Re: Building A Better Bumblebee

Mark B Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:45 pm

Ye-haa!!

So, the little measuring oopsie is yielding some benefits. First, it meant they had all day to concentrate on cutting, fitting and fine-tuning the new baseboards, which means they look sharp. They also did more paint touch-ups. Nice. Second, at some point the contractor decided to replace the wood around all four windows that face south from our dining and living area (we'd expected only three). He wanted them all to match. For the same reason, they're replacing the casing around those four windows, and also our slider. Very nice.

They hope to be back in a couple of days to finish the job. If they're trying to make up for goofs earlier, it's working.

And that's not even the best part: The best part is, we got our volunteer assignments from the Oregon Coast 30K & 50K: We'll be helping wrangle the post-finish food and generally helping out in the finish area. I volunteered Alita and Alec, too, and if Alec loses too much enthusiasm he can always head back to the room at the place we're staying nearby.

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 96911310

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 96911310

A view from part of the trail the 50K runners will be using, and very close to where we're staying. Smile

Nick Morris Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:22 am

That view is awesome. At what point in the course is that? If it's toward the end, I probably wouldn't even comprehend that it is there Smile

Mark B Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:30 am

Nick Morris wrote:That view is awesome. At what point in the course is that? If it's toward the end, I probably wouldn't even comprehend that it is there

Heh. It's actually about 7 miles in, shortly after the 50K runners come up from the beach. Yes, the first 10K or so are run on sand. What a Face

Here's where the beach ends and the trail begins:

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 10012410

There are a number of streams that cross the beach, too, so folks at this point will have to deal with wet and sandy feet. A change of footwear is suggested as a possibility at the first aid station. Because the climbing up Cape Perpetua has yet to begin.

Here's a view from Cape Perpetua (looking south; the race course is behind you in this photo):

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 View10

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 View10

Nice view, and quite a ways up from sea level. Smile

Jim Lentz Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:40 am

Very beautiful! I hope it is hard packed sand.

Nick Morris Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:45 am

Damn, that is gorgeous!!!

Mark B Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:25 pm

Jim Lentz wrote:Very beautiful! I hope it is hard packed sand.

It's a broad beach, and it has a good strip of very solid sand. You could run in the loose stuff, but that'd be insane.

Nick Morris wrote:Damn, that is gorgeous!!!

Yup. Just about my favorite place on the Oregon Coast. Can you see why I wanted to run it? Well, hopefully next year.

Mark B Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:25 pm

Barefoot Run: 30 minutes (2.35 miles)

Weather: Overcast, between rain showers. 56 degrees. Gear: Bare feet, shorts, T

I didn't have much time before work, but I had an irrepressible urge to go out and run barefoot on the first real rainy day of the fall. There's something about the feeling of wet asphalt on bare feet that is just so ... wonderful.

I have tended to just start running immediately when I got barefoot, but I mixed it up a bit and did my traditional 5 minute walking warm-up and cool down. I think it helped ease my body into it, because I was easily keeping my HR in the proper zone, and my pace was surprisingly decent. I think the impact of earlier workouts is starting to kick in. Smile

Whatever it is, it felt very nice.

Average HR for entire run: 125

Tom H Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:51 pm

That is beautiful to be sure. 10k in the sand, that sounds like a challenging way to start a race. However, better than 10k in the sand at the end, right? So you are going to do that one next year, huh? You could certainly run the beach part barefoot and avoid the sandy/wet shoe issue.

Mark B Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:28 pm

Tom H wrote:That is beautiful to be sure. 10k in the sand, that sounds like a challenging way to start a race. However, better than 10k in the sand at the end, right? So you are going to do that one next year, huh? You could certainly run the beach part barefoot and avoid the sandy/wet shoe issue.

I definitely was considering that as a strategy before my training got derailed. I think it'd be the best option, really. All you'd need at transition (wink, wink) would be a towel, socks and shoes. Or you could just keep going barefoot, or slip on sandals, depending on how root/rocky the rest of the trail might be. geek

nkrichards Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:43 pm

That is definitely my favorite part of the Oregon coast! We usually stay further north as it's much more convenient for the kids but given the choice I'd be in that area. I've done some hiking there...no running...yet...

Mark B Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:09 pm

nkrichards wrote:That is definitely my favorite part of the Oregon coast! We usually stay further north as it's much more convenient for the kids but given the choice I'd be in that area. I've done some hiking there...no running...yet...

This is on the places my parents liked to take me when I was a kid. The rocky coast is so much more interesting than a big 'ol sandy beach. Good rock hunting opportunities, too.

