SPLENDID SCENERY, PATHETIC PERFORMANCE
or
KEEP AWAY FROM THE VOLCANO
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What not to do on the day before a marathon |
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Long as I've traveled from the Atlantic Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, I may as well see Mount St. Helens. Thursday afternoon I do some easy hiking around the base (above left). Friday morning I hike maybe half-way up (above right; I continued another 45 minutes beyond this). I'd planned to go all the way, but above tree line the huge, irregular boulders proved much more technical than I expected. I'd enjoyed the couple of hours it took to hike this far; I'd seen some phenomenal scenery. So I hiked down and made the four-hour drive to Oregon's Sunriver resort village, in the high desert. Magnificent countryside on the way, too. Picked up my packet, had dinner, turned in early, feeling not particularly tired from the day.
Saturday morning I started my marathon solo at 5:30 in 50ish temps. I have ample ambient light but no direct sunlight. The half-marathon loop route heads out mostly via asphalt bike path pretty much circling the resort. Sunriver boasts plenty of beautiful trees, especially pine. I'll see a lot of green today.
During m2 a few shafts of sunlight begin falling through the trees and the mostly natural landscaping. I see a few deer along the way. The mostly shady path winds and weaves beside the main roads and through back yards. Some of the Sunriver Village people come out onto the path for their own morning exercise. Miles 6–8 provide marvelous scenery as I make my way alongside the Deschutes River, seeing Mt. Bachelor off to the west. The last few miles, in full, unadulterated sunlight, skirt the airport and golf course before reaching the halfway point in the outdoor Sunriver Mall.
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Plainly too habituated. See the movie to the left (Allow time for loading. At just under 4 MB, it may take literally two or three minutes under some configurations and circumstances. Runs 0:16) |
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play/stop
rew/ff |
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Temperatures have eased into probably the mid-60's as I begin my second loop. Soon after passing it the lead marathoner finally passes me; no one follows him for several minutes. Ample foliage still provides welcome shade, though much more direct sunlight does come through. I've grown lethargic. Apparently yesterday's
hike has drained me more than I expected— Back in the steadily more intense sunlight, the asphalt exudes heat and its petroleum smell. Residential pedestrian and bicycle traffic has picked up as well.
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I move on with little enthusiasm despite the constantly splendid scenery. My miserable performance today compares to events in which I suffered due to heat and blisters (Maui) or freezing temps and up to six inches of overnight snow (Virginia). I finish discouraged and sore. But I do finish. By the way, this makes five marathons in eight weeks. Wisdom gained: |
AK | AL | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | DC | DE | FL | GA | HI | IA |
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