What a fun event! Reggie and I got into Bend just before 8:00 Saturday night, got checked into the Motel 6 (cheapest I could find), got penciled in for a 1:00 pm checkout time, and headed out to Inn of the Seventh Mountain to meet Marjorie and Harriet.
After going the wrong side street after one of the roundabouts, we finally got to their hotel, and what a treat to finally get to meet some new Penguin pals! We weren’t going to stay long, for Reg and I still needed to get our race stuff and get signed up for the earlier half marathon start time. This was Marjorie’s first trail ½, and she was walking it (gotta take care of that new knee), and I chose to walk with Marjorie and Harriet since I don’t get to meet new Penguins very often. But it was so easy to talk and get to know each other, well, then we got back to Motel 6 and watched Olympics till after 10:00! I love gymnastics and swimming, but I know they could get in a lot more of the actual competitions in all the sports and not have so many (and repeated) commercials!
I set my watch for 4:45, for we wanted to be out at the park before 6:30 am – no parking at the park, but we knew of a place not too far up the hill, just wanted to be early enough to park there. Reggie dropped me off at the park gate, just in case he had to park further away, I could be getting our numbers.
No problem! And Marjorie and Harriet were already there. Found out that they also had an early start for the marathon, so I’ll do it earlier next time. Saves an hour on afternoon temperatures, plus makes the finishing not such a hurry up, get your water (and great bakery goodies), and get back to get the shower and check out of whatever hotel…
Now Friday afternoon/Saturday am, we had rain on the western side of the Cascades, and I know there was some lighter rain in the Cascades and eastern OR. But the rain was good, for there were no fresh lightning fires this time. And, the skies were clearing Saturday evening, and mostly clear Sunday morning. It was cool in the park start area (felt good to stand in the sun spots), but not as cold-feeling as other years. I wore my Tyvek jacket over the singlet the first 3 miles – tied it around me when the uphill started.
When it was time for the early start, the race director’s husband (he called himself her lackey) got us to the start area, and the rerecorded all the early start numbers. Most were going to be walkers, a couple ladies just because they had an early start now (that’ll be me next time – I like early). They gave directions about going out past the bridge to where the flags blocked the road to where we turned back on the trail (which was also the finish trail), go across the bridge and down past the finish area, then UP the ridge. Follow the flags! It was a good thing some of us had done this race before and knew the course, for they had flagged the path really well, but not the road. And it was further to the flags than they thought! But we made it, and everyone knew we were hauling our aspens on a fun adventure! We did find two other ladies coming out the trail we were going back on – they got a late start, and thought going past the bridge meant going out the trail there. They met us far enough out on the trail to have covered the distance to the place we had changed from the park road to the trail, so they turned around and ran with us and passed us.
I set my watch for 4:45, for we wanted to be out at the park before 6:30 am – no parking at the park, but we knew of a place not too far up the hill, just wanted to be early enough to park there. Reggie dropped me off at the park gate, just in case he had to park further away, I could be getting our numbers.
No problem! And Marjorie and Harriet were already there. Found out that they also had an early start for the marathon, so I’ll do it earlier next time. Saves an hour on afternoon temperatures, plus makes the finishing not such a hurry up, get your water (and great bakery goodies), and get back to get the shower and check out of whatever hotel…
Now Friday afternoon/Saturday am, we had rain on the western side of the Cascades, and I know there was some lighter rain in the Cascades and eastern OR. But the rain was good, for there were no fresh lightning fires this time. And, the skies were clearing Saturday evening, and mostly clear Sunday morning. It was cool in the park start area (felt good to stand in the sun spots), but not as cold-feeling as other years. I wore my Tyvek jacket over the singlet the first 3 miles – tied it around me when the uphill started.
When it was time for the early start, the race director’s husband (he called himself her lackey) got us to the start area, and the rerecorded all the early start numbers. Most were going to be walkers, a couple ladies just because they had an early start now (that’ll be me next time – I like early). They gave directions about going out past the bridge to where the flags blocked the road to where we turned back on the trail (which was also the finish trail), go across the bridge and down past the finish area, then UP the ridge. Follow the flags! It was a good thing some of us had done this race before and knew the course, for they had flagged the path really well, but not the road. And it was further to the flags than they thought! But we made it, and everyone knew we were hauling our aspens on a fun adventure! We did find two other ladies coming out the trail we were going back on – they got a late start, and thought going past the bridge meant going out the trail there. They met us far enough out on the trail to have covered the distance to the place we had changed from the park road to the trail, so they turned around and ran with us and passed us.
What a beautiful day! I got lots of trail pics. We’d passed a little green house (portajohn) near where the trail came by the road on the way out, so Reggie, feeling the need, ran on ahead to visit the little green house. Then he ran on ahead of us, doing his own race.
Harriet and Marjorie and I walked together, with me doing quite a lot of running when I’d take pictures then have to catch up! And we talked and talked and just had a fun time.
First water break was where we passed the finish, before we started up the first big hill to the ridge. I took the cup from the young man’s hand, and asked him to take a pic of me. Then it was UP the hill!
It smelled so good out there! I love the open Ponderosa forest and the high desert area around Bend. I really liked being out there.
The regular ½ marathon start was an hour after us – and up on the ridge, the first two ½ marathoners passed us. We guessed they were doing 6 minute miles or better, and there was a long break before the next of the lead runners came. Just a few at first, and the main pack of 1/2ers came when we were on a bigger gravel road going up, so it was never too crowded. When we were back on the narrower trail, we’d move over as soon as we heard footsteps behind us. The faster runners were thanking us, yet it seemed natural that we’d be over. Or they’d apologize that we’d had to move out of the way – don’t apologize, go for the run!
Harriet had her Garmin, so we knew we were getting close to the half marathon turnoff – we could hear it before seeing it, for they were cheering everyone out there. Then, .1 miles further, another water stop – perhaps this one was the one that was not at mile 11 (or 24 on the marathon course) where they really needed one? Anyway, these girls got our vote for best water station – they were all wearing sparkling clothes, real sparkles that the camera really doesn’t catch.
Now some easy downhill, and lots more runners to step off the trail for – those marathoners looked great! Then after the easy downhill is some steep and rocky (but beautiful) downhill, that we did a lot more carefully. I took lots of pics!
Soon we came back down to the creek again, and we were at the far end of the park. Photo time on a bench by the creek! Soon we came to the bridge over the marshy area, and knew the covered bridge was the next landmark. Pretty soon we met Reggie on the trail, and I handed the camera off to him so he could run ahead and get finish pics of us.
The post race goodies at this race are THE best! There was green salad and pasta, and cookie and brownie bars. Plus the usual post race cytomax and fruit and pretzels and stuff. They were pouring beer for those that wanted it. We ate brunch there, before dashing off to get the shower and checked out of the room.
Back at the motel, the key didn’t work – they hadn’t paid attention to the fact that it was in writing that we had permission for a 1:00 checkout time! Reggie got us re-programmed into the room, and we did the fastest showers ever, and got checked out. We drove up to get Marjorie and Harriet (age group awards, congratulations!) at their hotel (they were staying another night, so no need to rush). We first drove up to the view on top of Pilot Butte in Bend, 360 degrees! Then off to Sisters (and tomato/avocado sandwich, yum), then up to the headwaters of the Metolius River. Very fun! The other lava bed view on the way to McKenzie Pass we skipped, for the clouds trying to hug the mountains on the west side wouldn’t have been a view. Next time!
Then we sent Marjorie and Harriet on their way back through Sisters, and Reggie and I drove home. Very fun day at Haulin’ Aspen event!
Definitely a trail race/run to do whenever it works out!
1 comment:
Hi Karen, Great race report. It sounds beautiful. I'm gonna have to do that run sometime.
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