April 2014

APRIL 2014 // FREE

THE INLAND NW GUIDE TO OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, TRAVEL AND THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

WHY WE RUNOne Race, 99 Runners, 37 Years and Counting.

TRIATHLON TRAINING TIPS

AMBER LAKE FLY FISHINGSPRING CLIMBING ROAD TRIP

RAFTING LATAH CREEK

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3April 2014 / Out there MOnthly


On the cOver: Bleu cOrd runs alOng the cen-tennial trail in cOeur d’alene

Photo: Shawn Gust

Out there MOnthly / april 2014

www.OutthereMOnthly.cOM

puBlishersShallan & Derrick Knowles

editOrDerrick Knowles

visual editOrShallan Knowles

seniOr writersJon Jonckers, Brad Naccarato,

Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

cOntriButing writers: Katie Botkin Hank Greer,

Sarah Hauge, Janelle McCabe, Ammi Midstokke, Peter Wayne Moe,

Brad Northrup, Dan Schaffer, Holly Weiler

cOntriButing phOtOgraphers: Katie Botkin, Hank Greer

Shawn Gust

circulatiOn directOrDezi Nagyfy

tO request cOpies call509 / 822 / 0123

ad salesDerrick Knowles: 509 / 822 / 0123

Out there MOnthlyMailing Address: PO Box #5

Spokane, WA 99210www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 822 / 0123

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©Copyright 2014 Out There Monthly, LLC. The views expressed in this magazine reflect those of the writers and advertisers and not

necessarily Out There Monthly, LLC.

Disclaimer: Many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of

personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing

and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to

Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they

are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable

about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with

those risks.

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Shawn Gust is a photographer currently living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Shawn searches his surroundings for feelings that trigger memories or thoughts. His images are the result of his reactions to those discoveries. With no formal training in the field, he began working in a profes-sional photofinishing lab and retail camera shop in the 1990s. His photographs have been exhibited in galleries in Tacoma, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Rochester, and have been published in numerous magazines, newspapers, and online galleries.

p.5 / froM the editor Born to Run? By Derrick Knowles

p.6 / hike of the MonthEscure Ranch & Towell Falls

p.7 / out thErE nEws

p.8 / fly fiShing Early Season Angling By Brad Northrup

p.8 / river/fiShing filMSDamNation International Fly Fishing Film Festival

p.9 / the outdoor faMily Plan Your Own Wildlife Safari By Amy Silbernagle McCaffree

p.10 / health and fitneSS Training for a Triathlon By Janelle McCabe

p.11 / cliMBing Spring at Frenchman Coulee By Katie Botkin

p.12 / watEr sports Whitewater Run Down Latah Creek By Dan Schaffer

p.13 / everyday cycliSt A Hard Day’s Night on a Mountain Bike By Hank Greer

p.13 / road Bike race roundup By Hank Greer

p.16-17 / Inw outdoor & 6-Month training calendar

p.19 / running Is Your Running Form Fouling You Up? By Sarah Hauge

p.20 / BlooMSday perennialS By Amy Silbernagle McCaffree

p.21 / sIx rEasons to run By Ammi Midstokke

p.22 / laSt page The Onomastics of the Outdoors By Peter Wayne Moe


Not me. I was pretty convinced that running was some sort of sick torture deployed by angry football coaches seeking revenge for botched plays during my high school years. Throughout college, the infrequent sessions of pain and suffering were mostly self-inflicted attempts to make up for pro-longed periods of winter-induced inactivity and overindulgence. As a recovering college student, my relationship with running improved slightly. But I still viewed running suspiciously at best.

I never quite got into the rhythm of a regular run-ning practice. I would run a few miles a couple times a week for a month, then take the next 30 weeks off (like giving up was part of some training program),

only to “take up” running again later in the year for another short stint. That went on, and on, and likely would have continued in perpetuity had it not been for a book.

It was late morning on the 4th of July at the Lions Campground in Rossland, B.C., and Shallan

and I were sitting in our lawn chairs in the sum-mer sun when we got to the section of Christopher McDougall’s book “Born to Run” that instantly transformed us from being pretty much anti run-ning cynics to wary wanabees. This line summarizes the gist of what was to us a remarkable conclusion: “If you don’t think you were born to run you’re not only denying history. You’re denying who you are.”

That notion was a holy sh*t kind of moment for us. McDougall was telling us that running isn’t a form of socially acceptable torture but is actually something our bodies are made to do. I wish I could say that we were so inspired that we went out that afternoon and ran to the top of Red Mountain and

back before lunch, and that running became a regular practice. But I’d be lying.

Changing the way I think about running has definitely made a difference. The random breaks between running sprees are now shorter and fewer. When I go out to run now, it’s something that feels somewhat natural, and sometimes I really enjoy it. But I still catch myself working occasional gaps into my running schedule and making mental excuses for why I should cut longer runs short. Even this is progress. Our bodies may be born to run, but my brain still has some catching up to do.-------------------------------------------------------derrick kNowles, editor

From The Editor: Born to Run?

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this hike through desert couNtry comes alive in spring, when wildflowers erupt in a profu-sion of pinks, purples, and yellows while the landscape flashes varying shades of green. Start this hike at an old working ranch, now managed by the BLM. The trails here are old farm roads, undulating on hills overlooked by basalt formations. From the trailhead kiosk, it’s only 3.2 miles to Towell Falls, typi-cally roaring with spring melt water. Look for signs of beaver activity in the aspen grove near the falls, but keep an eye out for moisture-loving poison ivy. Watch the surrounding hills for deer and coyote. Complete the trip by retracing your route. The adventurous may consider bringing map and compass to extend the hike cross-country to one of the nearby lakes on this 14,000-acre property.

Open to hiking, mountain bike, and equestrian use (trailhead corral available). Dogs okay on leash (this is rattlesnake country). Getting There: From Spokane, take I-90 west to Sprague; take exit 245 and travel south on SR23 for 12 miles to Davis Road. Drive 6.8 miles, then turn left on Jordan-Knott Road. Continue 2.2 miles, then turn right into the Rock Creek Management Area, and travel 2.4 miles to the trailhead, picnic area, and corral.

Escure Ranch & Towell Falls (Channeled Scablands, Eastern WA)HikeOfTheMonth

//HIKE OF THE MONTH AND PHOTO BY HOLLY WEILER

Partial funding provided by WA State Dept of Ecology.

Spokane County residents who complete the activities may take home a free compost bin. Limit one per household. Bins provided by the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Please arrive no later than 1:30 pm and bring proof of residency.

Spring Compost Fair& Arbor Day Celebration

For more information call the Recycling Information Line 625-6800 or go to www.solidwaste.org

Saturday, April 26, 201411 am-2 pm

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Vegas. Round one of the tournament runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 26, with the final cham-pionship round set for April 27. The $20 entry fee (per player) gets players into the tournament with a t-shirt and other prizes. Visit one of four Spokane area Oz Fitness locations to sign up or go to ozfit-ness.com for more info. //

lookiNg for a fast-paced indoor activity to help kick start your metabolism for spring and summer outdoor activities? Oz Fitness is hosting its 2014 Dodgeball Tournament that pits teams of six (up to 10 per team) against each other for the chance of winning $1,000 or airfare for seven to the 2014 Dodgeball World Championship in Las

Oz FITnESS DODGEbAll TOuRnAmEnT IS bACk

paddling across the river and hiking boats or boards along the shore, much easier. Trailer Park Wave, which comes in at river levels between 3,500 and 7,500 cfs, is considered one of the best surfing waves in the area. The park project, including Avista’s purchase of the new park land, is part of the dam license requirements issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.//

river surfers aNd kayakers looking to access the Trailer Park Wave below Post Falls Dam will have an easier time reaching the whitewater “park and play” spot thanks to plans announced by Avista Utilities to develop a 2.8 acre park near the wave this summer. The addition of parking and public access will make reaching the popular wave, which has traditionally required a mix of

nEW WhITEWATER PARk On ThE SPOkAnE RIvER WIll ImPROvE ACCESS

Spokane is hosting a clinic to orient aspiring bike-packers to the ever-expanding world of gear choices and gear hauling options. The clinic will also cover trip planning tips. The free clinic is set for Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at REI Spokane. Register at: rei.com/stores/Spokane. //

hauliNg campiNg gear on a mountain bike for a multi-day trek on back roads or trails, also known as bikepacking, has become more popular in recent years as both bikes and camping gear get lighter and interest in mountain bike touring continues to increase. If you’re thinking about setting off on an overnight mountain bike adventure this summer, REI

bIkE PACkInG bASICS

cierra graham, age 14, entered the youth indoor climbing season with a single-minded vision. She wanted to make the USA Youth Bouldering Team. To do so, she needed to finish in the top four at the National Championships. Last month, after three intense days of competi-tion, she placed 2nd at the National Bouldering Championship held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Cierra and her twin sister Makenna started climbing regularly at Vertical World climbing gym in Seattle. When the family moved to Spokane a couple of years ago, they quickly adopted Wild Walls and the local Spokane Climbing Association. Both of the Graham girls are sweet, fun and quick-to-laugh. Even better, they’re both super strong and climb really well.

Makenna worked hard and she climbed great at Regionals, in order to get a spot at the Divisional Championship where she placed 20th. Meanwhile, Cierra placed 2nd at Regionals, 2nd at Divisionals

2nD PlACE AT YOuTh nATIOnAl bOulDERInG ChAmPIOnShIP

Out ThereNews

spokaNe area cyclists (Melinda Spohn, Jodee Thompson and Lisa Bassett) will set off along the TransAmerican cycling route from Yorktown, Va., to Florence, Ore., on May 3, to raise awareness and funds for the mental health and exercise needs of Spokane’s senior population. Along the 4,305-mile journey, the riders will visit retirement communi-ties and senior centers to talk about mental health

and wellness issues and bring awareness to others about the psychological stressors faced by so many aging seniors. Follow along with the journey and learn more about becoming a per mile pledger by making a donation towards the Senior Retirement Project’s non-profit efforts to provide needed coun-seling to seniors and their family caregivers in the Spokane area at cyclingforseniors.org. //

bICYClE JOuRnEY ACROSS ThE u.S. TO RAISE FunDS FOR SEnIOR hEAlTh ISSuES

and 2nd at Nationals. “The Graham twins have been at the core of the

team since they moved here,” says Spokane climbing coach Joshua Jackman. “I really appreciate the twins for sharing their passion for competitive climbing with the rest of the team. Now Spokane has a super tight-knit group of female youth climbing competi-tors, pushing and supporting each other to take their climbing as far as they can go. The Grahams played a big part in creating that climate.”

