Running In Seattle Update 20160101

Every few years, I look back and wonder, “how did I ever have time to do all those things in the past? I just am not able to fit those activities into my day anymore!”

Somehow, I’ve complicated my life so much, adding stuff which I deem necessary, that I am able to work on fewer and fewer projects.Somehow, I’ve complicated my life so much, adding stuff which I deem necessary, that I am able to work on fewer and fewer projects.

Is it due to cognitive decline brought on by my advancing age? I don’t think so. People do not decline mentally with age. Scientists believe that the brains of older people appear to be slow because they know so much; it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have much more information in their brains. Much like a computer that struggles as the hard drive gets full, so too, do humans take longer to access information when their brains are so full.

So here I am, back in catchup mode again. Do I need a New Year’s Resolution to keep the Run Events Calendar going?

Results Added (from way back in November):
Green Lake Gobble (5K & 10K, GreenLake Park in Seattle, Sunday November 22).
Seattle Marathon (26mi & 13mi, Seattle Center, Sunday November 29).

CALENDAR ADDITIONS:
Resolution Run (5K, Serious About Fitness in Redmond, Sunday January 3).
MLK Weekend Run (Magnuson Series 5K, 10K & 15K, Magnuson Park, Saturday January 16).
No Sun Fun Run (5K, Heritage Recreation Center in Puyallup, Saturday January 30).

 

Running In Seattle Update 20151015

No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get ALL of the many runs listed for the holiday runs.  Sometimes readers chime in and ask, “Where’s My Run?”

Anyway, I’ve added the 37th annual Fowl Fun Run (a Thanksgiving event at Mt.Vernon), and the Reindeer Romp (a Christmas event at the Redmond Watershed Preserve).

Calendar Additions:
Fowl Fun Run (5K & 10K, Mount Vernon Christian School in Mt. Vernon — 33 miles north of Everett, Saturday November 14).
Reindeer Romp (5mi & 13mi, Redmond Watershed Preserve in Redmond, December 5).

Running In Seattle Update 20151013

Reminder – October 15 is the deadline on registration for several runs – in particular, prices increase for the Seattle Marathon.  Save $10 by registering within the next day or two.

The annual Holiday Run put together by the Arlington Running Club will kick off December’s Christmas events, with registration proceeds going towards the local Toys for Tots chapter.

The 12th annual 12K’s of Christmas holiday run showcases a revised flatter course this year.  The Cross Kirkland Corridor trail is now open, and both the 12K and the 5K will travel on a portion of the trail.

Calendar Additions:

Toys for Tots (5K, Stillaguamish Athletic Club in Arlington — 14 miles north of Everett, Saturday December 5).

Twelve K’s of Christmas (12K & 5K — with a new course, Heritage Park in Kirkland, Sunday December 20).

Running In Seattle Update 20151012

We had a glorious start to our long football weekend here in the state of Washington.  The University of Washington Huskies did a number on previously-ranked #17 University of Southern California Trojans, beating them 17-12.  Then the Washington State Cougars came through with a resounding upset of previously-(un)-ranked #27 University of Oregon Ducks 45-38 (Oregon was not ranked in the Top 25, but would have ranked #27 had it been a Top 30).  Both USC and Oregon have dropped out of the Top-25.

The weekend came to a very sad ending with the NFL Seattle Seahawks blowing a 17 point lead to the Cincinnati Bengals in O/T 24-27.

Well, let’s forget about football and look for more Jingle Bell Runs.  We already listed the primary Seattle Jingle for Sunday December 13.  Prior to that, half-a-dozen Jingle Bell Runs are available around the state beginning Saturday December 5 through Saturday December 12, with the final one on Thursday, December 24 in Tacoma.

Calendar Additions:
Jingle Bell Run Jingle Bell Run (5K, Burlington Visitor Center — 65 miles north of Seattle, Saturday December 5).
Jingle Bell Run (5K, Port Orchard City Hall — 21 miles west of Seattle by ferry, Saturday December 5).
Jingle Bell Run (5K, Riverfront Park in Spokane, Saturday December 5).
Jingle Bell Run (5K, World Trade Center in Portland, Sunday December 6).
Jingle Bell Run (5K, Bellingham High School, Saturday December 12).
Jingle Bell Run (5K, Wright Park in Tacoma, Thursday December 24).

Running In Seattle Update 20151010

I haven’t provided an update in awhile on my rehabilitation from hip replacement surgery.  I was coming along really well and last wrote on September 23, indicating that my progress was going smoothly.  Then I had a sudden relapse and my condition returned to where it had been about three weeks earlier.

At the same time, I’ve been gaining strength and this morning I participated in the Monster Mash Dash.  I did not do the entire 5K distance, but I walked two miles without trouble.  I’ve got to get in a 2.5 miler within the next few days, as that Husky Dawg Dash I signed up for is just a week away.  If you have not yet registered for that event, you still have an opportunity.  After the big Huskies football win on Thursday, you certainly want to be at Red Square next Sunday to show your support.

Run Results:
MicroSoft 5K (MicroSoft Campus in Redmond, Friday October 2).

Calendar Additions:
Jingle Bell Run (5K, Westlake Center in downtown Seattle, Sunday December 13).
Holiday Fun Run (Magnuson Series 5K, 10K & 15K, Magnuson Park, Saturday December 19).

