Hagg Lake Triathlon

Over July 4th weekend, Tom and I hiked Mt. Defiance. This 13-mile loop climbs 5,000' to the highest point in the Gorge. It is used by many as a training hike; I try to do it once a year to make sure that I'm in shape for the summer; this was my fourth climb. The parking lot was filling up quickly at 7:30am on Saturday. It was ideal weather, and Tom and I logged six hours of hiking time--which we were happy with until we met a pair of trail runners jogging it four times that day.

Mt. Hood

Mts. St. Helens, Rainer, Adams

  

The following weekend, Tom played in his family's disc golf tournament. About four times a year, the Marshalls host a tournament on their forested 30-acre property northwest of Portland, where they built an 18-hole course almost 20 years ago. I tagged along to support Tom and help his mom with set up, t-shirt sales, and serving lunch. 50 people entered the tournament, and were randomly paired up to play two rounds. The overall vibe of the disc golf community is friendly and relaxed. I snuck out in between rounds to go for a trail run in nearby Forest Park. The weather was just perfect. Oregon summers.

 

Tom and his partner, Liam, placed 3rd!

I went to Hagg Lake the next weekend for my second triathlon. Hagg Lake is one of the oldest and most scenic tri courses in the country. It's also a much more challenging course compared to Blue Lake. Despite that, I doubled the distance of my sprint tri in June by entering the olympic tri: roughly 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike ride, 6-mile run. I felt prepared on race day, and packed a positive mental attitude. I also felt grateful for the comfortable weather, and for my support team--Tom and his parents.

 

 

 

The swim was smooth (32 minutes). The water was warm but I wore my wetsuit for buoyancy and protection from bumping into other athletes. My transitions were also smoother than the previous time. The bike ride was the toughest part for me due to the steep rolling hills, totaling close to 1,700' gain (1.5 hours). The run was also hilly, but I focused on keeping a consistent pace (1 hour). I finished in about 3 hours, which was, believe or not, towards the back of the pack. I felt humbled by this, but also proud of myself.

My tri friend and neighbor, Jared

This is likely it for me and triathlons this year, but I am excited to keep a half ironman on my radar for the future. In the meantime, I look forward to spending more time on my other outdoor hobbies this summer!

 

 

Short Sands

The lousy spring weather continued into June--a true Portland "Junuary." I began volunteering with Faunalytics, a non-profit organization that conducts research and shares knowledge to help advocates help animals effectively. My role is to transform new research into user-friendly summary articles. I am excited to have stumbled into an opportunity that combines my interests and skills in an effort to better the world.

 

Tom and I recently attended a concert hosted by the Portland Lesbian Choir, an all-are-welcome organization that has been performing since 1986. We enjoyed the production and supporting our friend, Dani. Happy Pride Month!

 

 

 

 

On a Wednesday after work, I headed to the coast for an evening surfing lesson to continue improving my skills. Oregon Surf Adventures has been teaching surf lessons on the Oregon Coast for over 15 years. I felt humbled to take a lesson with OSA's owner, Lauren. I appreciated her enthusiasm, and effort to maximize my experience with few crowds and high tides for long boarding. I was also inspired by her ability to create a lifestyle around her love of surfing.

Lauren met me at Short Sands Beach at 4pm. "Shorty's" is located in Oswald West State Park, 10 miles south of Cannon Beach. The parking lot is on Highway 101, and then it's a half-mile walk to the beach through magical rainforest and old-growth Sitka spruce trees. Shorty's is sheltered in Smugglers Cove and is a protected marine reserve.

The conditions were ideal for a beginner lesson; "cute and playful" waves with just a handful of surfers. Lauren reviewed the basic concepts and we practiced pop-ups before jumping in. With her guidance, I caught my first waves and practiced my technique. It was exhilarating! The water was cold, but I didn't notice beneath my wetsuit, gloves and booties. Despite the overcast sky and light rain, the gorgeous rugged coastline was pure perfection. It felt surreal. The icing on top? A harbor seal floating casually beside me. We called it quits when my tired arms could no longer push me up on the board. The priceless afternoon was fun and left me eager to get back out there!