In the coming months, Cierra and Makenna will be working on their roped climbing expertise. Cierra expects to finish on the podium in that arena as well; however, she readily confesses it’s not as fun as boul-dering competitions.

“Bouldering is funner because they allow more chances,” she says. “Roped climbing is very stressful. [Only one chance per roped climbing route versus multiple chances per boulder problem]. I really like the chance to climb with my friends. Whenever we’re bouldering, we have way more fun.” // (Jon Jonckers)

A VIBRANT MOUNTAIN TOWN NESTLED AT THE EDGE OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.

Photo © ChuckHaney.com

Round up your best photos of your outdoors loving hound! Full contest details available online and in the April issue. Categories include: Best in Show, Hounds in Action, Water Dogs, Tail on the Trail, & Best with Owners.

Winning pics will be printed in Out There Monthly’s May issue and prizes will be awarded to owners AND pups. Full details at OutThereMonthly.com

Damn, Im good lookin!

Out There Monthly’s 1st Annual

Outdoor Dog Photo Contest!

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FlyFishingEARlY SEASOn AnGlInGFly Fishing Amber lake // by brad northrup

RIvER/FIShInG FIlmS

i had turNed off highway 904 on the south end of Cheney and was heading through the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge when the coffee finally kicked in. Just a few more miles, I told my bladder. I have been mak-ing the pilgrimage to Amber Lake every spring for the last 13 years, and this happens every time. Pulling into the parking lot 10 minutes later, I glanced at the lake and smiled. There were only a few guys in pon-toon boats and a light ripple on the water

– perfect. After utilizing the local facilities, I opened the back of the Subaru, pulled out my float tube, waders, fins, assorted gear, and rod case. The second I unsheathed my favorite Sage 5-weight rod, it was as though someone had turned on a wind machine. I laughed, thinking about my family’s fishing curse: “Wherever the Northrup boys go fishing, so too goes the wind.”

I finished getting my gear on, and after a bit of huffing and puffing, I was finally in the water, kicking my way towards my favorite spot on the lake. While I won’t tell you exact-ly where, there are so many great places to fish on Amber it really doesn’t matter. Once I reached my “honey hole,” I put my back to the wind and dropped anchor, counting the number of knots in the rope as I did so. 10

knots at one foot intervals. I unstrung my rod and made sure the barb was pinched on the black chironomid fly I had tied on, and then attached my strike indicator 9 feet up from it. Peeling line off of my reel, I made one 30 foot cast downwind and waited for my fly to sink, making sure my line was straight and the rod tip down.

My mind had wandered off, and I was watching some fisherman on the other side of the lake when it happened. Seems it nearly

always happens that way. When I glanced back to where my strike indicator should have been, it was gone. I immediately lifted my rod tip up to set the hook, and the battle between man and fish was on. After a few powerful runs, I brought the 19” rainbow to the net, carefully removed the fly in his jaw, and returned him to the depths of Amber Lake. Over the next hour or so, 10 more fish succumbed to my fly and were brought to hand, and all were between 14” and 18.” Taking a quick break, I cracked open a cold PBR and enjoyed the surrounding scenery.

“What are you using? Man, you’re just kill-ing ‘em!” shouted a fisherman as he rowed his way toward me. I saw this poor chap earlier dredging the deep water with sink-ing line and most likely a leech of some sort,

WhEn YOu GO:Amber Lake is 12 miles SW of Cheney, Wash.

recommeNded gear: ◉ float tube/pontoon boat + anchor ◉ 5-6 weight rod ◉ flies: black, red, green chironomids; hare’s ears; damselfly nymphs; parachute adams

special regulatioNs: ◉ Barbless artificial flies/lures only – no bait ◉ No combustion engines ◉ catch and release: March 1through the end of April ◉ more info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington

with no success. This is a great tactic in the warmer months when the fish hunker down in cooler water, but in the spring, still fish-ing with floating line and a strike indicator is the way to go.

“Chironomids,” I said, as he pulled up alongside of me. His quizzical look said it all. I pulled my fly box out, removed half a dozen black chironomids with silver bead heads, and handed them over. I had tied over a hundred the winter before and really didn’t need them all. Plus, I prefer to stay on the right side of the fishing gods. “Switch to floating line, put your strike indicator about 9-10 feet up from the fly, and find some shallower water,” I said. He thanked me and rowed away – I later ran into him in the parking lot, and he said it was the best day of fishing he had experienced in a long time. Paying it forward, one fly at a time.

I fished a little more in the afternoon, but the wind had increased to the point of really making things tough, so I called it a day. As I was loading up the car, another fisherman pulled into the parking lot, evi-dently with the intent of hitting the eve-ning hatch. He glanced at the lake, then at me.

“Wind been like this all day?” he asked. “Ever since I got here,” I replied. “But I wouldn’t sweat it; it’s going to die down soon.”

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced at the lake through my rear view. What had been a swirling maelstrom was now like glass. I saw the fisherman scan the lake, and then quickly look in my direction as though I was some kind of prophet. I laughed. The curse lives on. //

HAPPY FLY FISHERMAN. PHOTO: BRAD NORTHRUP

iNterNatioNal fly fishiNg film festival hits spokaNe!oN april 4, silver Bow fly shop and Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited Chapter are hosting the International Fly Fishing Film Festival at the Bing Crosby Theater to get you amped for the fishing season with great films AND raise some dollars for the Spokane River and its urban red band trout fishery. The event includes a raffle and silent auction benefit. Tickets are available at the Silver Bow Fly Shop ($15), online, or at the door ($18). The raffle and silent auction start at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7. More info at: silverbowflyshop.com. //

Just hittiNg the film-festival circuit after a premiere at SXSW last month, “DamNation” is already racking up awards and glowing reviews. Film-makers Ben Knight and Travis Rummel of Felt Soul Productions are known for their beautifully shot fly-fishing films as well as “Red Gold,” a powerful documentary about the fight to save Bristol Bay’s famous sockeye salmon fishery from a gold mine. Produced in conjunction with Patagonia and Stoecker Ecological, “DamNation” is their best film yet.

Focused on the national movement to remove outdated dams and restore rivers, the film documents our country’s dam-building era and the new era of rethinking dams that aren’t providing enough benefits to justify the damage they exact on rivers, fish and people.

“Exquisitely shot and powerfully told” (Washington Post), “DamNation” celebrates the return of the Elwha and White Salmon Rivers in Washington State and other successful dam removals around the country. The film then turns its attention to dams still standing, including the four lower Snake River dams, where Knight and Rummel get called terrorists for attempting to kayak past Lower Granite dam through the locks.

Kayakers, fishermen and conservationists will love this film for its celebration of free-flowing rivers. But “DamNation” reaches well-beyond the choir with its humor, poignancy, and great story-telling.

“DamNation” premieres in Spokane April 23 at the Lincoln Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 6:45. After the film there will be a Q & A with spokespeople from the film. The event is sponsored by Save Our Wild Salmon, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited and EarthJustice. Tickets are $10 at the door or at brownpapertickets.com. For more information contact Sam Mace at 509-747-2030 or [email protected]. Trailer: damnationfilm.com. // OTM

AWARD-WInnInG FIlm “DAmnATIOn” COmInG TO SPOkAnE APRIl 23

I laughed, thinking about my family’s fishing curse, “Wherever the northrup boys go fishing,

so too goes the wind.”


PlAn YOuR OWn WIlDlIFE SAFARIby Amy Silbernagle mcCaffree

TheOutdoorFamily

oN a dreary feBruary afternoon, my three-year-old son was in search of wildlife. It was nearing dusk, he was sick, and a nature walk wasn’t possible. But what we could do was watch “Wild Kratts,” an animated PBS Kids wildlife education show. We went to the show’s webpage and learned about the North American forest habitat, and then watched an episode about rattlesnakes.

This got my son dreaming about spring and summer – warmer and dryer days spent outside playing and getting dirty, overturning rocks and sticks in search of insects and worms.

When children spend time playing and explor-ing outdoors, their immune system and nighttime sleep improves, in addition to other health ben-efits, according to Wildlife Nation (wildlifenation.org), a new online community recently launched by the National Wildlife Federation.

Encountering Inland Northwest wildlife is sur-prisingly easy, especially if you’re willing to think beyond deer and eagles. Kids enjoy adventures and secret hideaways. Why not create your own northwest safari experience?

Together with your children (or grandchildren, nieces or nephews – the kids you spend time with) create a list of animals, however brief, that your family would like to see in the wild this spring and summer. (Include pictures to help children who don’t yet read). Then make a correspond-ing “bucket list” of activities to accomplish your wildlife viewing goals. For example, want to see a moose? Head to north Idaho for a day hike or camping weekend.

What are the secrets to spying wildlife? Quiet kids with open eyes, listening ears and patience. Here are some ideas for the Spokane area: Hike down the High Drive “Bluff ” trails to Latah Creek during the spring and search for marmots, geese

or even a coyote. Visit Mount Spokane State Park in the summer and see woodpeckers, butter-flies and crickets, if not a moose or white-tailed deer. Float the Spokane River or visit Riverside State Park and search for osprey. Visit Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge outside Cheney, where moose, elk, coyote, beaver and river otter reside year-round. Wildlife are best observed during early morning or evening hours, according to the Turnbull website that offers wildlife viewing tips (fws.gov/refuge/Turnbull/seasons_of_wildlife). Spring is prime viewing season for animals and their offspring.

