 loop
Wed: 7 miles, 4800m tempo (5:56-5:46-5:17)
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 6.5miles, Central Park

Stacks of Final Exams!

It's finals time! I think the whole finals time fits in nicely with my tapering. Now that I have entirely too much to do per day than 24 hours will allow, my running will have to drop down on the priority list anyway. So missing a run here and there feels a lot less guilty when I'm officially tapering. I know you're all laughing at my 33 miles per week marathon training and saying "how can he taper from that?". Well, I'm not sure either and I'll probably end up with more miles this week from my taper than either of the last two weeks, but for me I think its more a mental thing right now. If I tell myself that I have great training in the bag and now I'm tapering, my body and mind might just believe it. And since I have an offer on the table for a top 10 finish donation bonus (and I still need all the bonuses I can get), I'm going to actually be shooting for closer to 2:50.

On another note, so far during my final push I've had 22 new donations totaling $934! I really truely want to thank everyone who has supported my campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so far and encourage more to donate to this cause. This organization supports cancer research and cancer patients and is very highly respected/rated in terms of efficiency and percent of donations going directly towards helping the cause.

Thanks again! Without everyone's help I wouldn't be as close to my $4400 goal as I already am - the home stretch is in sight.

Want to contribute to the campaign? Click Here

Miles this week: 6.5 miles, YTD: 934, $ raised for LLS: $2804
Tuesday: 0 miles
Monday: 6.5miles, Central Park

Running Late

Summer must officially be here because as I am sitting here grading paper in the coffee shop at 11 pm I've seen 3 people run by in the last 5 minutes. 3 months ago that didn't happen at even 7 pm and now its warm enough (and more importantly not raining) to run this late. Personally, I prefer to run with the sun and work late vs. working late and then running in the dark, but I guess not everyone has the same flexibility as I have.

Another good paced run today ~6:30s for 6.5 miles. Only 11 days until the marathon, the only taper I have planned is to run only 3 miles the day before the marathon.

Miles this week: 6.5 miles, YTD: 934, $ raised for LLS: $2608
Monday: 6.5miles, Central Park

Poker Weekend

Another successful fund raising effort on Saturday! We had a 16 person tournament and finished up the tournament having raised a total of $473 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The tournament was quite fun even though I missed a fairly large portion calling comcast and trying in vain to get the NBA basketball game to come on. In the end I finished way out of the money, but the charity finished in first place again!

I missed running tonight becuase I spent 3 hours calling people and sending out e-mails asking for more contributions. Hopefully I'll be flooded with contributions over the next couple of days :)

Miles this week: 33 miles, YTD: 927.5, $ raised for LLS: $2528
Sun: 0 miles
Sat: 11 miles, Redhook Brewery north
Fri: 9 miles, Central Park
Thurs: 0 miles
Wed: 5 miles, 6x800 (2:35-2:25)
Tues: 0miles
Mon: 8 miles , Ocean Shores Beach