Chuckanut 50k – Stephanie G

November 19, 2021January 10, 2017

Race: Chuckanut 50k – http://chuckanut50krace.com/

Runner: Stephanie G

Date: 3/19/2016

Results: 5:24:44, 23rd Female

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

Nice soft trails

The climbs are done after about mile 21

I really enjoy running along the ridge. It’s a fun trail with nice views.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There was a lot of time in the first ~7 miles on the Interurban Trail to anticipate the climbs, which made me a little nervous. The race almost seemed like 3 different races: the first 7 miles, the middle mountain-y part, and the last 7 miles.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Probably how compartmentalized the three different parts of the race felt.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I thought I ended up pacing pretty well and my endurance held out. I felt good on the downhills and didn’t even hate the ~7 miles of Interurban at the end (which everyone seems to). Pretty happy with my time too.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Might be good to practice the transition from downhill to flat running. Also, I knew the course from practice runs and having run on the Interurban which I think helped a lot.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

A lot of it, yes. There are definitely some parts that are less beautiful than others though.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

It felt hard, but I guess my time would say it’s easier than some others!

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well-run

Competition – is there a strong field?

Seemed very strong on the women’s side this year, with 13 women under 5 hours. Average seems to be about 6 under 5.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Sells out, but not super quick. Logistically very easy.

Aid Stations

Somewhat oddly spaced, but worked just fine.

Weather and typical race conditions –

This year was perfect – mid 40s/low 50s and DRY. Even some sun.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Cupless race! Probably not a big deal if you’re carrying bottles. But if you have a bladder, might be nice to have a cup for aid stations

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

There seem to be several accessible points.

Awards –

Very nice custom mugs (among other things I think, but those caught my eye)

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

4 stars – not my favorite course ever, but definitely would recommend it. Plus Bellingham is my hometown!

Mercer Island Half – Dave S

August 13, 2020January 10, 2017

Race: Mercer Island Half Marathon

Runner: Dave S

Date: 3/20/2016

Results – 1:21:53, 8th overall, 3rd Masters

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

Weather – This was my third time running the race and it’s been in the low 50’s each time

Community Center – I love being able to wait inside ahead of the race start

Views – The run around Mercer Island has some beautiful views running through winding streets in the trees and views of Lake Washington.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

It’s hillier than you would expect, and there is a hill at the finish that is a killer. Overall about 600ft of gain. My time was a lot slower than I was shooting for, but with international travel leading up to the day before the race I didn’t have my hopes too high for a PR.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

The island is shaped like a foot without toes, which is what they use as their logo (with toes added)

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I was happy to pass 1 person over the course of the race, and no one was able to pass me. It was a good fight with the person I passed, and I ended up holding him off with an all out kick at the end.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Respect the hills and don’t go out too fast. The race starts with a downhill and I think it’s easy to get in a rhythm early that is beyond you.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Absolutely! One of the prettiest half marathons I’ve done!

Difficulty – is it a tough course

The hills make it tough.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It is well organized and well run. Plenty of aid stations and an organized packet pickup.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Typically it’s a pretty strong field.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nothing special here. You may have to search for parking, but as long as you show up 90 minutes before the start you should be good, and with a nice 9am start it isn’t tough to do that.

Aid Stations

More than enough.

Weather and typical race conditions –

Typically overcast and low 50’s, sometimes some light rain.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nope

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

It’s a smaller race as far as spectators go, but there are some that seem to come out from their houses along the course.

Awards –

Medals 3 deep in each age group and overall. You pick them up from a tent and I didn’t notice any event to hand them out to the overall winners.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

I’d give Mercer Island 4 out of 5 stars. The hills make it a tough race.

Mercer Island Half – Matt U

August 13, 2020January 10, 2017

Race: Mercer Island Half Marathon – http://mercerislandhalf.com/

Runner: Matt U

Date: 3/20/2016

Results: 4th overall, 1:15.09

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

The course was pretty.

