The Never Again Mt. Spokane Trail Run

This will be fun, I said.  It can take the place of the Wild Moose Chase we used to do in October.  Great idea my friends said. They moved the Wild Moose Chase from the Mt. Spokane cross country ski area to Riverside State Park.  Boo! We loved doing the Wild Moose Chase on the cross country trails.  This should be a good substitute.We were all smiles when we got there.  It took me back to when I used to ski on Mt. Spokane and my kids learning to ski there.  Good times.  

Bigfoot was even there! Well, this is the Pacific Northwest you know. 

Still smiling!

Mt Spokane ski area is a beautiful location.  We were doing the 5K.  3.1 miles no problem no matter what the course.  I was sure it would weave back and forth as we climbed the mountain. 

No White Flags, Never Give up! 

Oh my, we have to go up that long hill?  Yes, we did and it kept going and going.  I was thinking it would be similar to the Wild Moose Chase.  Nope, it went straight up for 1.5 miles.  As I climbed this hill I knew this was going to be more than tough but I still had hope for some flat spots.  No weaving up the mountain and no flat spots. Just up and up!

Climbing and climbing. 

Great view.  Not sure what lake that is.  

And we are still climbing.  Doesn't look like much of an incline but it was.  This was about the time we said never again.  

The lodge is way down there. 

Fall colors!  

People are starting to come down.  There is hope.  Thank you Jesus! We heard, "you are almost there!" several times.  Almost there when you have reached the turn around and are heading back down feels different than when you are still climbing. 

Peggy passed us as she was coming down and we were still going up.  I remember some words she spoke to me. Something like, you said this would be fun and never again!  Sheila and I were on board with that.  We almost didn't make it to the turn around but I needed water.  I didn't bring any because it was only three miles.  HA! 

The turn around spot.  I drank a whole bottle of gatorade (which I never drink).  We had a couple of snacks too.  We took our time at this spot.  It will be easier going down for sure. 

It was easier going down if you don't count your toes jamming into the front of your shoes and your legs being shot from going uphill.  Loose rocks weren't fun at all on the downhill.  

See the lodge way down there! 

Taking pictures kept my mind off of what a bad idea this was.  

I kept thinking at least we could say we did it even though it was really hard! It will feel like we really accomplished something as we crossed the finish line.  I was talking myself into that.  

We made it! Now the fun part.  Food and fellowship!  A free lunch came with our entry.  I decided I could eat whatever I wanted to after finishing this event. A big cookie, chips, bratwurst etc.  

There was a small festival going on at the ski lodge at the same time we finished our grueling course.  

We are now smiling again and we were all talking about how hard this event was.  We were glad to be finished and we were enjoying our post event time together.  Good friends are the best.  

We even had music!

We topped the day off with ice cream.  The event was hard and we all said never again but we finished.  Bonnie, Sheila and Peggy might research my next event suggestion before they commit to it.  The time spent together was the best as it always is!  Oh, and the ice cream was delicious! 

 

Chewelah Peak Trail Run, 49 Degrees North 2013

Packet pick up!  This was a new adventure for me and I loved it!  Dominic asked me to help with the Chewelah Peak Trail Run which benefited Team Gleason.  I had Team Gleason duties!  Get items to raffle and help spread the news.  Dominic was the pro and I was the rookie.  

This is Dominic and his buddy Frank.  I liked Frank a lot until he criticized the hanger that the Drew Brees jersey was on! Just kidding Frank.  You are one of my favorite new friends.  You know I expect that hanger to be decorated next year.  

 A couple of raffle items!

 Nice shirts.  Can't wait to get one that fits.

 I arrived at 49 Degrees North about 7:00 AM.  I was the lone ranger for a while but I got my stuff set up with the help of Eric and a nice man that actually came from the west side and camped at 49!

 Love this place.  If I could,I would live here.  It is so beautiful and has a lot of great history for me.

 It looks different in the summer.

 Mary Croston came to volunteer for the trail run.  Thanks Mary!  Love being your friend and working across the hall from you.  Great conversations always.

Ryan Grant came to help also.  I teach 5th grade with Ryan.  Boy, he was a huge help to me coming back to work.  I appreciate that so much.  I bet I am on my own next year, right Ryan?  Just kidding.  Good man for sure!  Always there to help Ryan is!

 Action shot!

 Packet pick up at the mountain getting set up.

 HMMM, what should I do now?

 Frank had baby duty for a while.  I wonder what he is teaching this young boy.

 Team Gleason volunteers.  Thanks you two!

 Pre-race directions and send off.

 Mariane and Kolette

 Evan and Lesley.  I wonder how Evan feels about hanging out with his mom's friends.

 This is the 3.5 group getting ready to start.  The 10 milers already left.

 Go Cougs!

 Remember earlier I talked about a man that camped at 49?  This is his gear.  I think his name was Dave.

 A little package of precious!

 This is what the lodge looks like off season.  Empty.

 The parking lot empty

 The ski racks empty!

 Dominic is guiding the runners up the hill.  I heard lots of comments about the hills.

 Family time!

 Go Evan Go!!!

 Not much of a crowd because the runners hadn't started arriving back at the lodge.  I have skied these hills.  They are steep!  Going downhill on skis way different than running up them.  I did figure out if I would have done the 10 mile race I would have won my age group.  No one in the 60+ women.  Of course I would have had to complete it.  

 Great banner that Chris Smith donated for the run.

 Go Kolette.

 and Lesley!

 I never knew that 49 N was carved in the tables!  I learned something new!

 I so appreciate these people for toughing the hills for Team Gleason and for me!  Thanks!

 Remember when you could fall asleep anywhere? Those were the days!  Nite nite Evan!

 Frank!

 Waiting for Freida, the only 10 miler in our group.  She never ceases to amaze me!  Sprint triathlon yesterday and a 10 mile mountain climb today!

 Volunteer Mary carrying her gear down from her post on the trail!  You look tough Mary!

 The crowd is getting bigger.  Next year there will be standing room only!

 Here she is finishing a 10 mile climb!

 And she is still smiling!  Freida I am so impressed with you.  You make the EAOD proud!

 Here we are! The EAOD plus a few! There is an initiation for men to join by the way!

 I couldn't decide what picture to put on the blog so I put all of them. I love the reflection of the ski mountain that shows in the windows of the lodge.

 Here is another one.  It is my blog right?  So I can put three pictures on it that are nearly the same.

I did pretty good telling the Team Gleason story without losing it totally.  Did a little now and then though. These Gleason's are truly inspiring, giving, loving, special people.  So proud of who they are and how they have reached out to others with ALS. What would our world be like if we all did that!  

 And the winners are...

 So glad this one stayed in the family!

This was such a fun day you all have to come next year.  Next year will be bigger and better if that is possible!  A day in the mountains, you can never go wrong.  God's creation at your feet. I never feel closer to God than when I am in the mountains.  That is just the way it is for me!

I had a great time working with Dominic on this trail run!  Steve, Michel and Rivers live so far away and it is difficult to really help like I would like to.  This made me feel like I was doing something to help.  Love you three!  Dominic, I really enjoyed getting to know you better.  Thanks for putting up with me during this whole thing.  If we do this next year I will have a lot better idea of how to do things for sure.  Thanks for picking Team Gleason for this event!  NO WHITE FLAGS! See you at the Pumpkin Pacer!

Just in case you wanted to know what sunflowers looked like while driving 60 miles an hour down the road this is it!  Beautiful at any speed.

 Next year!  This event is a must!  Beautiful, challenging, fun! Be there!