Introducing children to wildlife in natural sur-roundings, rather than a zoo, helps them learn the intrinsic value of a healthy habitat and sustainable ecosystem. It provides opportunities to discuss nature’s interdependence and how people benefit when wild animals thrive.

With April’s unpredictable weather, a great indoor learning opportunity is the fish festival-themed open house at the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center (8706 E. Upriver Drive) in Spokane on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Geared for children of all ages – even toddlers – activities include a craft project, trout viewing, 20-minute seminars and tours of the out-door bird sanctuary. Children can also observe the indoor classroom’s guinea pigs and birds, including a western screech owl. Admission is a $5 suggested donation per person. Check out the Center’s website for more details (wvolc.org), or call 509-340-1028. Have fun exploring!

amy silbernagel Mccaffree has been living in

spokane for over 10 years and enjoys outdoor

adventures with her husband and their two chil-

dren. look for more family-friendly outdoor recre-

ation and lifestyle ideas from amy in future issues.

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HealthandFitnessTRAInInG FOR A TRIAThlOn Why sign up for an Ironman in the first place? // by Janelle mcCabe wheN a reporter once asked mountaineer George Mallory why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, Mallory famously responded, “Because it’s there.” For many triathletes, the Ironman is their Everest, but they’ll probably use more than three words trying to explain why they do it.

This event, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run – 140.6 miles of physical and mental testing within a 17-hour period – is technically called a “full”-distance triathlon. Several organizations run full-distance triathlons, including Challenge, HITS, and Rev3, but Ironman is the most recognized, and the term has become synonymous with the distance.

“Why did you sign up for Ironman?” That’s the question I asked people at first, emphasizing the event rather than the person, and they often answered with a version of Mallory’s famous answer: Because it’s a challenge that inspires me to pursue my potential. But soon a more interest-ing question emerged: Why did you – specifically, you – sign up for Ironman?

Before I realized that I was misguidedly focus-

ing on the race rather than the racers, I surveyed more than 40 people in the Inland Northwest who’ve signed up for at least one Ironman (IM). Their demographics and experience levels ranged from their early 20s to late 60s, from first-time triathletes to multiple-IM finishers, and from former couch potatoes to competitive gymnasts and wrestlers. They identified different areas of anxiety leading up to the event: the commotion

of the mass swim, the alchemy of race-day nutri-tion, the threat of injury. They described different approaches to the months of physical prepara-tion, which included training by heart rate zone, duration, distance, pace, and power exertion. But they all shared two important characteristics: an appetite for tough personal goals, and the mental strength to reach them.

“To be great at anything, whether it’s in sport or anything else, there’s a constellation of skills that you need to have pretty refined,” says Dr. Jon Hammermeister, Sports Psychologist and Professor of Physical Education at Eastern Washington University. Those skills include nurturing a high degree of belief in yourself, set-ting clear goals and defining a distinct path to achieve those goals, controlling your emotions

and remaining focused under pressure, and cop-ing with adversity.

Hammermeister knows what he’s talking about. The 13-time Ironman finisher played tennis in college and then started coaching. “I was interest-ed in learning about ways to outthink or outsmart my opponents, and when I started coaching, men-tal strength became even more important: How

could I coach my athletes to be as mentally strong as they could possibly be? I didn’t really know how. I had some itches that I couldn’t scratch very well.” Hammermeister read James E. Loehr’s book “Mental Toughness Training for Sports,” which intensified his fascination with sports psychol-ogy, and then went on to study with Dr. Damon Burton, “one of the giants in sports psychology,” at the University of Idaho. “Turns out I still have the same number of itches I can’t scratch – they’re just a little more evolved than they were in 1984,” Hammermeister laughs.

Hammermeister notes that most of the ele-ments of mental toughness that we rely on go at least as far back as the Samurai 3,000 years ago. “Ever since man developed some semblance of consciousness, we’ve known that mental strength is important if you want to perform at a high level at anything. What’s gotten better over time is how we train it, and how widely those training meth-ods have been adopted. But the basic concepts are literally thousands of years old.”

My survey participants confirmed his state-ment: “I always believed I could do it.” “I wanted to honor myself and the event.” “I just kept mov-ing forward.” “I did way more than my body believed I could.” “I looked forward to seeing my hard work pay off.” “I believe that Ironman is 75% mental and 25% fitness.” “I pushed myself farther than I thought possible.” Their responses reflect not only confidence but also a sort of amazement at what the human spirit can accomplish.

Finishing an Ironman race is unquestionably difficult for anyone, but there are many athletic levels represented in each event. For example, at Ironman Coeur d’Alene, the winner usually fin-ishes between 8 and 8½ hours. However, most of the more than 2,500 athletes finish between 12 and 15 hours. No matter their finish time, the hours on the course – and the months in train-ing – are grueling, and they force people to come face to face with their motivations. “We’re never not motivated,” Hammermeister says. “We’re motivated all the time. Maybe you’re motivated to watch hours of TV a day. Maybe you’re moti-vated to finish a project at work, or spend time with your kids, or run 20 miles. I would never say that someone’s not motivated enough – it’s more a question of what they’re motivated to do. It comes down to your goals, and how important those goals are to you.”

Reaching the summit of your personal Mt. Everest won’t necessarily involve an ice axe or a bike helmet or even sweat, but it will require a realistic assessment of your goals, and then a commitment to the hard work it will take to reach them. “The personal growth,” said one survey participant and multiple-IM finisher, “it tests your ideals, discipline, commitment, spirituality, mental fortitude, and so much more; you learn a lot about yourself out there.” So why did they sign up for Ironman? Because they had a vision and the mental toughness to believe, plan, focus, and cope through months of training and hours of racing until they heard those four magic words as they crossed the finish line: “You…are…an…Ironman!”//

Editor’s note: This is part one in a series on training for triathlons.

...it will require a realistic assessment of your goals, and then a commitment to the hard work it will take to reach them.


ClimbingSPRInG ClImbInG AT FREnChmAn COulEE by katie botkinour regioN iN the spriNgtime is notori-ously variable – rainy, chilly, slower to bloom than the territory immediately to the west. Fortunately, for climbers dying to get out on warm, dry rocks after a long winter, relief is only a few short hours away. The desert environ-ment provided by Vantage, Washington, about two hours from Spokane on I-90, makes for excellent spring climbing. A large ravine with towering cliffs that also draws hikers year-round, Frenchman Coulee is a developed climbing area featuring pillars of columnar basalt. Routes are split fairly evenly between trad and sport climbs,

range from 5.5 to 5.12+ and are particularly popular with crack climbers.

To get there from the east, take Exit 143 off I-90 and take a right and then a left to get to Old Vantage Highway. There is camping by the trail-head, and getting to the routes requires a hike in. The Sunshine Wall provides some great climbs and is often good on cooler days – follow the trail from the parking lot and then continue along the

ridge line, paying attention to the marked signs to wind your way down into the gully. You’ll need to navigate some drops and narrow passages, so pack accordingly and wear decent hiking shoes.

Vantage Point (5.8), just right of the Sunshine Wall, makes a good warm-up, and if you pause to look around, the views are great. The climb feels more exposed than the 5.8 and 5.9 crack routes surrounding it, but it’s fun for anyone who prefers face climbing.

The hardest routes on the Sunshine Wall, Red M&Ms (5.12a), has a somewhat controversial rating. Toproping it brings it down to something

in the 5.11c range, but placing gear in the route’s thin, twin cracks makes for part of the more diffi-cult grade. To attempt it on toprope, scale George and Martha (5.10a) on the crack to the left; the anchor is shared by both routes. Even if you can’t climb 5.11 grades, you should get on this route – the start is easier and it’s fun to attempt. As with most of the harder climbs in this area, move stra-tegically, and when in doubt, stem.

On nice days in the spring-time, the area can draw a reasonable amount of traffic, and after sev-eral years of planning and fundraising, its first toilet facil-ity was opened to the public on February 21, 2014 in an effort to protect the des-er t ecosystem. However, there is no running water avai l-able, so bring in plenty with you. Storms can roll in as well, and the coulee can get quite windy, so it’s best to check the weather forecast before heading out. If you’ve ever tried toss-ing a rope down to rappel a tall pitch on a windy day, you’ll know how tricky a breeze can make things. //

A large ravine with towering cliffs that also draws hikers year-round, Frenchman Coulee is a developed climbing area featuring pillars of columnar basalt.

alex sanchez

william T. vollmann

matthew zapruder

David abrams

chitra divakaruni

anthony doerr

Linda gregg

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AMANDA SUGDEN LEADS VANTAGE POINT (5.8). PHOTO: KATIE BOTKIN


WaterSportsWhITEWATER Run DOWn lATAh (AkA hAnGmAn) CREEk // by Dan Schafferthere are a few outdoor adveNtures in the Inland Northwest that are available only a couple of times each year. Skiing two feet of fresh powder at a local ski area is one of those, and another is the opportunity to take a whitewater run down Latah Creek. Of course, when Latah does run, “whitewater” is a euphemism since the flow will be the color and consistency of a Starbuck’s mocha. However, unlike the mocha, you will not want any of this in your mouth, given the amount of fertilizer, livestock excrement and other nasties that run off the Palouse farmland into the creek.

That being said, the experience is well worth the diligence and schedule flexibility it takes to make the run. The creek actually begins in Benewah County, Idaho, and runs north through the Palouse, eventually joining the Spokane River at People’s Park. True to its name, for most of the year it is, indeed, just a meandering creek that you could walk across with hip waders. However, when two envi-ronmental events occur together, it becomes a full-blown river with flows that can equal, or exceed,

that of the Spokane River itself. What is needed is a snow pack of 8 inches or more, combined with a sudden warming trend and rain.

