Finding a good run...

Far be it from me to knock someone while they're down, but...

In case you haven't already seen the Seattle Times article, the Seattle Marathon is under quite a bit of scrutiny for advertising the race as a fund-raiser for UW Medicine, but not actually giving a cent of the $120 entry fee to UW Medicine. And the article goes on to say how a large (VERY large) amount of cash is paid to race director Louise Long.

Since I've been writing articles about running, I've interviewed dedicated runners. I've interviewed passionate race directors. I've interviewed smart, funny, warm, giving, open, and just plain nice people involved in every aspect of the running world.

I've also interviewed Louise Long.

While I've got nothing against huge benefit races in general, for your next race try a small, local run. They usually give their money to good causes as well...right there in your home town.

In fact, if you're looking for a race in the Skagit Valley, try the Nookachamps Winter Runs on January 12 in Mt. Vernon. Race Director Keefer Whan is one of those plain nice people, plus he's one of the fastest runners in the area, so you can ask for tips before the race.

The photos are from last year's Nookachamps race. Yes, it was cold.

The newest bit of writing...

The latest article has hit the newsstands between the covers of the Winter issue of Adventures NW Magazine. I almost made the top billing this time. That's the one right there, "NW Night Running", second from the top. What's up top? "Cascades. A Pilot's View". Booooorrrring. Actually, I'm sure it's a very nice article...if you read it, let me know.

Anyhoo, the night running article is about, well, running at night. The boom in the 24-hour relay and the fact that anyone that runs after 4:30 this time of year is, in fact, running in the dark.

When taking some great pictures for the article (that were not chosen as worthy by the editors), at Northern State Park in Sedro Woolley, Jen and I bothered a couple of kids steaming up the windows of their Toyota. They clearly thought no one in their right mind would go to a park that has no lighting in the middle of the night. Well, they thought that right up until I hit them with the headlights. Hello!

Just a little short...

Like about 35,000 words short.

No, I didn't finish my 50,000 word novel in the month of November, so I am not a "winner" in the National Novel Writing Month that ended yesterday. Oh, I've got excuses: leaving for work at six in the morning and getting back at seven at night. Had family over for the holidays. Had to finish an article in the first week of November...but really, it's my fault and my fault alone.

For the first two weeks of November, I only had a vague notion of what I wanted to do in my novel. I spent so much time thinking about my plot and trying to make it come together that I didn't have any time left to actually write. NEXT year, I will use October for plotting and get busy writing on November 1st. This year, I finally got going during the 3rd week of November and had plenty of ideas to write about, but by then I was hopelessly behind. Sigh.

Ah well, if nothing else, I've got a nice little start on my novel and a decent idea of how it's going to get to the end. Maybe I can finish this one before next November so I can write my second one next year...and be a winner (you've got to say that in the "Seinfeld-you're ALL winners" voice for it to really work).

The New Pub...

I wrote this article almost a year ago. It is, by far, the longest lead time of anything I've written for a magazine. I didn't even remember the article (and my copy was lost in the Great Crash of '07) so reading it again was actually sort of interesting. Yes, my article did make the cover...if you look really, really hard. It's the one that's written in the tiny, light blue print, "Avoid Daycare Disaster." It's also the first time I've been published in a national magazine, albeit a magazine that's nearly impossible to find unless you subscribe to it. "Who is Petra Kolber?" you ask. I don't know. According to American Fitness, she's the star of these excercise dvd's: Step Moves New Grooves, 3,2,1 Dance, and Elegant Strength. So now you know. It could have been worse, believe me...both Suzanne Somers and Tony Little have made the cover in the last year. Hey, thanks to Tiffany Morton at the Bellingham Athletic Club for the interview for this one. She probably doesn't even remember doing it because it was so long ago, but thanks anyway!

Only 11,665 words behind...

So to be a "winner" for National Novel Writing Month, I need to average about 1667 words per day. We're seven days into November, so I should have around 11,669 words written so far. Hmmm, let's see here...if you count the title...and "by Scott Lommers"...my word count is right around...four. I could be in a bit of trouble here.

I wonder if it's too late to find a really, really cheap ghostwriter?

On a completely different topic, does anyone have a plot lying around somewhere that they're not using? Maybe something in the "mystery/suspense" genre? Please no crime-solving cats or eight year-old computer geniuses. Thanks. And if your plot is used, I'll be sure to cut you in on all future profits and/or debts.

One Month, One Pencil, One Novel...

Yes, November is THE month. The National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Thousands upon thousands of otherwise normal, well...how about average, people take on the commitment to write a 50,000 word novel in one, single month. Crazy, right? Yeah, I know. I love it.

OK, I'm not really going to use a pencil. Although I usually write my first drafts of my articles on paper (with a pen, not a pencil...I love crossing out, not erasing), the fact that I've got to bang out 50,000 words in four weeks probably means I'll need to go straight to the ol' MacBook this time.

Yes, it's going to be a mystery/suspense novel and yes, I've got a sorta, kinda plot, or maybe an outline, or possibly a organized thought in my head, though it's VERY sketchy. Veeeeerrrrry sketchy.

Check out my progress right...here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/220161

Wish me luck. I'll need it.

The Latest Published "R"...

Head out to your nearest running store and grab the latest RaceCenter Northwest Magazine. It's got my most recent 1200-word opus titled: "Partner Up." Find out how training partners and running clubs/groups can push you to reach your running goals. Included are quotes from a couple of my teammates from the Ragnar Relay Northwest Runner Team. Thanks Matt! Thanks Tami!

Also in the October-December issue of RaceCenter are articles about cross-country skiing, late bloomers in the running scene, and treating the "big 5" running injuries. All quality articles I'm sure.

And don't forget to check out the Hood to Coast photos on page 56. I may have to volunteer for the Sao Paulo Team next year...Yowza!

I Don't Feel Fortified...

Remember back in the day? Back when you had never even heard of a Power Bar or a Clif Bar, or Lord help us, Gu? Ah, but what about the Tiger's Milk Bar? That's right, "America's Original Nutrition Bar". It says so right there on the wrapper. Remember when you bought one of those things for the first time? You took a bite of that slightly peanut buttery-slightly nasty thing and you could just feel the energy bursting through your veins? I mean, I thought "a couple more of these babies and I'll be kicking some and taking some just like Jan-Michael Vincent on "Airwolf"!

And now, twenty, well maybe thirty, years later, I eat a Clif Bar (chocolate mint) almost once a day, and I get nothin'. In fact, I don't even expect anything. Forty vitamins and minerals, all natural, organic, no trans fat...whatever, it's no Tiger's Milk Bar.

And I've got the guns to prove it.