State 48: Alaska

And we are off. First flight to Minneapolis for a four hour layover. Air travel is always: Hurry Up and Wait . . 

No joke, I think I flew over Brookdale Park, where I did my last track workout before the race. A 1.5 mile warm up, 4X200-meter strides with 200-meter jog, then ran 5-minutes with a 2.5-minute jog, 4-minutes with a 2-minute jog, 3-minutes, with a 1.5-minute jog, then 1-minute with a 1-minute jog, Finished with a 1 mile cool down. I felt really good. I felt strong! With every step of my right foot in the name of God the Father, every left foot, God the Son, and with every turnover, I feel led by the Holy Spirit, who is in me and surrounds me.

When we landed in Minneapolis, we decided to get something to eat and went to the Delta Sky Club. When we boarded, I was in row 8, but the middle. I asked the man next to me if he would switch with Ron who was in the same seat as him, but across the aisle. He told me that he was fine where he was. Ugh! I was a little upset, but he seemed socially off so that was that. Gonna smile anyway!

Maybe he will make it into "the book" one day!

The gentleman on my left felt bad. He tried to make me laugh and said, "Aaaah being together is over-rated!"

After a long flight, we made it to Alaska and got our rental car.

We Made It!

Remember the Microsoft Outage? Yup! Hopefully all will be okay going home. When we made it to the hotel, we were able to check in, but we were not given any room keys. Since everything was down, we had to be walked to our hotel room and be let in. We were so tired, we just went to bed!

The next day, we woke up early. We drove to the Sun City Cafe. Ron and I shared a cinnamon role and I had a delicious cappucino. We loved it there and went back again.

Scrambled eggs, bacon and whole wheat too!

When we left the cafe, we drove to REI. It was super stocked - like no other REI store I had ever been to. That's Alaska! The store had this adorabl Antique Coleman on the shelves!

An old Banged Up Metal Coleman!

As we came out, we saw a Thunderbird F-18 flying overhead. Welcome to Alaska! There are lots of military and military families here!

Anchorage, Alaska

Next stop: Hiking. We hiked up Flattop Mountain. Saw a Magpie! Super cool! I love birds!

Magpies are all over Anchorage

Flattop Mountain is the most hiked mountain in all of Alaska. It is a day hike. Perfect for pre-race. 

Blueberry Loop Trail

In the clouds!

Grabbed some lunch/early dinner at Sun City Brewing.

And picked up my Packet for The Skinny Raven Half Marathon.

So Excited!!!

We drove back to the hotel. I started feeling sick. So. since Memorial Day, I have been having bouts of vomiting and major stomach issues. It seems I would go 2 months and it would happen all over again. I went to the doctor and of course, "everything is fine", but I need GI work. Met with a new GI doctor, since my doctor of 46 years retired. We scheduled a colonoscopy for after this race. I did not feel well. I told Ron, I think I am inflamed. Ugh! We were both tired, and went to bed at 9pm. Thank goodness the hotel had blackout shades because the sun stays up until like 2am in Alaska during this time of year. I don't know how they survive winter when all they get is 4 hours of daylight!

I awoke at 3am not feeling good at all. I was very sick. Bad cramps, not good. I think I might have run too many 12 mile runs for this half. My stomach starts to fall apart when I run too many miles. I was not doing good. It seems my Crohn's was flaring. Ugh.

When we got up the next day, I felt dehydrated and starving - of course, there was nothing in me! This morning, we went to Jackie's Place. It seems everyone there was older - a much older crowd than the Sun City Cafe. Loved this pic on their website:

Jackie's Place

The guy at the front desk (yes the keys were all straightened out) said that he saw a moose walking down the road when he came into work. Ron and I did not see any moose while we were in Alaska. Anyway, breakfast was great - but more tummy issues. today, we decided to take a ride and not do any hiking.

Seaward Highway Views

Lots of people looking for whales along the way. 

Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

Drove Through This Tunnel to get to the harbor area.

Prince William Sound is known for lots of glaciers. It is also known for the Exon Valdez Oil Spill in 1989! The spill affected hundreds of seabirds, sea otters, river otters, harbor seals, bald eagles, orcas, salmon and herring. It took until 2014 to see some species make a full recovery!

We stopped at Whiitier Oceanfront Cafe for lunch. Great views, but they lost our order and it took forever to get our food. We did see some seals in the slips. It was also pretty windy and cool out. After lunch we walked around, but it started to drizzle. So, we headed back to Anchorage. 