Just such a combination occurred the first week of March, and several members of the Northwest Whitewater Association took advantage of the opportunity. In order to have enough flow to make the trip worthwhile, you need at least 1,500 cfs on the Spokane gauge. This information is available at: waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12424000&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065.

The reason you need diligence and flexibility is that the creek peaks and recedes at an alarm-

ing rate. On March 4th (Tuesday), the reading was about 1,500 cfs, and by Saturday it was back down to 1,000 cfs. Our group missed the peak flow on Thursday (7,500 cfs), but had a very nice run on Friday at about 2,000 cfs. In previous years, mem-bers of the club have run the creek with flows as high as 20,000 cfs.

While it would seem that floating a creek through farmland wouldn’t be much fun, the creek actually enters a wilderness gorge just downstream

of our usual put-in, at the bridge where North Kentuch Trails Road crosses the creek east of Spangle. The flow is consistent, with mostly Class II-III action until you reach calmer water about a mile above where Rock Creek enters from the east. There are two rapids of note, one just upriver of the Keevy Road bridge, and another about a half mile downstream that has gotten the name “Little Cliffside.”

There used to be a nice take-out on private land above Rock Creek, but some impolite boaters left trash and caused some damage, so the owner has closed off that access. The easiest place to get off the creek is across from where Elder Road connects with Valley Chapel Road. While that increases the amount of “flat” water, there is an exciting surf wave just downstream of where Spangle Creek comes in.

Our club has evolved into a mostly cataraft group, and this would be my recommendation for Latah. It keeps you out of the “toxic soup,” as opposed to a kayak or IK, and allows you to surf the numerous waves and holes that develop along the way. A drysuit is mandatory, given the cold water, and the fact that you are often running it in the rain, though we were lucky to have intermittent sunshine.

The creek has peaked three times this year, and there may be one more opportunity, but you better be prepared to call in sick and have your gear avail-able or you will miss it. All too often the comment you hear about Latah is “you should have been here yesterday.” //

Of course, when latah does run, “whitewater” is a euphemism since the flow will be the color and

consistency of a Starbuck’s mocha. NORTHWEST WHITEWATER ASSOCIATION CATARAFT CREW TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEAK FLOWS ON LATAH CREEK. PHOTOS: DAN SCHAFFER


Everyday CyclistA hARD DAY’S nIGhT On A mOunTAIn bIkE // by hank Greer

may 24-25 of this year will mark the 15th running of the 24 Hours Round The Clock Race at Riverside State Park. This year’s race theme, “A Hard Day’s Night,” is one of the most appropriate themes yet.

The race is a loop of trails about 15 miles long covering a wide variety of the topography offered by Riverside State Park, much of which is infused with rock. There are rocky climbs, rocky descents, and rocky traverses. Also along the way you’ll find some tight single track weaving through trees, some dirt/gravel double track, water puddles and mud, about five rock gardens, and if the Spokane River is in flood stage, the asphalt of the Centennial Trail.

With a course this long and so many disparate trails involved, it helps to have names on parts of the course. Some areas bear names indicative of their makeup. The Lake District is where you’ll navigate through or around pools of water. Five Minute Hill gets its name from the time it takes to climb it, which tends to grow longer for some as the race wears on. Devil’s Up and Devil’s Down are, respectively, the

steepest climb and the most treacherous downhill parts of the race. (There is a much less stressful alter-native to going down Devil’s Down). Other areas have names that stuck after the theme of that race. Marrakesh Express and Purple Haze, for example, got their names during the Woodstock-themed race.

The race begins at noon on Saturday with a Le

Mans start. The bikes are in racks just past the start line. A couple hundred riders run a quarter-mile loop that brings them back to the start where they grab their bikes and go. The tires hit the trail and keep on rolling for the next 24 hours. At the comple-tion of each lap, the rider dismounts and enters the timing tent. They pass a wristband over a sensor and electronicaly check in after which they either get back on the bike or pass the wristband on to a waiting teammate. A running tally of team and solo scores is posted on a bulletin board so you have an idea how you and the competition are faring. The latest anyone can start a new lap is 11:59 a.m. on Sunday. Those left on the course will complete their final lap. Once everyone finishes, the scores are tal-

lied and awards are presented.Who races on a mountain bike for 24 hours? The

skillset ranges from the experienced and extremely fit to those who are new to mountain biking. The beauty about this race is that there’s a category for everyone. If you want to limit yourself to just a couple of laps, a ten-person team is the way to go. If you want a little more race time, then a four-or five-person team would suit you. If that’s not enough saddle time for you then you could share the suffer-ing with someone else on a two-person team. And if you’re greedy and you want the punishment all to yourself, then solo is the way to go.

I’ll leave the question, “When will I sleep?” for you to figure out. But getting some rest that Sunday night is a sure fire bet.

Wendy Zupan and Gino Liesicki, Round and Round Productions, and an army of volunteers are the persons responsible for this unique event. Wendy strives to maintain her sanity while man-aging registrations, answering questions, getting volunteers, assigning volunteer duties, and more.

The creative team names and campsite decorations are one of the favorite parts of the event for Wendy. Last year, the event was graced by the presence of teams with names like Old Farts With Squirts, Nine & One-Half Legs, Oh Shift, and I’ve Effin’ Ridden Only Once This Year!!!

Gino maps out the course, parking, camping, and

vehicle access areas. He and volunteers, like Dave Nelson, also prepare the course for the insanity of a daylong race. They avoid long and straight flat stretches, which will bore riders. But they don’t want to surprise riders with potentially dangerous situa-tions such as a sharp turn at the end of a high-speed stretch. The flow of the course is very important so they mix up the single and double track throughout the course to give riders plenty of places to pass and be passed.

A Hard Day’s Night will be a lot of fun for several hundred mountain bikers. But don’t take my word for it. It’s not too late to find out for yourself. (roun-dandround.com). //

last year, the event was graced by the presence of teams with names like Old Farts With Squirts, nine & One-half legs, Oh Shift,

and I’ve Effin’ Ridden Only Once This Year!!!

NO ROOM TO PASS ON DEVIL’S DOWN. PHOTO: HANK GREER.



Bicycle road racing can be just as much fun as it can be discouraging.

How so? Going fast is fun, but going fast while everyone else is going

faster can be dispiriting. The trick, at least from this beginner’s point

of view, is to “get your mind right” and focus on the fun.

There are three types of road races: criterium, road, and time trial. The criterium is held on a loop course about one mile in length. Criteriums are great for spectators because they see the riders come by every couple of minutes. You can get close enough to feel the air being pushed aside as the group zooms by. A 45-minute race provides a lot of excitement. Road races are longer and the routes are more drawn out. A loop for a road race can range from 5 to 20 miles, but it’s not limited to that. It could be a single loop of 50 or more miles. Time trials are typically an out-and-back race. Racers are started at intervals, such as every two minutes, and they must go it alone. Drafting off a lead rider is not permitted. Are you ready to race? Here are some suggestions.

Twilight Series – Begins Tuesday, April 8, and then continues on almost every Tuesday through August at several venues in Eastern Washington. The Baddlands Racing Club hosts the series, provid-ing a great way to gain experience and get into racing shape. You can find yourself climbing Steptoe Butte, racing at Williams Lake, or speeding around a criterium course in Liberty Lake. (baddlands.org).

Ronde Van Palouse – April 12, southeast of Spangle, Wash. This tour of the Palouse road race is a 16-mile circuit consisting of 10 miles of pavement and 6 miles of graded gravel. The constant rollers take you up and down and up and down and the cruel wind never gives you a break. Spokane Rocket Velo Cycling proudly brings this sufferfest to you. (spokanerocketvelo.com).

Tour de Bloom 2014 – May 4 and 5 in Wenatchee, Wash. The Tour de Bloom is an omniun: a two-day event that includes all three races. The time trial is held the morning of the first day. The criterium is held that evening. The road race completes the trifecta on the following day. You’re not obligated to do all three races. You can register for just one or two if you like. (wenatcheevalleyvelo.org/tour-de-bloom-2014).

Green Bluff Circuit Race – Saturday, June 7 at Green Bluff north of Spokane. This is a seven-mile loop with a 500-foot climb up Green Bluff Road on each lap. Races are 1-8 laps depending on the category. The individual King/Queen of the Mountain is contested on the second lap of each race. Spokane’s River City Red

Cycling Team hosts this race. (rivercityred.blogspot.com/2014/02/greenbluff-circuit-race-june-7-2014.html).

Prospero Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan – Sunday, July 13, in Penticton, B.C. A grand fondo is not a race in the sense that you have to be licensed, etc., but it is a timed ride. The three courses: 55km, 92km, and 160km all offer beautiful scenery and challenging climbs. (granfondoaxelmerckx.com).

Jedermann Gran Fondo – Saturday, July 19 in Cheney, WA. Emde Sports hosts this event, and it truly is for everyone, offering a choice of 30, 66, or 112-mile routes. Finish the 112 miles in less than six, eight, or ten hours to get a medal commemorating your accomplishment. (emdesports.com/jeder-manngranfondo/home.html).

Lilac City Twilight Criterium – Saturday, July 26, in downtown Spokane. After a long hiatus, this exciting event returned to downtown Spokane in 2012. The course is L-shaped and about eight-tenths of a mile in length. There’s a free kids race included. Spokane Rocket Velo also hosts this event. (spo-kanerocketvelo.com).

Coeur d’Fondo – Saturday, Sept. 27, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The Coeur d’Fondo offers two competi-tive and three noncompetitive courses, two of which include riding on a cruise boat. The Gran Fondo (108 miles) completely encircles Lake Coeur d’Alene while the Medio Fondo (84 miles) takes a short cut at the Chatcolet Bridge. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for finishing within applicable time limits. (cdagranfondo.com).

