Golden Joe's Spring Break 2015

Golden Joe's Spring Break 2015

Video

Golden Joe's Oregon Coast Adventure

Golden Joe's Oregon Coast Adventure

Emma and Johnny - November 2014

Emma and Johnny - November 2014

2014 Disney Road Trip Video

       

Columbia River Gorge Trail Run April 2014

A little Run, Rock and Roll....

Winter's Walk 2014

Dorfchemnitz, GermanyTrip - 2012

Glacier Bay Alaska 2012

We started in Seattle, travelling on "The Pearl"...we experienced Brown Bears, Killer Whales and good times.

2012 Rainer to Ruston 50 Mile Ultramarathon

I hit a wall in January.  Fishing was slow, the weather was dreadful and my running was stagnant.  I needed a goal.  The answer came to me while surfing the web for some local races.  I came across the "2012 Rainier to Ruston Rail Trail Relay and 50 mile Ultramarathon" or "R2R".  I decided it was time for a goal - and a challenging one at that - I chose to race in the 50 mile solo ultramarathon.

Approaching Stage 2 of the R2R 50 Mile Ultramarathon

According to the website http://www.rainiertoruston.com/raceinfo_50M.html, the abandoned Northern Pacific Railroad line from Mt. Rainier to Commencement Bay (Puget Sound) now hosts the annual Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay and Ultra, challenging teams of runners, walkers, and ultras to descend the historic railroad grade in a 50-mile race to the sea. 

While the route is relatively new as a trail relay (this was the 10th year of the race), it has seen its share of history. The Northern Pacific Railroad emerged from Abraham Lincoln's 1864 passage of the Northern Railroad Charter, part of his aggressive wartime campaign to "conquer space" in the Western frontier.

As they follow the same route that once shuttled passengers between the Great Lakes and Tacoma, the Rainier to Ruston runners pass through towns that grew up alongside the railroad. Carbonado's public school dates back to 1878, a year after rails went down. Wilkeson's Old Washington Hotel began serving railroad workers in the 1880's. As part of the Buckley line, Orting hosted trainloads of timber on a daily basis.

The conversion from railroad to public trail has been a long time coming. In 1984 the railroad, by then the Burlington Northern, attracted the attention of Buckley's Dr. Douglas Tait. Tait envisioned a Rails-to-Trails project that would convert the old grade into a non-motorized thoroughfare. In 1985 the Burlington Northern took up the tracks, clearing the way for a trail.

This challenge really began for me in January when I paid the $65.00 entry fee and found this ultramarathon training plan http://www.scrunners.org/ultrasch.php?month=6&day=2&year=2012&dow=6&schedule=50m&submit=Draw+Schedule.  

The primary difference between marathon training and ultramarathon training is the addition of a second "long run" during the weekend...plus an additional two, 25-plus mile training runs.  I was able to complete every long run during the training though I missed the second long run on several weeks due to injury or the physical impact from building cinder block raised garden beds.

Cinder block raised garden bed project 2012

My R2R experience began the day before the race when my support team (J and the girls...) traveled with me to Tacoma.  We took advantage of a discount offered to runners at the Buckley, WA. Econolodge which proved to be a big mistake that I'll explain later.  Wanting to get acquainted with the race trail and stage locations, we traveled to the starting area of the race on Mount Rainier and began the drive west to Puget Sound.   

Much of the first three stages of the R2R parallels the Carbon River

The start location is near the entrance to the Mount Rainier National Forest - An incredibly beautiful location containing old growth timber and steep terrain which is separated by the  Carbon River.  The race is divided into a dozen stages where relay teams exchange runners or where ultra runners are able to replenish water bottles and food supplies.  About the first 1/3 of the race is on unpaved trails. This first section of the course is considered "technical trail" and proved to be the most challenging.

On the morning of the race we woke after only getting a few hours rest.  The motel's leaky toilet and paper-thin walls made for a frustrating evening of listening to loud voices and snoring from the room next door.  I had pre-arranged my running gear so we were out the door and headed to the start at about 5:00 a.m.  

I chose the 6:00 a.m. "early start" option for this race because I didn't know how I would finish, or honestly, if I could finish.  I didn't want to leave race officials waiting around for me to finish so the early start would benefit them as well.  

For the start, J and the girls stood by while me and twenty or so other runners headed west along the Carbon River....not knowing what the day would hold.  Had I known the outcome, I would have started with the rest of the pack at 7:00 a.m.  The weather was perfect - about 50 degrees and overcast. For most of the race, I enjoyed 60 degree weather with some drizzle and cloudy skies.  

