Corvallis 5k Race Resuts and Review!

Need your results for the Corvallis 5k? Head right over here.

Man, what a unbelievably gorgeous day for a race! October 31st and we were out there running in short sleeves and sunglasses. Just awesome.

So the Corvallis 5k,...not exactly the most original name for a race, but there you go. I believe they called the race something else last year, and actually changed the name to the Corvallis 5k for this year. This one is put on by Strands, and as you might expect on Halloween, there were plenty of runners decked out in full costume. The race itself was pretty small, a little over 200 runners. Both Jen and Payton ran with me for this one. At 5000 meters, this race was a full 2000 meters over Payton's usual cross country distance of 3k, so he was feeling it a bit in the second half. We stopped a few times and walked until he finally got tired of me hanging around and told me to take off. It was fun seeing him come around the corner and sprint the last block to the finish line. And why the big sprint? There were two girls in front of him - he didn't want to be "skirted!"

The course for the Corvallis 5k is very forgiving for beginners though. Starting at Central Park just outside of Strands Headquarters, the course quickly turns toward campus and runs through the OSU grounds until 35th, then right up 35th for a bit, and right again back onto campus. After breezing back to 15th, the course takes a right and then a quick left to end back where we started. It's just about as flat as can be and doesn't have a whole lot of turns to speak of, so fast times are definitely possible. And indeed, the winning time was a speedy 14:14 by Michael Kilburg of Corvallis.

Well, I definitely wouldn't expect too many more races in 2010 to have weather like that, but I sure enjoyed our, perhaps, last fling with Summer today!

Race T-Shirt Review coming soon!

Embrace Your Age!

Check out the Lifeforce Trail Challenge in Eugene: it's one of the few age-staggered handicap races in the NW. Much like the Dipsea, the Lifeforce race has multiple start times depending on your age and sex - then everyone races to the finish line. First runner across the line wins! If you're a female of 71 years of age or older, you go first. Five minutes later, the 65-70 females take off. Four minutes after that, the first kids go: 6 and under girls, along with the 60-64 women and the 81 and older men. And on and on...until a full 36 minutes and 10 seconds after the first group left, the 23 to 27 year old men get to try to chase everyone down.

It's just a great format. Give it a try.

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8th TO NOVEMBER 14th

November 13th / Fowl Fun Run 10k / Mt. Vernon, WA

November 13th / Winter Pineapple Classic 5k / North Bend, OR

November 13th / Columbia River Classic 10 mile run / Richland, WA

November 13th / Snoqualmie Ridge Turkey Trot 5k / Snoqualmie, WA

November 14th / Lifeforce Trail Challenge 10k and 5k / Eugene, OR

Reilly Johnson - Eight Year Old Dipsea Winner!

The Dipsea trail race, the oldest, and let's face it, most awesome, trail race in America, was won by an eight year old in 2010.

Yes, an eight year old. You see, the Dipsea uses age-adjusted start times, so Reilly got a nice head-start on most of the runners...but not on three time winner Melody-Ann Schultz, who is 68 years old, and also had a nice head-start on the pack. They started together and both had 25 minutes on the eventual overall time winner: Alexander Varner.

Yeah, the race was way back in June, but I just found this great five minute clip, in Reilly's own words, about the race. Hey, if this super-fast little girl can't inspire you to get out there and run, you might as well just give up.

Thanks to Runner's World, and enjoy.

Bonk Happy with LARABAR!

Gluten free. Dairy free. Soy free. Non-GMO. Vegan. Kosher.

It's hard to argue with that. LARABAR gets to make all of those claims about its energy bars - and for a simple reason: they use very few ingredients. The Peanut Butter Cookie flavor, which the R's tested, contains Peanuts, Dates, and Salt. That's it. The Cherry Pie flavor, which the R's tested as well, contains Dates, Almonds, and Cherries.

So they're simple, which is good, although they do not have the added vitamins and minerals that many energy bars contain, if you're into such things. They're not extremely light on the calories, but again, at least you're sure the calories are all coming from natural sources.