Father's Day weekend was spent with the Marshalls. We hosted Tom's sister, Sam, who flew in for their sister's wedding. The ceremony was held at the family property in northwest Portland. The rain created a mystical, forested fairytale atmosphere. On Sunday, the family sampled two vineyards in Cornelius, Dion and Sidereus. It was my second visit to both wineries, and I can confidently say that Dion is a favorite.

Congratulations Kim and Chris!

The Marshalls & Odells

The summer solstice beckoned the sun and heat (finally), with almost 16 hours of daylight. During a brief heat wave, I joined my new triathlete friend, Jared, on a morning bike ride at Sauvie Island, which sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers just 10 miles northwest of downtown Portland. I had gone fruit and vegetable picking here before, but never on two wheels. However, an idyllic, flat 12.5-mile loop circles the island, passing through farms and stunning views of the rivers and Mts. Hood, Adams, and St. Helens. The scenic ride transported Jared and I to a rural countryside in Europe; I will be back soon for more of this. That same weekend, I got in my first paddle of the season on the very high Willamette River. Summer is here!

Blue Lake Triathlon

Portland finally began to warm up and dry out by the end of May, which encouraged the season's first roses to bloom.

  

  

  

 

My unofficial COVID hobby has been to train for a triathlon. I enjoy swimming and cycling, and tolerate running. A sprint triathlon is a good place for beginners to start; swim 0.5 mile (750 meters), bike 12.4 miles (20K), and run 3.1 miles (5K). Despite being a fish in the water, my biggest challenge was the swim due to my inexperience in open water; there is a major learning curve and mental barrier to swimming in the murky waters of lakes, rivers and oceans--especially when you're used to a swimming pool! Fortunately, I got in a few practice swims with a new friend from the OHSU triathlon club.

 

 

I felt prepared and excited for the annual Blue Lake triathlon in Fairview. My goals were to finish under two hours and to have fun. It was the first weekend of June, but the forecast looked miserable. However, race day ended up being just fine; temps in the 60s, overcast, light rain. About 800 athletes participated across a variety of events, including sprint and olympic distance triathlons, plus swim/run and bike/run duathlons. The event organizer, volunteers, and athletes that I met were very kind and supportive. The positive energy was contagious!

The swim section was difficult to navigate around people, but I found my way through (15 minutes). My first transition out of the wetsuit and into my shoes was longer than it needed to be, but hey, I'm a rookie! The bike ride was slow and steady along Marine Drive (45 minutes). My legs felt heavy on the run, and I was tuckered, but I pushed through (26 minutes). I finished in about 1.5 hours, 4th place out of 16 women in my age group. I experienced an immense feeling of pride and gratitude at the finish line.

 

 

Tom was there to cheer me on from start to finish, and to celebrate afterwards. We talked about what's next; an olympic triathlon? The sprint is a comfortable distance, and I don't want to spend all my time training, but I would also like to see what I can do. Regardless, it would be nice to sign up for another race later this summer when the weather is warmer... stay tuned!

A Visit from Grammy

Portland experienced an unseasonably cool spring this year, with its wettest April in over 80 years. Ironically, the driest April on record occurred last year. The silver lining to the rainy days is that the precipitation makes everything bright and colorful. 

  

Tom and I have enjoyed watching the subtle changes in Louie's personality as he grows from kitten into cat. Despite developing a new shyness around strangers, we have begun socializing him with our neighbor's calico kitten, Weegee. It's been fun to set up play dates, and watch them become acquainted and play in a manner that only cats do.

My first Mother's Day as Mom to this little ham

Over Mother's Day weekend, Louie met "Grammy." As hoped, he and my mom became fast friends--so much so, that I had to check her suitcase for cats before she left! It was a low-key, but memorable visit that left Tom and I spoiled with homemade dinners and a stocked fridge.

Mom and I spent Saturday at the coast. We braved the elements and intermittent rain at the beach before grabbing lunch at quirky Cannon Beach Hardware and Public House (aka Screw and Brew). From there, we walked through the small beach town, popping into shops along the way. A visit to the Oregon Coast is not complete without picking up a supply of chocolate covered "sea foam," which we accomplished at family-owned Bruce's Candy Kitchen. 

On Sunday, we met Tom's family at Sidereus Winery in Cornelius. This beautiful new boutique winery offers a small number of delicately crafted wines that represent the best of what the vineyard can produce.

Feeling very grateful for a special visit from the very best mama!