Whittier Harbor

Lots of Cruise Ships

They say the puffins land on the back of the cruise ships. I was hoping to see them - but, ugh, no puffins.

On the way back, we were in standstill traffic on the Seward Highway. I read that someone died in a bad accident. Praying for all the people involved and the family of the person who tragically died.

Race morning: Took 2 Prescription Immodium. I was sick from when I woke up. I looked pale. I am exhausted from going to the bathroom. Reading Psalm 23. 

Went to the hotel restaurant. Had water, coffee, and my homemade banana bread. Ugh. Cramping. Met a man from LA, this was state 26 for him. Met a husband and wife from Michigan. They were on vacation. Told Ron to give me the room key. I was not well. Rolled out. I used the bathroom 7 times in the. Every time I drank something, I felt cramping. Ugh!

Race start: Saw a man with Bib #333. I kept praying. Ran 1/4 mile to warm up. Did 1/4 mile in strides. There was energetic music - but, I was disappointed because they did not play the Star Spangled Banner.

About 1/2 mile in, sea ducks flew over the runners' heads. They were quacking and quacking. It was pretty amazing! Ran a bit further and got onto the trail, which we were on for 3 miles. We ran toward the airport. That's when we had to run up, and down a big hill, turn around and do it again. Ugh, I was getting cramping on my left side. I knew I was dehydrated, so I was stopping at every water stop. I was mostly doing sub 9-minute miles. After the turn around and coming down the last hill, I started to feel not so good. I saw Ron. He rented a bike, and was following the runners on the trail. A plane took off right behind him, I was like, "Oh Wow!". I pushed to mile 10, but things just seemed to fall apart after that. The cramping got worse, more repeating Psalm 23: He restores my soul, and leads me in the path of righteousness for His name sake. Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Repeat...You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over! We started back on the path. Last 2 miles to go. Ron was on the path. Someone was on an electric bike, they whiskey throttled and nearly took Ron out. I screamed, "Dear Lord Jesus, Help Us."

Ron kept telling me that I looked strong. I knew he was lying. He handed me a water bottle. My stomach hurt so much, I couldn't even sip the water. I gently dropped the bottle on the side of the path for Ron to pick it up. Just then, I heard a woman, who was riding a bike alongside of a guy, yell out, "hey you, you dropped your water bottle." I was so mad. I knew I dropped the bottle. Ron said drop it to the side when you are done. I knew he would pick it up. I wasn't littering. I felt judged. I yelled back, "I know, my husband is behind me. He's going to pick it up...but thanks for not judging me." You know if she were so concerned with the environment, why didn't she offer to pick it up? Nope, of course, not. Pray some more, Beth, "God help me to finish this race!"

I knew there was a big finish to this race. You run about or what feels like 1/4 mile straight uphill. It is absolutely horrible. The hill is so steep that the race gets people to volunteer to run and cheer you on as you go up this steep incline. It was pure torture! Then, just before you finish, you have to go up another hill, then straight to the finish. I heard the announcer say, "Watch the ramp at the finish." You can see in the video, I was stumbling and then almost fell, and threw my hands up, as I crossed the finish line.

I was so dehydrated that I was confused. A woman handed me a medal and I asked her, "Did I finish?" Then she said, "You know what, I am going to place this medal over you." She took the medal from my hands and placed it over my head. I tried so hard to get under 2 hours. I trained so hard, I felt so strong. You never can predict race day. I walked towards a tree. My legs were shaking. I leaned against the tree and just sobbed. 2 hours and 57 seconds. Fourth, again!

On the bright side, though, at least I didn't crap myself!

Ron came over to me, and said/lied, "You did great." I was still crying. Then both calves at the same time got charlie horses and I thought I was going to throw up. "Ron," I yelled, "Please rub my calves, they're cramping." I have to say, that was a first. I never had that happen to me before! Ron guided me to an area where there were foam rollers and yoga mats. I asked for 2 therapy balls. I sat like in a number 4 position with right leg bent in front of me. I placed one ball under my calf and the other ball on top of my calf, and massaged my calf. Switched legs, and crushed my other calf between the two therapy balls. After that, I just wanted to go back to the hotel, shower and relax, but there was a beautiful garden and free beer, so Ron was taking it all in. I felt so nauseous and I felt bad that I was not enjoying all the race had to offer. 