Now for the important part: the taste! As usual, the bars were subjected to a strict, scientific testing process at the R's Laboratory, which is to say I did my best to make everyone in the family try at least one bite of each bar.

The results? Well...they varied.

I liked the Peanut Butter Cookie flavor very much. It was yummy. It was tasty. And for having three ingredients, it did actually taste quite a bit like a peanut butter cookie. Carson also enjoyed it.

Jen hated it. I don't mean she disliked it - she hated it. I think she spit it in the sink. Payton also acted like he hated it, but I think he just wanted to be like his mother.

None of us really liked the Cherry Pie flavor, which was strange because I thought that one would be right up Jen's alley. It was not to be. Apparently, she's not into natural foods as much as I may have thought. Apparently, she likes chemicals.

So the Cherry Pie is easy: let's say 5 BONKERS. And only that high because it's so "natural."

The Peanut Butter Cookie is tougher. I would give it 8 bonkers - it was good. Jen would probably give it 2 bonkers - and she'd probably give dirt a 3 or 4. So officially, let's give it 7 BONKERS. Why so much closer to my score than hers? It's my blog! Haven't you been paying attention?

2000 Miles on the Nike+

They may not be fast miles, but they're miles all the same.

I'm officially over 2000 miles on the NIke+. Yes, that's a two with three zeroes after.

I know, I know, but the little things make me happy.

Nanowrimo and Pawned

Yes, true believers, we're exactly one week away from Nanowrimo. Yikes!

And I've got my page all set up. Book title: Pawned. Yeah, I know. I'm not crazy about it either. The title might change by November 1st...we'll see. But the plot is set. I've got some good ideas. I've got a general story. I've got at least the two main characters worked out.

Seven days...

Running and Chocolate - Better than Reese's?

Well, there just aren't a whole lot of runs in November until you get to the Turkey Day runs late in the month.

But there is a race in Redmond that is handing out free chocolate! And that's better than Turkey any day!

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 1st TO NOVEMBER 7th

November 6th / Zeitgeist Half Marathon / Boise, ID

November 6th / Silver Falls Trail Half Marathon / Silverton, OR

November 7th / Padden Mudfest 7 Mile Trail Run / Bellingham, WA

November 7th / Mud and Chocolate Half Marathon and 4.25 Mile Runs / Redmond, WA

Boston Marathon Sells Out In a Day!

Are you kidding me?

I mean, are you kidding me?!?

You strive and strive and strive to run fast enough for Boston and now you've got to try to beat everyone to the registration too?

This is a problem.

And if they try to solve it by just making the qualifying time faster, that sure isn't going to help me.

Dathan Retzenhein at the New York City Marathon

Very good article in the NY Times about Dathan Ritzenhein and his upcoming race in the New York City Marathon.

And although there was a lot of good information in the article, this one quote, from Dathan's coach Alberto Salazar, really intrigued me:

“Ethiopians and Kenyans are running 160 miles a week, more than you will ever run, because it’s their only way out, and those who survive that are going to be really hard to beat unless you do everything perfectly,” Salazar told Ritzenhein. “If they have better biomechanics, too, you are in trouble.”

Now I'm skeptical about any statement that tries to attribute a blanket statement over an entire group of people, and this one is even worse, as Salazar slaps it on not one but two entire countries full of runners...even so, that's an interesting thought.

Do I believe it? I don't think so.

Do you believe it?

Well, Dathan can put his beliefs, and Salazar's, to the test in New York in a couple weeks.

Halloween Races - Time for Costumes!

Yes, we've made it to that mystical place and time. The only time of the year you can safely dress up as SpongeBob Squarepants and do a physical workout. Well, in public anyway. I don't judge what you do in the privacy of your own home.

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 25th TO OCTOBER 31st

October 30th / Raptor Run 10k and 5k / Boise, ID

October 30th / Punctual Pumpkin Prediction 10k and 5k / Bend, OR

October 30th / Doc Sears Fall Classic 4.5 Mile Run / Lewiston, ID

October 30th / Run Like Hell Bend / Bend, OR

October 30th / Autumn Leaves 50/50 Run, 50 mile, 50k, and 10k / St. Paul, OR

October 30th / Freaky 5k / Federal Way, OR

October 30th / Pumpkin Run 6.5k / Leavenworth, WA

October 30th / Fall Classic 5k / Monroe, WA

October 30th / Pumpkin Push 5k / Seattle, WA

October 30th / Pumpkin Pacer 5k / Deer Park, WA

October 31st / Corvallis 5k / Corvallis, OR

October 31st / Tri-Cities Marathon / Richland, WA

October 31st / Spooky 12k / Fort Gamble, WA

October 31st / McDonald Forest Trail Run 15k and 5k / Corvallis, OR

October 31st / Run Scared 5k / Seattle, WA

Pescatarian Ahoy!

Yes, I've lived the fishy life for a full three months now and I'm feeling pretty good about it. So far, I haven't had a true hankering for beef, chicken or pork. In fact, if anything, I've become more certain that I can live without those meats and I'm even, gulp, sure that I can skip the turkey this T-Day.

I know, right?

Now the problem is how to spell the stinking word! Wiki says pescetarian, but Merriam-Webster says Pescatarian. What the?!

I'm sure there's some kind of Latin root word in there somewhere, but I'm just going to go back to Spanish 101 at the UW. Pescar: to fish. That works for me.

Pescatarian it is!

Run With the President 5k

Here's a crazy idea: run a 5k...in the middle of the afternoon...on Friday.

I know, right?

You don't see too many Friday afternoon runs period, much less starting at the Memorial Union at OSU. Should be fun.

Oh, and the President? Yeah, that would be Ed Ray, the OSU President. Sorry about that.

Best Running Song for October!

When I think "Northern Ireland" I don't usually picture happy, bubbly, songs that were made for Northwest running the the Fall rain and wind...but that's exactly what we've got for this month's Best Running Song!

The band is called Two Door Cinema Club and the song is "Something Good Can Work." Here's an alternate, 80's style take, on the video.

The band consists of three guys from Northern Ireland and this jaunty little tune is from their first album, Tourist History. Even better, the band is hitting Portland, Seattle, and Eugene in early November!

If you're heading outside for another wet, depressing run, slip this one into your playlist and you'll be happy for at least three minutes of your run!

Past Best Running Songs:
September: Stone Temple Pilots / "Cinnamon"
August: Louis XIV / "Guilt by Association"
July: Devo / "Fresh"
June: Saliva / "Your Disease"
May: Metric / "Gold Guns Girls"
April: OK Go / "This Too Shall Pass"
March: The Hours / "Ali In The Jungle"
February: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs / "El Matador"
January: White Rabbits / "Percussion Gun"
December: Deftones / "Knife Prty"
November: The Kooks / "Always Where I Need To Be"
October: At the Drive In / "One Armed Scissor"
September: Silversun Pickups / "Lazy Eye"
August: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros / "Johnny Appleseed"
July: Deathray / "I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh)"
June: Raconteurs / "Salute Your Solution"
May: Tea Party / "Save Me"
April: Bloc Party / "Like Eating Glass"
Ever: The English Beat / "I Confess"

New Article from the R's Writing Group!

Yes, that's a new issue of RaceCenter Northwest you see on the newsstand. And yes, we've got a new article in there. And by we, I mean me, of course. Maybe you have an article in there too, I don't know. And I don't care...get your own blog already.

So anyhoo, it's the infamous "Winter" issue. Pretty thin. Not a lot of races advertising in the middle of the winter, ya know.

As such, I'm not even going to bother with talking about the other articles - it's all about me. Did I mention you should get your own blog if you want to talk about yourself?

So MY article is about Cyclocross and how cyclocross is pretty much headquartered right here in Oregon. Both Portland and Bend can make claims about being the center of the cyclocross world, and both would have a point. If you haven't gone to check out a 'cross race yet, you're missing out on a good time. Head over to the Cross Crusade site to find a race near Portland - and those are the ones to see. They're the biggest and the best in the nation.

Head over to your nearest running shop and pick up a copy of the new RaceCenter. Then go give cyclocross a try.

It's all about the PR baby!

Payton ran in his second cross country meet yesterday. Finished with a new PR! Not just a PR, but a PR of about 1:30 less than his previous best 3000 meter time! Awesome.

Of course, being eleven years old, Payton doesn't always see running the same way I see it. After 25 years of running races and trying to set PR's, I can definitely take the long view. Payton prefers a shorter view...

"How many people did I beat?"

"A few. But you set a PR!"

"Did I beat more people than last time?"

"Payton, you took a minute-thirty off your time from the last meet. That's great!"

"Yeah, I guess."

Ah running...it's all relative, right?

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 18th TO OCTOBER 24th

October 23rd / Columbia River Power Marathon and Half-Marathon / Umatilla, OR

October 23rd / Regatta Run 5k / Tualatin, OR

October 23rd / Lake Sammamish Marathon and Half-Marathon / Redmond, WA

October 23rd / Black Cat Five Mile Run / Tacoma, WA

October 23rd / Howl n' Scream Scram 10k and 5k / Richland, WA

October 24th / Dawg Dash 10k and 5k / Seattle, WA

October 24th / Run Like Hell Portland Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k / Portland, OR

October 24th / Columbia Gorge Marathon and Half-Marathon / Hood River, OR

Ford Ironman World Championship

They're on the bikes now and it's over 100 degrees in Kona!

Chris Lieto leads the men at the moment. Julie Dibens leads the women.

Check out the race here.

Portland Marathon Weather Forecast!

Yikes. Looks like rain. And lots of it.

Stay dry out there...if you can.

Good luck!

Tech Running Shirts - Cheap!

Dude, check out this great find!

Cheap running shirts from past Northwest races. A lot of cotton stuff that you probably don't want, but a few nice tech shirts in there too! And did I mention CHEAP!

Hey, who doesn't need a couple extra tech shirts to run in? It doesn't take long for them to acquire "the funk." Then what are you gonna do, right?

Head right over here, that's what!

October's No Slouch

I keep thinking one of these weeks the races will slow down. This is not that week. We're looking at mid-October here and the racing is still going strong.

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 11th TO OCTOBER 17th

October 16th / Desire, Direction & Determination 5k / Portland, OR

October 16th / Albany Fire Department Two Rivers 5k / Albany, OR

October 16th / Race for Education 5k / Bellingham, WA

October 16th / Pre's Trail X-C Challenge 8k and 5k / Eugene, OR

October 16th / Olympia DeMolay 5k for Public School Sports / Olympia, WA

October 16th / ORRC Blue Lake Runs 15k and 5k / Troutdale, OR

October 16th / Defiance 50k, 30k, and 15k / Tacoma, WA

October 16th / Fall Fest Foot Race 10k and 5k / Kennewick, WA

October 16th / Lewis-Clark Half Marathon and 5k / Clarkston, WA

October 16th / Chelan Chase 5k / Chelan, WA

October 17th / Girlfriends Half Marathon / Vancouver, WA

October 17th / West Linn WILD 10 and 5 mile runs / West Linn, OR

October 17th / Haunted Hustle 10k and 5k / Puyallup, WA

October 17th / Beaver Fever Sprint Duathlon / Philomath, OR

October 17th / Mighty Oaks Acorn Run 5k / Corvallis, OR


The guy is slouching...get it? GET IT? Nevermind...but go check out this fun blog by Patricia Storms. She writes children's books, so she's clearly "good people".

New Half Marathon in Corvallis!

Of course there is...as soon as I announced my intent to run every, single race in Corvallis in 2011, you knew there would be some new races coming out of the woodwork.

This one sounds fun: Corvallis Half Marathon.

Sweet.