Mentally, I broke the race into thirds.  I knew that I could run at least 34 miles without much of a break...but any mileage beyond that was uncharted territory.   I ran the first stage relatively slow, about a 10 minute pace to ensure my glycogen stores were in tact for the hard miles to follow.  After arriving at Stage 2 (technical trail), I enjoyed maneuvering down the muddy, rocky and partially obstructed (trees/limbs) trail.  I hadn't spent much time training on trails so several miles into the race I could feel some burn in my thighs.  My feet were soaked causing the start of a blister on my left foot.

At approximately mile 25 I met J and the girls at Stage 6.  There, I changed clothes, shoes and socks which helped with the blistering.  

Stage 6 - South Prairie

I knew that I was going to have a good day when, at mile 34, my legs felt moderately strong and I was (hopefully) only 2 1/2 hours to the end....then came the 5 mile stretch of sandy trail.  The earlier trails had worn on my legs, but the following miles came and went as planned.  What I hadn't planned for was running on sand.  This section of trail was bordered by a cement drainage wall to the north and heavy brush to the south...no room to escape.  

This section of trail reminded me of running at the Oregon Coast and the sense of frustration grew from the slowing of my pace and the drain on my leg muscles.  As I exited the sandy trail I knew that I could finish...but also realized that my legs were starting to give-in to fatigue.  With about 9 miles to go my pace wavered from around 10-10:30 minutes per mile to likely around 13 minutes per mile.  It became ugly...a dark place mentally - Yet, I was thrilled to be meeting my goal of breaking 11 hours for the race.

Nike Pegasus Shoes 

Entering the final leg was both exciting and extremely painful.  It's an amazing feeling when mentally you think you can run, but physically, your body just wants to rest.  During this past stretch I had met a fellow first-time ultramarathoner.  We had leap-frogged each other on the previous sandy stretch and with only a mile to the finish line...he met and then passed my location.  I set a personal goal to beat this younger runner but when he passed me this last time I decided to let him bask in the victory that was now certainly his to enjoy in less than a mile. Then, it happened...he started walking.  I could see that he was struggling at about the same time I could hear the sounds of the crowd at the finish line.  I thought to myself that  this may be the last opportunity to finish strong in an ultramarathon - and it was time to settle this sidebar race and beat this younger runner.

With an eye for glory and a painful gimp, I let loose and began sprinting.  As I passed this other runner I could see that he immediately looked up at me and tried to kick-start his run once more.  After taking only a few steps I could hear him exhale with a painful moan which led to him settling into a slow walk once more - leaving me an open lane to the finish line.  

It was great to be greeted by J and the girls at the "Ruston Way" finish line.  My primary goal of the race was to show my daughters what it meant to set and reach a challenging goal (the very next day they went for a run!).  My finishing time was 9:23:46....I was amazed when the announcer called my name as the Third Place Winner in the Master's Division (time yet to be confirmed).  I walked away with a bronze colored third place rail road spike as well as a black colored rail road spike for finishing.

R2R Finisher's Medal and RR Spikes

I'm glad that, back in January, I decided to set the goal of running an ultramarathon.  After logging hundreds of miles of training runs, dialing in my nutrition and reading as much as possible about ultramarathons - I was able to reach my goal.  I surprised myself a bit with my finishing time.  When I completed two previous Portland Marathons, I told myself at the end of the race that I would never run another - and told myself the same thing at the end of the R2R.  However, it's now easy to reflect on the overall joy and satisfaction that I experienced with this race and I can't help but to think that there's another ultramarathon in my future.

Maui - 2011

Maui's "Black Rock"

I've always thought that Hawaii was a destination that would evade my travel plans.  My best friend from high school and early college years met a girl from there (Honolulu) while we were attending the University of Oregon.  They fell in love and he ended up living there - and still does as far as I know.  The allure of Hawaii has always been there.

The Summer of 2011 was supposed to be my long awaited trip to Germany to visit my Grandmother (...as was the Summer of 2012).   Those plans were derailed by various hurdles so I was left to throw a vote J and the girls - Hawaii or Alaska!  For me...Alaska was the easy choice for adventure.

True, since childhood, I aspired to be a wildlife photography in the Last Frontier - however I'm only one vote in this clan and J and the girls wanted very much to experience warm, clear water (after the awful 2010-2011 Oregon Winter and Spring....), quiet beaches and the overall Hawaiian experience.  Hawaii was the winner in 2011.  In typical fashion, we were left planning for a Maui trip in just under two weeks. I did a lot of chatting with friends who had gone there.  We decided that the northwest shore of Kaanapali Beach offered everything we wanted in this experience.