Finally, we went back to the hotel. The shower felt great. We actually booked an early dinner at 4pm at Sullivan Steakhouse. I had my absolute favorite: Beef Wellington! It was perfect. Another Race Experience and Race Dining in the books.

The next day, it was drizzling, but we took an early morning hike by Thunderbrook Falls. We saw 3 small black bear cubs. We wondered where Momma bear was and warned some other hikers. It was a beautiful little hike. And, of course, we saw more magpies! Since my tummy still wasn't 100%, we took it slow and decided to take a ride to Seward. The Alaskan Mountains look so different in the rain. They were blasting the road and we learned a new term, "Pilot Car" This is the car that leads a bunch of cars through one lane on the highway, Then, after that bunch of cars go through, they shut down the lane. The Pilot Car turns around, and leads a bunch of cars going in the opposite direction. We headed back to our hotel, packed up and left for home the next day. 

Alaska is in the books!

Train Hard,

Run Happy,

Run To Inspire,

and God Bless America!

State 47: Oregon

I ran the the Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

We flew in on Thursday, May 2nd. We left at 3:33am. It was an early flight, to say the least. Of course there is always a little time for coffee in the Delta Sky Club before we boarded at 5:35 AM To say I was tired is an understatement. And I am the person who cannot sleep on trains, planes or in automobiles! 

Boarded, Zone 1 Seat 1. This is a great seat if yo are the person who can sleep because you have to stow your bag in an overhead. I figured out, after all the flying I have done, the people who are in the back like to sneak in when 1st class is called so they can put their luggage in the overhead bins in first class. This way, when the plane reaches the next stop, they hurry up out of their seat (yes, they are those people too), don't have to carry their luggage through the plane, and grab it out of first class before disembarking. The only problem is when you have Zone 1 Seat 1 - and it's packed with carry-ons that belong to people somewhere in the back. Grrr! Now, you have to seek out an empty 1st class overhead, while fighting everyone who is now embarking on the plane! Then, if you want your laptop, or need something from your bag, you have to get up once the plane is in the air, reach up, hope nothing shifted, bring your bag to your seat, get whatever you need/want out, and then put your bag back. 

We had a layover on Minneapolis. Another phenomenon that I discovered is that all throughout America, you see the same things flying into each airport. First you see some green, then you see farmland, then little baseball diamonds or football fields, little homes, developments, apartment buildings, airport.

Could Be Anywhere USA

The flight out of Minneapolis, we were bumped to first row in Comfort plus. I call this first to lose. Aaagh - just missed getting bumped to first class. Oh, well There are a lot of people on this flight. Lots of people wearing masks. The irony - they are asking for the cookies, pretzels, and soda or diet soda! As a Registered Dietitian, I have so promoted healthy habits - keeping your weight within normal limits, exercise, veggies, prayer and meditation, great sleep - to boost immune strength, but people would rather rely on their masks. Reading Psalm 21 to keep calm and de-stress.

We have landed in Portland. We get our rental car and we are off - looking for a place to eat. I am starving!!! I recommend Ron drive to a restaurant called Steeplejack Brewing. The inside of this building is beautiful. It was a church and the owners have preserved all the stained glass windows.

Admiring This Amazing Restaurant

Still Has That Church Vibe

I had the Kittenry beer. Ron and I shared the Brussel Sprouts with hot honey. The food was amazing!

After we ate, we traveled to our hotel. I was exhausted and was fighting a little headache. Ron and I called it an early night and decided to get up early the next day and drive to Mt Hood. In the morning we met the cutest older lady from Pennsylvania. She was visiting her nephew. She explained that she was traveling alone because her husband had passed. We found out that we had similar experiences. Her husband took his boat out fishing and he never came back. She thinks he went overboard. So very sad. I explained that I know what it is like to say so long to someone, watch them leave, like they have done hundreds of times in the past, and to never hear from them again. This is why I run - that and to bring glory to God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13

Before traveling to Mt Hood, Ron and I sat in the hotel lobby with the hotel coffee and the banana bread that I make every week. I always pack it because it is my staple before every run, track workout, and race!

It was about 1 hour and 45 minutes to Mt Hood. We stopped at a little coffee place. Best coffee I have ever had! it was called Thirsty Coffee Bar and it was in Cascade Locks, Oregon. 

Posted on IG. 

I loved the Psalm 94 written on the floor by where you stand to place your order. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul Psalm 94:19

it is hard to eat the way I normally do when I travel. I am bound to have issues after this beautiful breakfast sandwich. 

