Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Yakima Skyline Rim Sold Out




This past weekend both distances of the Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k sold out. I'll be posting on the race website the updated entrants list shortly. Those of you who missed out but still want to do some racing in April in the Northwest you have a few good options to choose from(not as beautiful and hard as Yakima Skyline Rim but still good events): Yakima Canyon Road Marathon(Apr 2), Soaring Eagle 5m/10m/26.2/50k(apr 10), Squak Mountain 12k/13.1/50k(Apr 23) and Captiol Peak 55k/40m(Apr 30). I would have included Peterson Ridge Rumble 20m/40m(Apr 10) on the list but that race also sold out!

The next three races in the Rainshadow(Sun Mountain, Beacon Rock and Cle Elum) all have their registrations open and are filling up fast. As Lorie Alexander of British Columbia said when she heard Yakima Skyline Rim had filled before race day(just like our other two races this year Orcas Island and Gorge Waterfalls), "Sounds like we should sign up for all your races now!" That's good advice if you don't want to be left out.


Monday, March 21, 2011

Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k Sold Out...But...


Yakima Skyline Rim 50k and 25k sold out this weekend! That makes three races in a row now to have sold out this year! But I have had a few folks have to back out so I've opened up 5 more spots in each race. When those fill I'll start a waiting list but don't wait any longer sign up NOW! http://www.databarevents.com/yakimasky.asp

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k 93% Full!


The Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k is now 93% full with only 11 spots left in the race! Register now at www.databarevents.com

Get one of those last few spots for FREE by either volunteering before the race (at runner check-in race morning) or by bringing a volunteer to work an aid station or to assist with the timing at the finish or assisting with the post race meal. Email William Worrell, the Volunteer Coordinator, at wmworrell@centurytel.net for more information or to express your interest.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Gorge Waterfalls 50K: Video of Runners at Elowah Falls




Video credit: Candice Burt



2011 Gorge Waterfalls 50k Results and Pictures

Well I think everyone liked the first annual Gorge Waterfalls 50k... no actually I'm sure of it! And for good reason it's a beautiful but tough course(the rocky sections of trail was the main culprit but some folks also found the first hill to be hard as well).

I'll do a full recap of the race soon but first I wanted post the results and a few pictures(lots more coming and i'll post a link to them all here and on the Gorge Waterfalls website and on the Rainshadow Running Facebook Page).

Here's the link to the results. We had 125 Finishers and 138 starters.
The weather: showers and temperatures in the 40's
Male Winner: Jace Ives 27 Ashalnd, OR 4:25:09
Female Winner: Pam Smith 36 Salem, OR 4: 49:36

Here are just a few samples of the thousands of great photos that were taken at the race on saturday.(if you have photos you would like to share with everyone please email them to me at james@rainshadowrunning.com and i'll add them to the photo album that i'm going to try to compile all the photos in):

Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina



Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina



Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina



Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina


Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina



Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina



Photo Credit: Daniel Fox/Lumina




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt




photo credit: Candice Burt





photo credit: Candice Burt


many many many more photos to come. stay tuned!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon and more...

From Bellingham runners Al Coyle, Kevin Douglas and Dean Taylor comes the brand new Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon, kids XC race and "Anna's Lake Walk"


Sign up at Ultrasignup.com


Date: Saturday October 22, 2011


The Course 13.1

Join your fellow trail runners for this exciting, first of its kind trail half marathon in Whatcom County, Northwest Washington. The race starts along the scenic setting of beautiful Lake Padden and makes its way up and through the forested single track trails (see course map). Guaranteed stunning lake views! At last, the fun and challenging trail half marathon we have all been waiting for! Pre registration only.

Carpool

We encourage everyone to carpool if at all possible, parking will be limited.

Aid

There will be two aid stations along the course that will provide water and gu2o

Race Photos

Your photo will be taken along the course by Fallen Leaf imaging for purchase. All proceed will go back to the Anna Brulotte Memorial Foundation

Post race

Join the post race party lakeside for recovery food and friends.

