Center of the Nation Series day 2: North Dakota

Day 2: Bowman, North Dakota

We had to drive for about 40 minutes this morning... and we almost got lost right at the end. But we found the start in plenty of time. 

Today we were running at Bowman Hadley Lake, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. 

A few announcements: someone was running their 100th marathon, and the two cabooses (last place finishers) were also celebrated. And then, run. 

Today we had to run six laps, so we decided to run the first three and walk from there. The course had one longish hill ("hill-ish") but was otherwise pretty gentle. 

Today wasn't too hard -- it was fun to cheer on our fellow runners, and start to get to know them. Oh, and today I met Sunshine ... though I think we didn't have a second Sunny today. 

After the race -- when we didn't know we would have a shower afterward -- we drove through Belle Fourche and decided to just see if the Americinn would allow us to check in... at 11:30 a.m.  Spoiler alert: THEY DID! So we got into our room and had much needed showers. 

Then we headed to Wall Drug, starting with a side trip to Sturgis. 

Then to Wall Drug for a late lunch and some goofing around. 

plankasaurus rex, take 2

Then a trip through the Badlands Loop. 

We also tried to visit the Minuteman Missile site, but it was closed. 

Then back to Belle Fourche, where we stopped in at the Cowboy Back Bar, tried to order Chinese food but missed it by minutes, and ended up with "West-Mex" from Taco Johns. 

Tomorrow: day three at the Center of the Nation!

Center of the Nation Series day 1: Montana

Day 1, Baker, Montana, is DONE! 

I admit, I was nervous going into today. Would it be well organized? Would people be nice? Would we be able to park at -- or even FIND -- the start? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. 

We had a hot breakfast -- scrambled eggs and toast -- at our hotel. I felt a bit bad for the server; I don't think they usually have 40 people in the restaurant at 5:30 a.m. 

Arrived at Triangle Park at 6:00 and found a nice set-up: a registration / packet pick-up table, where we got our bibs, our series medal starter (the series name medal and the ribbon and the 2015 year charm), and our t-shirts. Mine is PURPLE TIE-DYE. Duuuuuuude. 

this board was updated every day with the weather and some trivia

Norm, the running chef, had made cherry French toast (wow) and a bunch of goodies. It became clear that we don't have to worry about food again this trip!

Lots of Fanatics and Maniacs, of course, including several we had run with before. Nice!

We decided we would run the first 5-ish miles, then walk the rest to save our legs. The course was an out-and back around the lake on a bicycle path. Each leg was just under a mile long, so we had to run 7 laps.

Clint - the race director - made some announcements a few minutes before the start, and then we all set off. We kept track of how many laps we had done by collecting a rubber band after each lap. Best shirt of the day : I RUN FOR RUBBER BANDS. 

Each lap also brought us back to the aid station, which was brimming with an ever-changing mix of food, from "ultra kibble" (potato chips, gummy bears, Oreos) to homemade brownies, Rice Krispie treats, and DEVILED EGGS. My kinda aid station! There was also a hydration station with water and Gatorade, and later, Coke and chocolate milk. We all wrote our names on our cups so that we could use the same cup each time. Nice, eh? Also, there were two Sunnys and a Sunshine -- sweet!

There was a nice, festive feel, with veterans greeting each other and cheering as they passed in the out and back. We all also had our names on our bibs, which meant we could cheer for each other. 

After our third lap, we decided to make ourselves walk the rest of the way. This is always difficult when you're not super tired, but we knew it was the smart thing to do. 

If anything, that was even nicer -- it gave us a chance to chat with our fellow runners, see their names, and relax. 

It did get a little blustery and cold out there, but otherwise great running weather. Leanne got these shots of us as we finished ... Holding hands, of course!!

After the race, we went back to the hotel to shower, but soon were on our way. 

First, we stopped in Wibaux, Montana, where Theodore Roosevelt once punched out a gunslinger. Or maybe a lumberjack. (The same historian tells the story differently in two of his books!). We considered lunch, but instead poked our heads inside the Rainbow Club... a cavernous bar, restaurant, and "casino" (slot machines in the back) with taxidermy mounts on the walls, a full grizzly bear mount, pressed tin ceilings, and a slightly befuddled old dear who told us we could have schooners and poured us full pints of the local beer. 

raaaar

Then to Medora, where we tried to buy lunch (not possible???) and then into Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Was thrilled to see the Maltese Cross cabin where TR lived on his ranch -- that makes three of his houses I have visited. Oh, and of course, I did a plank...

Theodore Rooseplank

We also drove around the loop road in the south unit, seeing prairie dogs, wild turkeys, and even a BISON. 

We then drove to pretty Bowman, ND, where we dropped off our things at the lodge and went into town. We went to Has Beens, a local bar, where Wil ordered a Jack and Diet, while I ordered a Shocktop. For $7.50 I was handed a tray with two J&Ds and a pint of beer... and was told, "It's happy hour. Let me know when you finish your beer and I'll get you your other one "

Oops. 

Then over to Hibachi House, which was slammed because an extra 85 people turned up all at the same time. I felt bad for the staff, as people were getting anxious. But it was food, and amusing. 

