Now that the post run mental fog has cleared a big, I'd like to continue the wrap up of the big run with a few words of thanks. While I might have been physically alone on the trail, I knew there was a whole support system keeping me going the entire way, so I'd like to give a shout out to the following:
My legs. Not only did a gross realization a couple of years ago that my inner thigh felt kinda like a boob instead of the sleek muscle I hoped for prompt me to start running in the first place, these gams have carried me across many miles over the years and have held up pretty well to the abuse and mud. For that, I am very thankful.
OPB. The folks who bring me Radiolab, This American Life and Portland's own Live Wire. I can't tell you how many times I've thought that other hikers might consider me a mad woman, running through the trees laughing out loud at the jokes only I can hear on my iPod.
Forest Park Conservancy. Thank you, thank you thank you for being the keepers and caretakers of this wonderful resource. For all those reading, if you aren't familiar with the Conservancy, check them out and volunteer. Now that I won't be doing the training for a long run, I am looking forward to spending time on the trails helping to keep them beautiful for everyone else.
All my friends in high school who threw parties in the woods, in a field, or in a barn that necessitated getting used to peeing outside. Without you, I never could have made it through this run with its first and only formal bathroom stop at mile 25.
Everyone who bought a t-shirt. Thanks to you I was able to raise nearly $350 to split between OPB and FPC. Thank you so much for your incredible support of these two foundations...and of me!
All those who joined me for the pasta feed on Friday, met me at the finish line on Saturday or sent along texts cheering me on throughout the run. You guys are the best!
Ok, I can hear the music signifying its time to end my acceptance speech babble, so I'll bow out now, but seriously, thank you to everyone for helping me achieve this goal.
So, now...what's next, you might ask? How about the country's longest relay?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sarah-thon 2010
What a day! After months of mud, a gazillion packets of Gu and many, many tumbles through the wash for my poor Adidas, the big day finally arrived. Yesterday at approximately 8:15 am, I started out on the Wildwood Trail in Portland's Forest Park to do 32 miles in celebration of my 32nd birthday.
The trail started out nice and clear, I was feeling good, with RadioLab followed by a couple This American Lifes flowing through my earbuds.
Soon, however, I ran into the result of the rains earlier in the week. Nice mud puddles slopped their way across the path every so often, sucking to the bottom of my shoes and adding a little extra zing to the trek.
Ah, the blue diamond that marks the Wildwood Trail. This little guys appear every quarter mile with the mile marker posted above. I made a great effort to avoid looking at the mileage as I passed, but I couldn't stop myself from searching the moss covered tree trunks for the marks.
At the halfway mark, a break for some PB&J.
Eventually, the sun came out and warmed up the 40 degree morning to about 60 degrees.
7 hours and 10 minutes later, I crossed the finish line, set up by my good friend M. G, L, K, G, M, J all greeted me with cheers, champagne poured over my head and I even got a medal!
Here I am with my first place medal!!
Ok. So, I admit that this posting is pretty boring. I promise there is more, hopefully more entertaining bits ahead. However, after the run, I went out to dinner, then to a birthday party and finally to a late night diner for milkshakes with J. I ended up falling asleep around 2 am but then woke up at 9 am unable to go back to sleep, so I'm pretty tired and incoherent now. But, it was a great day...i promise more later! good night...
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Its like Christmas in March!
I had trouble falling asleep last night. I was a giddy as a child on Santa's "good list" on Christmas Eve. All night long visions of fiddlehead ferns, peashoots and stinging nettles danced in my head. I awoke at four a.m. with the thought of a grilled cheese made with Rogue Creamery's Rosemary Cheddar.
As soon as was reasonable, I was out of bed, my market bags in hand. After a quick stop at Coffeehouse Northwest for a cup of Stumptown Coffee, I was off to the South Park Blocks to grab me some local grub at the opening day of the 2010 Portland Farmers Market.
Even the first day of Spring was eager to share in the festivities and showed up with sunshine and cherry blossoms at 10:26 a.m. I was there a bit earlier at the opening bell as vendors and market goers alike cheered in the new season.
This year's Portland Farmer's Market has doubled in size, allowing better movement of the crowds among the approximately 100 vendors once the market is in full swing. For a view of the new set up, visit Portland Farmers Market's interactive map.
The weather was amazing and it was such a pleasure to once again wander around the market planning my purchases and dreaming of the dinners that would come out of them. Its been a very mild winter here and everything has blossomed early so there were plenty of blooms scattered among the veggies, fruit, herbs, meat,honey, fish, dairy, wine, nuts, and juice brightening up the already sunny morning.
Fiddlehead ferns.
Stinging nettles
Herb starters
I will, of course, have to miss the market next week as I'll be running the big 32.4.32 birthday run, but am so happy I will once again be able to make it a part of my week.
