It was a nice day to run last Saturday, before the clouds burned off. This is my second time this year running over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which I love to do. This race starts out with the bridge crossing in the first couple of miles. Then the course took us mostly along Highway 16 on bike path and side streets. And just when I was starting to think this was getting boring, whoa! We entered Cheney Stadium and ran a lap. I was on the Jumbotron in the outfield. That was a real up-lifter for me and helped me make it to the finish line feeling good.
I saw a few pennies on the road during the race and, this time, I stopped and picked them up. I wasn't running for a fast time like I was at the Harvest Hay Half when I didn't pick up the pennies I saw on the road.
Crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It feels a little like crossing the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC.
Running through Cheney Stadium.
Heading to the finish line.
After the race, I returned home to my family and we watched the Blue Angels fly by for the Seafair hydroplane races.
I love it when the Blue Angels come to town every year. They are so amazing to watch!
Next weekend was supposed to be the Angels Staircase 35K trail run in the Winthrop area. It is a 6,000 foot elevation gain. But it was cancelled due to forest fires. I am sad to miss this race because I heard it is beautiful and the views at the top are amazing. However, there are folks who have lost their homes and everything else they own in the fires so I am feeling very fortunate to just be alive and running, albeit not in the mountains next weekend.
Instead, I am picking up a race close to home on Saturday. It is the First Call Summer Half Marathon. It's a free race if you join the club (annual dues are $25). But the Mud & Chocolate trail half marathon is on Sunday, and I want to do that one, too! I mentioned to my husband that I would like to do both races and he got a bit of a sad look on his face. I know he would never discourage me from running, but it was pretty clear to me that I've been away running way too much lately. I'm sad that I'll be missing that Mud & Chocolate race!
Speaking of sad faces, I also mentioned to my husband that I want to do the Quadzilla in November. It is 4 half marathons in 4 days over the Thanksgiving weekend. He didn't look happy about that. I have also signed up for 2 full marathons in October.
I told one of my sisters about my fall running plans. I thought she would be excited for me. Instead I got, "Isn't that going to be bad for your body running all of those miles?" I felt crushed, a little. It's true that I have low bone density and I am more susceptible to stress fractures so the marathons and running 4 days in a row could be bad. But I was really hoping for someone to understand my joys of running. I need to lower my expectations.
I told one of my sisters about my fall running plans. I thought she would be excited for me. Instead I got, "Isn't that going to be bad for your body running all of those miles?" I felt crushed, a little. It's true that I have low bone density and I am more susceptible to stress fractures so the marathons and running 4 days in a row could be bad. But I was really hoping for someone to understand my joys of running. I need to lower my expectations.
I also want to do the Riverboat Series (7 races in 7 days in 7 states) next spring and the New England Challenge (5 races in 5 days in 5 states). Yikes! Am I out of control?? It feels like something has taken ahold of me and I can't stop.
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