Now back at the North Winds Lodge, a perfect little motel -- super clean rooms, a comfy bed, a gem of a pool, and a really nice owner? Manager? It's also very, very quiet. I am looking forward to a good night's sleep!

Center of the Nation Series

We find ourselves in quiet Baker, Montana, at the far eastern edge of the state. We arrived after dark, after two loooooooooong days of driving from Seattle. There don't seem to be a lot of folks around, but it is a Sunday night. But why exactly are we here?

We're here to run the first of six half marathons... in six states... in six days. The clever folks at Mainly Marathons realized that there was a market for events that satisfied the requirements of the 50 States Marathon / Half Marathon clubs... and created multiple series to cover a lot of states in a short time. I continue to have mixed feelings about this, but here we are!

We drove here over the past two days, stopping to admire 'Murica's quirkiest and loveliest places we came across. Here's a quick overview:

Saturday, September 12:

Left early, attempted to have a quick breakfast at Twede's (aka the Mar-T) in North Bend... only to find it dressed for filming the latest Twin Peaks project. So onward, then, to Roslyn, where we had a spectacular breakfast at the Roslyn Cafe.

Quick stop in Vantage to see the Wild horses (or their metal tributes). Next stop: Wallace, Idaho, where we watched the end of a parade, slurped a huckleberry shake, poked around a few shops, and I planked near the Center of the Universe. 

Then into Montana, where we pretty much just raced the sunset to get to Bozeman. 

Once settled in our hotel, we headed out into the evening, stopping in at the Lockhorn Cider House for a sampler or ciders, then wandering the Main drag (literally) before going back to the room for a Cosmic Pizza (amazingly good!). 

Sunday, September 13:

Some overly enthusiastic 20-somethings' drunken return at 2, then again at 4:30, made for very little sleep. 

Started the day at the Bozeman Hot Springs (awesome!!), then the even more awesome Museum of the Rockies, where I planked with a T-Rex and squealed at a baby triceratops skull. How much do I want a baby triceratops? SO MUCH. 

plankasaurus rex

Then we drove and drove and drove farther east. Today's only other stop was at Pompey's Pillar, a large rock where William Clark stopped to carve his name. The carving, amazingly, is still there. 

Then more driving, more sunset racing, and a close encounter with some deer later, and we rolled into Baker. It is our goal to visit a local bar and drink a local beverage in each town, so we stopped in at the Corner Bar for nachos, onion rings, and a bottle of Moose Drool. Now back at the hotel, everything is set for tomorrow!

(feels like a) Monday Motivation: Terry Fox

I have a slight -- but vivid -- memory of my childhood of Terry Fox's loping gait. His hop-hop-step, a result of running with a prosthetic leg long before anyone had designed one for running, is engrained on my mind, almost like a never-ending animated gif.

And I don't know why.

My parents weren't runners, and I certainly wasn't an active kid apart from playing soccer. No one in our house was swept up in the "running boom". But he's there, with his ringer tee and his curly hair bouncing. I remember hearing the news that he had had to stop his Marathon of Hope because the cancer had spread to his lungs. News from the small, black-and-white television in the kitchen, playing in the background, maybe.

And now that I'm really thinking about it, "That's Incredible" (or was it "Real People"?) comes to mind...

A quick Google search points me to imdb, which confirms that, yes, in 1980 Sarah Purcell from "Real People" interviewed Terry Fox while he was running his Marathon of Hope, running alongside him for the interview. And if I could have found a video to embed, you know I would have. So that's where the enduring memory comes from, I assume.

Of course, it's not like I have spent the last 35 years thinking about Terry Fox.

But since I started running, I think about Terry Fox a lot. Here's something I have never told anyone: I run with a Terry Fox silver dollar in my race belt. Because, well, even when I'm having a hard day out there, it's nothing like what Terry went through.

(For the record, I also run with a Theodore Roosevelt dollar coin. Talismans are important.)

I also made a point to sprint slightly off course when I ran the Victoria Marathon a few years back so that I could pay a visit to the Terry Fox statue there. (A course marshall thought I was cutting the course -- since the actual course passed on both sides of the small park. But she smiled when I told her I had just needed to run over to grab a photo with Terry.)

And speaking of Terry, I saw this picture today:

photo courtesy Hunter Brothers Farm

Yep, that's the start of a corn maze. An epic, Terry Fox 35th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope corn maze. How much do I wish I could see this in person? Sadly I don't foresee a trip to New Brunswick anytime in the near future.

Farmer Chip Hunter told cbc.ca that they "decided to pay tribute to the 35th anniversary of the Marathon of Home, and because he ran by our house and we met him."

By the way, the Hunter Brothers Farm makes AMAZING corn mazes ... the Beatles? Cat in the Hat? Sesame Street??? You can see their corn maze archive on their website.

This year's Terry Fox Run takes place on September 20, 2015, information on locations and ways you can donate can be found on the Terry Fox website: www.terryfox.org/Run/

Valley of the Trolls Half Marathon race report

The fact that it has taken me WEEKS to write this up has less to do with our experiences at the alley of the Trolls Half Marathon... and more to do with just the craziness of life in general. But back to the race report!