38th Annual Western Montana Hill Climb Championships – Sunday, Oct. 4, in Missoula, Mont. This is Montana’s oldest annual competitive cycling event. The hill climb is designed for the casual as well as the competitive rider. Riders of all abilities have participated in this event, ranging in age from 7 to 75. The four-mile course climbs 840 feet up Pattee Canyon Drive. Cyclists leave at one minute-intervals and ride against the clock. (missoulabike.org/hillclimb). //

The constant rollers take you up and down and up and down and the cruel wind never gives you a break.

Road Bike Race Roundup By Hank Greer

RIDERS ALONG THE LILAC CITY TWIGHLIGHT CRITERIUM ROUTE

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE. PHOTOS: HANK GREER


CLIMBING

(April 12) Climb for a Cure. When: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Where: Wild Walls Climbing Gym. Food, bever-ages, live music, auction, raffles and climbing. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Info:wildwalls.com

BIKING

(Wednesday nights) Wednesday night mountain bike Races. When: 5 - 8:30 p.m. Where: Riverside State Park 7 Mile Airstrip, Wednesday nights start-ing May 7 and every Wednesday through June 25. Mountain bike racing for everyone. Registration at 5, racing at 6:30, cold drinks and prizes after every race! Cost $20. Info:nomadzracing.com.

(Ongoing) belles and baskets. Whatever style your cycle, join other Spokane women for no-drop rides, treats, and friendship. Info: 509-951-4090, facebook.com/bellesandbaskets.

(First Wednesday-Each month) bike Fights. When: 8 p.m. Where: Soulful Soups & Spirits, Spokane. 60 seconds to ride your heart out on a bike trainer. $10 to enter. Prizes! Info: 509-459-1190.

CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP FOR WEEKLY RIDES!

(April 8) 2014 Cooper Jones memorial Twilight Series. When: 6 - 8:30 p.m. Bicycle races held on different venues in and around the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area. Courses include criteriums, circuits, and road races. Every Wednesday through August. Info: baddlands.org.

(April 12) Ronde van Palouse. When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Liberty High School, Spangle. This bicycle road race is held in the spirit of the Spring Classics. The course consists of a 16-mile circuit in the farm country near Spangle, WA. The loop features 10 miles of good pavement and 6 miles of graded gravel. The constant rollers and the nearly constant wind of the Palouse make this a challeng-ing circuit that favors the strongest all-around rid-ers. Info: srvcycling.com.

(April 13) Daffodil Classic. Where: Orting Valley southeast of Tacoma. 39th annual event sponsored by Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club. Cost: $30. Info: twbc.org.

(April 12-21) northwest Crank. Where: Wenatchee area. Choice of at least two rides each day, including a RUSA Brevet (challenging ride with time limits at point stations). Sponsored by Seattle International Randonneurs. $100 for four days and banquet, or $25 daily.

(April 12-13) Spokane bike Swap & Expo. When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Used bikes and accessories are consigned, donated and sold to the public in our Bike Corral; 600 bicycles in 2013! A wide variety of exhibitors sell new bicycles, accessories and promote their products and services – including cycling events, health and wellness programs and recreational non-profits. A wide variety of bicycles are sure to please everyone – including kids, racing, mountain, road, commuter, bmx, tandem, recum-bent, cruiser, trailer bikes, buggies and more! Info: SpokaneBikeSwap.com or 509-475-7674

Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click “Add Event” under the “Outdoor Calendar” tab to get your events listed online and considered for the monthly print magazine calendar. To be considered for the print calendar, events MUST be entered by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the instructions for submitting an event using the web form.

Have an Event You Would Like to List? //

sIxMonthtrainingcalendarOutdoorCalendar Full events calendar at www.outtheremonthly.com

RUNNING

(may 4) bloomsday. When: 9 a.m. Lilac Bloomsday Run held in Spokane, features over 50,000 runners, joggers, and walkers. Info: www.bloomsdayrun.org.

(may 10) liberty lake Trail Run. When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Liberty Lake Trail Head. At the finish is a pancake feed. This trail run is rated as difficult. Info: trailmaniacs.com.

(may 17) breakthrough for brain Tumors Spokane 5k Run & Walk. 5K Run & Walk will raise critical funds to support vital brain tumor research and desperately needed services for those living with a brain tumor diagnosis. Cost: $35. Info: abta.org.

(June 7) hear me Run 5k Fundraiser. When: 9:30 a.m. Where: Riverfront Park, Spokane. This 1st annual fun run benefit for HOPE School is a chip timed run along the Spokane River. Info: www.databarevents.com/events/view/99/Hear-Me-Run-5K.

(June 7-8) The Riverside 24 hour Relay. Teams of 1 – 12 runners will take turns completing a beautiful, 6-mile loop through Riverside State Park. Athletes can set up their own RV/Tent city. Info: r24relay.com or 208-664-0135.

(June 8) Red Devil Challenge Trail Run. When: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Wenatchee National Forest. The running trails disect beautiful glades of Ponderosa pine and grasses; cuts through cool-er, darker stands of Douglas Fir with views of the Enchantments, Mission Ridge and other views in the Cascades. Info: runwenatchee.com or 509-378-0051.

(June 28-29) kaniksu 50 & Emory Corwine memorial Ruck Race. Where: Colville National Forest. A 50-mile point-to-point endurance run and memorial relay ruck race held in the lower Selkirk Mountain Range. The race course boasts over 10,000 ft of elevation gain making it one of the most difficult 50 milers in the state. Or, take 5 friends and take on the ruck race. A 5-member relay team will each complete a leg of the course carrying a minimum 35lb pack/ruck. Cost: $75 for Ultra or $250 for the Ruck Race. Info: kaniksu50.com.

(August 16) “Dig Your Grave” 30k Trail Race. When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Hope Memorial Center, Hope ID. Based on the life of Ike Walters, a turn of the 20th century US Marshal in Hope, this 30K will test your climbing and descending as you run/hike/crawl to the top of Roundtop Mountain and return. Unique awards. Cost: $30. Info: goatevents.com.

(September 13) The Riggins “Salmon Run”. Where: Riggins City Park, Riggins, ID. This is a

family friendly event offering multiple distances including a kids fun run for children ages 3-6. Runners will complete an out and back course retrieving a special token at the turn around aid station. The finish line for all distances will be at Riggins City Park, where runners and their families can enjoy live music, food and drinks. Finishers prizes will be given in each distance, as well as Men’s and Women’s first prize awards. Cost: $5 kid/ $20 5K/ $30 10K/ $40 1/2 marathon. Info: rigginsidaho.com.

MARATHONS

(may 10) horse lake half marathon. When: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: Horse Lake Reserve in the Wenatchee Foothills. The reserve is known for its wildflowers and stunning views of the North Cascades and the Wenatchee River. Info: run-wenatchee.com or 509-387-0051.

(may 25) Coeur d’Alene marathon. The Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half Marathon, and MyHealth 5k fun run. Info: http://www.cdamarathon.com.

(June 1) Windermere marathon. When: 7 a.m. Full or Half Marathon. Info: http://windermer-emarathon.wordpress.com.

(July 6) negative Split marathon & 5k Run. When: 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Where: Riverfront Park. Running a negative split means to finish the race stronger than you started. Course is fast, flat and scenic. Starts in Riverfront Park and follows the Spokane River. Well supported, chip timed. Proceeds benefit the Spokane Boys and Girls Clubs. Info: nsplit.com or 208-806-1311.

(September 6) lake Chelan Shore to Shore marathon, half-marathon, 10k. When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Manson Bay Park, Manson, WA. The course is almost entirely adjacent to Lake Chelan. Runners are treated to views of the lake as well as views of the North Cascades, the rolling foothills, orchards and vineyards. Runners also will traverse through the quaint downtowns of Chelan and Manson. Info: lakechelanmarathon.com.

BIKING

(may 17) Roslyn Rush. Roslyn, WA. The Roslyn Rush is famous for its killer 1-mile climb right off the start! Once you survive that the rest is a piece of cake… rolling, singletrack with a rippin’ descent and one last kick of a climb piece of cake that is. Info: rideviciouscycle.com.

(may 24-25) 24 hour Round the Clock Race. Where: Riverside State Park. The 24-hour event is a team relay mountain bike race, beginning at

noon on Saturday and ending at noon on Sunday. Teams compete for medals, prizes and bragging rights. Info: roundandround.com.

(August 23-24) Gigantic bicycle Festival. Where: Centennial Fields Park, Snoqualmie, WA. The two day, mid-August festival features a diverse, multi-faceted and regionally representa-tive mix of live music, hand-built bicycles, visual & performance art, film, comedy, guest speakers, sculpture, and interactive installation pieces. Cost: $15 -$30. Info: theleveebreaking.org.

(September 20) Ovando Gran Fondo. When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Ovando, MT. Third annual OVANDO GRAN FONDO: An epic off-road ride for the Missoula Symphony. Bring your cross or mountain bike for this fully supported 57-mile ride. Ride through some of Western Montana’s most scenic landscapes on dirt roads, includ-ing numerous miles through private land not otherwise open to the public. Info: missoula-symphony.org.

TRIATHLONS

(may 31) Troika Triathlon. When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Medical Lake Park. Sprint Triathlon (1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run) Half Triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). Info: TroikaTriathlon.com.

(July 13) valley Girl Triathlon. When: 7:45 a.m. Where: Liberty Lake. Women’s Only Sprint Distance Triathlon. Individual entry or teams. Volunteers are always welcome. Info: ValleyGirlTri.com.

(July 19) Tiger Tri. When: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: Gilette Lake Campground/Colville High School. This point to point event starts with a 0.6 mile swim and a 24 mile bike along the beautiful State Route 20 back to the town of Colville. The run is approximately 5 miles and take place on the Rotary Dominion Meadows trail ending at Colville High School. Cost: $75 individual. $50 pp teams. Info: tigertri.com.

(August 9) Coeur d’Alene Triathlon. The Coeur d’Alene Triathlon and Duathlon has been one of the most scenic races in the Northwest since 1984. This year marks the 31th anniversary of the race. New last year: Sprint Distance. Info: cdatriathlon.com or 877-782-9232.

