Random Musings & New Management

Yesterday I took my sore-ass body out for a 7 mile trail run.  Since I have a few loose screws I decided to run up Marquam trail to Council Crest Park.  A tough "jaunt" when you aren't sore!  I brought Toblerone to work with me so we could go on the way home and enjoy the "warm" weather.  It was supposed to be close to 65 degrees yesterday and party cloudy. Considering most of the morning had us locked into gloom, I had my doubts.  Fortunately it did warm up to about 59 degrees by the time I made my way over to the Marquam Trail.

I wore my new Run or Die Twin Peaks shirt (pretty cool!) and a running skirt.  It was a bit nippy at first but I quickly warmed up, especially in the brief section where the trail was actaully exposed to sunshine. 

I was determined to make the climb to the top of Portland's highest point with non-stop running – a feat I had only managed once in about half a dozen runs here.  I didn't quite make it but almost!  It took me 45 minutes to climb 3.2 miles and about 1200 verticle feet.  At the top is an off-leash dog park so I let Tobey run around since the climb did nothing to tire her.  Talk about endless energy!  I cooled off quicly and was soon freezing.  60 degrees?  I don't think so!  I took some pictures at the top of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helen's (above) before doing a freezing loop around the top of Council Crest (to get my run up to 7 miles).  I was able to warm up once I started my speedy descent.  After I stopped I froze again pretty fast and had to crank up the heat in my car.  So much for a wam sunny day!  At least there was sunshine so I'll take it (and I didn't have to bundle up in layers).

I've really been upping my mileage game and that plus playing softball I need to be careful so I don't get injured!  70 miles in the last 30 days is more than I've run in a 30 day window since September.  It's about time

In other news, I'm handing over the Portland Trail Runners group to Larry and Chris.  They have some big plans for the group but still want to keep it simple and free.  I'm a big fan of simple and free (like the Orange County Trail Runners).  They are going to create a new site and everything to make group communication and collaboration easier.  Very nice!  With my pending move back to SoCal and never really having my heart in Portland, I didn't do the group much justice.  Hopefully they can spur the 75 members into greater participation.  I had briefly flirted with the idea of merging with Portland's other trail group but that group didn't seem like a right fit and also didn't seem real welcoming to newbies and shorter-distance trail runners.  Not everyone is an ultra runner   The whole reason I started both running groups was for people to find running partners and to help bring people/runners of all levels to a newfound or refound love of trail running.  Long live OCTR and PTR

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica