2011 Recap

Spreadsheet numbers for 2011 show 773 miles of running with a 5.9 average run. 1661 miles of bike riding with a 38.6 average. 167,200 meters of swimming for 103.9 miles and a 1689 average swim. Also threw in 38.1 miles of hiking with 7500 feet elevation gain. Ran in 6 different states and 1 Canadian Provence. Added three new state capitals visited. Two sprint triathlons, 1 olympic distance, 1 half distance, and Ironman Cananda.
Next year so far I am signed up for Vancouver Lake half marathon, Shamrock Run, Ocean Shores half iron in Washington, and the Oklahoma City half marathon. Trying to decide between the Des Moines half marathon or Minnesota marathon in October. Twin Cities marathon is supposed to be the prettiest marathon in America, but Des Moines has a half and would be cheaper. Either one gets me a capital. Also thinking of the Big Climb in Seattle in March where you climb the tallest building in Seattle.
Read a Pulitzer winning history book about Paul Revere, so I'm looking at Boston in September as just a vacation with my daughter Debbie. Airfare is cheap, hotels are trough the roof expensive, so I haven't committed to that yet, but pretty sure I will. Maybe even throw in a Fenway Park game while there.

Library and Other Dreams

For most of my adult life I had dreamed of having a library in my house. Several years ago, I bought a bunch of $39 Dania white bookshelves and had a library/computer room. At one point I even tried rope lights on the back of the shelves for accent lighting, but it never looked the way I dreamed of. Then in late 2006 I got promoted to supervisor at work and joined the Headhunters gym. The pay increase and confidence boost has changed my life in so many ways it's hard to imagine the way things were. One change I can see is the library room my daughter designed and made for me with Ikea shelving and accent lights. She also designed and put together a spectacular Vineman Ironman themed dining room. I've completed three full ironmans and five half-ironmans since 2006. Before joining the gym I had never run more then 8.5 miles and my knees and ankle hurt so much I thought I never would go more. Now 8 miles is a normal maintenance run during the off-season.
In 2010 I went back to see the Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park with my son and then went to New York City and Gettysburg with my son. A huge fantasy come true, one I would have prefaced with "someday if I win the lottery", just a few years ago. This year I played the Banff golf course, another fantasy from years back.
So as another year winds down, I'm very thankful for where I am and who I've become and how my kids turned out and here's to more fantasies coming true next year!

New Mexico Running 11

For the second year in a row, my daughter Debbie and I flew to New Mexico to see my Dad and Stepmom. Got to Albuquerque late Thursday night and went to the Standard diner for dinner- great food. It was on one of my new favorite shows- Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Veteran's Day we went to the Very Large Array down in central New Mexico. It's a radio observatory using giant antennas on railroad tracks. We got really lucky and the antennas were all in so we could see them lined up close. Ate at a small diner in the town of Magdalena that had a bunch of abandoned buildings, but a great diner run by a German couple with great food and good prices. Saturday I got up early and ran by the airport in Albuquerque through a neighborhood and a park for 3 miles. Then we went to Jemez Pueblo for their feast day. Got to the pueblo and it was jammed with parking a long ways away. So we continued on and stopped at the Jemez State Monument and toured the ruins of a 1630 church.
Then on to some sulfur falls and then ate lunch at a remote mountain resort that had elk stew. Passed the new Valles Caldera National Preserve, very pretty. Then into the town of Los Alamos. Had to drive through a security checkpoint to enter the town. Went to the small museum and they had exhibits about life in town during the bomb building. Saw a t-shirt on display and asked if they sold it, the guy said downtown at one store. So we went there and I got a mushroom cloud t-shirt. Really impressed with Los Alamos, running paths all over. Hiking paths galore from the town. On the way back we stopped for dinner at Sadie's in Albuquerque and had to wait 45 minutes for a table. It was featured on another great show- Man VS Food. The portions were huge, but I still finished my plate no problem. Sunday it was cloudy and rainy, so we went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and then just Dad and I went exploring the Sandias Mt roads. Ended up at a ski area about 8500 or 9000 feet and the snow was getting thick and had just a car so back to town. Monday morning I ran a new road by the airport to Mesa Del Sol on a great bike path, except it was littered with glass. Did 6 miles. Then we went up to Santa Fe to revisit the capitol building.
I tried to go in the chambers, but they were locked and the closest I could get was the viewing gallery above them. Went up to the second floor and they had an art gallery around the halls with some great paintings.
After lunch we visited the Georgia O'Keefe museum and the photography gallery beside it. Then on the way back we took the long way and drove the turquoise trail back for great scenery. At a tiny town of Madrid I think, I saw a bunch of strange shacks with a very 60's feel to everything. I expected to see tie-dye. Almost to town we stopped in a new shopping center at a great diner that had good food, good coffee, and two really cute waitresses. Tuesday morning before I flew out, went to Sophia's Place which is the other Albuquerque restaurant featured on Diners and had their blue corn pancakes. Then the flight home.

Albany Sprint Triathlon II

Back around the 9th of October (same day as the Portland Marathon) I did the Albany Sprint triathlon for the second time this year. The first one was back in April, this one was the same pool and same course, just a lot fewer people. Rode down in the Headhunter van and it was misting and sprinkling the whole way down. Got to the High School and set up the bikes and got numbers and t-shirt and it was only misting at that time. Watched Terri's wave and then it was our time to swim. I was in a lane with coach Denise and a guy named Kirk Rose. He's over 60, but has been at almost every Oregon tri I've raced and he usually wins. There was someone in our lane from the last wave still, but they wanted to start our wave anyway, so she said "get him out" and said "go". We were still on the deck so we all three jumped in and took off in a line about 10 seconds after our wave started. Denise led the whole way and I stayed right there. I think we did a 12-13 minute 750 yard swim. Since Canada I haven't worn my watch and they didn't have splits at this race. Ran out to transition and it was wet, but not raining. Took off on the bike and tried to stay at 19-20 the whole time. Passed Matt and said hi. After about 8 miles of pedaling along at a good clip but not zooming, coach Denise caught up to me and said "jump on", so I sped up and we pace lined for about 2 miles until she passed someone and I couldn't accelerate to stay with her. Came into transition about a minute behind Denise, but threw on the shoes and knee braces and took off. Saw Denise up ahead and stayed within sight of her. Matt flew past running like the wind, then Kirk Rose passed me just a little faster than me. When he got up to Denise I heard her say "hey lane mate" and speed up to stay him. I sped up to keep the same distance as before, but I was pushing it and couldn't close the gap. Anytime there was a curve, she would see me back there say something and speed up. I stayed within sight, but finished about 40 seconds to a minute behind her. A big enough group of Headhunters were done that they did a loud "moo" as I finished. (I moo at cows on bike rides) Stayed for awards and every Headhunter (8 of us) got a ribbon. I got 2nd place in my age group and coach Denise and Terri got 1st in their age group. Then we went to Chipotle in Salem for lunch and Starbucks for the ride home. Probably the first time the whole group has gotten a ribbon, fun day even if wet.

Indian Heaven

Sunday Terri and Jim took me horseback riding through the Indian Heaven wilderness area in southern Washington. The weather forecast said it was supposed to be nice, but of course it was wrong. Got to an old trailhead by the road to Lone Butte and saddled up. I hadn't been on a horse since 1999 or so. I was on an 8 year old called Mister. Jim led us up an abandoned trail to Placid Lake. It was fun try to pick up the trail as it vanished and reappeared. It was easier to do from a horse because you could see ahead. Made it to Placid Lake and there was a large group and an older guy came over and asked about the trail. He said he was George Acker and had a lake in the wilderness named for him. I had to ask him what he did to get a lake named for him. He explained that he was a logger and had built most of the roads up around the area. Luckily they stopped before cutting Indian Heaven. He was 83 and still hiking and going strong. We took a trail that launched straight up the mountain and had to rest the horses periodically. It was nice climbing and not having to work hard at it. Got up to the Pacific Crest trail and took that to a junction and went to Clear Lake where we stopped to eat lunch.
By then it was sprinkling and pretty cold at 4900 feet. Ate an apple and gave the core to Mister, he seemed to like me better after that. Got back on and took the loop trail back to the Pacific Crest trail. It was muddy and the horses had to work to find good footing. Got to Junction Lake where three trails come together and took a fourth trail, the abandoned old Pacific Crest route. It took us through beautiful meadows to Acker Lake. Then we rejoined the new route of the Pacific Crest at Bear Lake and then took a newer trail back to Placid Lake that was longer but more gentle. By then we settled into a rhythm and the only sounds were the soft clop of hoofs, the creak of the saddle and the tinkling of a metal strap on Terri's horse. The woods and meadows were beautiful and so quiet. The whole trip we saw one couple backpacking with their dogs, that's it. When we almost back to the truck, I realized I had never ridden more than an hour (rental rides), this had been almost 6 hours. Legs felt a little sore, but I felt great. On the drive back to town, I conked out for awhile from the fresh air probably. Great day and a lot of fun- Thanks Terri and Jim!

Montana Running

After doing Ironman Canada, I went to Banff for three days and then on the way home I decided to go down through Montana since I was even with it and had never been to Montana. Crossed over the border at Eureka Montana and filled the thirsty Jeep up with 3.69 per gallon gas after paying 1.19 per litre at Banff and 1.30 per litre at Penticton. Drove down to Kalispell and checked into a really nice Hampton. It was dinner time and I had read in a guide book about a good pizza place, so I found the Moose saloon and it looked rundown on the outside. Walked through the door and had to stand there a bit to get used to the dark and saw sawdust floor and tons of people. It was standing room only and loud. Ordered a pizza and found a seat as someone left. Really good pizza. The next day I headed for Glacier National Park and went in the west entrance to drive the Going to the Sun Road. Not too crowded at first, I would let anyone coming up go around so I could look around. Views kept getting better the farther I went. Then it started climbing and the views got incredible, but the road was on the edge and was dizzying to look over. Got to the high point, Logan Pass, and had planned to hike the Highline trail, but it was Labor Day weekend and the parking lot was swarming with circling cars looking for a space. So I continued down the road to Mary's Falls and did that hike to Mary's Falls and Victoria Falls. Then stopped and hiked to Sun point overlooking St. Mary's Lake. Beautiful park and great drive. Then out the east side and down to Helena to another Hampton that was not that nice. I was beat by then and didn't see anyplace to eat nearby, so I walked over to a Walmart, which I try never to go to, and got frozen lasagna and cooked it in the room and ate the whole thing.
The next day I went to the capital and it was open, so I walked around and admired the art. The house and senate chambers were locked but I could look in. Then I decided to run for the first time since the Ironman. They had a "healthy heart" path marked out around the capital and a nearby park for a mile loop, so I did that and then again and felt great so a third time for 3 miles that felt fantastic. Then it was time to leave Helena, which other than the capital area looked pretty ghetto- hundreds of casinos, every gas station and cafe was a casino. The capital area was very pretty and casino free, so I found downtown and it was very nice and casino free. The tale of two towns, they have a problem there. Radio, billboards, TV, all talked about a huge meth problem in Montana, get rid of 90 percent of the casinos and they'd still have too many. On the way out of Montana I drove through Missoula and downtown and by the college was nice and the rest was not. Then in Idaho, I had to drive through the town of Kellogg since I'm from Battle Creek. Nice little town with a dead downtown, but I saw a beautiful bike path through town and noticed it running by the highway for awhile. It's a 73 mile long path that crosses the top of Idaho and is maintained really well. Have to go back over and ride that one.
Got to Spokane and checked into the downtown Doubletree, the picture is from the room on the 14th floor. Walked over to the large park with the Spokane Falls that was really pretty. They were having a big concert, food event going on in the park, so I got crepes for dinner from a vendor and walked around the fair. Nice downtown in Spokane. Next day the long scenic drive home. Now that I've been to Montana, the only states I haven't been to are North and South Dakota.