Back on the road and just like you would think, logging trucks and orchards!

Logging Truck, Of Course!

Grapes!!!

Oregon is such a pretty state. We also saw people selling salmon on the side of the road!!!

Getting closer to Mt Hood!!!

Mt Hood!

So Pretty!

So Close!

Can't Believe How Much Snow There Is in May!

Cue The Bird Of Prey!

People Are Still Skiing!

And Snowboarding!

11,240 Feet Elevation!!!

Shout Out To Smokey!

It was great learning the history of Mt Hood

Mountain Rescues!

We stumbled on Mt Hood Timberline Lodge. It is beautiful. I didn't know it's where the Shining was filmed! There are pictures of Jack's crazed face on tee-shirts at the gift shop! LOL! The lodge is absolutely beautiful. 

It was constructed from 1936 to 1938 On September 28, 1937 President Franklin D Roosevelt formally dedicated the Lodge. The Lodge was closed due to World War II in 1942, and reopened in 1945.

The stonework is beautiful

The Lobby Is Gorgeous!

 Look at this architecture!

Gorgeous Banister!

Love This!

Beautiful!

And tucked away behind the lobby was this cozy bar, The Blue Ox Bar

So Excited! What A Find!

So long Timberline Lodge!

So long Mt Hood!

Of course I got a shout out too! Luvutons!

33!

Back in Portland, things were a bit different. We saw a good amount of homeless camps and tents!

November 2020, Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of all illicit drugs. This made Oregon the first state in the US to do so. This could explain why there were so many homeless. I recently read Alex Berenson's book: Tell Your Children: The truth about marajuana, mental illness and violence. This is a very scary book! Sadly legalization of or lenient drug laws target adolescents and they need to know the consequences before they start down a road that may wind up ruining their lives..

When we got back to the hotel, I went to the hotel gym and worked out a bit. Did about 3 miles on the elliptical.  Then, we showered and had a nice dinner at the Ringside Steakhouse in Portland. It was very cozy. Great fireplace! Portland is full of amazing restaurants.

The next day was Saturday and it was pouring!

This Is Portland!

I was hoping it would not rain on race day. It was 46 degrees F. We decided to go shopping for some really good rain gear. Ron was crazed that I was so ill-prepared in Tokyo - he said, "Not this race!" First stop, though, The Broder Nord Cafe. This place was amazing! They had Æbleskiver Pancakes, which are spherical Danish fried batter with Yorshire pudding in the center. Add this to the crispy bacon and you had me at hello, or hej!!

The Broder Nord Cafe

This was super indulgent! Next stop, REI, of course! We went to 2 different REI stores to get me perfectly outfitted for rain! Next stop, Foot Traffic Sellwood for packet pick up, which might have closed since I ran the race! Sad, some parts of Portland looked like they were taking a beating based on the economy!

Some Boarded Up Store Fronts

We drove past where the race was to start. Looks like it will be rainy and 49 degrees F. Ugh!

Finally race morning I woke up at 5:30am, which is 2:30am EST Had my coffee and banana bread by 6:00am Of course due to my eating foods that I wouldn't normally eat, my stomach was way off this morning!

Not Uncommon With Crohn's To
Blow Through The TP Rolls In The Hotel Rooms!

Looks like it will be 48 degrees F and raining. I will warm-up with a thick Under Armour shirt over a thin Under Armour shirt. Since it is close to 50 degrees F, I planned on wearing my thinner CRX pants. 

Of  Course, My Favorite Place to
Start & End My Half Marathons!

Ron Wanted Me To Wear A Heavier Rain Jacket,
But I thought It Would Be Too Hot

I jogged a bit to warm up. Four strides for leg turnover. The race started at 9am. I don't usually wear my Shokz or bring my phone, but for some weird reason I did on this race. Funny, I don't remember hearing any songs! I was very nervous. My goal was to run a 9 to 9 1/2 minute pace.

The race starts and ends at Fields Park in Prtland's Pearl District. From there, the half marathon course heads south along the Naito Parkway and the western portion of the Williamette River and towards downtown Portland. At about mile 5+, you turn back north toward the finish line. You have some busy streets to cross, and I remember there was a volunteer who crossed a man who was maybe 10 meters in front of me, but when I got to the street, he wasn't paying attention, and I almost got hit by a car. Of course, I went Jersey on him and told him that he should have been out there with the stop sign like he was for the guy ahead of me. This propelled me to run faster! 

