Biking & running

Friday, March 29, 2019

One Hundred Marathons of Solitude

Forward

In 2006 I allowed my siblings to set me on the slippery slope of running a marathon. For lots of reasons it was a dissatisfying experience. I reasoned however that perhaps, under different circumstances, a marathon could be more satisfying. I tried it again ... and the activity became a staple of my existence.

After running marathons for a few years, an idea was hatched: complete marathon #100, in my home town, 50 years after high school graduation.

As I near #100, age is letting me know there aren't too many more of these events up my sleeve. It has, nonetheless, been a wild ride. I hope to hit #100 this fall. In the meantime, here is coverage of this year's marathons.

#95 - Los Angeles (did NOT prove too much for the man)

I first ran LA last year. It is by far the largest field I've run in. In 2019 there are 23,000 runners. My division, this year and last, had over 180 runners. I sometimes run marathons with a smaller field than that.

Awaiting start

Approaching drop off point

And they're off

Filling the streets

Pacer carries flag in harness

Disney Concert Hall

Woman pushes cart with girl. Earlier there was a dog attached. I didn't think to see if it was in the cart.

Humor with Spanish 'J'

At my age ... I can only DREAM of running like a cheetah. Sigh.

One of the nice neighborhoods

Almost to the finish!

Shortly after the finish: Our Lady of Perpetual Endurance Events

#96 - Wenatchee (magical sequencing on a 10 mile loop)

The event is part of the Apple Blossum Festival. The scenery is dazzling: blossums in the foreground, snowcapped peaks in the background. There were three starts: early marathon, at 6:30 am, half marathon, at 8:00 am, and the combined marathon and 10k, at 8:15 am. Not only the times, but the directions, are carefully thought out, to minimize conflict, for the runners, and logistics, for the organizers and volunteers.

The start, for all, is at the plaza at the convention center, on Wenatchee Ave. From there one goes north, ties into the trail, and continues clockwise. And then various things happen, depending on ones distance. For the marathon, one goes out 5k, returns (to rack up 10k), then continues, counterclockwise, for two laps on the 10 mile loop trail. The trail has great variation in terrain, scenery, people and ambiance. It's always exciting.

There's a reason it's call the Ten Mile Loop Trail

The scenery dazzles runners, every step of the way!

The snow capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains loom in the background!

There are three bridges as part of the Ten Mile Loop.

Pedestrian Bridge over Columbia River

Climbing up to US-2 Bridge

Pedestrian Bridge over Wenatchee River, where it enters the Columbia River

In addition to the many residents using the trail, for walking, running and biking, there was an MS run. Never a dull moment!

Blogger nearing finish, listening to just the right tune!

The plaza, at the Convention Center, on Wenatchee Ave, is a great setting for the finish.

Perennial podium dweller, and all around nice person, Carla Stewart

#97 - Wisconsin (Kenosha)

This marathon had intrigued me, ever since I learned of it, a few years ago, for a collection of silly reasons:

The course is barely in Wisconsin (tucked away in the SE corner of the state)
The event has a cheesy theme
The organizers are from Chicago

Kenosha is considered the northern limit of the Chicago metropolitan area.

#128 - Wenatchee 2022

I drove over on Friday evening.  I waited to leave my place until the Mariners' season opener was on, figuring that would pin down about 50,000 people.  It was sad to have missed it - Ishiro threw out the first pitch.  I can imagine the crowd chanting his name!  Still, it was slow getting through downtown, and then fine.  Snoqualmie Pass was clear and dry.  Going up Blewett, the warning sign said APPROVED TRACTION DEVICES RECOMMENDED.  Yikes!  All I had were my Wisconsin driving skills.  It was 19° on top, but the wet pavement was clear. 

I did the early start for the marathon - 6:30 am - because I’ve become darn slow.  wunderbra said it had hit 30° over night, setting, or perhaps tying, the record low for the date.  This was about 15° below normal.  I had to bundle.

The event is on the 10 mile trail, a scenic loop around a portion of the Columbia River, between Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.  This completely paved trail passes through an impressive collection of local and state parks.  The marathon starts with a 5k clockwise out and back.  That takes cares of the 6.2 miles; what’s left now is two counter clockwise laps on the trail.  

