Mount Vernon - Nookachamps Winter Runs

Past time to finish catching up on January!

On Saturday, January 16, we traveled to Mount Vernon for the 31st annual "Nookachamps" (5k/10k/half marathon). I'd really wanted to do the half, but was unable to train enough, so settled for the 10k, hoping Larry would keep me company as he was still getting back into running form after a post-surgery break in December.

View of part of the Skagit Valley Community College Campus:

Mount Baker from campus:

Inside the gym--registration and expo. In the foreground is the table of 1st-4th place ribbons!

Away we go--down in the valley, Mile 2:

Scene looking north, past Mile 2:

Looking back at the runners behind us:

After this, the road curved to the east up a super steep hill (which we walked), then passed a barn full of dairy cows on the left! The rest of the route was mainly residential, not very interesting. Another steep hill at about Mile 5 that we walked. The last part of the course was on (soggy) trail, and I finally let my begging hubby take off and run in to the finish, while I very tiredly finished alone, half jogging, half walking. Larry ended up with a time of 1:11:35, 179th overall (out of 213 total runners, 13th in his age group.) My time was 1:15:58, 186th overall, 27th in my age group (out of 31). Larry could have seriously been faster, if I hadn't nagged him to keep me company. Our time included my brief stops for photos, water, and re-tying my shoe. (Otherwise, I would have been closer to 75 minutes exactly.) Still not bad for me considering the hills and feeling unprepared training-wise!

After the finish with my participation ribbon:

Larry and his ribbon.

It was a such a beautiful clear sunny day! Usually it's not like this, but we really got lucky!