There were a good amount of fast runners in the race.

It prepped me well for the hills in Boston and for the marathon in general.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I also want to say the hills! My watch only says there was 600ft of gain in the 13.1 miles. However, it felt like more and it felt like I was grinding it out way more than I was enjoying the downhill sections. Made for a tough race.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I had a good mental game, even though I didn’t execute a great race strategy. I wanted to run with people for this race. I made the decision in mile 1 to go with the two front guys. We went through mile 1 in 5:18 and I quickly determined that I was in above my head. I slowed down more than normal knowing that 4th wasn’t too far back. I stuck with him for another mile but was working too hard to stick with him. I was then on my own and feeling pretty tired, and it was only 3 miles into the race! Yikes.

I reassessed my goals for the race based on the situation and decided that my new goal was to stay in control of my race and have my legs left for the final 3-4 miles of the race. By mile 7 I could hear someone getting closer to me. I slowed and let him catch me and then stuck to him. He pulled me through the next few miles and I actually regained some energy by tailing him. I would pull ahead on the downhills and then he’d reel me in again. Over the final two miles I was able to seal up 4th place and come in strong. My quads were burning on the climb during mile 12 like I haven’t felt in a long while! I also worked the downs pretty hard. I won’t be surprised if I’m sore over the next few days.

My pacing was atrocious and I went out way too fast. However, I recovered well, kept my head in the game, regrouped, and finished strong. Good outcome, especially given the first two big errors.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I can’t get over the hills! Be ready for them. I felt like I was going up way more than down. I knew ahead of time that it was a rolling course, but it was tougher than I expected. Be read for that and keep your legs under you for the final 5k.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Definitely. In my efforts to try and regain my focus and control over my race, I actually looked up from the road to see the water and all the pretty trees. I thought, “it feels like I’m running a pretty country road, but I’m not out in the country!”

Difficulty – is it a tough course

It was for me! If I weren’t trying to run fast then it’s a different story, but for trying to crank out 5:30 miles, the hills altered my game plan significantly.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well run. The community center where we picked up our race packets was fantastic. There were ample bathrooms, the packet pickup was quick and smooth, and Julie even had a comfy chair to feed Paavo while waiting for the race to start.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Times weren’t amazing, and the field wasn’t overly deep, but there were definitely some fast guys in the race.

Weather and typical race conditions

Low 50’s and overcast. The rains held off! ????

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

With Julie carrying Paavo around now, she’s not moving around the course looking for me anymore (I’m super happy that they’re both simply able to be at these races!), so I don’t really know. That said, a friend of ours was at three different spots along the course so it’s apparently not too tough to get around.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

I’m pleased with this run. It’s a well run event with lots of runners of all abilities. It’s a more challenging course than Lake Sammamish HM, but there are positives that come with this. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Lake Sammamish Half – Dan S

March 8, 2022January 10, 2017

Race: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon – http://www.lakesammamishhalf.com/

Runner: Dan S

Date: 3/5/2016

Results: 1:29.10

Location: Starts at Redmond Town Center and finishes at Lake Sammamish State Park

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

This race was well managed (registration, packet pick-up, results posting, etc.) and supported (plenty of aid stations, most pretty well staffed)
The course was flat and straightforward
The race was logistically “easy” (proximate to Seattle, parking near the start, not crazy lines for bathrooms at the start)

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I really have no glaring complaints about this event. The course didn’t stand out as spectacular (e.g., awe-inspiring beautiful) or particularly engaging, but all told it was fine for what it was.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Nothing struck me as especially weird about the race. The event was comparatively routine.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I met my time goal for this event. I appreciated that fact.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

This race is straightforward. Once things thin out (very shortly after the start), the run is essentially a flat, straight shot on a dedicated trail in the neighborhoods on the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