It was sobering to have the lead runner (preceded by the escort bike) catch me at about Mile 9 (regular start time was 8am).

The half marathon (8:20am start) does a 1/4 marathon counterclockwise out and back.  I arrived at their turn around shortly after the lead runner (and a few other marathoners) had caught me.  From there I had lots of company, back to their finish (my Mile 16).  Just before getting there, the lead runner passed me again!  The escort cyclist turned around, heading back to, I assumed, pick up the lead marathon woman.

For my last lap, things were a bit quiet.  At about Mile 20 an unassuming woman from Vancouver, BC caught me and deigned to chat.  She said her first event, since BC (before COVID), had been the recent San Diego half.  She had initially been disappointed, with how it had gone for her, until discovering she had had COVID.  And just in case you’re not already convinced she is one tough cookie, her last words to me were "I hope it’s not snowing on the pass - I brought my motorcycle."  OMG!

The last two runners (marathon, regular start) passed me around Mile 21.

When I finished, the rather elaborate finish area was nearly completed torn down.  The finish mat was gone, of course.  No other runners were present.  They gave me a medal AND a beer glass (for division winners, though I probably was that).  I couldn’t remember if I had ordered a shirt but they gave me one anyway.  The person in charge threw the entire contents of the food table at me.  With the help of the shirt, I managed to transport it all to my car.

I was the last finisher, #91, the same as in 2019 (the last time the event was held), only this time I didn’t make it into the results.  I've contacted the timing company, with my Garmin results.  Perhaps they will deign to acknowledge me.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/8652559734

Driving back, I opted to go over Stevens Pass.  The ski area was still open.  It was raining lightly.

The Medal

Stevens Pass

&&&&

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

NAHBS 2019

At the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show, small scale builders get together to display their works of art. They push the envelope, not only visually, but also in use of structural materials, connections and finishes. One will also see new technology arriving in the world of cycling.

The annual event has been around for 15 years. Organizers change the location each year, to give everyone a chance to visit.

Shaft Drive Train

Say good-bye to chains (and belts).

Bamboo Bikes

Give new life to that dreaded weed in your side yard.

Wood Bikes

The amazing strength of this material becomes clear.

Class project

Lugged Steel?

You betcha!

From Rivendell (but you knew that from the paint scheme!)

Shamrock Cycles

Oldies but Goodies

How many fork blades are really necessary?

Brooks (but you already knew that, right?)

Schmoozing with Cycling Gods

Nelson Vails (and some poseur)

(That's all he wrote!)

Friday, February 15, 2019

Roll On, Colombia

👰👰👰👰👰👰

A visit to the northern tip of South America, for a wedding and some exploring. Uber Pool ride, three flights, and a three hour van ride, to reach wedding location - Santa Marta. Made for a long day.

Take off of flight 2: Charlotte to Miami

First stop: Santa Marta

Santa Marta: Day 1

Located on the coast, Santa Marta is the second oldest city in South America.

Many of the wedding participants stayed downtown.

Looking north, from hotel, to the Caribbean Sea.

The downtown is a pleasant place to walk.

Murals are everywhere

A stop for lunch

Guests around the pool

In the evening we went to a magnificent house, overlooking the water, for the wedding party dinner.

Wedding party dinner participants arrive to a setting sun

There was music during the dinner, from a performing family!

Family sang in Spanish, English and Italian

Musica maravillosa

Sun says goodbye for the day

The dinner, and all of the merriment, were wonderful.

Mother of bride, flanked by usual suspects

From left: relative of bride, bride, father of bride

Father of bride, flanked by usual suspects

We were back to our rooms at a civilized hour, conserving social energy for tomorrow's wedding.

Santa Marta: Day 2

Today we walked to the Museo del Oro Tairona. The ground floor has artifacts made of metal and stone.

Metal

Cayman Man performing dance in annual parade.

Looking out from second floor of the museum.

Pleasant murals greeted us, as well as plazas, including the one around the cathedral.

Pleasant colors

Mural

Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta

Fruit cart

Hotels along waterfront

The Wedding

Guests were requested to turn off their phones during the ceremony. So I have no photos of the actual wedding, but took some shortly thereafter, and at the marathon known as the reception.

