This race is one I have been eyeing for some time. As I am sure you can tell, I prefer to run races in beautiful places. Northwest Passage is going to be another one of those races. This particular relay begins near the Canadian border in the city of Blaine, WA and will have our team run past the glacial Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, Deception Pass and the Puget Sound. This route will be mostly flat, with some hills. I am hoping that we will be able to run a fast relay.
Having been to Seattle for work many times, I know that we will be seeing iconic landmarks, friendly locals and most exciting some of the most breathtaking coastal views. Everything I read about this race says that the Pacific Northwest scenery lives up to its famous reputation. It is the perfect time of year to run in this area as we will be able to enjoy the vibrant fireweed blossoms, fruit stands and picturesque farms along the way. Except for the potential for rain the temperatures will be in the high 70’s during the day and high 50’s overnight. Perfect running temperatures.
It is said that this race takes the runners to where the forest meets the sea, and leaves them breathless from the not only the runs but the scenic views. The race finishes at Langley, WA on Whidbey Island. Whidbey Island is the largest of the islands composing Island County, Washington. It is a place I have always wanted to visit when I have been in Seattle. The island’s rugged terrain spans beaches, hills and farmland. On its northwest tip, Deception Pass State Park offers clifftop views, forest trails and freshwater lakes. To the south, Fort Casey Historical State Park is home to a lighthouse and gun battery. The coastal towns of Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley have boutiques, cafes and galleries. I am hoping that I will be able to have a chance to explore some or all of this after we cross the finish line.
I will be in Van 2 and Runner #7. I will be running legs 7, 19 and 31. This will mean I am covering roughly 20.7 miles. My first leg starts in Bellingham, WA at Bellingham High School. Bellingham is a popular tourist destination known for its easy access to outdoor recreation in the San Juan Islands and North Cascades. I will have a clear view of Mount Baker as I head out for an easy 3.8 mile run. I finish the leg at Hillcrest Chapel which is in the Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham. Most of this leg runs along the waterfront of Bellingham Bay and past Boulevard Park. This should be a beautiful run early in the day.
My second leg starts at La Conner Middle School in La Conner, WA. I will be running 10.5 miles. This leg is rated very hard. This is probably because of the distance. It takes me out across the Rainbow Bridge. The bridge connects Fidalgo Island and La Conner, crossing the Swinomish Channel in Skagit County, Washington. It is a deck arch bridge made of steel, built in 1957, with a total length of 797 feet. After crossing the bridge most of the run is in the Swinomish Reservation. The reservation was established in 1855 by the Treaty of Port Elliott. The leg finishes at the Swinomish Casino in Anacortes, WA.
My final leg starts in Coupeville, WA at Coupeville High School. This high school serves the central portion of Whidbey Island. I will head south for 6.4 miles. The leg is rated hard and I am not sure why. I finish on the side of a road in what looks like a farm in southern Coupeville. I am sure I will be relieved to be done at that point. But we will have 5 more legs to go before making it to the finish line at Whitby Island Fairgrounds.
I love these races and hope that I can keep running them until I can run no more. What I am most looking forward to is being in the Van with 5 of my good friends laughing all the way. Funny things always happen during relays when you aren’t running. In reality, and to the non-runner, they probably aren’t all that funny. But to 6 people who have been running/driving/going non-stop pretty much anything is funny. Or downright hysterical. I have about 8 more weeks of training before heading north to run in my 14th adventure relay race. They have all been great experiences and allowed me to make some really great friends along the way. I just need to focus on my training and drop a few pounds so I can rock this relay.
