With October beginning next week, we are now in the Fall Marathon Season, with so many great races one can participate in.  Next weekend is both the Portland Marathon and the Royal Victoria Marathon and we have local runners heading down to Portland to participate.  My running buddies Paul and Laura, with other islanders, will toe the Portland line.  Paul is wanting to run in 3:25 and Laura is running as a socialite.

I ran the Portland Marathon in 1991.  The course differs from the one used today.  Portland always puts on a nice run.  Visit:  www.portlandmarathon.org.

The Royal Victoria is just right across the water and is foreign to me.  I have wanted to run Victoria many times over the years, but one thing or another kept me from making the journey.  Next year I plan on being there and I am currently training to run fast.  Not sure how fast, but fast.  Visit:  www.royalvictoriamarathon.com.

Also, next week is the new Bellingham Bay Marathon, in, of all places, Bellingham.  Three island women are heading over there.  One, to run the marathon and two to run the half marathon.  Visit:  www.bellinghambaymarathon.org.

On Saturday the 13th is the Leavenworth Marathon over in the scenic town of Leavenworth.  This course has nice rolling hills and nice views of the surrounding mountains.  Runners are not required to wear lederhosen.  Visit:  www.leavenworthmarathon.com.

Then on the next day, the 14th, is the Spokane Marathon, which I have also run.  This scenic and hilly course follows the Spokane River west, then crosses the river at Seven Mile Bridge and heads back to town.  The craziest part to this race is having to run up Doomsday Hill at mile 22.  If you have ever run the historic Bloomsday Run in the spring, you know Doomsday Hill and what a pain in the butt that is.  At mile 22 it is a bigger pain in the butt.

Saturday, October 20, is the Halloween Marathon down in Olympia.  I haven't run this race, but it sounds like fun.  The also do a half marathon, 10 mile, 10K and 5K races as well.  For more information please call 360-273-9684.  I am sure costumes are encouraged.  I think I would go as a runner.

Down in Northern California is the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon in the Ave. of the Giants (www.redwoodsmarathon.org).  This race is on October 21.  I have run, with my son Ammon, it's sister race The Avenue of the Giants Marathon (www.theave.org) which is held the first of May.   Both races basically use the same course and the views of these giant redwood trees is awesome. 

On Sunday, October 28, the Tri-Cities Marathon is held in Richland.  Flat and fast course the winds along the Columbia River.  Visit:  www.4rrr.org.

There you have it.  A month long list of some great marathons to pick from.  Me?  I am not marathon running this October as Baby Finn should be arriving and I want to spend some time with him.

Happy Running.

I will be running my 100th day of continual running and to celebrate I am running 100 minutes or about 10 miles.  Want to join along?  Send me an email at clarkgilbert@rockisland.com and let me know.  Start time 5:30 pm.

Here is a map of the course.

Sunday, the 2nd, was my 91st day of continual running.  Sam, Jen and I went over to Victoria on the early morning ferry and spent the day.  They wanted Sushi and I wanted to run.  On past trips to Victoria I have made the time to go running and since I want to run the Victoria Marathon in October of 2008 I thought this would be a good way to spend a day trip.  Total miles ran was 15 in about 2:25 - give or take a minute.  I started from the Runner's Room running store on Douglas and followed the roadway down around the harbor and along the beach front all the way to Oak Bay, and then came back the, mostly, same way.  See map below.

Oak Bay is a cute little village with some really nice old houses.  The views over the water are of the Olympic Peninsula with some great views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  From Beach Road I could really see Trial Island.  The sky was cloudy and the temperatures were really nice.

I did run through both Beacon Hill  and Clover Point Park and I learned something.  Do not run through the "Dog Friendly" section where dogs can run free on a nice Sunday afternoon.  You know the dog motto:  "If it runs, chase it".

I had forgotten what it is like to run in a city.  Cement sidewalks, curbs, cutters, people walking three abreast.  Stuff like that.  The first couple of miles was a stop and go through the busy tourist center of Victoria.  Once on the water side things calmed down some, except for the dogs. I really don't like running on the unforgiving cement, but when in the Cement Jungle what does one do?

My body is holding up really well with all this running.  I thought it would.  My weight has stayed the same for the last three weeks.  Time to pay more attention to what I am eating and not eating, like green salads.

Here is a map of most of the route - minus the trail running and the dogs.