Booking this trip was easy.  I visited the Costco website where several packages were available.  A friend at work suggested the Kaanapali Beach Resort.  He had stayed there on several occasions and praised the hotel's accommodations, staff, price and especially the location.  He said that possibly the best reason to stay at this resort was the "perfect" oceanfront location and that it was near Black Rock.  Black Rock, he said, was where some of the best snorkeling in Maui was located.

Though belated, here is an account of our Maui trip in June of 2011:

2011 Hagg Lake 25k Trail Race

The west shore of Hagg Lake, Oregon

Upon crawling into bed on Saturday night, I didn't have the pre-race jitters that normally keep me from sleeping before a race.  I slept soundly.  Maybe it's because of the steady training undergone since signing-up for the 2011 Hagg Lake 25k race in early December.  Purchasing a new treadmill at about the same time as registering helped with cold weather motivation and maintaining my mileage base since running the Portland Marathon last October.  The treadmill also provided for some much needed speed work.

Upon waking up at 5:30 a.m., I showered and dressed in trail race gear to include my Brooks Cascadia IV trail runners.  Little did I know the degree to which these shoes would be needed in the hours ahead.

After a bagel and a cup of Mt. Hagen's best instant java, J, the girls and I loaded up and headed for Hagg Lake which is located some 2 hours west of Boring.  The temperature was about 28 degrees when we left the house and as we approached the lake, it hovered at about 30 degrees which, with the thick fog, created icy roads.  I hadn't been to Hagg Lake for several years and as we approached, was a bit surprised by its enormous perimeter. The thought of running completely around this lake got me thinking - no deeply questioning, if it was a good idea.  Remember?  A lake's primary purpose is to draw crowds for fishing and swimming - not running....in the winter....in the mud.

Runners gather before the big race

We arrived at the race staging area after a short walk from an adjacent parking lot.  This walk along the lake's main trail gave some cause for concern as the terrain was wet and slick - a sign of events to come.

Having picked up my race packet on Thursday, I was able to bypass the sign-in and spent the time leading to the start huddled with the girls, and a few hundred other runners, next to propane heaters placed in the staging area's large gazebo - the sight for the the start and finish lines.

At 8:55 a.m. the race announcer directed all runners to the start line.  At precisely 9:01 a.m. the race start was announced and we were off.  The race included a beginning two mile "out-and-back" which involved running up hill along an old gravel road. Once we returned to the original start line, I shed my hat and Ipod as it became clear that both would be distractions to the muddy trails that would require my full attention.

The race involved, after the "out-and-back", a counter-clockwise run around the lake and well established hiking trail.  The prior week's weather included everything from snow and rain to some windy conditions.  The first three miles of trails gave me a very good idea of what the day would involve.  Mud, clay, standing water, slope, decline, roots, rocks and fallen trees were present and obstructed my path and goal of running a 9 minute mile pace.  

Start of 2011 Hagg Lake 25k Trail Race

After the beginning three miles of challenging trail, the course followed along the paved road and across Hagg Lake's dam.  At the north end of the dam the trail picked up along the lake's north shore.  Here is where the real test began.  The trail became less trail and more of a slushy path.  Standing water was present during most flat sections and the hills were slicks of wet, slippery clay exacerbated by the previous day's 50k trail race.  

When climbing a steep section of trail with four other runners at about mile 8, I fell for the first time in a race.  This occurred as a runner was trying to pass me on my right.  I stepped quickly left to allow the pass and slid down with my left foot from the inside bank into some standing water.  Losing my balance, I slid onto my left side, scraping the area left of my knee cap on some submerged rocks.  I never felt any pain until after the race and was up running again within seconds. I would later find a resulting laceration as indicated by torn skin and blood.

Thrills and spills at mile 8

The last three miles of the race provided my body with a test of stamina and pain of which I've never experienced before.  It was where cold, wet feet and burning thighs met steep, muddy hills.  I became lost in concentration.  Every step required my attention in order to finish the race with confidence and without another spill.  I focused on both the trail in front of me and a group of 3 other runners who were about 100 yards ahead.  I challenged myself to catch and pass this group and managed to pass two of them with about one mile to the finish line.

At the finish H and E gave me high-fives and J went to work on trying to clean the cut on my leg.  I finished in 2:22:08 at a pace of 9:10 per mile which, given the conditions, was very satisfying.  I placed 55 out of 267 runners.

