Leavenworth Half Marathon

The Leavenworth Half Marathon was set to take place on October 4, and I was quite nervous.  My leg STILL wasn’t healing the way it should, and I hadn’t been training appropriately.  Although  I’d been doing my physical therapy exercises religiously, going to the gym [almost] daily, and taking yoga classes 2-3 times per week, I hadn’t run at all in the several weeks prior to the race (per doctor advice).   I’d spent a lot of time trying to simulate the cardio demands of running on the low-impact elliptical machine (up to 1 hour, 45 minutes at a time), but this certainly wasn’t the same as pounding the pavement.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Katie, Issac, and I took off on Friday evening and stopped in Leavenworth before heading to our camping accommodations at the Lake Wenatchee Campground (just 30 minutes outside of town). Leavenworth was bustling with revelers filling the streets for the Oktoberfest Festival.  Many had costumes, and lots were clearly intoxicated.  It was definitely a festive atmosphere.

The race started at 9:00AM on Saturday morning.  The weather was perfect-- not too hot or cold and DRY (!!).  The course began at the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery and went into the village (briefly) and along the Wenatchee River.  We were surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery, but I have to admit, as much as I tried to admire it, I found myself looking at the ground for most of the time.

My left leg was bothersome, yet it wasn’t super-painful.  This was better than anticipated.  I had moments of doubt as I was running (“Am I really going to be able to do this?!”), but I made it through! I tried not to think about time and just let myself run at a pace that wouldn’t leave me broken or aggravate my injury.  This was hard.  My GPS died at about mile 8, which left me guessing how fast I was running.  I knew that I’d slowed down.  Issac and I ran a few miles together, but I lost him as he sprinted up a hill.  I started counting my steps as I watched the mile markers pass by, and I was happy to see the finish line. 

As always, here are my stats: time= 1:56:35 (12 minutes slower than my PR); pace= 8:54 per mile; place in my age category= 36 out of 226 female runners; place overall= 356 out of 1,629 runners.  Having not run for a while, both legs were surprisingly sore the next day. 

After the race, we were able to enjoy some of the Oktoberfest shenanigans.  We also went for a hike on Sunday.  It was a fun getaway.


Leavenworth, a Bavarian village nestled in the Cascade Mountains,
served as the perfect backdrop for this destination race.

Finish line photo with me, Issac, and Katie

Post-finish photo with me, Issac, and Andrew (who
completed the full marathon)

We met lots of interesting people as we partook
in Oktoberfest, many clad in dirndls and lederhosen.

Our Sunday hike up Nason Ridge was perfect.  Hooray for
fall hiking in the sunshine!

No one likes a whiner, and I certainly don’t want to be one.  I hate how so many of my recent running posts have been about my frustrations with my left leg.  I don’t want to be dramatic about the situation, but I am discouraged that it isn’t back to normal yet.  It has undoubtedly improved, but it’s just not the same as it used to be.  It constantly gives me this nagging, aching feeling.  What am I doing wrong?!  I’ve seen a Sports Medicine Doctor and a Physical Therapist, and I’m still trying to get to the bottom of this question.  I hope to isolate the variable that is prolonging the recovery process (maybe something as simple as hyper-extending during yoga classes?) and move on with an active life.  I don’t want my running journey to end here!

The Enchantments

A year ago, I fell in love with the Enchantments-- an Alpine Lakes Wilderness region near Leavenworth, WA.  The area offers an amazing juxtaposition of tropical-colored waters, stark black-and-white granite geology, and rugged mountains, and it's impossible to describe the extensive color combinations and diverse panoramic scenes found within it.  Because it is such a natural treasure, the US Forest Service restricts the number of people who can stay in the Enchantments via a lottery system, and I feel very fortunate that I've been able to backpack into this natural wonderland two years in a row (thanks to Rachel's incredibly good luck!  I have never been awarded a permit myself, even though I've entered the lottery multiple times).  Both trips exposed me to different parts of the alpine basin (we entered and camped at opposite sides of the region) and reminded me of the fact that I don't need to travel far to see some of the world's most spectacular views.

I've struggled with writing an accurate trip report from our backpacking trip two weekends ago, but here are a few highlights with some of the 200+ photos we took throughout the journey:

We powered through the challenging hike-in with our heavy packs.  Although it included many obstacles and steep inclines, it was nothing compared to our scramble up Aasgard Pass last year!

We set-up camp right next to Upper Snow Lake, and Marc's  hammock provided the perfect accessory to go with our "home" for the trip.

We covered a lot of diverse terrain during our explorations, and our brightly colored outdoor apparel often contrasted with the bleak rock faces that surrounded us.

We came across lots of wildlife, including several friendly (luckily, non-aggressive) mountain goats --  as well as deer, marmots, and fish. 

We also ran into a fellow hiker who had the misfortune of injuring her leg while in this remote wilderness.  We watched as the helicopter circled around us, struggling to find the best location from which to rescue her.  (I later read in the local newspaper that she had been airlifted to a hospital and was doing well.  Thank goodness!).

The cold lake water helped soothe aching feet and legs at the end of long days.

My observations about this outdoor kingdom included the following:

The beautiful scenery of the Enchantments ranges from bright wildflowers...

... to austere peaks.

The colors of the waters range from bright greens...

... to teal blues.

                                       

In addition to the numerous lakes, the astounding water features of the area include many natural waterfalls...

... and this crazy man-made drainage created in the 1930's.  It looks like the world's largest fire hose spewing water off the top of a mountain!



Perhaps my favorite images of the Enchantments are the breathtaking, picturesque reflections often displayed on still waters.  It doesn't get more beautiful and peaceful than this!

We celebrated our successful 2013 Enchantments backpacking adventure at the Icicle Creek Brewery in Leavenworth. Unfortunately, it was then back to reality!

We have no plans to return to the Enchantments at any point in the near future, but perhaps these photos and memories will serve as my "happy place" during future times of stress or frustration.  Who could feel upset in such a majestic setting?!

Out and About

After running 15 miles on Saturday (my longest run yet-- yay!), we ventured out for some more fresh air on Sunday.  Here are some photos from our hike:



 

 

The weekend culminated with a Sounders game, which also seems as though it should count as physical activity-- as there is so much standing, cheering, jumping up and down, etc. involved.

  

It is now Monday, and I am dragging.  As usual, I feel like I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.  :)

Fresh Air

We journeyed to Mount Rainier National Park over the weekend for lots of outdoor exploration with friends.  This is my favorite type of exercise.

 

 

 

That last one is my favorite photo.  My friend's six-year-old daughter, Adelle, was sooooo happy to frolic in the majestic scenery that surrounded us.  She and I have a lot in common!!  ;)