I was looking for a race that would be an excuse for a weekend away--plus a little nudge to make sure we ran a LITTLE in August. The Valley of the Trolls Half Marathon, held at Troll Haven, near Sequim, fit the bill perfectly. Inaugural event, small race, and Sequim? We were in!

Briefly, the weekend was fantastic... once we made it through the 2-hour wait for the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. We decided to stop an pick up our bibs on the way to Sequin -- always good to figure out where you're headed before race morning! So we arrived at Troll Haven... Here there be trolls:

Troll Haven was lovely -- lots of odd carvings dotted around, serving as fence posts, pillars, and even a bus shelter (?). Packet pickup was easy -- we got our bibs, a wristband for a post-race beer (woot!) and a glimpse at the finisher's medal and our soon-to-be earned winners' trophies. No, wait. But a glimpse at the trophies that people far, far faster than we are would win.

a fierce troll... and a wooden carving behind him

Then to our home for the weekend: Dungeness Bay Cottages. These perfect little units have gorgeous views of a water, a comfy queen bed, a dining nook, a bathroom with shower, and a kitchen larger than ours, fully stocked with pots, pans, and utensils. There's even a staircase down to the water and a private beach. I'm already thinking about when we could go back for a little visit! Oh, and the sunsets...

Got up Saturday morning at a civilized hour -- SEVEN -- because the race didn't start until 9! We had time for a leisurely breakfast before driving out to Troll Haven at 8.

Parking was challenging -- we were all instructed to park in a field, but it's tough to get folks to park well... even when there are straight lines painted on concrete! But eventually we got parked, joined a ports-potty line, and then made our way to the start... which would take place THROUGH THE TROLL HAVEN GATES!!!

here there be DRAGONS!

A local woman -- possibly the choir teacher at the high school? -- sang the national anthem, and then, with an airhorn blast, we took off. Oh, but not before we snapped the obligatory pre-race photo, with castle in the background:

castle photobomb

It wasn't a large race -- around 100 people in the half -- and we stretched out pretty quickly as we ran through the gates, past a couple of houses (who lives here???), and other buildings, then out another et of gates. That was a little disappointing, because we had hoped for more troll action. But the course was very loopy, and folded back on itself and crossed itself, a few times. But it kept us guessing!

A few highlights:

- Running past a big cooler with a sign: FREE PLUMS! TAKE AS MANY AS YOU WANT! CLEAN AND COLD!"

- Trolls dotted around the grounds:

- Chatting with other runners as we passed them going the other direction, everyone checking in to see that we were all still on track.

- This manatee mailbox holder:

- Glimpsing a deer.

- The mer-trolls by the big barn.

helloooooo laydeeez!

- The volunteers worried we didn't have enough water. (We did.)

- And did I mention that I had plums???

Oh, and the running? Make. I had a disturbing twinge under my right anklebone, again, so I took it easy. It was not a speedy performance by Team Wil-Sun.

We came up the drive to the gates / finish line with a surprising amount of cheering... turns out they were just about to start handing out the awards. But the speedier folk cheered and clapped, and we got a lot of high fives. Clearly, it's all about timing.

glad to be done!

We picked up our handsome medals, a clementine or two, and then got a mighty tasty hefeweizen (extra tasty with a bit of orange squeezed in!). We went back to listen to the awards and cheer folks on -- and stretch and relax and refuel a bit. But after we finished our beers and some water we went to the car to head back to Sequim... stopping at the farmer's market (sadly, just meh), the Front Porch store (always amazing), and Jose's Salsa, which was amazing even if I accidentally ordered waaaaay too much food.

For a small, inaugural race of course there was room for improvement. A few more signs would have been helpful out on the course -- there was one spot where we would have gone very wrong if we hadn't been helped out by some other runners. And one water stop wasn't manned or supplied, though it did have a handy portapotty. We heard some ofter runners whining about the course and too little water -- but it really wasn't bad and we've had much worse!

For the most part, however, they did things right. The runners-only zone at the finish was great -- not that we needed it by the time we finished, but still). Having good beer at the finish -- and a simple way to serve it so that everyone had just one, and there was plenty for the later finishers -- was a nice change. Simple post-race food -- bagels, oranges, bananas -- was perfect. As was having plenty of water. I also liked that we received finisher's shirts -- a nice tradition to start, rather than a participant shirt!

I could imagine Valley of the Trolls becoming a regular summer race for us. I've just gotta figure out the ferry situation!

The organizers have wisely decided to set next year's Valley of the Trolls Half Marathon date already: the third Saturday in August, or August 20, 2016. If you sign up before July 1, 2016, it's a bargain at $50 for the half marathon. The organizers are already promising better parking, more water stops, and -- I love this part -- TROLLS ON THE COURSE. 

Also, this image doesn't do it justice, but how cute is this medal? The sky is a sparkly deep blue, the castle is surprisingly 3-dimensional, and the trolls are an additional layer. Really handsome medal!

2015 Valley of the Trolls Half Marathon medal

All in all, a nice morning spent in a nice place. With trolls.

trolls everywhere!