Massage Therapist Theron Eirish and staff will be on hand to do post race recovery massage.

Awards & random prizes:

Awards will be given to top male and female, top male and female masters, top 3 in each ten year age category.

Random prizes will be awarded various runners which including weekend getaways, running shoes, apparel, massages, dining certificates and more!

Sponsors & Support

Thanks to: Oltman Insurance, Northwest Dental, Fairhaven Runners, Whatcom Events, City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation, Cascade Radio Group, Greater Bellingham Running Club, Skagit Running Club, Whatcom Support Officers, Great Harvest Bread, Bellingham Herald, Rainshadow Running, Falling Leaf Imaging, Fairhaven Bike and Ski, Graphic Nineteen,

The Foundation

The Anna Brulotte Foundation was created to bring awareness to the tragedies of distracted driving. 2year old Anna Brulotte was killed by a distracted teen driver on 9/30/10. Visit: www.annabrulottememorialfoundation.org

Kids Cross Country Race

This youth cross country race will be 2 miles in distance and is open to grades 4 through 8 only. The course will wind through the infields of the Padden ball fields and a loop through the lower single track trails and back. This will prove to be a challenging and rewarding course for the youth runners.

Anna’s Lake Walk

Join us for a casual walk around Padden with family and friends. This 2.6 mile lake walk was designed to honor the name of Anna and bring awareness to the community about the dangers of distracted driving. The walk will be opened by our Mayor Dan Pike and will be declared Anna’s day.

"One of Anna's favorite things to do was go on walks. We live right by the railroad trail, so we walked it often. Anna loved being in the stroller or walking herself. She really enjoyed seeing all the things in the woods and would often point them out. During the summer we would walk up there and pick blackberries and thimbleberries. Part of the reason I was crossing the street when she was killed was because I wanted to walk with her to the park since she loved walking so much. I want to do the lake Padden walk in her memory to honor her and raise awareness about the horrific consequences of distracted, aggressive driving. I think that the beautiful scenery around Lake Padden lends itself to reflecting on the fragility of human life and the great power we have to take that life when we get behind the wheel of the car. Whether you’re walking or pushing a stroller, we want you to come walk with us." -- Melissa Brulotte, Anna’s mother

Monday, March 7, 2011

Boston Qualifying and the Winthrop Marathon

Last year 24% of the Winthrop Marathon finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon(aka BQ'ed). A BQ percentage that high would have placed the Winthrop Marathon among the top 15 most effective races to use to get into the classic race in Boston had it had enough runners to qualifiy for the list! (Races have to have at least 250 finishers to be considered for the list compiled by Marathon Guide). This makes the 2011 Winthrop Marathon an obvious choice to use to try to get a BQ but thanks to a change to the Boston Marathon application process runners at Winthrop will have to use their times to qualify for the 2013 Boston instead of 2012! DARN!

Registration for 2012 Boston marathon is from September 12 to September 23 this year (2011), which won't allow 2011 Winthrop Marathon(Sept 25th) runners to qualify for the 2012 Boston, BUT it will allow them to get a BIG HEAD START on qualifying for the 2013 Boston Marathon. See article in Running times---->
http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=21985

In addition to the new registration system the 2013 Boston Marathon qualifying times are more stringent than in previous years, and must be run on or after September 24, 2011. Like the 2012 registration process, the acceptance of official race entrants will be based on qualifying time, with the fastest qualifiers (in relation to their age and gender) being accepted first until the race is full. All qualifying times are subject to review and verification.