The course is not remarkable aesthetically. There are some spots on the course where you can see Lake Sammamish. Much of the course is on a trail through neighborhoods – homes and yards on either side of the trail.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

Not particularly. The course is flat and mostly straight.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

The event was comparatively well run. Maybe not as well run as a big city “banner” marathon but it was clearly a professionally managed event and the organizers were by no means flying by the seat of their pants.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Comparatively. I understand that this half marathon is a popular one in the area on account of the flat, “fast,” course. There were also some fast runners out there for the event.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

No, no, and no. Registration is pretty straightforward online. I believe that a friend of mine registered within a week of the event – in 2016, this was not a “pay just to get in a lottery, nine months before the event, and hope for the best” race.

Aid Stations

The race was well supported. One of the aid stations was not particularly well managed, but it is also possible that I caught that aid station at an “off” time in the morning. There were enough aid stations that a fumble at one was not a catastrophic event.

Weather and typical race conditions –

Cool, with a mildish-breeze. Sun towards the end of the race. Of course, the event occurs in early March in Seattle so weather is a gamble. The day following the race, there were strong winds and very cold rain. We got lucky in 2016 but that is no guarantee that the weather will not be miserable in other years.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

No. This event is a comparatively routine, straight, flat half marathon. No special gear was required in 2016.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

Not really. There are a couple of spots on the trail where I understand that spectators could stop, though I do not know that these spots were easy to access or that there were many of them. The start was fine for support crew (plenty of parking), and the finish was accessible as well (Discovery Parking pass required, though). In the middle… not a real spectator’s course.

Awards –

I do not know. I wasn’t even close to awards territory. I understand that awards were provided, though these awards were mementos, not cash.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

If you are looking for a flat, straightforward, well managed, easy to access half marathon in the Seattle area and are willing to risk late winter weather in Seattle, yes I can recommend this event.

Lake Sammamish Half – Matt U

March 8, 2022January 10, 2017

Race: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon – http://www.lakesammamishhalf.com/

Runner: Matt U

Date: 3/5/2016

Location: Starts in Redmond Town Center and finishes in Lake Sammamish State Park

Results – 2nd place, 1:12.47

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The course is flat and fast. The race was deep with a good amount of fast runners. It was well organized and ran very smoothly.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

This was my first half marathon in 5+ years, so first, I’m happy that it went smoothly, that I worked hard, and I didn’t blow up. I am happy with the pace I was able to maintain. The biggest challenge was that one guy went out fast early and I had to make the decision whether to go after him or to stick with the pack and let the lead guy go. I didn’t do either very well and I ended up spending almost the entire race in no-man’s land. I finished almost a minute ahead of third (and the pack behind him) and five minutes behind the winner (he ran 67+ minutes!). I was really looking forward to racing and running with people and instead, the run ended up being a grind-it-out solo workout effort. This is just the luck of the draw based on who shows up to the race on race day. The field was deep with 10th place still being under 76 minutes.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Establish your position early. This year they changed the start location which removed the silly back and forth parking lot finish. As a result, there are lots of little turns and the path narrows quickly. If your goal is to post a fast time or be competitive, I strongly suggest using a little speed burst early to get into position for your race. There are a lot of people in this race and it’s easy to see how someone could get stuck farther back and spend precious energy dodging and weaving to try and get up where they belong in the race.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

If flat is tough, then this course is a killer. Nearly completely flat. My watch maybe registered 40ft of total gain over the 13 miles.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

I was really pleased with how smoothly this went. The start area was big and open. Parking was abundant. Packet pickup went quickly. There were tons of porta-potties. The start was easy to find and on time. Very smooth and well run race.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I don’t know if the race sold out, but it never seemed like an issue. They offer better pricing for signing up early. This is an easy one to jump into.

Aid Stations

They were there and they were offering gels, water, and probably a sports drink. I didn’t take anything, but it was nice knowing they were there!

