8 mile loop out to the Sammamish River trail from my work. Well I nearly made it to the Sammamish trail but had to turn around at 30 minutes, 1/2 mile short, because I only had an hour to run. The route I took follows a tributary of the Sammamish river which eventually empties into Lake Washington and out through the Ballard Canal to the Puget Sound. I literally could take these trails to within blocks of my house but that would called a marathon.

I kept a solid pace the entire way, probably around marathon pace. I don't know how fast that actually is but it felt abut right.

I didn’t get out Monday morning but I did manage to squeeze in a few miles between meetings during lunch. Followed the outside loop around the corporate complex and worked in three all-out effort hill repeats. 12 seconds to crest the hill and 2 minute recovery including the walk back down. I planned on 4 but just wasn’t feeling it so I continued on my way. Weather was overcast and windy in the low 50’s. Three runs in a row, a rare occurrence these days but I know I won’t be making it four in row . I officially gave my two weeks notice today. (two weeks and two days actually) I have enjoyed this in the past either because I wasn’t happy in the current position or I was leaving for something exciting, like say a move cross-country. Today was not enjoyable, after 8 months I was fully involved in a couple projects and having an impact at the company not to mention making some friends. Very bittersweet. It is the right decision for a number of reasons but at times it doesn’t feel that way. I wonder how I’ll look back on the decision in the future. Favorably I hope.

The Rhododendron loop at the in-laws house. Took it at an easy pace and felt great. 5 miles untimed.

I am sitting on the couch tonight trying to talk myself into waking at 5:15 to join the group for the 5:45 Monday hill workout.

Just get it out of the way.

Enjoy the rest of the day knowing you already nailed your workout.

These thoughts are easier to believe now then tomorrow morning. I am also telling myself that if I write about it here it is more likely to happen. It will work right?

Zach at the golden gardens beach on the first warm and sunny day of the year yesterday.


Today, a 60 minute run out to Carkeek Park. The parks hugs a large ravine which makes for a lot of lung busting uphills and sweet downhills especially in the rain and mud.

Had one of my best run in weeks. Wasn't planning on any speed but it just came to me as I exited the park for the two miles home. Pace increased the entire way but it felt great pushing my limits.

Ran down the steps to Golden Gardens park and hit a huge spring tide. They are much more dramatic than normal tides and exposed a beach of stones rounded by the sea. Low heavy skies but temps in the low 50's and no rain, great for a run.

I've had this hacking cold all week that is buried in my chest and this was my first time running since the race on Sunday. I am paying for it with incessant coughing right now. My lungs feel like when I swam in the neighbors pool all day as a kid. Deep breaths are tight and slightly sore. I'll be happy when this passes. In fact, I'll be happy when this winter of colds has passed. Heather, Zach and I must have all been sick at least 6 times. I am blaming the new location and the pool of fresh viruses that offers.

5+ miles, untimed.

A few 5 -6 mile runs this week all at a relatively easy pace. I did run 3 miles at tempo pace on a lunch run on Wednesday but all the rest were easy miles.

Today I paced a friend Loka through the Mercer Island Half Marathon. Mercer island is east of downtown in the middle of Lake Washington. An affluent suburb just a 5 minute trip from Seattle. The race generally ringed the island on a road that twisted as it avoided small ravines leading 100 feet down to the water. No massive hills on the route but definitely not a flat race. I am guessing that the field was 2000 people, to me the perfect size for a half.

Our goal was sub 1:40 or just under 7:40 pace. The pace should be a breeze for 13 miles but I was a little apprehensive before the start of the race. Something about all that nervous energy while you wait for the gun. We settled right into a good rhythm as I chattered away and tried to keep his mind off the race. It worked well through 8 or 9 miles as I took in the beautiful views of the lake below and the Cascades in the distance. We wrapped around the bottom of the island and the hills got a little longer but we took it in stride and pace stayed generally the same.