2013 Qualifying Times (effective September 24, 2011)

Age GroupMenWomen
18-343hrs 05min 00sec3hrs 35min 00sec
35-393hrs 10min 00sec3hrs 40min 00sec
40-443hrs 15min 00sec3hrs 45min 00sec
45-493hrs 25min 00sec3hrs 55min 00sec
50-543hrs 30min 00sec4hrs 00min 00sec
55-593hrs 40min 00sec4hrs 10min 00sec
60-643hrs 55min 00sec4hrs 25min 00sec
65-694hrs 10min 00sec4hrs 40min 00sec
70-744hrs 25min 00sec4hrs 55min 00sec
75-794hrs 40min 00sec5hrs 10min 00sec
80 and over4hrs 55min 00sec5hrs 25min 00sec
*Unlike previous years, an additional 59 seconds will NOT be accepted for each age group time standard.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

2011 Calendar



The 2011 Rainshadow Running Schedule

(More details about each race below list)


Feb 5 Orcas Island 50k/25k Eastsound, WA (SOLD OUT)
mMar
Gorge Waterfalls 50k Cascade Locks, OR (SOLD OUT)
Apr 3 Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k Ellensburg, WA (SOLD OUT)
May 2-6 Appalachian Trail Running Tour NC/TN
May 22 Sun Mountain 50m/50k/25k/1k Winthrop, WA
Jun 12 Beacon Rock 50k/25k N. Bonneville, WA
Jun 25 Cle Elum Ridge 50k/25k Cle Elum, WA
Jun 30-July 4 Hardrock 100 Trail Running Tour Silverton CO
Aug 1-5 Tahoe Rim Trail Running Tour Tahoe City, CA
Aug 13 Angels Staircase 50m/50k/25k Carlton, WA
Sept 5-9 Mt Rainier/Wonderland Trail Running Tour Paradise, WA
Sept 18 North Cascades PCT 100k/50k Mazama, WA
Sept 25 Winthrop Road Marathon and Half Marathon Winthrop, WA
Oct 8 Mt Spokane 50k/25k Spokane, WA
Nov 26 Christmas at the End of the Road 5k/1k Winthrop, WA
Dec 10 Deception Pass 50k/25k Oak Harbor, WA

Orcas Island 50k/25k -- Febraury 5 -- Eastsound, WA

Orcas Island

As usual the year gets started off with the weekend long running party on Orcas Island with the 6th annual Orcas Island 50k/25k. Unfortunately for those of you not already signed up it's too late for this year-- the race reached it's limit in record time(about 6 weeks)!! But it's not too soon to start planning for the next one-- registration for the 2012 race will open at 8am on sept 1st 2011. Mark your calendars and be ready -- I expect the race to fill up that week maybe even that day!



Snow Fun 35m/22m -- February 26 -- Carlton, WA

Snow Fun

Next up on the calendar is the brand new Snow Fun 35m/22m race on Feb. 26. The Snow Fun Races will start down in the Methow River Valley and climb steadily up snow covered forest service roads to the top of the Chelan Sawtooth Ridge which seperates the Methow River from Lake Chelan. These roads are groomed and compacted and unless we have a huge amount of snow overnight the night before the race they should perfect for running on--firm but not hard; soft but not too soft--like running on a large white trail. And the views of the surrounding mountains, and maybe the altitutde(5800-6550ft) up on the ridge, will take your breath away!



Gorge Waterfalls 50k -- March 12 -- Cascade Locks, OR

Gorge Waterfalls

Another brand new race for 2011 is the Gorge Waterfallls 50k. This race is crazy full of waterfalls! There are so many I literally lost count! The course goes right past Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, Multnomah Falls, Oneonta Falls, Dry Falls and a bunch that I can't remember the names of. Oh, and don't forget that the course goes right under Ponytail Falls! This point-to-point course is nearly all super fun single track trail that winds is way along the base of the Cascades Mountains where they come down on the Oregon side to meet the mighty Columbia River. The route is mostly in deep old forest with some enormous trees and moss is everywhere (in some places covering every inch of the surrounding ground). We are certain elves and gnomes live here. Occasionally the trail will pop out of the trees and you'll get great views of the river and the mountains towering above it.


Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k -- April 4 -- Ellensburg, WA

Yakima Rim
The Yakima River in between the towns of Ellensburg and Yakima forms a deep and winding canyon. High above the river on the canyon rim lies a specatacular trail-- the Yakima Skyline Rim Trail. Being East of the Cascade Mountains the Yakima Skyline Rim 50k/25k is definitely in the rainshadow and the dry climate means a low chance for rain and very little vegitation along the route. The lack of rain and vegitation equals a great chance for views of the river, the surrounding pleateau like mountains and of the Cascades on the horizon. The course is not totally barren, there is sagebrush, wild grasses and other shrub-steppe plants that are foreign to those of you coming from the wet(sic) side of the mountains-- and the first wildflowers of the year should be blooming. In addition to high probability of sun and views there is a 100% chance of above average elevation gain for both races making this a tough yet beautiful run.



Appalachian Trail Tour -- May 2 to May 6 -- Johnson City, TN

Appalachian Trail Tour

The first running tour of the year i'll be guiding with Adventure Running Comapny will be the 5 day, 82 mile Applachian Trail Tour in early May. Some of the finest open ridge running in the world can be found on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and Tennessee. Our run will traverse the mile-high open "Balds" for many miles, rarely descending to the scenic valleys below. The trail, following the ridgeline for nearly our entire tour, often passes through scenic meadow and heath balds at places like Hump Mountain, Roan Mountain, Round Bald, Unaka Mountain, Big Bald and the aptly named Beauty Spot. Many Appalachian Trail veterans consider this segment of the Appalachian Trail, with its superb views from treeless meadows above 5,000 feet, to be one of the most beautiful and spectacular segments along the entire 2,178 mile length of the trail. You'll find the trail running sublime as you pass through these open meadows. In short, this is a trail runners paradise!



Sun Mountain 50m/50k/25k/1k -- May 22 -- Winthrop, WA

Sun Mountain

The 3rd annual Sun Mountain 50m/50k/25k/1k has moved to a new time of the year mid may to fully take advantage of the early season mountain running and to hit the peak of the bloom of the sunflowers(Balsam Root) which turn the hillsides yellow all over the Methow Valley each spring. The 50 mile course has also changed to reduce the number of road miles and to increase the number of views of the surrounding mountains. As Another race in the Cascade Mountains Rainshadow this should be a sunny, warm run on fun trails in a mix of forest and open sagebrush. With a good mix of runnable trails and steep hills these challenging but fun races have grown in popularity very quickly.



Beacon Rock 50k/25k -- June 12 -- N. Bonneville, WA

Beacon Rock
Another fun race in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is the Beacon Rock 50k/25k. Accross the river from the Gorge Waterfalls course this race takes place in the Beacon Rock State Park. The route goes up and over Hardy Ridge and Hamilton Mountain(pictured above) both of which tower above the river. The trails are often in dense forest but like shown here every once in a while pop out of the trees and give the runners incredible views of the river and the cascades including the enormous Mt Adams and Mt Hood. And early June will be a great time to run here it'll be warm and probably sunny and everything will be so green!



Cle Elum Ridge 50k/25k -- June 25 -- Cle Elum, WA

cle elum

The 16th annual Cle Elum 50k/25k has been moved to late June to improve the runner's experience(there should be much less dust) and to make room in the calendar for the North Cascades PCT 100k/50k which could only be scheduled in late September(Cle Elum's traditional date has always been the 3rd weekend of Sept.). This tough race has been a Northwest favorite for a long time and should continue to be so for quite some time. The trails are very popular with motorbike riders so they are rutted out, rooty, rocky and can be dusty if it's been dry prior to the race and all of these obstacles combined with a good bit of elevation gain and loss make this nearly all single track trail race popular with the runners too because if we wanted it to be easy we'd be running on the roads instead!





Hardrock 100 Race Course Tour -- June 30 to July 4 -- Silverton, CO

Hardrock

The Hardrock Tour explores the spectacular Hardrock 100 race course over the span of 5 amazing days! If you've always wanted to see and experience the Hardrock 100 course but didn't want to run it in less than 48 hours(the race cutoff) or if you're training for a future Hardrock race, this is your chance to see the trail at your own pace, during the daylight, with knowledgeable guides and excellent support the entire way. This is a difficult tour due to the the high altitude(average elevation 11,000ft and goes over 13,000ft a handful of times and over 14,000ft once) and the very rugged trails-- only very adventurous folks should consider this trip. Join us for the Hardrock 100 tour and experience for yourself why runners consider the Hardrock one of the most challenging and beautiful races in the world!