The 2011 Hagg Lake Trail Race was a challenging experience that I will not soon forget.  Hands down, it was more difficult than running a marathon.  It tested my stamina, will, pain threshold and brought me to that place of "play" which I experienced as a young boy running through Willamette Valley woods in search of adventure.  I want to return to that place soon.

Nearing the finish line

New Year on the River

I awoke yesterday morning struggling with the thought of floating the Sandy River for the first time in 2011.  Spending the day fishing usually doesn't cause such a mental dilemma, but being disorganized and unprepared for this year's first river adventure just didn't rest well with me.  The cataraft wasn't topped off with air, my fishing gear was partially stowed and the forecast called for a seventy percent chance of snow. 


I was on the fence.  Do I hustle and get all of the gear ready, or do I relax on this cold winter's morning and enjoy a warm fire?  The fishing reports have been poor and the flows have been on the rise a bit which further caused me hesitation.  So, I decided on plan B and relax at home.


After a couple of hours of thinking about the river, I elected to revert to Plan A, leaving me now with only about 6 hours of daylight.  Now, I really needed to get my wading boots in gear and  hustle to the river in order to land at Oxbow Park by its closing at sunset.

Launch site on the Sandy River

There is something to be said about preparedness when it comes to white water rafting.  My cataraft performs optimally with about 3000 psi for each of it's 4 chambers (2 for each tube, allowing for some on-the-water insurance should the unexpected tear occur).  In order to inflate the tubes, I use a "K-pump" device which came highly recommended when I purchased the boat.  However, my pump has a leak resulting in about an hour's worth of pumping which should have taken 15 minutes.

  

Over the years, I've developed a decent habit of making a mental checklist of items most necessary for a safe day on the river:  PFD, First-Aid kit, lighter/storm proof matches, flashlight, extra clothes, cell phones (2), and a supply of freeze dried food ready to be prepared on my small one-burner stove.  I carry a water filter pump, tube repair kit and K-pump which further helps to keep my mind, and my wife, satisfied that I'll make it home for (and hopefully with) dinner.

The drift began at about 11 a.m. with J and the girls joining me for the launch.  The site had newly placed sand to help cover some tree roots that were starting to block its entry into the water.  It's a rather steep incline to the water so the T-100 4 wheel drive came in handy to back the trailer.  The water at this launch is nothing more than a small back-eddy, just large enough to accommodate one large drift boat or cataraft.  The river mark here is located just at the beginning of a very fast flow across large and sporadically placed boulders which makes for a tricky ride, especially if the oarsmen hasn't been on the sticks for several months.

20 Pound Chinook Salmon

After a kiss and hug from J and the girls I loaded myself onto the cataraft.  I practiced 180 degree turns, gaining some comfort and re-gaining muscle memory required to effectively control the 16 foot tubes.  With a deep breath I entered the river's seam with confidence and looking forward to viewing the changing characteristics of landscape created from the high flows of this past fall and early winter. Last May, my Mom was with me for the last trip I made on this scenic stretch of river.  Had we a dashboard for the cataraft, she'd have certainly called it a "white-knuckle" ride though she spent most of the day smiling, especially after landing a 12 pound Chinook Salmon.

A small back-eddy provides just enough space to launch

More than any other habitat type, I believe rivers inspire thought and reflection.  After a challenging week, this day on the river brought me the opportunity to contemplate and consider what is on the horizon.  I thought a lot about a local police chief who lost his life trying to keep the peace for a small community.  His professional life, as described in the news, was dedicated to serving the public. His personal life involved his love of the outdoors to include running and fishing.  I hope that his family finds comfort in knowing that his adventures surely brought him many moments of joy and reflection of living a life filled with meaning and contribution.

I also thought about the week ahead.  The Oregon Duck college football team will be playing for the BCS National Championship Monday evening.  Having grown up near Eugene, Oregon and attending the U of O, I have been a fan since the mid-1970's. I thought about the years of hoping that the Ducks would make it to this game....I was able to attend the 1995 Rose Bowl in which the Ducks lost to Penn State.  The electric atmosphere in Pasadena will pale in comparison to what Duck fans will experience on Monday as they enter the stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  

My first day on the river in 2011 reminded me of a message in the book "Fishing Oregon" (1966, Caxton Printers) where Author Francis Ames describes his experiences in the outdoors by writing, "You will find that when you return to the daily grind and talk to your friends about your outing that you will no longer speak only of the big fish you caught but also of the more important things, the sweet scent of the forest, the song of the river, the call of the loon at night, the way the air blued with distance over the ridges of the Cascades.  This is the finest prescription for stomach ulcers and frazzled nerves in existence." 

Find Me in the River