Feb 12 – 6.30 miles (54:49, 8:42 pace) – Speed Work
Feb 14 – 8.30 miles (1:11:27, 8:37 pace) – Tempo Run
Feb 15 – 4.10 miles (37:28, 9:06 pace)
Feb 16 – 8.10 miles (1:15:48, 9:21 pace)
Feb 17 – 8.30 miles (1:16:09, 9:10 pace)
Feb 18 – 5.10 miles (45:38, 8:57 pace)
Feb 19 – 6.30 miles (54:10, 8:36 pace) – Speed Work
Feb 21 – 7.30 miles (1:02:49, 8:36 pace) – Tempo Run
Feb 22 – 3.20 miles (28:20, 8:51 pace)
Feb 23 – 8.11 miles (1:17:30, 9:34 pace)
Feb 24 – 7.30 miles (1:08:07, 9:20 pace)
Feb 25 – 4.70 miles (1:04:40, 10:28 pace) – Hill Repeats
Feb 26 – 6.30 miles (53:49, 8:33 pace) – Speed Work
Feb 27 – 4.10 miles (32:52, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar 2 – 7.70 miles (1:13:47, 9:35 pace)
Mar 3 – 7.40 miles (1:07:36, 9:08 pace)
Mar 4 – 4.70 miles (49:26, 10:31 pace) – Hill Repeats
Mar 5 – 6.30 miles (53:48, 8:32 pace) – Speed Work
Mar 7 – 8.40 miles (1:11:40, 8:32 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar 9 – 9.10 miles (1:25:06, 9:21 pace)
Mar 10 – 8.30 miles (1:17:21, 9:19 pace)
Mar 11 – 4.50 miles (48:56, 10:53 pace) – Hill Repeats
Mar 12 – 6.30 miles (53:52, 8:33 pace) – Speed Work
Mar 14 – 8.40 miles (1:11:34, 8:31 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar 15 – 5.10 miles (47:04, 9:13 pace)
Mar 16 – 7.30 miles (1:07:42, 9:16 pace)
Mar 17 – 4.70 miles (49:26, 10:31 pace) – Hill Repeats
Mar 19 – 3.10 miles (30:40, 9:54 pace) – Florence, Italy
Mar 21 – 3.50 miles (33:33, 9:35 pace) – Florence, Italy
Mar 23 – 7.10 miles (1:04:33, 9:06 pace)
Mar 24 – 8.30 miles (1:16:53, 9:16 pace)
Mar 25 – 4.50 miles (49:31, 11:00 pace) – Hill Repeats
Mar 26 – 6.30 miles (53:44, 8:32 pace) – Speed Work
Mar 29 – 4.50 miles (1:11:40, 9:26 pace)
Mar 30 – 6.60 miles (1:01:16, 9:17 pace)
Mar 31 – 8.30 miles (01:17:40, 9:21 pace)
Apr 1 – 4.50 miles (52:41, 11:32 pace) – Hill Repeats
Apr 7 – 4.10 miles (36:18, 8:50 pace)
Apr 8 – 4.10 miles (46:08, 11:15 pace) – Hill Repeats
Apr 9 – 6.30 miles (53:37, 8:311 pace) – Speed Work
Apr 11 – 3.10 miles (25:03, 8:05 pace)
Apr 12 – 4.10 miles (35:27, 8:39 pace)
Apr 13 – 5.10 miles (46:32, 9:08 pace)
Apr 15 – 4.10 miles (45:10, 11:01 pace) – Hill Repeats
Apr 16 – 6.30 miles (53:37, 8:31 pace) – Speed Work
Apr 18 – 8.30 miles (1:10:44, 8:31 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr 19 – 4.10 miles (37:44, 9:12 pace)
Apr 20 – 7.10 miles (1:04:31, 9:05 pace)
Apr 22 – 5.10 miles (55:59, 10:59 pace) – Hill Repeats
Apr 23 – 6.30 miles (53:34, 8:30 pace) – Speed Work
Apr 25 – 3.10 miles (35:47, 11:33 pace)
Apr 28 – 4.10 miles (36:55, 9:00 pace)
Apr 29 – 3.50 miles (40:14, 11:30 pace) – Hill Repeats
Apr 30 – 5.30 miles (43:29, 8:22 pace) – Speed Work
May 2 – 6.70 miles (55:41, 8:19 pace) – Tempo Run
May 3 – 4.10 miles (36:46, 8:58 pace)
May 6 – 3.50 miles (39:55, 11:25 pace) – Hill Repeats
May 7 – 5.20 miles (43:28, 9:05 pace) – Speed Work
May 9 – 4.10 miles (37:54, 9:15 pace)
May 10 – 5.10 miles (54:31, 10:41 pace)
May 11 – 7.10 miles (35:47, 8:54 pace)
May 12 – 7.30 miles (1:06:22, 9:05 pace)
May 13 – 4.50 miles (48:34, 10:48 pace) – Hill Repeats
May 14 – 6.30 miles (53:14, 8:27 pace) – Speed Work
May 16 – 8.30 miles (1:10:52, 8:32 pace) – Tempo Run
May 17 – 4.10 miles (36:11, 8:50 pace)
May 18 – 7.10 miles (1:08:11, 9:36 pace)
May 19 – 4.10 miles (36:37, 8:56 pace)
Total Miles: 398.11 miles
2019 Total Miles: 604.83 miles