Tahoe Rim Trail Tour -- August 1 to August 5 -- Tahoe City, CA

Tahoe Rim

The 165 mile Tahoe Rim Trail circles one of the most beautiful lakes in the world - Lake Tahoe. It winds through Aspen meadows, skirts high mountain peaks and runs for miles along ridgetops with stunning views. On this 5 day 74 mile Tahoe Rim Tour we explore the eminently beautiful northeast segment of the trail with tremendous panoramic views, Mt. Rose, Marlette Lake, and spectacular boulders and rock outcroppings. Some of the most stunning views from the Tahoe Rim Trail can be found on this section. We'll stay in comfortable lodges along the way with shuttle transport to and from the trailhead each day. The trail is well developed and very runnable in most sections. You won't soon forget the beautiful blue lake you'll run high above on this tour.



Angels Staircase 50m/50k/25k -- August 13 -- Carlton, WA

Angels Staircase

This is one of those runs that will just knock your socks off! These difficult but oh so rewarding courses take you to some of the most spectacular places in Washington. High above Lake Chelan and the Methow River the Angels Staircase 50m/50k/25k races run up and over high open ridges at 8000ft(making it the highest altitude running race in Washington), through high alpine meadows and past pristine lakes. You have to earn the views with steep climbs and descents and a trail that is quite rugged times but boy is it worth it! The wildflowers should still be blooming and the weather should be perfect!



Wonderland Trail Tour -- September 5 to September 9 -- Mt. Rainier National Park

wonderland

This 5 day tour will be entirely in the Mt Rainier National Park with 4 of the days covering the amazing 93 mile Wonderland Trail which circles Mt Rainier and is considered one of the world's most dramatic and scenic trails . As you travel around the mountain, you'll have the opportunity see its many unique and varied faces. You'll pass through several different life zones in the park including inland rainforests and subalpine meadows filled with wild flowers. The glaciers you'll see high above you create numerous rugged river crossings, two of which include suspension bridges to cross. And, while rain is always a possibility in the Pacific Northwest, we're planning our tour during the "dry" season. Running the Wonderland Trail Tour will be an epic adventure you won't soon forget!




North Cascades PCT 100k/50k -- September 18 -- Mazama, WA
No Cascades PCT

This may be the best non-100 mile race course in the country! The North Cascades PCT 100k/50k (an out back for the 100k and a point to point for the 50k) arguably runs one the best sections of one the best long trails in the world. This section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which is well maintained, between Rainy Pass and Harts Pass(the two northernmost passes one can drive to on the PCT) runs high open ridges for the majority of the time(2/3 of the course is above 6000ft!) only dipping down to below 5000 for the middle 6 miles of the 31 mile section(the courses start at just under 5000ft at Rainy Pass but climb to 6000ft in the first 3 miles). On This Course you are surrounded by Wilderness, National Park and you never cross a single road-- this is as beautiful, stunning, and awe inspiring as running gets in the the Northwest!



Winthrop Road Marathon and Half Marathon -- September 25 -- Winthrop, WA

winthrop

In it's first year(2010) the Winthrop Marathon proved to be quite popular and to be a good race to qualify for the Boston Marathon-- we had about 100 runners and about 25% of them BQ'd! For this year we've added a half marathon option that also should be pretty quick considering it too is a net downhill course-- the half marathon has 400ft net loss and the marathon has 1550ft net loss. Both courses are point to point courses on roads that get very little vehicle traffic and that closely follow the Chewuch River from the Okanogan National Forest to Downtown Winthrop(a small "western" town of about 500 people in the world famous Methow Valley). There are aid stations every 2-3 miles and a fun post race party at the finishline with local beer, food and live music.



