Eklutna Lakeside Trail

Just a nice but cloudy day to go for a hike on the Eklutna Lakeside Trail.  I hardly saw another person. I wouldn't call today a workout so much a a mental health stroll.  Sometimes I just need to get out into nature and away from household chores and bad news.

42.2K in 42 hours World Wide Virtual Marathon

This weekend was set for the Run With The World 42.2K in 42 hours  races.  I had registered for the virtual marathon.  My friend, Diane wanted to run a virtual marathon this month along the Anchorage Coastal Trail.  So we met at Westchester Lagoon and ran together.  We did more walking, visiting, and picture taking then actual running, but still finished the 26.2 miles in 8 hours. 

It was a perfect day and perfect weather for a virtual marathon.  The trail was beautiful.  First we ran to Kincaid Park then returned to the cars.  At that point we were at mile 19. Instead of repeating part of the same course we ran in the other direction along the Chester Creek Trail.  We saw two moose and had to detour around a black bear that a cyclist warned us about.. Fortunately we didn't actually see him.

Virtual marathons are much more fun with company!  This was my second one during this Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

Twin Peaks Trail Run

Today I did my Virtual Valley Trail 5K for June.  The perfect trail for a nice 5K is one of my favorites, Twin Peaks Trail.  The distance to the first bench and the beautiful lookout and return is just about 5K or a little over 3 miles.

Since the trail is quite steep, I didn't do much actual running on the way up.  But I did run all the way down.  My time wasn't very good because I spent at least 20 minutes sitting on the bench contemplating the view and whether I wanted to stay right there for the rest of my life.

But I did finally head down.  There were many butterflies and wild flowers adding to the beauty of the trail.

Virtual Valley Trail Races 10K

Since all marathons and races are canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many virtual races available to keep us motivated.  I've been having a very hard time being motivated.  I've been significantly more motivated to simply work in my yard as the weather warms up.

AKtive Soles, a shoe store in Palmer is sponsoring trail races each month.  I was running out of time to complete the 10K for May, so forced myself to get out there and do the No Siesta, Lets Fiesta along the beautiful but very hilly and sometimes confusing route along the Matanuska Lake Trail system.  I missed one turn and ended up doing a little extra 1 mile out and back on the Long Lake Connection Trail.  I did as much walking as running.  Some of those hills are pretty steep.  But it was a nice day and only rained a few drops.

Virtual Full Marathon

Wow that was tough!  I ran 26.2 miles all by myself.  I was really combining two events into one.  The Happy Malamute Running Virtual Treadmill Hero 2020 that was scheduled for today, and the 42.2 km in 42 hours that people all over the world are doing this weekend.  I didn't use a treadmill because first of all, I don't have one, and also because it was a beautiful day.  It was really cold at 5:15 am when I left the house, only 28 degrees Fahrenheit. I ran to the far end of Wolverine Road and back for my first 11 miles.  I stopped by my house to remove one layer of warm clothes because by then it was up to 37 degrees.  It stayed cool the rest of the way but was in the low 50's by the time I was back home.  After I left the house the second time, I ran down to Palmer, stopped at the Shell Station for a drink and snack, then ran on some of the side streets before tackling the long steep road back up to my house.  It was a pretty exhausting workout and I was very slow.  I ended up walking up a lot of the hills.  Obviously not quite in the shape I need to be.  But I was happy to at least beat 8 hours, though only by less than 2 minutes.

Eklutna Lake

Yesterday it was nearly impossible to hike at Eklutna Lake because the parking lot was overflowing. So I gave up.  But today I left home a couple hours earlier and was able to find a parking spot easily.  There were still quite a few hikers, bikers and ATVers.  But I was able to hike without getting in their way.  I planned to just hike the 10 miles to Bold Creek and back.  But it was such a nice day that I decided to hike up the Bold Ridge Trail.  After about one mile heading up that trail I was getting a little nervous.  I was all alone and no hikers were heading up there.  The trail is narrow and steep, plus many small trees had fallen across it, making it difficult if I encountered a bear or moose and needed to make a quick escape. There is no cell phone service there either.  Now that the bears are out and the moose are having their calves, being on an isolated trail alone was a little disconcerting.  I had bear spray with me. I grabbed a couple of big sticks and also played music from my phone so I didn't startle any critters.  I wanted to hike the full 3.5 miles to the ridge but really didn't have enough time.  That would have been a 17 mile hike.  So I turned back and only hiked 13.5 miles.  I really want to find a partner and hike the whole way up to the ridge one of these days though.

The trail was free of snow and mostly dry with a few large puddles.  The lake is still covered with ice, but it looks too thin for walking now.  It should open up soon.

Pretty Little Hike

I had planned to go hiking up at Eklutna Lake.  But apparently so had everyone in Anchorage because it was so crowded up there that there was absolutely no place to park.  I turned back not knowing what my plan B was going to be.  I turned off at the Knik River Access road and parked there on the side of the road.  It was busy there too but at least I had a place to park.  I walked the nice Reflections Lake Trail.  It's only one mile long, but it's really a pretty place.  There were many others on the trail but I was able to keep a respectful distance.  After I circled the lake I wandered on down to the Knik River.  Lots of open water on the river now.  It won't be long before I'll be out in my canoe and kayak enjoying the water.