Grey Rock 25K

Okay. So this déjà vu thing happened to me last weekend. I was registered for the Grey Rock 25K near Yakima, WA. It is about 150 miles away so I booked a room in a motel and drove over the night before the race. When I did my online search for a motel, I was looking for something close to the race and cheap but clean. I arrived at the motel. I parked. I saw the pool. And I instantly knew I had been there before. It was a family vacation when I was probably 5 years old (I did the math, it was probably 46 years ago). I am going to search my parents' house for pictures of that vacation because I know we have pictures of us kids swimming in that pool!

This pool looked the same almost a half a century ago.

Back to the race details. I got up race morning, made oatmeal in the microwave, and hopped in the car to start driving. The race was more than a half hour drive away and into the mountains at Tree Phones Campground. The sun was just coming up. I got a big surprise when I tried to back out of my parking space and figured out that I had a completely flat tire. I started taking the flat tire off to put on the spare (a full-sized spare, thankfully) when someone offered to help. I accepted, but I knew I wouldn't make it to the start of the race in time. So, I relaxed and resolved to just go with whatever the day would turn out to be.

I arrived at the race just minutes after the 50K folks had taken off. The 25K race was starting in a half hour. I talked to the race director, and checked in for the 25K. My plan was to go beyond the 25K turn around for as long as I could and still make it back before the cut-off time.

The course was amazing! It was an out-and-back. The first climb is to Whites Ridge. Then a huge descent to a river. And then it was uphill again to Foundation Ridge. The sun was shining and warm in the valleys, but the temps were very cool on the ridges. I saw Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier from the ridges. I didn't make it all of the way to the 50K turn around but I couldn't complain. My day turned out great!

Beginning of race. Heading up to Whites Ridge.

Out of the trees and getting close to Whites Ridge!

View of Mt. Rainier from Whites Ridge.

Whites Ridge.

360 degree view from Whites Ridge. The first mountain is Rainier and the second is Adams. They both look a lot alike to me!

Heading downhill to the valley.

My turn-around point on the way up to Foundation Ridge.

 

 

360 degree view from my turn-around spot.

Approaching Whites Ridge on my way back to the start.

The race was supported by a search and rescue team. They took their job very seriously. I don't think they appreciated me going beyond the 25K turn around. I checked in with every crew as I passed by and promised to return before the cut-off times for each station. This race was advertised as an excellent training run for the White River 50 miler. I agree whole-heartedly.

The search and rescue volunteers manning the aid station on Whites Ridge. These guys were in constant communication with each other on their radios. I felt like they knew where each and every runner was at all times.

After the race, I enjoyed some yummy barbeque and baked beans. Then, I headed to a tire shop to get my tire fixed. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I think some kids that were staying at the motel had let the air out of the tire.

 I thought I had tan lines at the ankles.

I was wrong. It was just dirt.