Running In Seattle Update 20151009

Yesterday, I made note of recurring runs in the Seatle area, Magnuson Series, Fitness for Vitality, Mud & Chocolate.  There are actually many more.  Additionally, some popular running sports stores have weekly get-togethers, usually in the evenings.  Some have monthly runs.  They are all free.  There are too many to list so they are NOT included in the Running Events Calendar.  Check with your favorite sports store to ask about their “training runs.”

    Super Jock’n’Jill Seattle hosts a weekly every Monday evening.
Road Runner Sports in Seattle, first Thursday of every month.
Fleet Feet Sports Seattle, monthly, Thursdays.
West Seattle Runner Tuesdays, Wednesdays; plus Sunday mornings.
Running Elements Bellevue Thursday evenings.
Run26 Mill Creek Mondays and Thursdays.

Obstacle Courses are back in vogue.  Actually, they probably never went away.  Here are a pair of upcoming ones in the area:  The Pineapple Classic always sells out; this year, for its 10th annual edition, the event has moved from its North Bend site to Marymoor Park.  The Spartan Super Obstacle comes to the area for the second time.  The course is 8+ miles, making it a Spartan Super race as opposed to a Spartan Sprint race (3+ miles).  A 13+ mile race is called a Spartan Beast.

Calendar Additions:
Pineapple Classic (5K with obstacles, Marymoor Park in Redmond, Sunday November 8).
Seattle Spartan Super (8+ miles with obstacles, Meadow Wood Ranch in Snohomish, Saturday October 17).

Running In Seattle Update 20151007

If you love running, you probably wish you could participate in as many organized events as you can.  A 5K every weekend, an occasional 10K and a half-marathon.  But as you already are aware, the entry fees add up, over time.  Let’s say you do one 5K every weekend for the average of $35 each.  That’s $1,820 per year.

And if you want to be with the in-crowd at the big events (think Seattle Marathon, Rock’n’Roll Marathon, etc.), you’re probably talking about putting out $3,000 annually.

Did you know that there are some free running events that can help feed your fix?

During the month of November, In Unity We Run remembers the 14th anniversary of 9/11; a $10 donation will help defer expenses and support a local food bank.  The First Call Running Club sponsors a Call of the Wild event throughout the year.  Spiritual master Sri Chinmoy from India founded his organization in 1977 and today it sponsors races throughout the world; in Seattle, there is a free run the first Saturday of every month.

Calendar Additions:
In Unity We Run (26mi & 13mi, Three Friends Fishing Hole in Kent, Saturday November 7).
Sri Chinmoy Seattle2Miler (2mi, Magnuson Park in Seattle, Saturday November 7).
Call Of The Wild (26mi, 13mi & 50K, Sammamish River Trail in Bothell, Saturday November 14).

Running In Seattle Update 20151005

45 years ago, a small group of runners started the Seattle Marathon.  Today, it has grown to be one of the top ten marathon events in the country.

10 years ago, The Ghost of Seattle Marathon event was started by a group of ultra-marathon runners; it is always scheduled to take place the day before the Seattle Marathon.

These are the final marathon runs in the Seattle area for the year.  Both are designed to help participants recover from a too-large meal eaten on Thanksgiving day.  The events are always scheduled to run the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Calendar Additions:
Seattle Marathon (26mi & 13mi, Seattle Center, Sunday November 29).
Ghost of Seattle Marathon (26mi, 13mi & 50K, Mt Baker Park — 3 miles north of Seward Park, Saturday November 28).

Running In Seattle Update 20151005

It’s Seahawks game day, on Monday Night Football.  So… there won’t be too much interest in reading any running blog entry today.

Nevertheless, were you aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Fund raising events in the state of Washington include walks this weekend at Making Strides of Seattle (at Seattle Center) and Making Strides of South Sound (at Theater Square in Tacoma).

Next weekend, there are additional opportunities with events at Making Strides of Snohomish County (at Port of Everett) and Making Strides of Tri Cities (at Columbia Park in Kennewick).

Calendar Additions:
Making Strides against Breast Cancer (5K, Seattle Center & Theater Square in Tacoma, Saturday October 10) and (5K, Port of Everett & Columbia Park in Kennewick, Saturday October 17).

Running In Seattle Update 20151004

EVERYBODY knows about the Biggest Loser, right?  The premise is to promote healthy living by competition losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight.  In The Biggest Loser run/walk race series, participants take the first step to a healthier lifestyle.  All fitness levels can challenge themselves to a 5K (3.1 miles) or Half Marathon (13.1 miles) at Lake Stevens — the largest lake in Snohomish county.

How about SAVING LIVES?  Teen Lives Matter.  The Run For Their Lives 5K at Green Lake is an effort to give teens the opportunity to change the direction of their lives.

A very popular run is The Ugly Sweater 5K, where participants can relax and show off their best outfits.  It is an untimed event, and a fun way to pump yourself up for the Seattle Marathon the next day.

Calendar Additions:
The Biggest Loser (13mi & 5K, North Cove Park at Lake Stevens – 36 miles north of Seattle, Sunday October 25).
Run For Their Lives (5K, Green Lake Park in Seattle, Sunday November 1).
The Ugly Sweater (5K, Marymoor Park in Redmond, Saturday November 28).