I haven't run in the area, either. I bet it'd be great. The course starts on the beach and then hugs the coastline until it reaches Cape Perpetua, then climbs up into the forests and to the top, then back to the finish.

The weather ought to be interesting. It's supposed to rain for much of the week. Showers are expected on race day (Saturday), so it'll be a big challenge for those taking part.

Here's the view from Perpetua looking back toward Yachats:

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 View_o10

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 View_o10

Photo by Elizabeth Gates via Wikimedia Commons

Nick Morris Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:04 am

That almost makes me want to run that race...oh wait...Maybe I'll just come and run the first 10 miles of the trail Smile

Mark B Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:11 am

Nick Morris wrote:That almost makes me want to run that race...oh wait...Maybe I'll just come and run the first 10 miles of the trail

Really? But check out what you'd be missing!

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 50kpro10

There's only three hills... how hard can that be?

Nick Morris Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:22 am

Mark B wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:That almost makes me want to run that race...oh wait...Maybe I'll just come and run the first 10 miles of the trail

Really? But check out what you'd be missing!

There's only three hills... how hard can that be?

It's not the hills that I am worried about Smile

Mark B Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:18 am

Nick Morris wrote:
Mark B wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:That almost makes me want to run that race...oh wait...Maybe I'll just come and run the first 10 miles of the trail

Really? But check out what you'd be missing!

There's only three hills... how hard can that be?

It's not the hills that I am worried about

No? What, then?

ounce Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:29 pm

So when you say you're going to 'wrangle' the food, are you having to round up the food, butcher it, and cook it? scratch

Mark B Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:04 pm

ounce wrote:So when you say you're going to 'wrangle' the food, are you having to round up the food, butcher it, and cook it?

D'urn tootin'!

I wasn't the Tehama County Cattlemen's Association "Media Newsman of the Year" for nothing, you know...

Ride

---

Actually, I think we're supposed to cut up fruit, make sure the fluids and other post-race snacks are stocked, and essentially be responsible for seeing that race finishers' fluid and fuel needs are taken care of.

We may also get a chance to hone our pizza-making skills, since somebody is bringing a pizza oven. Yup. A moveable feast. Yum. Once you've gone ultra, you don't want to go back. geek

ounce Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:55 pm

Mark B wrote:
ounce wrote:So when you say you're going to 'wrangle' the food, are you having to round up the food, butcher it, and cook it?

D'urn tootin'!

I wasn't the Tehama County Cattlemen's Association "Media Newsman of the Year" for nothing, you know...

---

Actually, I think we're supposed to cut up fruit, make sure the fluids and other post-race snacks are stocked, and essentially be responsible for seeing that race finishers' fluid and fuel needs are taken care of.

We may also get a chance to hone our pizza-making skills, since somebody is bringing a pizza oven. Yup. A moveable feast. Yum. Once you've gone ultra, you don't want to go back.

That Media Newsman of the Year award must've leaned your present bosses to make you the Cannibis editor at the paper.

As far as the pizza, you're the Quality Control Technician. pig

Mark B Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:08 pm

ounce wrote:As far as the pizza, you're the Quality Control Technician.

Well, one of the perks of volunteering is that we get to eat free... And I think that's fair.

After my 50 last year, taking part in the post-race feast was the last thing on my mind. tongue

Jim Lentz Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:36 am

Free food!!!

Mark B Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:37 am

Jim Lentz wrote:Free food!!!

Building A Better Bumblebee - Page 26 Smiley10

Nick Morris Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:27 pm

Mark B wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:
Mark B wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:That almost makes me want to run that race...oh wait...Maybe I'll just come and run the first 10 miles of the trail

Really? But check out what you'd be missing!

There's only three hills... how hard can that be?

It's not the hills that I am worried about

No? What, then?

The 50K is what would worry me Smile

Nick Morris Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:28 pm

Jim Lentz wrote:Free food!!!

Did someone say "free food"????

Tom H Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:00 pm

An ultra with starving runners and Mark as combination pizza quality control/cannabis expert, er, editor. What could possibly go wrong?

Mark B Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:36 pm

Nick Morris wrote:It's not the hills that I am worried about

Mark B wrote:No? What, then?

The 50K is what would worry me

Oh, that.

Nick Morris wrote:
Jim Lentz wrote:Free food!!!

Did someone say "free food"????

Tom H wrote:An ultra with starving runners and Mark as combination pizza quality control/cannabis expert, er, editor. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, knowing that the runners will be hopped up on their own naturally generated cannabinoids, it sounds like the perfect combination to me!

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