Mud Run

I am constantly looking for new ways to enjoy running. Here is the latest discovery: http://www.bivalvebash.com/

Cheryl, Jonathan, Ama(Cheryl's mom) and I enjoyed the unique experience of running through tidal flat mud last Saturday. Gabe will have to wait another year to reach the age limit but he still had fun with the other activities of the Bivalve Bash. Here he is building a habitat for beach roaming critters. Now he is testing out the mud to make sure it is safe for us all to run in.

The kids run is a 100 yard dash, more like a slog, out, around and back. the adult course is and outer 250 yard course encircling the youth course. The mud is a fine silty stinky combination of decomposing bio-matter and finely eroded sand. Much like running in wet cement the mud takes hold of your feet and eagerly clutches your shoes attempting to relieve you of the protection. Experienced runners suggest using duct tape to secure your footwear, it is a must and it works. The mud sucks you in and creates a perfect air tight seal that must be broken with each step. The lifting force needed to break the seal zaps all energy from your body, you feel as if gravity has just increased ten-fold. Prior to the race I befriended the finish line director and he suggested quick small steps to keep my feet from sinking to deep. Oh yeah and don't fall. Cheryl enjoyed a comment made by a boy just completing the grueling ordeal, "If you fall, remember to close your mouth"

The pre-race duct taping of shoes seemed to be an accepted practice. So much so that the folks from a local running shop had a tent for the purpose of taping runners shoes for them. Jon asked if I would secure his shoes. "Not to tight dad, I want to be able to run my fastest."

Jon ran a great race smiling the entire time. The start was a mad dash out into the soupy mess with kids yelling, falling and laughing. Meanwhile on shore parents jokingly fretted about stuck and disappearing children. Several young competitors fell and a few took advantage of the opportunity completely covering their bodies, most just ran as hard as they could. I was an event fit to make a pig jealous. Jon started slow figuring out the shifting unstable mud surface. Once comfortable with the squishing and slopping he began to pick up the pace and move up in the field. As the collection of ever increasing mud caked youths rounded the final turn and entered the home stretch the pack maintained a slow and

increasingly fatigued pace. The effort to take each step was showing and yet the laughing never stopped. The finish was a celebration of mud spattered smiles as each finisher received a golden oyster shell hanging on a red white and blue ribbon.

The Adult race was a field of 200 mostly competitive runners drooling at the chance to get really dirty and see how fast they could cover the "short" course. The distance seems so innocuous, unchallenging until the reality of the surface sets in. Watching the kids race it was hard to imagine the true difficulty I was about to venture out into. Here is the trick, the kids do not weigh much, so they don't sink to far, adults have a different issue. Not only do we weigh more but we have more push off strength that can work against us. The push off can actually drive your feet deeper into the mud. I guess the finish line directors comments about short quick steps will hold true.

I decided to take a few minutes to warm up and be ready for the intensity of the short distance. I left the grounds of the Bash running up the road a bit to get blood pumping in my muscles. This is something I have done many times before without issue. running out to get the juices flowing is a standard part of pre-race preparations. This time was different. For some reason I read the sign that said low tide -1.7 at 12:23 and thought great 12:30 I'll be back ready to run. At 12:22 I edged my way back to the starting area in time to hear the horn blast signaling the start of the race. AAARRRGGGGG!!! I wove my way through the loosely packed crowd of spectators and entered the mud but a few seconds after the start knowing full well my chance at finishing in the top was shot. My first few steps in the gick were very difficult as I aimed for fresh undamaged surface to steady my footfalls. I eventually took the very inside edge of the course and began to pass the slower mudders. Finally I reached un-trampled mud and was able to actually increase my pace or at least increase my turnover with shorter quicker steps. As I reached the first turn my breathing was unusually fast and I could feel my legs burning and my heart pounding. This stuff is hard to run in, that's when I noticed the laughter. The entire field of 200 adults seemed to be having a ball and laughing. This is something I have never experienced. Don't these people know this is a race? This is serious stuff. I rounded the turn carefully avoiding the barnacle encrusted post focusing on the short straightaway that led to the final turn and then the finish. As I turned I was cutoff by a flailing slogger cutting the corner to save time. As he passed he kicked up a large portion of the stinky ooze forcing me to slow to avoid being covered by his black rooster tail. I then decided to stop pushing and have fun. I began to laugh and enjoy the gick. I tried stepping in other's footprints to test if the footing was more solid and stable, it wasn't. the Final turn was marked with another barnacle encrusted post. I didn't seem to avoid this one and brushed up against it lacerating my elbow. Okay, fine, a mear srape barly a scratch, but a war wound none the less. "It's just a flesh wound." The finish was a messy and oxygen starved mass of doubled-over runners all reeling in the "schloppity schlop" that coated our bodies. Jonathan got a glimpse of my finish and took the shot as best he could, that's me in the white shirt. All in all I stayed pretty clean. Due to my ill planned starting technique I missed starting with Cheryl and Ama. their races were pretty much the same experience without the barnacle encounter. Cheryl finished a few seconds after me with a bit more of the course adorning her body and Ama (481) rounded out our team.

This event is a race and party for the family. If you get a chance I would highly suggest putting it on you calendar for 2009. The focus is to educate folks about the need for clean water in Puget Sound.

Not only was the race fun but the food was wonderful. There were various preparations of oysters, burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, strawberry shortcake, and a beer garden. The music is great and local and the family, at least Mr. Taylor, assisted in the rescue of one stranded youth runner to the cheers of the fans.

We had a great time and I do believe we will be back.

Tony

General Updates and a Rebublishing

The fourth of July always marks the beginning of summer for me. The celebration of my country seems to be the mark of commencement for BBQ's, camping, sprinklers, playing outside until 9pm and thickening of lush green forests.

I love this time of year, especially when it is ushered in with the weather it "should" have. We here in the NW experienced a June for the record books. It was labeled "Juneuary" due to the foul conditions including snowfall, chilly nights and gloomy rain. Then July arrived and the real summer began.

Our garden, at least those plants that were not killed off by the late snowfall, is producing a large crop of strawberries and raspberries. We are forced to harvest daily or allow the fruit to go bad. The boys are constantly sneaking into the fenced area and departing with berry juice around their mouths.

For my 41st birthday we went cliff jumping. Still in Chelan for the 4th, we took a boat up lake and found a nice 25 foot tall rock outcropping that made for just enough excitement but not to much pain on splashdown. This of course was preceded by the boys and mom being drug about in a tube.

The boys loved it, until the tube developed a rip and quickly lost air forming a human taco.

The rest of the trip was a wonderful time of hanging out and enjoying the company of friends and family.

(I have been asked to republish the story of my 40th birthday adventure. I will try and see if I can embed it here somewhere without the entire text being added.)

The cabin in the woods is moving along quite well. The bunks are done and the roof is on. I will have to update those images soon.

Jonathan, Gabe and I spotted something in the road as we were driving home today. It looked like a small cat or animal in the middle of the road on the dirty gravel. I was afraid it had been run over and we were first on scene. But what we found bathing in the fine grey dust was an adult peregrine falcon. I slowly rolled the car to within 10 feet of the majestic bird. He turned his head and looked at us as if to say, "Hey I'm taking a bath here, do you mind?" Gabe was in awe of the beautiful bird, Jonathan just wanted to get closer. It was so cool! He finally got uncomfortable with our presence and with a very quick flap shot to a branch on a nearby cedar. We watched him for a moment until we ventured off into the woods. It was quite an experience.

Okay, so my less than tech savvy mind has not been able to figure out how to add the Word document of my Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass story without adding the entire body of the story. So I'm going to ask all of you who want to read it to request it as an email attachment and I'll get it to ya. Just leave a comment and I'll get it to ya.

Thanks, Tony

July 4th in Chelan Washington

Happy 4th of July!!!

We are out visiting some friends at Lake Chelan for a few days to celebrate the 4th and just take a deep breath. The drive over was uneventful but late at night. We arrived to a glass of red wine and wonderful light show in the sky that lasted 'til 2am.

Dean and Chris open their house to friends and family every 4th for water fun and hanging out. For them it is a ministry they labor at with wonderful results. I on the other hand struggle to hook the illusive small-mouth bass that inhabits the shadows of their dock. I can hear him laughing right now. I just bashed my thumb installing the ladder on the floating dock; best to do jobs like that when the water is calm thus reducing the frustration quotient.

My therapist has given the okay to run now that the five week mark has passed. We'll see how the inflamed patellar tendon holds up.

Tonight there is a huge fireworks display off Wapato Point and we will go out on the boat to view it from the water. Both the boys are jumping off the dock and swimming now. In past years they have barely ventured to the water to touch their toes.

More to come later....

How'bout now, Jon just caught the bass...

Tony