Orcas Island 25K

I did it!!! I made it!! I participated in my first 25K (about 15 miles) race on Orcas Island. What an amazing experience. It was hard. Harder than anything I've ever done before. The first part of the course was about 7 miles from Moran State park to the top of Mount Constitution. It was not steep the whole way up, and the beginning hills, I was taking all in stride. The beauty around me was filling my tanks. My spirit was open and I was connecting with Mother Earth. I was walking/jogging with my friend Jenn, my training pal, my sister in spirit. The last mile or two going up was hard for her, and it felt good to be there to encourage her upward and towards our goal. She was doing the race with a sprained ankle! I had NO room to complain.

Me, Jenn, and Arthur before the race.

Goodbye, see ya later; Kiss!

Arthur waiting for his race to start.

Jenn and I, right before our race started.

Cascade Falls

Beautiful lake....like glass.

Jenn, climbing moss walls.

A waterfall of moss.

First views, almost to the top.

Jenn and I rounded a corner and saw a photographer waiting for us. Thanks for the great pic,
Glenn Tachiyama!

Fungus the size of my head.

Foggy trees.

At the top, we rested a little. Ate some soup. Had a beer. Took some pictures and grumbled a little at the fog, blocking our view.

Jenn and I on the tower.

Jenn, double fisting! :)

Then, we started back down to finish the eight or nine miles remaining. It was then that I had to overcome two major mental walls to keep on moving. We ran down a pretty steep section of the course, which was exciting and refreshing. Then, we hit more 'up' trail. My mind (and legs) resisted. I just wanted to sit down and protest. But, I kept on moving. One foot in front of the other. And soon, I was feeling better. The forest around us was gorgeous. Tall trees, new growth, fungus the size of my head, moss hundreds of shades of green or brown, ferns growing on branches above our heads, fog dense and close. It smelled of clean pine, musty mud, and misty mystery.

One of the COOLEST trees I've seen. Can you see the face? Think profile.....

Arthur, Jenn's husband, passed us on the trail as we closed in on the last 4 miles. He was running a 50K (30+miles), and had gone twice the distance as us! He's in another world compared to my own. Just as we found ourselves all the way 'down', I hit another mental wall. As we walked along the lake, it felt endless. My legs were numb. My feet were in pain. I was hungry, so tired, and ready to see my husband's face. I felt like I was a robot, void, just going through the motions. Jenn felt my lack of energy and had to 'pull me along' with her. I felt horrible about that, and I will never be able to express my thankfulness for her presence. It's the only thing that got me to the finish line.

Another cool tree on the edge of the lake.

As we turned the very last corner and I could see the flags and the finish line, I could hear people cheering us home. I started to feel the accomplishment, the pride, and the relief before I even got there. Jenn grabbed my hand and we ran across the finish line with tears streaming down my face.

The last hill....she promised!

Jenn and I as we crossed the finish line.

It was truly amazing. An experience I will never forget. Thank you Jenn, Arthur, and Jeremy for being there with me.

On the way home via the Ferry. Tired, very tired, but happy too!