I have paced people through all or portions of a race in the past and really enjoy it, but get bummed when the person falls off their goal. Loka was definitely tiring as we got through 10 miles but still running strong. At mile 11 with over 16 minutes remaining I knew he had sub 1:40 in the bag. We came in right on target in 1:39. 30 seconds to spare. A beautiful morning and a great race. I look forward to actually racing this thing sometime in the future.

In other news... I have already landed a new job in Seattle. My current position was 40 minutes north of the city but over an hour trip when I have to drop Zach off at day care three times a week. The commute is grating and the work was decent but doing development on contract from other companies just isn't the same as when your working on your own products. A great opportunity popped up a Dendreon, a biotech in downtown Seattle.

A promotion, a raise and a 25 minute commute by bus or a 6 mile ride by bike, I couldn't say no. As an added bonus it's minutes away from a trail that parallels the Puget Sound.

A very rainy weekend even by Seattle standards and both runs were in heavy to moderate precip from start to finish. Luckily the temps are in the upper 40’s to low 50’s so I am at least not freezing my ass off, barely.

Ran a 6 mile loop with the group on Saturday morning, many members are tapering for the Mercer Island Half marathon next week. I wasn’t planning on doing this race, my training over the winter has been consistently in the 20-25/week with nearly no speedwork, I am far from half-marathon shape. However, a guy in the group named Loka did ask if I would be willing to pace him to a sub 1:40.

I like the idea. People have paced me through several races and it was always much appreciated. It gives me a good reason to join to group at the race but forces me to hold back and not race the disappointing time I know would await me. Now I am looking forward to it.
I tacked 2 miles on the 6 mile group run for 8 miles in a little over an hour.

Sunday I headed out the door while my chicken and vegetables were roasting in the oven. A quick glance at the radar before I headed out indicated I was going to get walloped and 30 minutes later I was in a downpour. It was brisk, especially when I turned south into a stiff wind. Suddenly shorts and a t-shirt seemed a bad call. Total time about 40 minutes.

After a couple weeks of lackluster runs I had some real bounce in my legs this weekend and finished both runs at a strong pace. I hope this continues.

A ship using the large lock to get into Lake Washington. I passed this on my way back from a trip to Discovery Park on a somewhat sunny afternoon. Actually 2 out of the last 3 weekends have featured a lot of sun. Seems we are headed into spring although the rumor here is that spring lasts until mid-July. But at least the crocuses are up and seeing that color on the run brightened what otherwise was a fairly crappy run.

I just haven't felt right the past few weeks. No spark in my legs, no strong finishes just slow slogs up 28th street into what seems a perpetual stiff breeze that always has me wishing I could just teleport to my front door. These things go in phases and I am sure it will improve. Around 10 miles at around 8 minute pace.

Also ran about 6 yesterday on a loop through Golden Gardens. I haven't been measuring or even logging my runs, just approximations of each week in my head. I think this weeks was 25 miles.

Didn't realize that I haven't posted in almost a month. Crazy how time accelerates when you have an 18 month old. With another on the way I can only imagine how quickly the next several years are going to pass.

I have been running, not as much as I would like but I'll take what I can get. I know I could squeeze in a few more runs than I have been doing, maybe when the weather gets nicer. Last night was 6 miles out to Phinney Ridge. This has become my favorite route when a 5-7 miler is planned. At night the midway turn-around point offers some great views of Ballard. I imagine I can even pick out my house among the myriad of twinkling lights but there is no way to know.

My running routes could be changing by the end of the year. Tomorrow, Heather and I are putting a bid on a piece of land in the Magnolia section of Seattle. It is a small neighborhood tucked in between Discovery Park and the Kiwanis Ravine, which is part open space and part heron rookery. Unfortunately the heron rookery status means we can't build Feb through July because we will disturb the nesting birds. So even if we get the lot we won't have house until late fall.

Having a new house, twice the size of the cubbyholes we lived in over the past several years will obviously be great but also from a running perspective it is an upgrade. Discovery park has several miles of trail running, including a light house, a rocky beach and awesome views of the Puget Sound and Olympic mountains.