As soon as was reasonable, I was out of bed, my market bags in hand. After a quick stop at Coffeehouse Northwest for a cup of Stumptown Coffee, I was off to the South Park Blocks to grab me some local grub at the opening day of the 2010 Portland Farmers Market.
Even the first day of Spring was eager to share in the festivities and showed up with sunshine and cherry blossoms at 10:26 a.m. I was there a bit earlier at the opening bell as vendors and market goers alike cheered in the new season.
This year's Portland Farmer's Market has doubled in size, allowing better movement of the crowds among the approximately 100 vendors once the market is in full swing. For a view of the new set up, visit Portland Farmers Market's interactive map.
The weather was amazing and it was such a pleasure to once again wander around the market planning my purchases and dreaming of the dinners that would come out of them. Its been a very mild winter here and everything has blossomed early so there were plenty of blooms scattered among the veggies, fruit, herbs, meat,honey, fish, dairy, wine, nuts, and juice brightening up the already sunny morning.
Colorful Ranunculus
I bought a bunch of White Lion Double Head Daffodils from Laurel Valley Farm and they have already frangranced my entire living room.
Assorted mushrooms from Springwater Farm
Fiddlehead ferns.
Miner's lettuce
Stinging nettles
It was really difficult to pass up these cinnamon rolls for my future breakfast date with the husband who was still sleeping at home.
Herb startersI will, of course, have to miss the market next week as I'll be running the big 32.4.32 birthday run, but am so happy I will once again be able to make it a part of my week.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2010 Shamrock Run
Event: Portland's 32nd Annual Shamrock Run - March 14, 2010
Number of Participants for all events: 21,000
Course: 15K Start by the cherry blossoms on the waterfront,
through SW downtown,
up a few miles of wooded hill near Council Crest by way of Terwilliger for views of Mt. Hood,
smooth sail down Barbur to finish on the waterfront.
I have no idea who those people are.
Soundtrack: U2, The Pogues, The Frames and The White Stripes (I know, technically not Irish, but I like running to them).
Post Race Recovery Treats: Salmon Chowder and a Widmer Heffewiezen, my favorite post run beer...lucky me!
Number of Participants for all events: 21,000
Course: 15K Start by the cherry blossoms on the waterfront,
through SW downtown,
up a few miles of wooded hill near Council Crest by way of Terwilliger for views of Mt. Hood,
smooth sail down Barbur to finish on the waterfront.
I have no idea who those people are.Soundtrack: U2, The Pogues, The Frames and The White Stripes (I know, technically not Irish, but I like running to them).
Post Race Recovery Treats: Salmon Chowder and a Widmer Heffewiezen, my favorite post run beer...lucky me!
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Shirt Off My Back
I am getting really excited about my big run. I was finally able to complete my 27 mile training run without injury on Saturday (yay!) and am now looking ahead to the big day on March 27 when I will devote the better part of the day completing 32 miles in Forest Park.
Most of this run will be done on the Wildwood trail, a narrow, often muddy trail that winds its way from the far reaches of Forest Park's northern end at Newberry Road all the way to its southern end in Washington Park. I'll then travel down through Washington Park to make up the 1.75 or so miles and end at the Elephant House, triumphant. Or at least standing.
Of course, I couldn’t do any of this without two very important entities: The Forest Park Conservancy who preserve, protect and restore Forest Park’s 5,000 acres for the use and benefit of all who live in and visit Portland and OPB, who provide the sound track for most of my runs. Without Forest Park Conservancy and OPB I would probably be stuck on a treadmill listening to the gym pump a mash up of Avril Lavigne and The Blackeyed Peas into the recycled air, in which case, I doubt my distances would have made it into the double digits.
So, I want to say thanks to them. I’ve come up with this t-shirt design below and will be sporting one during my run on the 27th. If anyone else would like to order one, I’ll be splitting all the proceeds from the shirt between OPB and FPC. Please help me support them support me and pick up a shirt in the process! Email me at sarah@droppedlollipop.com to place your order by March 17.
Shirt info:
Two color design printed on a blue shirt to match the blue diamond that shows its pretty face every quarter mile on the Wildwood Trail. The horizon line in the design is the trail’s elevation profile.
Cost: $20
Sizes: Men’s or Women’s S-XL. Cut is similar to that of American Apparel and the material is 100% ring spun cotton.
Printer: Inkbrigade – Portland printer dedicated to environmentally friendly practices.
Deadline for orders: March 17. Let me know the size shirt you would like and I’ll place the order and collect payment upon delivery. For those of you who are outside the Portland area, we will make the appropriate individual delivery arrangements.
