As a continuation of the travel to run (or run to travel)
plan, my mom and I hopped on planes to Seattle for a week of travels and a half
marathon. After a few days in the
San Juan Islands, we headed south to Tacoma. The race started at the Tacoma Narrows airstrip before taking
off towards the bridge over the Tacoma Narrows. The morning was chilly, and while I was thinking about my
nice, warm, hotel bed, I was also hoping that my warm weather training would
pay off pretty well.
I soon figured out where I’d heard of the Tacoma Narrows and
was jolted back to a middle school technology class. A few miles into the race we crossed the Tacoma Narrows
suspension bridge, the one that replaced “Galloping Gertie.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge). I suddenly remembered the video of the
enormous bridge waving in the air like a ripple on the water. Initially, I had eagerly anticipated
the run across a huge bridge, but with images of cars being tossed into the
water, I no longer looked forward to what seemed to be the world’s longest
bridge (this one only swayed slightly in the wind).
After setting my feet back on firm ground, I began the trek through
(or over) Tacoma, running from one side of the city to the other. The race followed a greenway through
the town, taking a tour around Cheney Baseball Stadium (where I got to see
myself on the jumbotron), before a 3-mile descent towards Commencement Bay.
Having my mom waiting for me at the finish was becoming a
common event, and I was happy to cross the finish line and see her there (at
hometown races I usually run into someone I know so it’s a little strange to
see no familiar faces along the course).
Race organizers decided against race medals for this one, instead
handing out pint glasses.
Thankfully I had my mom to tuck mine away in her purse (unfortunately
the sound of shattering glass as pint glasses hit the ground became a common
occurrence). Following the race we
moved on to our next stop, a nice long hike at Mount Rainier National Park.