PAUL HOPKINS COMPLETES 4^TH IRONMAN ON AUGUST 26, 2007

Paul Hopkins, local runner and triathlete, finished the 25^th Annual Ironman Canada in 11 hours and 29 minutes, a personal best.  The cool and cloudy day kept the over 2600 participants in fine form as they completed the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon - 26.2 miles.  A full Ironman is 140.6 miles in length.  “I am really happy to have finished as fast as I did”, said Hopkins.  “I thought my swim was a tad slow, but I made good time on the bike and the run was awesome”. 

Hopkins swim time was 1:08, bike was 6:01 and the run was 4:10 which allowed him to break his personal best of 11:59 at last year’s race.  “I am sore and tired, but very satisfied with my performance today” spoken by Hopkins as volunteers were escorting him to the medical tent for evaluation.

Ironman Canada held in Penticton, British Columbia, draws triathletes from all over the world.  This was Hopkins’ third Ironman Canada and fourth Ironman overall.  He has registered, again, for next year’s race as well as Ironman Coeur d’Alene in Idaho.  Not many triathletes compete in two Ironman events in one year.

What is Ironman triathlon?

The Ironman Triathlon is one of the most grueling events in the world of sport, and also one of the most inspiring. Ironman triathlon features a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a complete marathon (26.2 miles) all in succession. Athletes have 17 hours to complete the event (from the 7 a.m. start until midnight).

Ironman History

Ironman triathlon had the humblest of beginnings, as a group of Navy Seals who were stationed in Hawaii, were discussing who were the fittest athletes in the world. Were swimmers, cyclists or runners the fittest? Navy commander John Collins decided there was only one way to find out, and that was to combine all three.

So on Feb. 18, 1978, 15 competitors decided to put themselves to the test by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. "Whoever finishes first will be called the Ironman," Collins said. And thus, Ironman Triathlon was born.

2003 marked the 25th anniversary of that first event and the growth of Ironman has been spectacular.

Since those humble beginnings, the sport of Ironman has developed into an international phenomenon. With 21 Ironman distance events sanctioned races worldwide for 2006, Ironman touches all corners of the globe and has races on all of the continents of the world except Antarctica.
         

Over the 30 years since this 8.8 K run began, the name of the race has changed three times.  The Record Run was the original name, after the local newspaper.  When the paper was bought and sold the race became The Journal Run and now the name The Loop Run and is managed by Island Rec.

Saturday morning was perfect as close to 150 runners toed the start line on Spring Street before heading off towards Warbass and around Turn - Pear Point.  Many of the local runners where there with the youngsters taking the top three finishing positions.  Paul Hopkins was the first ROD (Really Old Dude) to finish in 37:07 and fourth place over all.

For me the run was a success.  I had develop a goal range and finished within that range in 46:13, so I am happy.  I was concerned, as I was having a heel problem since Tuesday night run, that I might not be able to race.

Attached is the Race Results.

• Running helps me to feel good about myself by giving me goals and objectives that only I can accomplish. 
• Running helps ...   more »

Click on the attachment for the Half Marathon Results.

Personally, I liked this run and the course.  For me, since we don't have a huge amount of flat roads ...   more »

On the evening of July 24, I ran with Jane and Laura out in the DNR/Roche Harbor Watershed for 1 hour, 37 minutes.  This was my 51st day of continual running.

The run was great with sunshine, warm temperatures and great trails.  The company of Jane and Laura was pretty nice as well.

           

And want some help in determining some great places to run or want to hook up with local runners?  Send me an email and I will help you out!

Clark

clarkgilbert@rockisland.com

Back on June 4th, the day after the San Juan Island Marathon that I direct, I started a Running Streak - which is basically how many days in a row that I can continue running.

Why a Running Streak?  In a nutshell, motivation.  Knowing that I had made a commitment to determine how many days I could run without stopping has gotten by butt out the door and down the road.  My definition of a running day is a day where I went outside and spent more than 20 minutes running. 

Yesterday I logged my forty-one day of continual running.  Thus far, no aches or pains.  My longest run as been 1 hour, 50 minutes and my shortest has been 20 minutes.  I have also dropped 16 pounds.

I have not determined when I will end the streak, but for now I am really enjoying it.

See you on the roads.

This series of runs looks pretty good.  Attached is the registration form or sign-up at www.active.com.  I am planning on running the half marathon.  See you there.

Clark

Here is a map of the courses: