Running this for the 3rd year in a row but doing it solo tomorrow as my running partner Marel is still recovering from the arrival of our second daughter.
If you are running tomorrow and want to connect before, after, or even during the race, let me know. I'll be shooting for +/- 2 hours and the weather looks like it might even be ok (ie, no rain).
Two great technology journalists here in Seattle have just launched their new site – TechFlash. John and Todd have carried forward their previous blogs to this new endeavor and I wish them well.
If you want to stay on top of the tech industry here, tune into this site. Congrats fellas and look forward to the posts.
I was fortunate enough to start my morning with several hundred other folks at the Sheraton in downtown Seattle at the Color of Hope breakfast in support of Art with Heart. Good friend and Gist CEO TA McCann introduced me to this organization and I must say I am very impressed.
Their mission is to "empower youth in crisis through therapeutic books and programs that foster self-expression." It's about using art to help kids through difficult times and the program was really well done. Check out the site to learn more and get involved.
I did my part to try to help the Huskies salvage a miserable football season by participating in the Dawg Dash 10K on the University of Washington campus this morning. This was the 23rd year for the race but my first time.
It was great to hang out on the field before and after the race. Results aren't up yet, but my Timex Ironman watch showed me an unofficial 50ish minute finish time. Not too shabby given my desire to take it a bit easy today (no athletic vendetta at play today).
We spent today running a few errands and happened to drop into REI in Redmond during their big sale. We are shopping for dual strollers as we await the newest member of our family to join us and needed to go kick the tires on a few models. Yes, that is where I am in my life and, yes, I am ok with it.
Judging by the cars in the parking lot, people in the store buying necessary "gear," and overall level of shopping going on, there is no visible slowdown out here among what David Brooks so accurately labels as 'Bobos' (read Bobos in Paradise
We wrapped our day at Red Robin which is a wonderful combination of family friendly, good burgers, and sports bar atmosphere. Something for everyone and a fitting end to our outing.
I ran the Covey Run 10k this past Saturday out in Woodinville. Sponsored by Covey Run Winery, the race starts and finishes out at the Red Hook Brewery and benefits Seattle's Children's Hospital. I ran the 5k last year for the inaugural event pushing a jog stroller. This year I was solo and having my own personal version of the Olympics.
That's me crossing the finish line in a blazing 50 minutes (8-ish minute miles). I'm just to the right of the time clock and appear to be focused on the large beer holding tanks in front of me. A great event and a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday morning.
Update: I was reminded by my lovely wife that it was she and not I who pushed the jog stroller last year. Apologies my dear.
From my office on 5th. I love this stuff. Here is a clip from a couple years ago and what Seattle will get a taste of this weekend during Seafair.
We took a trip up to Mt. Baker last weekend for a few days and had a really great time. Here’s essentially the view from the deck of the cabin.
We stayed with friends near Glacier, WA and had absolutely fantastic weather. We continue our streak of sunny days out here although they are taking their toll on my grass which is pretty much completely brown by now.
The cabin was about 10 miles from cell phone coverage which was a nice change of pace. I actually took a very quick and chilly dip in the Nooksack River (North Fork, actually) after some good old fashioned peer pressure from the other gents on the trip. It was very, very cold. Imagine submerging in a glass of ice water and you’ll understand what it felt like. Snow melt is in full gear and the water is ice cold. Riley enjoyed the water and the sticks…
Here’s a map of where we went. It’s a nice area not too far from Seattle which made for a pretty short drive home on Sunday afternoon.
I had a memorable run
yesterday as part of the Seafair activities kicking off here in Seattle
now that summer has finally arrived. This year they changed the course
a bit and after starting adjacent to Huskie Stadium over by the
University of Washington, the route took us over the 520 floating
bridge. It was nice to run across the bridge with some 5,000 of my
friends. It was a beautiful day and lots of folks were out to cheer us
on.
It was also
memorable due to the price we had to pay for running across that
bridge. The price was in the form of some of the most brutal hill
running I have done in a long time. The person or persons that chose
the hill at mile 7 in Bellevue should be commended for their cruelty.
This was closely rivaled by the near vertical rise just shy of mile
12. Admittedly, I had not trained as much as I needed to for this race
so the hills really took their toll on me.
I
did not match my time from last year when I attacked this race with an
athletic vendetta and nailed a 1:55-ish finish time, but did manage to
finish with a respectable 2:10-ish. All in all, a great way to spend a
beautiful sunny day in Seattle and also a great way to spend my
birthday.
Riding the escalators up and down at Bellevue Square (or anywhere for that matter) is really fun. I hadn't really thought much about it but from her perspective it's one step away from an amusement park.
Venture Vice 
