EKF

someroadtrip: @erinfenton doing her thing (at Champoeg...

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:39:09 -0500

@erinfenton doing her thing (at Champoeg Creamery)

aww, shucks, it’s meee!

also, follow my friend Kristina for all kinds of amazing photos, writings, and musings about this beautiful world we’re livin’ in.

The world’s magic, no?

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:57:55 -0500

The world’s magic, no?

The Willamette Valley plunged back into winter last night so I...

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:11:31 -0500

The Willamette Valley plunged back into winter last night so I am spending the day transplanting in the greenhouse and thinking of balmier times. Happy Wed-nes-day!

En route, always.

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:14:33 -0500

En route, always.

Ferrying to Vashon

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:31:23 -0500

Ferrying to Vashon

SEA you soon!

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:01:52 -0500

SEA you soon!

Nine Miles, a photo retrospective

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:13:00 -0500

Hills!

Someone had a party at the vineyard! Budweiser cans all strewn about!

Wha?! Petroleum pipeline? Eff that!

My roundabout running brought me to the town of Broadacres, OR. In Broadacres, WYSIWYG, you guys: one blinking yellow light strung across an intersection and a “Store” that quadruples as a filling station, tavern, restaurant, and general store.

Long run happened today because tomorrow I’m heading up to WA (thanks, Amtrak Cascades!) to visit some amazing friends. Wish you were here, everyday always forever.

Above: Part way through a bike trip from Tambacounda, Senegal to...

Sat, 11 May 2013 13:28:00 -0500

Above: Part way through a bike trip from Tambacounda, Senegal to Banjul, The Gambia (across The whole Gambia, and then some). June, 2010. I’m on the right. We carried just about everything we needed on the backs of those Peace Corps-issued mountain bikes. Because it was the rainy season and none of us had waterproof panniers in country we all strapped plastic buckets to the racks on our bikes and all of our gear stayed perfectly dry stashed inside of them. Worked beautifully. This photo was taken on one of our four (4!) crossings of The Gambia River.

Today: eight great miles = the biggest sweaty smiles!

Above: Just spammin’ yo’ dash with cow photos again....

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:02:00 -0500

Above: Just spammin’ yo’ dash with cow photos again. L-R: Madeleine and Elisia. You’ve got something stuck in your teeth, M!

I just ran a wonderful, fantastic, sweaty 4 miles in 35:07 (8:46/mile). I’m loving how comfortable sub-9 miles are feeling, but I also realize that means I’m probably ready to up my pace on long runs.

Boston, from One Citizen of the World Who Calls Himself a Runner

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:55:36 -0500

Boston, from One Citizen of the World Who Calls Himself a Runner:

“What’s great about marathons in general is the lack of competitiveness. For world-class runners, they can be an occasion of fierce rivalry, sure. But for a runner like me (and I imagine this is true for the vast majority of runners), an ordinary runner whose times are nothing special, a marathon is never a competition. You enter the race to enjoy the experience of running twenty-six miles, and you do enjoy it, as you go along. Then it starts to get a little painful, then it becomes seriously painful, and in the end it’s that pain that you start to enjoy. And part of the enjoyment is in sharing this tangled process with the runners around you.” - Haruki Murakami

It is HOT in the Willamette Valley! I just ran 4 sweaty, sweaty miles at 9:00/mile pace and can...

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:32:00 -0500

It is HOT in the Willamette Valley!

I just ran 4 sweaty, sweaty miles at 9:00/mile pace and can comfortably and confidently say that I am so back in it that I’m again entertaining 26.2 thoughts.

All of that cold river swimming over the weekend seems to be an Earth Child replacement for an ice bath for me - my legs feel amazing, and why hang out in a bathtub full of ice and water when you can hang out in a wild river instead?

So I ran my seven miles on Saturday and they were beautiful, fast, and without problems. I started...

Sun, 05 May 2013 21:24:01 -0500

So I ran my seven miles on Saturday and they were beautiful, fast, and without problems. I started on a loop but didn’t realize how long the “loop” was so ended up having to walk 6 miles (after running 7) to get back to the farm house. The joys of living in the country, huh?

Then Saturday night I went up to Hood River with a friend of mine and spent the past 30 hours or so relaxing, playing, swimming in three rivers (Oneonta Gorge swim, Hood River swim, Washougal River swim) and meandering back to our neck of the woods. There are few things as invigorating and renewing as jumping into a cold, cold river and then basking in the sun on river bank rocks. No photos because I was too busy Doing to document but trust that it knocked me over with its beauty (rivers, Gorge, sun sun sun, rocks, mountains, friends, love).

Wish you were here, always!

Another Lucy shot, taken today. Ran 3 miles today, 25:54. Felt...

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:21:08 -0500

Another Lucy shot, taken today.

Ran 3 miles today, 25:54. Felt great! 77 degrees, full sun, and I should have eaten a bit more this morning, but all in all fantastic.

I’m planning to run 7 again tomorrow at a faster pace, with hills.

YOU GUYS LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AT WORK THIS MORNING! A calf was...

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:53:12 -0500

YOU GUYS LOOK WHAT HAPPENED AT WORK THIS MORNING!

A calf was born! (I’m the human in the 4th photo). Her name is Lucy.

Above: A shot from my trip to the coast a few weeks ago. I just...

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:07:20 -0500

Above: A shot from my trip to the coast a few weeks ago.

I just ran 4 fantastic miles in the sunshine with Mt. Hood in view the whole way. It’s a beautiful world we live in, no?

My goals for this week are still cross training, hydrating, and my mid-week running. So far I’m meeting all of those goals! I’ve also cut out alcohol, which I think has helped. Next up is to work on my pacing - I find myself running 8:10/miles at the outset and then slowing down significantly causing discrepancies in my splits by the end.

Hey all! I played a bunch again today, hiking around in the...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:14:23 -0500

Hey all!

I played a bunch again today, hiking around in the Gorge. The water shots are at Oneonta Gorge, which is a short but cold and wet hike as you are wading (some water deeper than I am tall!) to a water fall.

When I got home I ran two miles (8:15/mile) and then two miles worth of intervals to work on speed. Sound good?

Spectators on my 7 miler, during which I remembered why I love...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:56:00 -0500

Spectators on my 7 miler, during which I remembered why I love this.

It wasn’t overly fast (8:30-9something/mile), but it was evenly paced. I’m going to do 7 again next weekend, faster and with more hills, to make sure I’m solid. Race is July 14 and I’m feeling optimistic!

Wish you were here!

Above: I grew all of those from seed. Ready for...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:40:25 -0500

Above: I grew all of those from seed. Ready for transplant!

Just ran 5k, 27:23. Tomorrow? 7 miles! Eek! Wish me luck!

Accountability

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:52:12 -0500

6 miles on a bike (to/from the creamery this morning, will do another 6 tonight to/from my evening shift)

4 miles run

2 thumbs UP!

Week’s Goals Grades (so far)

Crosstraining: A

More shorter runs: B

Hydrating: Needs serious improvement

Spending as much time in the sunshine as possible: A+!

Just Another Day In Paradise.

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:34:00 -0500

Just Another Day In Paradise.