Last pic, from the Tanger Outlet Mall -- a wall full of Crocs!
The flowers were amazing! Daisies were everywhere. Foxglove, like the above pic, taller than me! Went to bed early that night, for the next morning was Run Like a Girl 10K!
After picking up my bib and goody bag, and taking it back to the car, I had time to go up on the bridge. Got some pics looking down at the pre-race stuff, plus some pics of the view to Mt. St. Helens.
This is an all-women race, sponsored by Montrail and Portland Running Company. Paula (from PRC) is a wonderful race director -- http://www.runwithpaula.com/ is her website. They had an early start for hikers, and for the main race, there were 11 waves of 100 women started every 90 seconds. Very organized! I was in wave 10, and when our wave got to the start, I got a picture with Paula.
And we're off! This was intended as a fun run, for I knew the first part of the trail (same as the first part of the 50K) and how long we went UP. It was beautiful out there, and with the trees, even though it was hot it was not unbearable for running. I was glad I carried my own water, though, for it was a long way between water stations! :) The trail went up for about 3 miles, then down another trail to join a fire road, then along a short street section to pick up the next trailhead, then UP to where we met the first trail, then a wonderful downhill cruise to the finish. Lots of fun!
Above is the best cheerleader out there! She was the volunteer at mile 5ish, at the top of the last steep hill to where we joined the trail to go back to the finish. She did a super job of calling us up the hill - I bet she had no voice by the end of the morning! 
