We spent this last weekend on the Oregon Coast. I have been swamped with work and will continue to be until May. We had a little break and a little cash from tax returns so we beat it for the beach. We had planned this trip during Christmas but due to the horrendous weather we pulled the plug. Knowing we may suffer the same fate we packed our bags, said our prayers, and beat it westward. Way too many hours later as my "nalgas" can attest, we landed in Newport. We spent the next 48 hours checking different beaches, visiting friends, and revisiting old haunts from our days as low-landers. The weather was spectacular! 50 degrees and only a few hours of rain in Lincoln City. To wrap up our trip my valentine (love you babe!) gave me a couple of hours to run the trails at Cape Lookout. A few years ago I spent a lot of time out there, preparing to run my first ultra and dreaming of the exotic and seemingly impossible places and races, pots of gold like Hardrock and Wasatch- cutting my teeth on rooty, muddy singletrack. On my very best day there I ran just a few minutes under two hours for the three trails (out and back on trails of 2.4, 2.3, and 1.8 miles with 2900 ft. of climb and descent). I was stoked and it took me days before I could walk normally again. This time I was determined to take my time, enjoy the mud and the scenery but as I churned along all the sea level O2 got me fired up and I ran every step, dodging whale watchers and couples enjoying their valentines on the trails. I finished in 2:03 and change. The sunset was spectacular--just like the good old days. Minus the thrashed quads.
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