(August 31) Steve braun memorial Triathlon. When: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Where: Moran State Park, Orcas Island. Swim: 1/2 mile swim in beautiful Cascade Lake. Bike: A 15 mile bike ride along a scenic and very rural county chip sealed road. Run: A beautiful trail run 3.5 miles around Cascade Lake. Cost: $55. Info: friendsofmoran.com or 360-376-3111.


(April 17) bike maintenance basics for Women. When: 7 - 8:30 p.m. Where: REI Spokane. intro-ductory class on how to keep your bike running smoothly and make routine adjustments and repairs on your own. This women’s specific class offers an open, supportive learning environment for begin-ning riders to avid cyclists.. Info: REI.com.Spokane.

(April 26) beacon and legs. Where: Camp Sekani, Spokane. The course is approx 7 miles with lots of fast, smooth, swoopy singletrack. There will be 1,000’ of elevation gain per lap, but not really any long killer climbs,;it’s a great blend of fast flow with a little tech here and there. Info: rideviciouscycle.com.

(April 26) kidical mass, Spokane Summer Parkways. When: 1 p.m. Where: West Central Neighborhood. A 3-mile ride for kids and their par-ents. Info: SummerParkways.com.

(April 27) 21st Annual lilac Century and Family Fun Ride. When: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Spokane Falls Community College. This 21st year ride offers a variety of fun, scenic and challenging tours for every level of rider. Five tour lengths sup-port all levels of riders and everyone will enjoy a free baked potato feed at the finish. Tri-athletes may reg-ister for a Bike/Run “Brick” transition to a 5 K run from a secure bike holding area. Info: [email protected].

HIKING / WALKING

(On-Going) Wed & Sun hobnailer hikes. When: Varies. Where: Varies. Join Hobnailer hiking club for weekly 6-8 mile hikes in the Spokane area. Info: [email protected] or 509-456-0250.

(April 10) backpacking by bike. When: 7 - 8:30 p.m. Where: REI Spokane. Bikepacking –or back-packing by bike– is an increasingly popular way to enjoy the outdoors. Learn various aspects of bike-packing including outfitting your bike, gear to bring, and trip planning tips. Register for this free class at REI.com/Spokane to save your seat. Info: REI.com/Spokane.

(April 12) Dishman hills Conservancy’s 48th Annual buttercup hike. When: 1 - 4 p.m. Where: Camp Caro. This long-held Dishman Hills tradition is not only a chance to look for the year’s first color, but Michael and Jeff will also share the history and importance of this land. Join them for a fun after-noon of hiking, socializing and buttercups! Info: dishmanhills.com.

(April 28) WTA Trail Work Party. When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Big Rock Trail Head. Join WTA to work on reroutes of steep sections of the east ridge trail at Iller Creek. Info: wta.org or [email protected].

RUNNING

(April 15) The Clot Trot. Where: Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA. This is a project to spread awareness of a bleeding disorder called hemophilia. This ser-vice project originated as a Boy Scout Eagle project and is now in its seventh year. Cost: Donation. Info: 3rrr.org.

(April 19) Community Fun Run. When: 9 a.m. Where: CenterPlace at Mirabeau Park, Spokane Valley. This is a virtually flat, out-and-back 5 kilometer course

OutdoorCalendar APRIl 2014OuTDOORCAlEnDAR

beginning at the Centennial Trail near CenterPlace and reversing just past the Sullivan Road overpass. Cost: $14. Info: arcspokane.websimpler.com.

(April 26) hope Pie Run. When: 9 am to noon. Where: Hope Memorial Center, Hope, ID. Idaho’s Finest Pie Run. Period. This is a 5k guaranteed to leave you with a full belly! Proceeds benefit the Hope Pre-School. Cowbell start and fork halfway. Cost: $5. Info: goatevents.com.

(April 26) 5k heart Run. When: 9 a.m. Where: University High School. Includes a stroller division. Cost: $20. Info: runningintheusa.com.

(April 26) Race 2 Place. When: 9 a.m. Where: Mirabeau Point Park, Spokane Valley. Fun and scenic 5k or 10k run that follows the Centennial Trail alongside the beautiful Spokane River, begin-ning at Mirabeau Point Park in the Spokane Valley. This is a chip timed race and is a great warm-up for Bloomsday. Cost: $25 for 5K, $30 for 10K. Info: race2place.org.

(April 26) 32nd Annual Spring Dash. When: 10 a.m. Where: Downtown Coeur d’Alene. 5 mile run through downtown. Cost $20. Info: kootenaiunit-edway.org.

(April 27) Spokane River Run. When: 7:45 a.m. Ranging from 50K to 5K. Right in the midst of Riverside State Park and minutes from downtown Spokane is a small piece of trail running paradise. Info: www.spokaneriverrun.com

TRIATHLONS

(April 13) Whitworth Triathlon. When: 7:30 a.m. Where: Whitworth University. 500 yard pool swim at the Aquatic Center, 6 Mile bike on campus drive, 3 mile run on campus back 40. Info: [email protected].

(April 26) leadman Triathlon. Where: Silver Mountain Resort. The race begins at Kellogg Peak on Silver Mountain when the gun is fired and com-petitors run about 200 ft to click into their gear for an approximate 1 mile ski/board to the mountain bike transition point. At that stage, competitors find their riding gear and mountain bikes and brave a mostly downhill dirt course to the City of Kellogg where the run initiates. After the 7 to 11 mile bike ride the runners take off for a 4 to 5 mile run to the finish line at Gondola Village at Silver Mountain Resort. Info: silvermt.com.

MARATHONS

(April 26) Snake River Island hop. Where: Ice Harbor Dam Trail Head, Pasco, WA. 100 km ultra marathon, with 50km option, designed with the beginning ultra runner in mind. Entrants have 14 hours to complete the event. Info: PlateauTrailAdventures.com.

YOGA

(Ongoing) Intro to flow yoga. When: Mondays 8 p.m. Where: Wild Walls Climbing Gym. Classes are included with membership, or drop in for for single or pass rates.

(Ongoing) Yoga for back Care. When: 9 a.m.

Friday or noon on Monday. Where: North Pines Yoga. A yoga class focused on balance and core work to deliver endurance to your spine. Info www.northpinesyogapilates.com or 509-928-1400.

SKIING, SNOWSHOEING AND WINTER EVENTS

(April 5-6) Schweitzer Tropical Daze. Where: Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Bring out your Hawaiian shirt for some fun in the sun! Lots of family activities daily!

(April 5) Spring Carnival. Where: Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Pond Skim, music, and sunshine! Info: silvermt.com

(April 5) Slush Cup. Where: Lookout Pass Ski Resort. Pond skimming event. Info: skilookout.com.

OTHER

(April 23) Damnation. When: 6 p.m. Where: Lincoln Center. Focused on the national movement to remove outdated dams and restore rivers, the film documents our country’s dam-building era and the new era of rethinking dams that aren’t providing enough benefits to justify the damage they exact on rivers, fish and people. Info: damnationfilm.com.



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RunningIS YOuR RunnInG FORm FOulInG YOu uP? Gait Analysis at northwest Running lab Could help // by Sarah hauge

it’s a rare ruNNer who doesn’t deal with injuries. Surveys of runners commonly show that upwards of 60% are sidelined with inju-ries at some point in a given year. With their work at Northwest Running Lab, Dominic and Lanaia Severino are helping runners change their form and prevent injuries – and hope-fully get a little faster in the process.

Physical therapists and self-described

“research junkies,” Lanaia and Dominic focus on biomechanics, offering gait analysis to runners of all skill levels to reduce their risk of injury and improve performance. While athletes in other sports might spend decades studying and perfecting form (Dominic men-tions the many years and thousands of dollars that can go into honing a golf swing), that type of refinement isn’t – yet – common among run-ners, where the primary school of thought has been “your gait is your gait, and that’s that,” as Dominic puts it. But as the Severinos know (and research attests), running can be fine-tuned, just like any other motor skill.

When Northwest Running Lab offered to perform a gait analysis for an OTM writer, I was excited. I’ve been running about 15 years, and though I’ve been pretty healthy, I haven’t had any formal coaching. Plus, whenever I’ve tried to really ramp up my mileage, IT band issues have flared up. I know there’s probably a lot I could do better.

At the lab, Dominic and Lanaia take me through a series of screenings and assess-ments to evaluate strength, range of motion, joint mobility, and bone alignment. After that I walk (barefoot) and then run (wearing shoes) on the treadmill while filmed with a high-speed camera to identify everything from hip/pelvis mechanics to foot position to knee and hip angles to arm swing. Last, I run with a wireless accelerometer attached to each leg, which is

used to calculate the average g-force at impact, a predictor of injury.

At my next appointment Dominic and Lanaia walk me through my results (they also provide a link to a private YouTube channel where I can watch my annotated video). The bad news: I hit the ground with too much g-force (just over 12 G’s per side; research shows that the risk of injury is least with 3 G’s or less), and I’ve got

a slow cadence, about 80 strides per side per minute (risk of injury decreases when cadence is 90 or more). I also have weaknesses in my hip musculature (hence my IT band issues). The good news: I have good arm swing, thigh drive, and heel height.

The Severinos advise a two-fold plan to improve my form. First, strengthening weak hip/glute muscles with exercises (leg lifts, side planks, etc.) performed 2-3 times per week, and second, increasing my cadence to 90 strides per side per minute. Why? A faster cadence will result in a stride that lands closer to my body, decreasing the g-force exerted and reducing my risk of injury. The Severinos instruct me on how to bump up my cadence gradually by using a metronome over a series of many runs, which Lanaia explains will eventually “change the metronome in your head.”

Just a few days into my running improve-ment plan, it’s too soon to say how well it’s working – but with research and a lot of satis-fied clients to back them up, I’m confident in the advice Dominic and Lanaia have given me. Recalibrating my stride and squeezing in a few rounds of strength training might be a bit of a pain, but it’s not nearly as painful as rehabbing an injury.

