Trail Quest - State #29 - My Home State! Michigan!!!

When we were preparing to embark on our road trip to Michigan, centered on celebrating the Fourth of July in Petoskey, I was delighted to discover that there was going to be a trail race along the North Country trail from Wilderness State Park to Mackinaw City. Ta Dahh!!! My trail for Michigan!!! And what a fantastic race it was - the Waugoshance Trail Marathon & Half-marathon: fewer than 200 runners between the full marathon (which started in Cross Village) and the half-marathon (which I ran). All forested, mostly single-track trail, well-marked with pin flags, and friendly runners appreciating the terrain we were running through. We traversed incredible terrain - trees, ferns, bog-crossings, wild flowers, birds, and a whole lot of quad-busting dipsy doodle ups and downs - steep, steep, steep ranging anywhere from 10 yards to 30-40 yards long. I loved the ups (where I typically gapped anyone who happened to be near me) but was my typical oh-so-cautious on the downs (where I often stepped to the side and let people pass). Because the field of runners was so small, once the pack spread out I found myself running alone much of the time thoroughly enjoying the forest quiet of this lovely portion of the North Country Trail.

Now for the photo essay:

The start line in Wilderness State Park

Because the race was on narrow trails, I attempted to take photos while running (i.e., without stopping), with interesting results. The first photo was taken along a stretch that was entirely fern-covered. Beautiful! The second was as the trail narrowed to single-track and headed into forest and hills.

As the pack stretched out, I was able to actually stop to quickly snap pictures. These photos are of more forest and ferns, and a lovely stretch along French Farm Lake.

 And 13.1 miles later, after about a mile of running bike paths and dirt trails into town, the finish!

 

When I first read about the race, it described the route as "technical" trails and I wondered what constituted "technical." After the race, I decided that a technical trail is a trail where most of the runners fall down. I managed three falls (all between 8.5 and 10 miles-ish) - at which point I figured my kneecaps probably couldn't handle a fourth fall so switched from racing to easy running until I got on the bike paths leading into town. Afterward the race director chatted with me and mentioned that falling at least a couple times was to be expected along the course - and in fact, lots of folks at the finish had knees that looked a lot like mine! (Note the nifty wood-carved finisher's medal in my right hand!)

Despite the falls, I still came in second in my 60-69 year age group (I suspect out of a total of two in that age group) - and was awarded a beautiful handmade pottery bowl for my efforts! Taz is either proud of my accomplishment - or - is looking for that bowl to be filled with treats!

 Afterward, it was time for some relaxing, first with Taz as we got settled for the ride back to Petoskey, then for a stroll along Petoskey's waterfront by our house. Life Up North....so wonderful....

Catching up with June - Part 2 (and into July): Return to Petoskey

Having grown up in a small north woods, Great Lakes town, I do find Boulder's 4th of July to be rather boring. This year, I declared we would be spending the 4th in Petoskey. And here we are, having driven to Petoskey from the Ohio trail run (with an excellent stop part-way to visit cousin Kathleen in Ann Arbor). I gotta tell ya', there just isn't anything quite like summer on the northern Great Lakes. Ahhhhhhhhh. Here are a few photos that, perhaps, reveal of bit of the reason for my contentment.

Happy Taz! Ready to pounce at those feisty waves

Stop taking pictures - we gotta get to that water! Woof!

Weehaw! Time to run!!!

I see those ducks....

Happy running!  

At the Petoskey Waterfront - which I pass through almost daily

The (old) PHS track/football stadium

My route from home to the track

 Wildflowers along river and lake

 Sights along the run around the Bay (Petoskey to Harbor Springs)

Top of Michigan Trails Council - my heroes!

 

 Wonderful leisure time

My reading spot the other day

In front of our house - where we take Taz for a stroll many times each day

An All Hands On Deck gathering was held along the Bay by our house in support of the Great Lakes - one of many gatherings in communities along the Great Lakes in both the U.S. and Canada - where all lined the lakes and held hands at 10 a.m., July 3 

Murphey cousins, breaking bread in our now ready-to-be-lived-in Petoskey home

And, of course, the sunsets for which Petoskey/Little Traverse Bay is so famous

Keyakers at sunset

Rock sculpture in the suns

Catching Up With June - Part 1: Trail Quest State #28!

I may have mentioned in the past that I've been running with a bunch of guys on Saturdays for the last 20 or so years. Well, one of those guys, Shawn, works with the National Park Service as a lawyer getting polluters to clean up sites that are within National Park boundaries. One of the cases he worked on involved the Krejci Dump Site in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We ran a lot of miles together while he talked about the investigation into the dump site and waxed poetically about Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. This trail has been on my list for Ohio from the get-go.