Weather and typical race conditions

We got nice weather. 50s and dry. There was a slight headwind but nothing serious. The course is fairly protected for much of the race as it’s tucked in between houses and trees. However, it was the first week in March and weather could certainly be crappy this time of year in the Pacific NW.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

There were plenty of spots along the way for people to stop and cheer. It’s a point to point course and the bike path parallels a road the entire way. So long as your friends can find parking along the way, they will be able to cheer for you. That said, there were some quiet sections out there.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 stars. For what I was looking for, a flat, fast half marathon that was local to Seattle, this race was perfect. It was well run, the weather cooperated, the competition was deep, and I ran well. All positives!

Orcas 50k – Stephanie G

November 23, 2021January 10, 2017

Race: Orcas Island 50k – http://www.rainshadowrunning.com/orcas-island-50k.html

Runner: Stephanie G

Date: 2/6/2016

Location: Orcas Island

Distance raced and other options: 50k. 25k is the week before and the 100 miler is two weeks after the 50k.

Results: 90th overall, 11th female; 6:23.15.

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The views. I love running near the water, and there seemed to be water everywhere you looked on this course.
The trails were soft, beautiful, and largely runnable.
The option to wait inside prior to the race. Didn’t really need it this year, but it would be a really nice option if the weather was cold and wet.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you?

Would not recommend catching the 5:30am ferry the morning of the race. Makes a really long morning before you even start running, and the earliest you can arrive at the race is about 30 minutes prior to the start. I usually like a little more cushion.
I know lots of races are going cupless, and it’s better for the environment, but I’m not quite past the inconvenience factor yet. All I had was a bladder so I couldn’t grab any coke or drinks other than water. Guess I need to get a cup.
The (non) transfer policy. It didn’t affect me, but it did friends. I know races oversell with an expected no-show rate, but it’s still frustrating sometimes.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

There’s actually quite a bit of road at the start.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I wasn’t sure I was up to the distance that day and decided to not stress out about time. I had a much more social race than I usually do which made the time fly by in the first half. Still felt pretty fresh in the second half and enjoyed catching people along the course. Also, every once in awhile I remembered to look around and enjoy the scenery!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Powerline is as hard as people say, and at times I felt like I was making no progress, but it eventually does end.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I thought it was hard, but not overwhelmingly hard. Similar to Crystal Mountain Sky Marathon maybe. The only other Rainshadow Runs I’ve done are Deception Pass and Beacon Rock – it was harder than both of those.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well organized! Although I heard that trail markers got moved which caused some mishaps.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Seemed strong, and more male dominant than most runs.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Requires being selected in the lottery, which is unfortunate if you’re trying to do the race with somebody. Ferry reservations recommended going and coming home. Haven’t had a problem finding a place to stay on the island – either Doe Bay or Rosario. Lots of camping too.

Aid Stations

4 aid stations. No cups.

Weather and typical race conditions – I think we got lucky this year – 45 and partly sunny! I’d do it every year if I could be guaranteed that weather. But it is in February…

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nothing special

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not great – they can be at 2 of 4 aid stations though.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Highly recommended

Orcas 25k – Dionne H

November 23, 2021January 10, 2017

Race: Orcas Island 25k – http://www.rainshadowrunning.com/orcas-island-25k.html

Photo: Glenn Tachiyama

Runner: Dionne H

Date: 1/30/2016

Location: Orcas Island

Distance raced and other options: 25k. 50k is one week later and the 100 miler is two weeks after the 50k.

Results: 127th place, 53rd female in 3:49.51

3 Bests: The scenery/location, how well the race is organized, awesome race director and volunteers.

Not so much: How chaotic the parking lot can be when people try to get in and out in the same time as runners start to come back.

Weird factor: I have not done a lot of trail races but I found it odd when I was in the middle of nowhere all of a sudden there is this little kid cheering up on us from high up on the tree. I guess the family must have lived in the area or something.