To learn more about Northwest Running Lab or schedule a gait analysis, go to nwrun-ninglab.com. //

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keN hill“To complete every Bloomsday takes a lot of luck, and I am a very lucky guy!” says Ken Hill, age 67.

He was vice president of the Spokane Jaycees organization when race founder Don Kardong “presented his vision for Bloomsday” in February 1977.

“About a month before Bloomsday, I decided that since we were working so hard on this project, why not participate? I was not a runner – except for short distances in high school track – and had never run a mile before.”

After completing the race, Hill volunteered by passing out sandwiches to runners, alongside his wife, Mickey. “Bloomsday is a rite of spring for our family,” he says. “My daughter and friends come over from Seattle and my son and his wife [come] from Moscow. To get in shape for Bloomsday helps get us ready for spring outdoor activities…And it’s important to keep the streak alive, despite health problems that start to catch up with us as we get older.”

Two years ago, for the first time ever, Ken had to walk Bloomsday instead of run. “I was diagnosed in 2011 with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the blood that can weaken your bones. This led to compression fractures of my spine,” he says. “In March 2012 I had a stem cell transplant and spent a couple weeks in the hospital. After the intense chemo and long recovery time, I was uncertain whether I would be able to do Bloomsday under my own power. Luckily I was able to walk Bloomsday that year. I have been in remission for about a year (Thank you God!), and am able to ski and hike as my back has improved with treatment…My doctor indicates that my medical outcome may not have been as favorable had I not been somewhat in shape. I have the motivation of 37 Bloomsdays to thank for that.”

sylvia QuiNNThe oldest perennial female at age 77, Sylvia Quinn, was a runner but not a competitor until the first

Bloomsday. “I had always said when I started that first Bloomsday, God willing, I would do it every year until I die, whether I’m fast or slow or in a wheelchair,” she says. “I have always won my age group, every year. Now there aren’t very many people in my age group.”

For her first 30 Bloomsday races, she ran them all in less than an hour. “Now I run it in about 1:07. But I also don’t do the training I used to do. Now I have to work for every step I take. But I enjoy run-ning; it’s my social life,” she says.

The main threat to her streak is advanced osteoporosis. “One year I ran it with a stress fracture, and then I ended up with two of them.”

Quinn’s husband, Patrick, is also a perennial – they’ve been married for nearly 54 years. He now walks the race. “When you’re a perennial, it doesn’t matter how you do Bloomsday – you can run or walk it

or even be in a wheelchair,” she says.“Every Bloomsday, as far as I’m concerned, has

been a gift to be able to go out there and do it.” No matter the weather, she considers it a perfect day.

“I always told my daughters that they couldn’t get married on a Bloomsday weekend. That was going to be my day for the year,” says Quinn, who served as Bloomsday race director from 1983 to 1991.

Every race day since 1992 she has completed the course twice. “I register twice, using a ficti-tious name the second time,” she says. “I go to the back when I finish and run-walk it again – visit with my friends, see them with their families. It’s a different atmosphere at the back. I try to be com-petitive the first time through, for my age group. The second time through I pay more attention to the bands and the music.”

gary selwellBloomsday made Gary Selwell into a runner

at age 38. “[The first Bloomsday] was fabulous. My whole family – my wife and three kids – ran it,” he says.

Now 76 years old, Selwell has been healthy for most Bloomsdays with his fastest finish “about an hour and seven minutes,” he says. “I never got close to that again. The past three years I start-ed getting slower and slower. I started walking because my body told me it wanted to walk. A year ago, I found out I had Parkinson’s.”

Despite his diagnoses, Selwell says, “I still work out, and do everything but run…You just deal with it. The last two times I came across the Monroe Street Bridge after the race, I said, ‘I’m not going to do that again’ – but I do. I’m going to

do it until I can’t.”Last year he finished Bloomsday with his three

granddaughters, ages 16, 18 and 30. He toes the start line with his fellow perennials, to avoid the crush of the crowd, but his granddaughters eventually find him, and they all walk together. “They’re taking care of Grandpa,” he says.

“Bloomsday kept me training for years. And that time of year I always train better. And it had to have benefited me in physical ways…If you’re smart at this age, you wear your perennial shirt that says ‘I’ve done them all.’ And people talk to you along the course – last year I wore that shirt, and I met more people than I’d met in the past 30 years.”

mike hogueIn 1977 Mike Hogue was only 14 years old. “I

was a distance runner for Shaw Junior High in Spokane. My 9th grade track coach, Bob Issit, wanted all his distance runners to sign up for this new road race in town. His roommate at the time was Don Kardong.”

Now 52 years old and living in Mead, he remembers the first time he finished as the first-place perennial. “Now it’s my goal to try to be the first perennial to cross the finish line. It motivates me to try and get back into shape after winter,” says Hogue, whose all-time personal record is sub-47 minutes.

“Staying healthy is always the number one goal,” he says. “I try to jog every other day, some-times every third day. I mix in some biking or an elliptical workout on the odd days when I’m not running.”

A couple times Hogue has waited to register the day before the race. “Now, I simply will not miss the first Sunday in May,” he says. “The ulti-mate goal is to be the sole survivor perennial of Bloomsday. That motivates me into staying active. God willing, it just might happen!”

mike aNd marJi arNoldBloomsday has been important to Mike Arnold,

65, and Marji Arnold, 59, for their entire romance.

FoR all oF its 37 yeaRs, a special group of men and women has held Spokane’s 7.46 mile Lilac Bloomsday Run sacred. Since 1996, a Bloomsday tradition has been to honor these peren-nials—now 99 people strong—who have completed every race since its inception. Without fail, despite significant personal hardships and challenges, and because of their grit, positive attitudes and fierce determination, they lace their shoes, attach bib numbers and head to the starting line on Riverside Avenue year after year.

one Race, 37 years: Meet the Bloomsday PerennialsBy Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

“Even though I’m not in the shape I used to be, I still get

out and do bloomsday. It bonds people in a unique way.”

ON THE RUN- BLOOMSDAY START 1990. PHOTO: COURTESY OF VAN GUNDY // OPPOSITE PAGE: (LEFT) PHOTO COURTESY OF LILAC BLOOMSDAY RUN ASSOCIATION/DON KARDONG // (MIDDLE AND RIGHT) COURTESY OF KEN HILL //


As only one of two married perennial couples, they were in their 20s and had only recently begun dating when they both registered for the first Bloomsday. They married the following year, on May 14, 1978.

“I’ll do anything to keep my streak alive – if I have to be pushed in a wheelchair or pushed on a gurney,” says Mike.

For the 1984 Bloomsday, Marji was pregnant and stayed active running throughout her preg-nancy. “But my back kept hurting me the whole time (running Bloomsday),” she says. Her daugh-ter was born less than three weeks later, on May 26.

“Bloomsday has made me more conscious about being healthier with food choices and staying active,” she says. “I don’t run every day, but I do Zumba, go on regular walks with Mike, and hike.” Marji and Mike now have four grand-sons and are members of Spokane’s Flying Irish Running Club.

larry gortoNNow 66, Larry Gorton became a runner at

Washington State University because of jogging and weightlifting classes. “I remembered I was questioning myself if I can sign up for the first Bloomsday Run, because I thought it was only for the national fast runners.”

But he did. And he kept running. “I felt the ben-efits of running, and it was a way of working out stress from my engineering desk job.”

Larry’s challenges to his streak include two thy-roid removal surgeries, 20 years apart from each other, but each took place a few months before Bloomsday. He also had a heart stent implanted after nearly four years of sluggish running.

tom leoNardAfter hearing that U.S. Olympian Frank Shorter

was going to be there for the first Bloomsday, Tom Leonard, 69, signed up to run. Leonard had com-peted against Frank in college as a cross-country and track runner for Clemson University. Drafted into the Air Force after college, Leonard was sta-tioned at Fairchild, and thereafter made Spokane his home.

“Back in the old days, when you’re younger and in better shape, it was real easy to run under an hour…It used to be way more competitive for

perennials than it is now. Now we readily cheer each other on,” he says. “Even though I’m not in the shape I used to be, I still get out and do Bloomsday. It bonds people in a unique way.”

Leonard finished in 19th place in the first Bloomsday, and his fastest time ever was 41 min-utes. He almost missed a Bloomsday in the late 1980s because of a work emergency – for the City of Spokane’s water department – the night before the race. “I didn’t get off work until 8 a.m. on race day,” he says. “That was the closest I came to miss-ing the starting gun.”

Joe mcmaNus For 67-year-old Joe McManus, who lives in

Ephrata, Wash., the race is a family tradition. “Bloomsday has been part of my life and our whole family’s life for 36 years,” he says.

McManus’s favorite memory is doing Bloomsday, in 2010, for the first time with four generations of his family, which included his great-grandson (then three weeks old) being carried by mother Tashia (Joe’s granddaughter). McManus’s oldest daughter, Chandra, age 44, has completed every Bloomsday except the first, and his wife, Marilyn, has done all but the first two. As many as 20 members of his family participate together.

He typically completes the Bloomsday course in under 70 minutes and often finishes among the top 15 perennials.

In 1991, he thought he finally had to skip a Bloomsday. He was managing a Safeway store near Tacoma at the time, and there was a grocery strike. He had to return to work at midnight Saturday. “I got as far as Ritzville and called again,” he says. No longer needed in Tacoma, he turned around and got a few hours of sleep before the race.

Besides Bloomsday, Joe stays active as a USA Track and Field official and volunteer coach for Ephrata’s middle school cross-country program.

Bruce mcdavis For Bruce McDavis, 66, Bloomsday is key to his

overall wellness. “Once you get past 15 years, you want to keep your Bloomsday streak going,” he says. “And I think the personal reason is because everyone is getting together to do something, the larger Bloomsday community.”

