Fall evening on the UO campus are lovely when the weather does what it did today. Nora takes a math class in the evenings, one day a week and today was that day. Walking around on the quad I snapped these shots looking each direction from the center.
On a different note, I have discovered my favorite feature of iOS: the auto changing lock screen with categories showing you photos from a different time. Nora shows up regularly when I go to unlock my phone as well as nature photos. It’s a neat feature that brings me a smile everytime.
Yesterday I ran my second 50k trail race, this one being over near Bend, Oregon close to the Three Sisters Mountains. It was a long and generally speaking beautiful day. The running part was challenging for me, especially after mile 23. I figured it would be difficult, but not that difficult. Of course once you start one of these things you can’t really stop in the middle so I just kept going. Photos with some commentary below:
The milling around before the race starts. This is always a strange time with everyone showing up, training completed, often goals in mind, some people know one another, but many don’t. It’s a nice time to say hello to a stranger, ask where they are from and what distance they are running. Yesterday had 30k, 50k and 100k distances on the menu.
This is one of the mountains in the Sisters Mountain Range – Mt. Bachelor. This is pre-eclipse when shadows started looking slightly subdued.
Another shot of Mt. Bachelor.
Evidence of participation. The race was hard after mile 23 for me as I mentioned above. I thought I might be able to finish with a better time and yet, I also hew to the idea of time not mattering all that much. A day of trail running is simply a day in the woods, which I love. At the same time, the pull of the time is a nudge during these events, too. Overall I am pleased and now sore.
This was the map from the online tool I use to track it all – Strava. My watch connects to the app and I can see my per-mile pace splits throughout the run.
Driving home I went up over the “old” McKenzie Pass Highway, highway 242. It drives you through old lava fields and is high up on a plateau (5200 feet). The mountains above are North Sister and Middle Sister.
This is looking north across the lava fields. More info about this highway can be found on the Oregon Department of Transportation website. It was a nice way to end the day in central Oregon.
I took the last two days of the summer work season off to do some chores (clean garage!) and go to the UO Cross Country Dellinger Invitational Meet. It was a good couple of days as the final days of heat ended and the fall storms rolled in off the Pacific. I am moss, lichen, salmon, grey clouds, wool, flannel, plaid and waxed canvas. I look forward to this change so much each year and it rarely disappoints.
The meet was run on a golf course out in Springfield, just east of Eugene. It was a beautiful day with several colleges and universities represented. The men run an 8k race and the women run a 6k race. It’s all anaerobic in the end. Impressive.
Coming into the finishing chute.
From the top of Mt. Pisgah. I started in the dark and it just got light when I made it up. Lovely day as the clouds came in (although this is looking east).
This little gem was spotted on my run this morning on the Ridgeline Trail. One of the others in our group stopped and waited for the rest of us to show us. Spot the Buddha!
I do not normally bike and text and I do not endorse such an activity; however, coming into campus this morning, the slanting eastern sun cut through buildings on the right and lit up this tree. I think it’s cherry, but I did not stop to confirm. Lovely colors. Fall. It is time.
This past weekend the Prefontaine Classic Track Meet took place and it was also the Diamond League Finals for the outdoor track and field season. Eugene comes alive when track arrives, hence the nickname, “Tracktown, USA.” It really is a track town.
The fella who set the new US record in the mile run, Yared Naguse, was on his high school bowling team. Then he ran the timed mile for PE and the PE teacher had the track coach take a look. Here we are. Solid running all the way around.