The wedding took place on the Santa Marta Marina:

Wedding site

View from the wedding

Violin music before ceremony

Sunset at the marina

The Reception

Entering the reception

Desert

Bride and father

Active dance floor

Lead singer in band

Beaming mom and stepdad

Second band

Bride and groom dancing

Bride dancing

Wearing masks and dancing

Monday's newspaper

Monday's Santa Marta newspaper had several photos from the wedding. Thanks for the bride's father for catching this.

Bride and groom

Bride and groom, flanked by parents and step-parents

Santa Marta: Day 3

The temperature hit 90 today, so being outside was a bit of a shock, after experiencing the low teens several days ago.

Brunch by the Water

The smart people were in the water

Quinta de San Pedro de Alejandrino

The death place of Simon Bolivar, liberator of several Spanish colonies. There were several paintings and sculptures of Bolivar. There were also several art galleries with interesting works.

Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar

Ser eterno es haber sido, Adriana Mendéz de Bustillo, Oil on Canvas

Toro de Luz, Alex Sanchez (Aleph) El Salvador, 1959; Acrylic/cloth 1994

Respira Rafael, Respira, Pablo Buelvas, Photograph, 2016

[Failed to get the details]

On the grounds there were plants and creatures.

Day of the Iguana (apologies to Tennessee Williams)

We hoped that this creature, and his three friends, were not hungry.

Mariposa

In the evening several of us walked into the heart of Santa Marta for some street food.

Arepas

In Transit to Villa de Leyva: Day 4

A long day of travel, broken up by a visit to the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira.

After the visit to the Cathedral, we stopped for lunch. Some of my fellow travelers asked why there was a thick layer of pond scum on my beverage. How indelicate!

Pond Scum on the rocks

Fried plantain; avocado on steroids with mushrooms, corn and sauce; fries.

Villa de Leyva: Day 5

In the morning our group of 17 tourists from the US visited three sites just outside of town: Convento Ecce Homo and Museo el Fósil.

Then it was time for lunch.

In the afternoon we walked around town.

Entrance to Convento Ecce Homo

Interior Courtyard of Convento Ecce Homo

Kronosaurus

Carved stone, used in fertility rites

More pond scum

Plaza Mayor

Iglesia del Carmen, near town square

After the day of tourism was over, several of us retired to a colorful wine bar.

Bogota: Day 6

A 180 km bus ride took us to the capital city of Bogota. It is very modern, often feeling like Europe or the west coast of the US. With modernity comes traffic, which it does not lack. There are many buses, some on their own separated lanes.

Huawei has found a place where it obviously gets some R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Meals on wheels, and electric scooter, in bike lane.

DIVERSIDAD (DIVERSITY)

[No caption needed]

Oceans free from fracking

After getting settled, we rode a bus to the base of the funicular that would take us up to the summit, overlooking the city, of Monserrat.

Base of funicular

We were warned to be on the alert for questionable characters.

Looking down at the heart of the city.

Flower on tree

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Church

Church interior

A darker shade of Jesus

Bogota: Day 7

Today we walked around the old part of Bogota. We saw murals, interesting buildings, two museums: the Gold Museum and the Botero Museum and Bolivar Square,

Murals

Buildings

I don't make this stuff up

Gold Museum

Botero Museum

Fernando Botero (born 1932 in Medellin) is a Columbian artist.

Courtyard

Bolivar Square

Pigeons

Cathedral of Columbia

Palacio de Justica

Misc

Triple articulated bus, on guideway

Columbia produces between 70 and 90 percent of the world's emeralds [wikipedia]

Taking a lot of liberties!

Medellin: Day 8

We traveled to Medellin (which I thought was pronounced meddy yeen, but is in fact pronounced meddy zheen), had lunch and set out to explore.

Plaza Botero

Palacio De La Cultura

Unidentified building

Area 13

Houses on steep hillside

Cable Car Ride

The Medellin Metrocable is part of the city's transport system. It is mainly used by commuters, though lots of tourist known about it. It is just over 2 km in length. We caught it during evening rush hour, staying on, at the turnaround, to return to our starting point.