WHat’s a BlooMsday PeRennial? Race FoundeR, diRectoR, and PeRennial RunneR don KaRdonG exPlains. OTM: Where did the group concept of Bloomsday “perennials” come from? DK: I don’t know whose idea it was, but it was in the lead-up to the 20th edition of Bloomsday in 1996 that we first decided to start identifying and tracking those who had done every Bloomsday. I believe it was one of our board members, Lori Shauvin, who did the heavy lifting in combing through the printed results to compile our first file of all the qualifiers. There were 140. We didn’t call them the perennials. As far as I remember, we didn’t call them anything. In 2001 we called them the “Silver Stars.” In 2006 we first used the term perennials. There were 140 identified in 1996. Going into this year’s Bloomsday there are 99.OTM: What types of recognition do the perennials get? DK: Every year the perennials receive special seeding at the front of the starting crowd. We also make available (for purchase) a special perennials shirt that says, “I’ve Run ‘Em All!” on the back. And every five years we have a luncheon for the Perennials on the day before Bloomsday.OTM: What makes the Bloomsday perennial group special and unique? DK: I think the unique thing is that there are so many in the group. When you think of all the things that can happen to keep someone from participat-ing, it’s amazing that nearly 100 still have their streak alive. The main impact being a member of the group has had on me is that I feel increasingly con-nected to them. They were there at the beginning, and they’ve kept at it. They’re Bloomsday loyalists. One year I broke down when I was asked to speak to the group. // By: Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

McDavis teaches martial arts at his studio, Jundokan South, and for Gonzaga University’s physical education department, which he’s been doing for 25 years. (He also taught at EWU for 33 years).

Keeping his Bloomsday streak alive hasn’t been easy. “Two years ago, I had a hip replacement a month before Bloomsday. For the first time, I couldn’t line up with the perennials, because I didn’t want to slow anyone down. I had to line up in the back and use a walker,” he says.

This was actually the second hip replacement for McDavis. His first one took place the year before, in 2011. “One leg’s longer than the other now, but I don’t find myself walking around in circles,” he says.

“I tried to break 50 minutes when I was in bet-ter shape. As you get older, your time tends to get slower, so I’m at about an hour and 20 minutes. But that’s fine for me – I’ll take it,” he says. “Now I’m glad if I run 13-minute miles. You have to adjust your expectations.”

Jim mcarthur“The first Bloomsday was a hoot!...My bud-

dies and I used Bloomsday as a warm-up for the Coeur d’Alene Marathon, and it served well as a speed workout. I trained with one-pound weights in each hand, or taped to the top of my shoe,” he says. McArthur readily admits he’s a former obsessive runner.

“Keeping my Bloomsday streak alive was not much of a challenge until I had my knee scoped and complicated with blood clots. On crutches for a while, I got off them just in time to hobble through the race. Then a decade later I had to get a heart pacemaker – the direct result of not ‘warming down’ after races or hard workout runs, some up to 25 miles. My ticker wanted to keep beating at race pace and above, making it a chal-lenge to sleep.

“Now 70, I don’t even run, due to legs that betrayed me more than a decade ago, but walk-ing briskly with three contemporaries, I keep in touch with the news of the day and tip my hat to those days of pain and fulfillment when training, strategy and guile kept me competitive.”//

once i HeaRd soMeone say, “If I have to explain it, you wouldn’t understand anyway.” It was likely related to the rules of cricket or the mechanics of my car (both remain utter myster-ies to me). Now when people ask why I run, I am tempted to respond with the same elitist cynicism. But then I wouldn’t be inspiring new runners, would I? So I sat down this week to observe all the reasons we run. Pick yours, throw on your shoes, and go play.

1 We run because we think it will make us look as sculpted as “GQ” cover models.

Or better, all the ads for Spartan races. In fact, I’m pretty sure this myth is what inspires most of us to actually begin running. But the road to looking good in Lycra is a long one. I keep waiting for Spanx to come out with a sports line or those compression tights to offer some full coverage options.

2We run because we’re told that it makes us healthier. And it does. Running increases

your circulation, lowers your blood pressure, makes your bones stronger, and it burns off doughnuts at a rate of one per two hours.

3We run because our friends convince us to sign up for a charity race, only to dis-

cover there are a lot of good causes to run for. It also increases our t-shirt wardrobe ten-fold per season. In fact, I’m quite certain that many of us were accidental, unsuspecting runners. We find ourselves standing at a starting line or on an icy driveway one day, listening to Talking Heads and asking ourselves, “How did I get here?” Then we do it again nearly every day. Often with those same friends.

4 We run because we want to be faster. Or faster than someone. Or faster than we

were. Or at least fast enough to catch the bus. Although running is typically faster than walk-ing, once I got passed on a track by a competi-tive speed walker that was about four feet tall. I never made fun of speed walkers again. But still, unless you walk as fast as a she-leprechaun on too much Mate tea, running will be your better option.

5 We run for sanity. Years ago, I broke my leg. The only people more upset by this

than myself were members of my family. They were downright concerned for their well-being, installed locks on their doors, and kissed ass for the eight weeks I was on crutches. Studies show that long, slow runs (two hours) induce lasting endorphin release and associated feelings of elation. The famed runner’s high has been sci-entifically proven by real scientists who prob-ably became runners afterward, and it’s so legit, I’m going to cite my source for you. (Boecker et al, 2008. “The Runner’s High: Opioidergic Mechanisms in the Human Brain.”) It also relieves stress and anxiety, saves marriages, is used as treatment in addiction recovery, and again, allows for the occasional consumption of doughnuts.

6 We run because we’re alive. Running has a way of making all the great joys in life

more palpable. From that first breath of fresh air as we hit the road, to the temporary reprieve it offers our brains as we trod along, to the plac-es it takes us on meandering trails, running is a reminder that we’re living fully. //

six Reasons to Run: From doughnuts to World PeaceBy ammi Midstokke


Last PageThE OnOmASTICS OF ThE OuTDOORS by Peter Wayne moeoNomastics is the study of names, and when we go outdoors, we can’t help but become onomatologists. Names are hardly inconsequen-tial. Each tells a story.

Take running events for example. We have names connected to the calendar: Spring Dashes, Turkey Trots, Jingle Bell Runs. And we have names descriptive of the event itself, like the Sundae Sunday (a ten miler with ice cream at the finish) or the Pi Day Run I did as an undergrad on March 14 at 3:14 p.m., the champion winning a pie. In these names – names like the Bare Buns Fun Run – we both tell and hear a story. This storytelling happens through metaphor. A meta-phor takes something we know and pairs it with something else, so that by joining two seemingly disparate items we learn a little about the object at hand. For example, with the St. Paddy’s Day Five Miler, we take two things we know well – a holiday and a distance – and pair them together, the mind finding a connection between the two. So when we refer to the Boston Marathon, we construct a metaphor and then by that metaphor tell a story, a story of a running community. The name itself becomes a shorthand narrative of its namesake.

Being outside necessitates we travel on roads, and these names also tell a story. My favorites are the roads that connect two places. I hear an agricultural history in Skagit County’s Farm-to-Market Road, a narrative of commerce between

towns in Cheney-Plaza Road, Tekoa-Oakesdale Road, Tekoa-Farmington Road, Waverly-Spangle Road, and Waverly-Plaza Road. The names tell of the past economies of these communities, their residents carrying wares from town to town. (Curious that these place-to-place names are never inverted. It’s always the Cheney-Spokane Road, never the Spokane-Cheney Road. Might there be a narrative here too?) Some road names make a lot of sense, like Spokane’s High Drive or Cliff Drive or Valley Chapel Road, the names tell-ing of geography and landmarks. Some make little

sense. Near my parents’ house is a Bayview Street, the road atop what used to be farmland, the geog-raphy making clear there has never been a body of water, let alone a bay, anywhere on it. I’ve seen an Osprey Heights Drive in a housing development where no ospreys fly. But these road names have a story to tell too, one of yearning to connect to nature, to land untouched by developers, to wild-life that once navigated the area.

These event names, these road names – they all

tell stories about places. My cyclist friends speak – often in a tone of bravado – of an area of the Palouse they call The Land of a Thousand Dogs. In Spokane, I run through Vinegar Flats (where a vinegar distillery once stood a hundred years ago) to Felony Flats (a rough part of town near the Courthouse), returning home by the Fish Ladder (a zigzagging series of streets that makes the climb up the South Hill bearable). There is a story, a his-tory, in all these places, in all these names.

Then there’s Latah, renamed Hangman Valley for the September 1858 massacre of several Native

Americans and Chief Qualchan at the hands of General George Wright. When I travel Fort George Wright Drive and pass the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute on the grounds of what used to be Fort Wright College, I begin to think our city sees Wright as a hero, and I lament that Hangman Valley – the name and its narrative – might be celebrating, rather than condemning, the slaughter. With Latah and Hangman Valley, I hear a narrative of tension, an unease about which story to tell. I think of Latah

When we use a name, we enter into a conversation about the land, its people, its practices, its traditions.

Presbyterian’s use of the name. I’m not sure if the church is intentionally pushing against the narrative told by Hangman Valley, but by identifying the area by its Native American name, those Presbyterians are – whether knowingly or not – telling a different narrative than the current, dominant one.

Names so often and so easily become mono-lithic, unquestioned, authoritative. When General George Vancouver names Mt. Baker in honor of 3rd Lieutenant Joseph Baker, he erases its original name Kulshan (which translates to “white sentinel”). And when General Vancouver names Mt. Rainier to honor Rear Admiral Peter Rainier, the narratives wrapped up in Tahoma (which translates to “larger than Kulshan”) are erased too, a narrative of con-quest taking the place of the stories once told about, and in, the land.

The obvious critique here would be to say that names are imperialistic, that they superimpose a cul-ture over the native ones. But that’s too easy. Names do more than that. When we use a name, we enter into a conversation about the land, its people, its practices, its traditions. When a homesteader names an area after his family, he begins to write a history, one that necessarily presses against the histories already being told there. And that’s the most fasci-nating, and troubling, part of onomastics – which narratives we tell by the names we use and which narratives slip away. //

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