I did get lost somewhere on one of the side streets after the turn around. Again, there were no volunteers - only red arrows taped to traffic cones. Well, with the wind and the rain, the arrow sign was flat, and I missed where I was supposed to turn. After reaching another busy street, with no volunteer, I decided to retrace my steps and take a peek at the cone to see if I missed an arrow. Yup, that's what happened! For awhile there, it was the arrow to arrow half! 

Even though the race is mostly flat, as the course reaches the southernmost point in Corbett-Tenwilliger-Lair Hill (someone's actual name) you climb a bit, before you coast back down and head towards the turnaround point. 

The course had water stops every 2-3 miles. I remember grabbing a water at mile 3. I felt a bit dizzy at mile 6. My stomach started to hurt. I got my Maurten's Gel out. I held on and took little bits. I was afraid I was going to have stomach issues. i finished the Gel at the end of mile 7. Popped it back in my pocket of my rain coat. I never just throw the gel packets on the ground!

About mile 9, I started to have some stabbing pains in my side. Yeay! After almost getting hit by the car, we all were running in a little park on a paved path. It was probably really pretty if it weren't raining. I was running alongside a guy, who I felt like he was trying to keep up with me, so I picked up my pace to try to put some space between us. 

I wondered if I should have just run with him because the path was lined with homeless people in tents. There was a distinct smell of detergent. Then I noticed someone was collecting rainwater in a bucket that must have had detergent in it. I assumed they were washing their clothes!

Next, I saw some runners who were faster than me coming towards me. I guessed the turnaround was just up ahead. I picked it up a bit. I couldn't wait to turn around and start my way back out of this paved park area. I grabbed another couple sips of water at the turn around. Making it back after the turn around, some guy past me. Grrr. I gotta keep up with him! I tried to hang with him. He was picking up his pace! I started to feel defeated, then, I heard my daughter's voice in my head, "You are strong, mommy! You trained for this!" Then Rebecca's voice, "There's always room for new energy." So, I just kept repeating in my head, "You are strong, there's always room for new energy." I also like to repeat in the name of the Father when my right foot hits the ground, in the name Son when my left foot hits the ground, and in the name of the Holy Spirit when I take my next breath.

Ugh, more arrows. The guy was gone, and I was back through the neighborhood section with all the arrows, you could have easily gotten lost in this section. The volunteers that were out earlier in the race, were no longer around! I guess they didn't like standing in the rain. I don't blame them. Then, I saw a volunteer, and I yelled, "Where am I going?". He screamed back,"Go straight and make a right."

Mile 12. I am so close. I made beleive I was on the track at Brookdale Park. Go for a 9-minute pace, Beth! Some more turns, more orange cones - and there was Ron! He was volunteering! He was directing runners and helping with traffic! There was a small, steep uphill, then you had to go up over a curb into the park's parking lot entrance. I screamed, as I thought I was going to trip over the curb. Two years post knee surgery and curbs are still hard to maneuver! Then, I made a sharp right to the finish 1:59! I gritted my teeth to make it before it past to 2:00 hours. I poured on those last few meters! Then all I saw was the guy with the medals, "Congratulations!" he said. Squeezed out a "Thank you!" Stopped my watch. Threw my hands up in the air and yelled, "Yaddah" the Hebrew for giving thanks and praise to God! State 47 in is the books!

State 47: Oregon

I walked around the parking lot looking for Ron. I saw Ron fixing cones and continuing to help people go through to the finish line. He was soaked, I was soaked, and it started to rain harder. All that was worth it - Ron came in 1st in his 5k age group and I came in 1st in my age group! we both got pint glasses! WooHoo!

Thank goodness I brought a change of clothes, I was shivering. I changed my top in the car, but kept my soggy spants and sneakers on. We went right to the hotel and I took a hot shower. Just like Tokyo and Iowa, another great hot shower post cold, windy, and wet race!

Next stop. Little Beast and Lawless BBQ! I had my eyes on those burnt ends! We were stuffed and happy. We drove back to the hotel, where I fell asleep at 5pm! I awoke at 4:48am the next day! I slept nearly 12 hours! After waking up, showering and getting some coffee, we packed up the rental car, drove over to a little place for breakfast, called, The Jam Place. Another great Latte! And another great race! Another great trip! Oregon is in the books!

Train Hard,

Run Happy,

Run To Inspire

and God Bless America!