Timberline 1/2 Marathon

What a beautiful run! :)

Last year when Team Karen and Team Elite did this race, it was misty and overcast, and we couldn't see Mt. Hood. This year was sunny and warm (at least after the start - it was a brisk morning!) and clear.

Also last year, we did the start/finish at one of the day-use areas along Timothy Lake (13 miles around). This year, the start/finish was at the Clackamas Historic Ranger Station, adding at least a mile to the race. It also put some tough uphill running at the end, but it was still a gorgeous run!

Reggie ran the 1/2, too, and ran it hard -- if had been truly a 1/2 marathon distance and a flatter course, he'd have had no trouble getting to the 2:30 goal time. He was feeling some nausea after the last steep hill, so was probably dehydrated, even with 20 oz of Gatorade Endurance plus extra water at the 3 aid stations. I keep telling him that training will make a difference...

The start was very organized -- this year chip timed, and one runner every 3-5 seconds. Plus, the race director would have occasional breaks of a minute, to keep the trail less crowded, plus to give traffic on the one road crossing a chance to drive through.

When we crossed the road, the trail went along the road, then DROPPED down to the lake trail! I recognized where we started the lake this year from the beautiful white rocks and water. I was playing leap frog with a lot of runners. I'd be running along, and stop for lake pics, and then running again, repassing other people. I got to explain about running in memory of Rachel, for I wore her picture on my back. I'd get ahead, then there would be another pic I couldn't pass up! The race started at 9:30 am, and we ran past several campgrounds. We could smell lots of breakfasts cooking, and saw lots of people out fishing or out in boats. Several kids were giving high fives to anyone who'd take one.
When I got around to the dam, I asked a gentleman to take my pic, and he did, but oops - he dropped the camera. He was so worried about it, but when we'd opened it and reset the chip and the battery, it was working normally again. I only lost one (out of 122) pics, and for all the sweat and rain and other times it has been dropped, it has paid for itself with running pics! And the water being let out from the dam was amazingly powerful!

That put me behind quite a few more runners to leap frog again. The day use area on the north side of the lake was where the start/finish was last year. The aid station was at the very end of the area. When I left the aid station, I passed a few people, then came up behind Jean. She asked me if we were on the right trail, for we had come up from the lake, where the south side was at lake level along the lake. I told her it was the right trail, and I passed her in a wide spot. She said she was glad to follow me and not have to worry about taking a wrong trail. We were cruising along, when suddenly she fell, and fell hard! I could tell by the way she cried out that it wasn't a cry of frustration at falling on the trail, but of pain. Her shoulder had taken the brunt of the fall, and she knew right away that she'd dislocated it.

I helped her up, and walked her back the 1/4 mile or more to the aid station. She was so sad about not being able to finish the run! We passed a few of her cousins, and she told them to keep running, and run it for her now. Several of the family had been training together for this 1/2, and they were camping at the lake for the weekend.

Trail runners are so cool -- every person we passed on the way back asked what happened, and if we needed more help, and every time, Jean said no, you keep running. When we got to the aid station, she thanked me and thanked me for staying with her. One of the men at the aid station took her back to the ambulance at the start/finish. After I finished, I went and asked them about her - they had iced her and put her arm in a sling, and sent her to the clinic to have the shoulder put back in place. Ouch!!!

So I started out running again, and leap frogging the people that had passed, and I let them all know that Jean had been taken back to the EMTs. And we were all watching our step out there -- one little rock or root and gravity can end anyone's run!

The north side of the lake was lots of shade and a nice breeze! The trail is higher up from the water, with lake views through the trees. And a lot rockier with more roots. I was keeping up a good pace, but with moments of carefully fast hiking when it was rougher trail. The last aid station was where I ate my Gu, and did 15 minute intervals afterward for drinking my G'ade. No more aid stations from here to the finish, and the longest distance for aid stations with the hill ahead!

One section of this part of the trail was boardwalk, raised up over a swampy area. There's a long 'arm' on the lake that we went up and around. So lots of gradual uphills, and lots more rocks to watch out for on the trail. This is volcano country!

I was watching for the bigger lava rocks to start showing, for I knew that was when the lake trail would be done. Mentally getting ready for the steep hill going back up to the road, then the gradual hill to the finish. When I got to the steep hill, I walked it -- knowing I could walk it faster than running it, and not needing tired running legs to trip on a rock there! At the top, I met another runner, and we laughed about how races always have the hills at the end, and got back into slow running. Then the road crossing, then back to the ranger station. I had a better chance to see the meadows around, since at the start I was watching where my feet were going with all the other runners at the start. What a beautiful day for a run!

Soon, the TM marker turned us on the trail going back to the ranger station, and some finishers were there near the trail cheering me in. I stopped to take a pic of the finish line (I wasn't racing, remember?) then handed the camera to Reggie and ran in. After the finish, the runners were taking off their own chips. With broken scissors to cut the plastic ties. Oh, well, it worked!

Reggie wasn't feeling all that well, so he was sitting in the shade. I got him some water and he'd picked up some salty chips, so while he was getting rested, I first asked the EMTs about Jean, then went back along the last stretch of trail to cheer in other runners. Since the course really was longer than 13.1 miles (people wearing Garmins said 14.2 - 15, I don't know how accurate with so many trees) then my extra distance taking Jean back to the aid station plus the extra course difference made that a fast 3:06.31 pace, and 7th in my age group!

Tillamook Forestry Center and Cape Meares, September 6

We decided to head for the beach last Saturday afternoon, and on the way, stopped at the Tillamook Forestry Center, a recently opened display regarding the Tillamook Burn fires, and how things are replanted and there's almost no evidence from the old fires anymore.

They have a model fire lookout:

Inside, there's a gift shop and a theater, with a great film of the fires and interviews with people who were involved in fighting them, and eventually the tremendous replanting efforts. There also are many exhibits on forest fire fighting, and nature exhibits of the Tillamook Forest areas. The girls had fun dressing up as fire fighters!
Behind the museum, there's a bridge crossing the Wilson River. It leads to trails and day use areas. The water's lowest now for the year; it will be interesting to come in March and see the river then.

Next it was on to Cape Meares, on the west side of Tillamook Bay. Mind you, the sun was shining and it was shorts weather all the way into Tillamook, but looking across to the hills on the other side of the bay, we could see the fog hugging the skyline. And it was damp and cold and windy in that fog! But a very fun, fun time at the beach!

After the beach, we went up on Cape Meares, to see the light house and the Octopus tree! Not a big ocean view, with all the fog! It was so thick the trees were dripping huge, cold drops!

It felt good on the drive home to warm up again!