Highlights of your race: This is my only trail race I have done. I really love the fact that the trail is well marked but not so much that you feel like it’s been staged. I still feel like I run deep in the woods with a very well sense of direction. This way I can totally enjoy the run and not to where I should turn next/direction.

Lessons for others: Learn about the race profile and elevation gains helps me set up my pace and expectation. Therefore I get to enjoy the race even more. And making sure you dress properly is very important, it will either make it or break it.

Aesthetics: It is probably the most scenic run I have ever had. Everything is in one package: beautiful, serene, the moss, the water, the mountains.

Difficulty: There is a part that I found it difficult for me because I am not used to it. The tough hill, Power Line, is definitely something that I wish I had trained for. The downhill part of the trail is fun but can be challenging when it is wet outside. It is not as technical but the turns can slow you down.

Organized and well run: This is definitely a well organized race.

Bridle Trails 5 mile Race Report- Matt U

November 19, 2021January 10, 2017

Race: Bridle Trails 5 miler. http://www.seattlerunningclub.org/Events/Bridle/bridle.html

Runner: Matt U

Date: 1/9/2016

Location: Bridle Trails State Park, Kirkland WA

Distance raced and other options: 5M, 10M, 50k, 50k relays

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. Great Seattle trail running community race. Lots of locals out for this one which gives it a great sense of community.

2. It’s inexpensive and easy to get into. $15 for the 5 mile.

3. The course is fast and runnable, and the competitiveness is good for being a small local race.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you?

All positives. Really enjoyed the day. Maybe a downside would be needing to buy a Discover Pass if you didn’t have one already. We had one so it wasn’t an issue.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

It starts at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon in January. The 5 milers and some of the 10 milers finished before dark, but many ran well into the night. Given that the race could start earlier, it’s unique that they set it up to go into the night on purpose. Cool concept, something to definitely be prepared for.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I raced from start to finish with Keith Laverty, with Greg Crowther on our tail for the majority of the race. Keith led most of it but I was able to push it in for the win, my first in a long time. It was awesome being in a competitive race and I was focused and into the race the entire time. I thought he might break me a couple times but I continued to hang around. I had run the last mile as my warm up so I knew the course well. I pushed it up the final hill and then held on for the win. We were both smiling big at the end because of the fun that comes with a good race.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Scout out the last mile for your warm up. Knowing the final steep little hill was coming, and that it wasn’t too long was helpful. It was also good knowing that there was some winding, narrow trail within the final half mile, and that once the trail opened up, it was a bombing downhill into the finish. This

played into my hand well knowing that I wanted to be in the lead after the top of the hill and that once we were on the downhill, it was all out to the finish.

Also, watch out for horses! Keith and I were slowed big time and it felt like we were both lucky not to get kicked by a skittish horse that we ran around in the middle of the race. I guess it’s called Bridle Trails State Park for a reason.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The course is all in the woods with big trees and well groomed trails. I think it’s pretty, but I wasn’t looking too much!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s tougher than a road race but by trail racing standards, it’s a pretty easy course with minimal climbing. I could see the ups getting more challenging over the 50k distance, but for the 5 miler, they went by so quickly that I hardly noticed them.

Organization – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Has the small town feel while still being well organized. The start of the race felt low key and like a race I would do as a young kid, with a line in the sand and a buddy saying “Ready, set, go!”. Good vibes for sure.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It’s not huge, but there are enough fast locals that come out to make it interesting and competitive. This is one of the reasons I chose this race because I wanted to be pushed over a shorter distance. The race didn’t disappoint.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Super easy. Signup was through ultrasignup.com. It was inexpensive and simple. Much appreciated after dealing with lotteries, points, and lots of hoops for other races I’ve been trying to get on my schedule. The race did ultimately sell out, but not until the last minute, so that is something to be aware of.

Aid Stations

There is one aid station at the end of each 5 mile loop.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 stars. It was what I was looking for and I was very pleased with the experience. I recommend it.