Banff

After doing Ironman Canada, I took that Monday to relax with everyone. Tuesday I packed up and checked out of the motel and when everyone else went south, I turned north and headed up highway 97 to highway 1. Drove along Lake Okanagan for 80 miles or so and ate lunch at Kelowna at a place called De Dutch that looked interesting. Then after the lake it got cloudy and rainy. I stopped to get gas at the last town near the lake thinking it would go up as I got in the country. Five miles later the gas went down 20 cents a litre. Got to Highway 1 and it was a two lane twisty road with trucks. Through Mt Revelstoke and Glacier parks it was raining, but clear enough in the distance I could see mountains and it was beautiful. Got to Yoho park and turned off the highway and took a twisty road to Takakkaw falls, which one book said was Canada's highest.
Then back on Highway 1 up to Banff. Once past Yoho park the road became a divided highway just like an American Interstate with one cool exception. I got to see the wildlife overpasses I had read about. Didn't think to get a picture of them. Got to Banff and checked in to the Banff Springs. Cheking in the guy said "Mr Macey I see you've been upgraded to a King suite", I said "ok". Got to my room on the 8th floor and it was pretty big, I had heard the rooms in that hotel were small. In the top picture my room was at the top of the left tower with the dormer windows. I'd never stayed in a place with valet parking and instant service. I would pick up the phone and a girl would say "yes Mr. Macey". Woke up the next day and it was 37 degrees F and rainy. Oh well, decided to drive up to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. Several books called it the most beautiful drive in the world and from what I could see of it I would have to agree. At one point I saw a black bear in the road, so I stopped and while getting my camera a pick-up roared around me and scared him off. After that I kept the camera out and ready, but the only other chance was on the way back I saw some cars stopped and I got there just in time to see a mother bear and cub go into the trees. Stopped at all the viewpoints. When I got to Bow Pass, I pulled into the parking lot and hiked up to the viewpoint of Peyto Lake.
It was around 7000 feet elevation and started softly snowing. Drove up to just inside Jasper park to Athabasca glacier which is the start of several rivers including the Columbia. I was still 60 miles from Jasper so I decided to turn around and go back to the hotel.
The next day I had a tee-time at the Banff Springs course for 8:30.
Got there and was teamed up with a guy from Ontario and another guy from Manitoba. It had warmed up to the low 50's and only partly cloudy so I could see the mountains framing each hole. Did ok, lots and lots of sand. On the 15th hole a wolf sauntered down the side of the fairway, saw us and went around past some hikers on the trail beside the course and then back on the fairway like he owned the place. It was the most I'd ever payed for golf, but the only computer golf game I ever had back in the 90's came with the Banff course and I told myself "someday I'm going to play that course". After golf I drove the scenic highway 1A up to Lake Louise.
The books raved about it and the hotel there. The lake was pretty, but the hotel wasn't as nice as the one I was staying at. Hiked around the lake to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. That hike made the whole trip worth it- amazing views and it got better with every step. From the other side of the lake looking back at the hotel was when Lake Louise became really impressive. The teahouse was 3.3 miles and 1200 feet up from the lake with great views of the mountains and glaciers. The girl who served the tea and sandwich said she hiked up and worked 5 days and hiked back for two days off and had to carry anything she needed. It started softly snowing at the teahouse, so back to Banff for some Alberta beef. The next day I packed up and checked out and said goodbye to Banff. Took highway 93 through Kootenay park and stopped and hiked Marble canyon and later the Paint Pots. Ate lunch at Radium Hot Springs and then the long drive past golf course after golf course with the Rockies on the left all the way to the border crossing into Montana.