Blog
Cooper River Bridge Run — Getting over it in Charleston, South Carolina
We couldn’t have asked for a more convenient arrangement when it came to this year’s 47th annual Cooper River Bridge Run. Perhaps only the solar eclipse on April 8th was more perfectly aligned than how our travel plans fell into place on April 6th. I had booked a family vacation to Charleston, Columbia and Savannah…
Read MoreCongress overwhelmingly passes massive funding bill to protect, expand and maintain our public parks and trails!
Conservationists, recreationists, hikers, bird watchers, campers, bicyclists, and recreationists of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life are beyond belief at the passage of this monumental bill. According to environmental reporter Ima Tyredowaetin, “I never ever thought I would ever see in my lifetime a time when the government finally started giving our public lands…
Read MorePutting My Condition into Remission
Today marks two weeks since I have been off prednisone. I had been on the medication for just over three years starting when I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), an auto immune inflammatory disorder. My symptoms began in the spring of 2020 shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak—and they grew progressively worst that by…
Read MoreHerman the Vancouver Island Marmot wishes you all a Happy Groundhog day!
Yes, they celebrate Groundhog Day in Canada too! And groundhogs, also known as woodchucks in Eastern North America are marmots. So that makes Vancouver Island marmots woodchucks, too! Sadly Herman passed away last year in the Toronto Zoo but he wanted to thank the US Postal Service for featuring him among 19 other Endangered species…
Read MoreSkagit Flats Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K
Running the short distance for a long return I’ve been regularly participating in the Skagit Flats Marathon since I moved to the Skagit Valley in 2007. As a distance runner, I’ve signed up over the years to participate in the half marathon (13.1 miles) or full marathon (26.2) race. But this year I decided to…
Read More300.5 Miles Hiked and Run and $10,124 Raised
It was another great Hike-a-thon! Wow! I’m always so physically and emotionally drained come September 1 after putting some serious miles on the trail in August and spending two months trying to convince you all why you should make a donation to my Hike-a-thon benefiting the Washington Trails Association. Since 2012 I have participated in…
Read MoreWhite River 50K: Returning to where it all started
It was back in 2011 when I decided to take up ultra-running. I was on the verge of turning 50 and had become fascinated with the annual and iconic White River 50 mile run held near Mount Rainier. White River had grew into one of the country’s biggest and most famous 50 mile races attracting…
Read MoreNorth Olympic Discovery Marathon 2023
Celebrating what we can do, and not lamenting what we can’t Running and hiking are my two biggest passions in life. They’ve done more for me than keep me physically healthy. They’ve also kept me mentally heathy and spiritually fulfilled. They’ve given me purpose, drive, and a desire to get out of my comfort zone.…
Read MoreFamous Idaho Potato Marathon
A spudtastic good time in Boise Idaho and potatoes are synonymous. The Gem State is the number one producer of potatoes in America, responsible for growing one third of the country’s crop. But Washington’s production is no small potatoes. The Evergreen State ranks second in the US growing more than 20% of the nation’s spuds.…
Read MoreCalifornians blame influx of Washingtonians for Trail Crowding
Throughout the Golden State from the Redwoods to the Sierra to the Mojave Desert, Californians are growing tired of the influx of out-of-staters, particularly folks from Washington State on their trails. In fact, increasing numbers of Californians are blaming many of the state’s trail problems and park incidents on these out-of-staters. “They compete with us…
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