Mt Spokane 50k/25k -- October 8 -- Spokane, WA

Mt Spokane

Why not squeeze in one more mountain race before the snow comes to the high country? Mt Spokane at 5,883ft is one of the highest peaks in Eastern Washington and is just covered in fun single track and double track trails. Standing all alone the mountain offers great views of the surround valleys and the distant mountains. The Mt Spokane 50k/25k will have everything someone looks for in a good trail race, big climbs, fun trails, nice views and a good challenge to reward ratio. And again as another race in the Cascade Rainshadow the odds of nice weather are pretty good.



Christmas at the End of the Road 5k/1k -- November 26 -- Winthrop, WA

Christmas at the End of the Road

This is a fun little road race, snow and ice covered road race that is. Traction Devices Recommended. But yes I did say it is fun! The race itself is low key and festive(costumes encouraged) but it's part of a huge weekend long winter celebration in downtown Winthrop with all kinds of fun things to do for the whole family including the inital lighting of the town christmas lights, top-notch fireworks and a visit from Santa. Check out the website for more info.



Deception Pass 50k/25k -- Dec 10 -- Oak Harbor, WA

Deception Pass

It seems so fitting to wrap up the 2011 year with a race at Deception Pass, which like Orcas Island is in the Olympic Mountains Rainshadow and the trails and course are like a flatter version of the Orcas race. But don't be fooled by the fact that it's in a rainshadow-- it will probably rain on race day-- the Olympic Rainshadow isn't as strong as the Cascade Rainshadow but you'll definitely notice the different vegatation that comes with the lower amount of rain that the area gets. But even in the rain these trails are fun to run as they wind their way in and out of coves and penninsulas and up and over the short but steep coastal hills. And in both of theDeception Pass 50k/25k races you get to run over the Deception Pass Bridge twice! Also just like at Orcas we'll rent out the state park's environmental learning center for the weekend and have a big runner sleep-over party!


Thursday, March 3, 2011

Great Trail Ettiquette Video

This great video made by my buddies at Friends of Capitol Forest (staring Olympia ultra runner Kris Ryding and the Race Director for the Capitol Peak Ultras, John Pearch) details how to handle runner/horse, runner/mountain bike, and mountain bike/horse interactions on the trails and at trailheads. This is film describes and walks through the key elements of effective communication and personal actions that result in safe and enjoyable mulit-use trail experiences.

Viewing this video will be mandatory for all participants in my races where the trails and or trailheads used for the race are shared with horse and mountain bike riders--so you might as well watch it now and make sure you're totally prepared to handle these possible scenarios the next time whether it's at a race or just a training run. enjoy!

5 Day Running Tour of a Super Cool part of the Appalachian Trail

Running the Ridges of the Appalachian Trail

Picture
North Carolina and Tennessee
Dates: May 2 to May 6, 2011
Accommodations: Camping
Start/End: Johnson City, TN
Meeting Place and Time: Johnson City, TN / 8:00 a.m.



Exploring the Balds of North Carolina and Tennessee

Picture
Some of the finest open ridge running in the world can be found on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and Tennessee. Our run will traverse the mile-high open "Balds" for many miles, rarely descending to the scenic valleys below. The trail, following the ridgeline for nearly our entire tour, often passes through scenic meadow and heath balds at places like Hump Mountain, Roan Mountain, Round Bald, Unaka Mountain, Big Bald and the aptly named Beauty Spot. Many Appalachian Trail veterans consider this segment of the Appalachian Trail, with its superb views from treeless meadows above 5,000 feet, to be one of the most beautiful and spectacular segments along the entire 2,178 mile length of the trail. You'll find the trail running sublime as you pass through these open meadows. In short, this is a trail runners paradise!

Sign up for this tour

Picture
Duration/Mileage: 5 days/82 miles
Difficulty: Intermediate - rough trail in spots, moderate distance with two long running days, moderate elevation change, several long climbs, altitude negligible, access to support vehicle some days
Maximum Group Size: 10
Tour Price
: $925
e-mail: adventurerunning@gmail.com

Telephone: 218-728-6443

Cell Phone: 218-340-6170