Most of this run will be done on the Wildwood trail, a narrow, often muddy trail that winds its way from the far reaches of Forest Park's northern end at Newberry Road all the way to its southern end in Washington Park. I'll then travel down through Washington Park to make up the 1.75 or so miles and end at the Elephant House, triumphant. Or at least standing.
Of course, I couldn’t do any of this without two very important entities: The Forest Park Conservancy who preserve, protect and restore Forest Park’s 5,000 acres for the use and benefit of all who live in and visit Portland and OPB, who provide the sound track for most of my runs. Without Forest Park Conservancy and OPB I would probably be stuck on a treadmill listening to the gym pump a mash up of Avril Lavigne and The Blackeyed Peas into the recycled air, in which case, I doubt my distances would have made it into the double digits.
So, I want to say thanks to them. I’ve come up with this t-shirt design below and will be sporting one during my run on the 27th. If anyone else would like to order one, I’ll be splitting all the proceeds from the shirt between OPB and FPC. Please help me support them support me and pick up a shirt in the process! Email me at sarah@droppedlollipop.com to place your order by March 17.
Shirt info:
Two color design printed on a blue shirt to match the blue diamond that shows its pretty face every quarter mile on the Wildwood Trail. The horizon line in the design is the trail’s elevation profile.
Cost: $20
Sizes: Men’s or Women’s S-XL. Cut is similar to that of American Apparel and the material is 100% ring spun cotton.
Printer: Inkbrigade – Portland printer dedicated to environmentally friendly practices.
Deadline for orders: March 17. Let me know the size shirt you would like and I’ll place the order and collect payment upon delivery. For those of you who are outside the Portland area, we will make the appropriate individual delivery arrangements.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Red Rocks and White Snow
Normally, I'm not a fan of road trips. Sitting in a car for hours on end, sucking down large amounts of water just to have an excuse to stop and stretch your legs every so often, praying that a music shop will be advertising a sale on xylophones just so you can get to the end of the damn alphabet game and really hoping that the dog in the back of the pick up truck in front of you going 45 miles an hour on the two lane highway will not jump to his demise right in front is not my idea of a good time.
But the trip we took in late February from Albuquerque back to our home in Portland turned out to be allot of fun. I think it was the balance of fried chicken and skiing, ice cream and running that made the trip worth while. I tend to get very antsy if I have to sit for a very long time and I am absolutely miserable to be around if I have to go more than a day or two without running or some other form of exercise. With four days of skiing alternated with runs through mountain towns (and the Vegas strip), our trip from Albuquerque to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Park City, Boise, Bend to Portland turned out to be more fun than I could have predicted.
Some pictures, below, in no particular order.
The Red Rocks in Sedona.
The Pinball Hall of Fame...my favorite thing about Vegas. Screw the glitz and opulence of big gaming rooms and high roller restaurants, give me a roll of quarters and a can of Sunkist orange soda and I'm good to go.
A golden calf (or two) along the road in Arizona.
The majesty that is the Grand Canyon (when the tour buses finally move out of the way).
If you look closely, you can see the eagle in Eagle Point.
A lone blackbird and overcast skies in Sedona.
The Hoover Dam at twilight.
Finn loves the hills just outside of Boise on the way to Bogus Basin. We did too...especially for the night skiing!
Oregon's own Mt. Bachelor...only three hours from home.
A gorgeous day welcomed J home to Oregon...temps in the mid 50s, plenty of sun and no wind on the Mt. Bachelor.
But the trip we took in late February from Albuquerque back to our home in Portland turned out to be allot of fun. I think it was the balance of fried chicken and skiing, ice cream and running that made the trip worth while. I tend to get very antsy if I have to sit for a very long time and I am absolutely miserable to be around if I have to go more than a day or two without running or some other form of exercise. With four days of skiing alternated with runs through mountain towns (and the Vegas strip), our trip from Albuquerque to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Park City, Boise, Bend to Portland turned out to be more fun than I could have predicted.
Some pictures, below, in no particular order.
The Red Rocks in Sedona.
The Pinball Hall of Fame...my favorite thing about Vegas. Screw the glitz and opulence of big gaming rooms and high roller restaurants, give me a roll of quarters and a can of Sunkist orange soda and I'm good to go.
A golden calf (or two) along the road in Arizona.
The majesty that is the Grand Canyon (when the tour buses finally move out of the way).
If you look closely, you can see the eagle in Eagle Point.
A lone blackbird and overcast skies in Sedona.
The Hoover Dam at twilight.
Finn loves the hills just outside of Boise on the way to Bogus Basin. We did too...especially for the night skiing!
Oregon's own Mt. Bachelor...only three hours from home.
A gorgeous day welcomed J home to Oregon...temps in the mid 50s, plenty of sun and no wind on the Mt. Bachelor.
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