This part of Ohio was most pleasant surprise - rolling, forested, rural. Really beautiful. And the trail was absolutely fantastic, following the towpath, forests on both sides, wildflowers galore, a multitude of birds including a bald eagle and a crane - and the biggest surprise: a trail full of some of the friendliest and most polite people. All but three cyclists (and there were lots of cyclists) gave a friendly warning as they were coming up from behind, and just as many people coming toward me gave a greeting. If you're passing through Ohio and looking for a run, do visit this park and trail!

Ready to run! From the Boston Station of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

About half-way and Taz spots Kendall. Time to sprint! (Then Taz goes with K and I'm on my own.)

The finish - and Taz spots pj. Time to catch a sprinter!

Ohio! Cuyahoga Valley National Park! A fantastic trail - thank you!!!!

Bolder Boulder Done! On to some fun!

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy running the Bolder Boulder - one of the most fun races ever. And I really like training with my running buddies through the spring, getting ready for Boulder's Memorial Day 10k. But my running preference, by far, is sightseeing by foot via the roads and trails of whatever our world has to offer. So as soon as I crossed the 2017 BB finish line, my running ramble recommenced. Weeehawww!

The Bolder Boulder wrap-up in photos:

Frank Shorter statue greets runners at the last hill to the stadium finish

Darned serious at that stadium finish

And darned happy afterward! (pj, Anita & Connie)

Post-race Memorial Day tribute. Very moving.

Post-race spread at the homestead

The annual VaughanMiller post-BB festivities, going strong after all these years

 So now, with the Bolder Boulder all wrapped up with a bow on top, it's time for some fun running!

Anita, Randall & Connie on the ever-delightful Meadowlark trail

Spring blooms along the Meadowlark trail

Yucca season along the Single Tree trail

Just 'cuz we're not training for a race together doesn't mean we stop our Wednesday workouts. NoSireeBob! Hill repeats on Boomerang. We sure do know how to have fun!

pj, Taz, Anita and Randall on Boomerang Hill

And guess what! Summer is here! Time for more trails! Kendall, Taz, and I hit the road tomorrow pointing ourselves toward Petoskey by way of Ohio and the Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Then it's on to Petoskey for the Fourth of July - Up North where they most certainly know how to celebrate the 4th. I'm psyched! Bonus feature: on July 8 I will be running the Waugoshance Trail Half-Marathon along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan from Wilderness State Park to Mackinaw City. Finally! A trail in my home state - just north of my home town, along what may be the most pristine stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline.

Waugoshance Point - Wilderness State Park - photo by Anderson Aerial Photography

 

Mud Season

With all the oscillating between snow-rain-sun, one can just imagine the mud puddles splashing up all over. And if you're one lively cattle dog, you don't have to imagine those mud puddles. Oh no, you get to run right through them. Thus Paul and I decided today, with its 80 degree sunshine, would be the day for Taz's spring bath. Taz just plain does not like water. And Taz, like our previous dogs, has been trained not to go in the bathroom. But when we approach the bathroom with a cup of treats (tuna today) and we point to the tub, he trots right in. Treats win out every time...he's so easy.

Bath done. Towel in place. And! Yummm!  More tuna!

Fresh fuzzy shiny Taz!

Ah well, so much for shiny... But there's nothing better than a happy pup!

Springtime in Boulder

Just as blossoms appear on the cherry trees and hummingbirds return to the feeders, so too do runners begin their annual cycle of Bolder Boulder training each spring. And, because it is Boulder, we get to experience a myriad of seasons during our Bolder Boulder prep.

April 29 - breaking trail through fresh snow for a Saturday tempo workout

One week later, May 6, too hot to wear a shirt

 

And a bonus feature on this warm day: cowboys getting ready for a cattle round-up!

Now for this past week.

Our Wednesday run, Kendall and Taz showed up during our cool down and got this pic:

...and the next day, Thursday, same time, same place 

(we ended up with about 6 inches of the white stuff!)

This late May snow storm was a bit messy for a day or two - but graced the flatirons and peaks with sparkling beauty bringing smiles to the faces of my Bolder Boulder training buddies and my long-time Satboys training buddies - all rendezvousing for a run in the sunshine on South Boulder Creek trail..

Randall, pj, Anita, and Connie - speedy training buddies

Joe, pj, AndyE - Saturday running gang

I've been running with all these folks for years. They keep me going - fit, happy, and sane. 

Running buddies - the best of friends!