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WaMu Theatre, great air-conditioned place to recover after marathon finish 32. Jurassic World, while not as good as the original – most sequels aren’t – still worth seeing for the special effects. Can never go wrong with dinosaurs 🙂
Already been a FULL marathon day – literally. Ran 26.2 miles, ate lunch, watched a sell-out movie – sadly, no shower. Bathroom flash bath as good as it’s gonna get this day. Space Needle. Can’t visit Seattle without riding up the Needle, right? Tickets weren’t good for 2 more hours – next up: Chihuly Garden…Ash’s idea.
Never imagined a botanical garden walk would have made the list after marathoning. Day highlight. Would have missed out on an AMAZING experience. Glass artwork juxtaposed within a botanical setting – SPECTACULAR. So unique, absolutely nothing like it.
Toured indoors, outdoors. Leg weary, watched short films ‘bout Dale Chihuly’s installations in Jerusalem & Finland – before realizing time had quickly expired…almost missed our Space Needle queue. Yikes!
Space Needle Observation Deck – great views of Seattle, something you’re supposed to do. Chihuly Garden & Glass – something you HAVE to do when visiting Seattle. Seriously recommended.
Whatta day – shower & bed couldn’t have come any sooner.
Tomorrow, another early vacation start – trip highlight: seaplane to San Juan Island, breakfast in Friday Harbor, followed by an orca (killer whale) adventure…sailing north in Canadian waters. WOW, WOW, WOW!
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- built for the 1962 World’s Fair
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- skyline from the Needle’s Observation Deck
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- day highlight – Chihuly Garden
5 days ago, ran/walked/crawled my worst marathon in Casper Wyoming.
Mentally re-grouped, today Seattle bound. Surprising long 3-hour flight, greeted by Washington state’s towering Mount Rainier. double WOW! [Someday I’ll bag this peak – on my bucket list 🙂 ]
Struggled initially with public transport (no rental car this trip), but eventually made my way to the NFL Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field (for bib pick-up). After the Broncos’ humiliating 2014 Super Bowl loss, couldn’t imagine souvenir shopping. HOWEVER, pleasantly surprised to see Seattle’s Sounders share store space with the Seahawks. One of MLS’ premier soccer teams – dropped 20 & scored a new beanie.
Hooked up with Ash & Tom (arrived a day earlier), toured the city via harbor cruise – SUPER fun – then ended the day at Seattle’s infamous fish-tossing Public Market.
Crazy hippie vibe in Seattle, sport a unique accent (Alaskan/Canadian tinge) – and is a city of hills. Folks warned ’bout San Francisco being hilly…no such disclaimer for the Emerald City. Yikes!
Woke early Saturday, 6am monorail to Seattle Center – caught my first close-up of the Space Needle. Would have to wait post-marathon for a ride UP 🙂 Hung out nearby in the Armory with a thousand new friends, awaiting an 8am start.
Corral start: lotta people, lotta corrals – BIG crowd, majority half-marathoners (combined start). Only my 2nd Rock n Roll event, Las Vegas RnR was HUGE — 44,000 participants.
Almost 10 minutes before I actually crossed the Start Line – but from there, a different attitude. Sunshine, cool temps – maybe Seattle’s hippie vibe – whatever the reason, this was not Casper.
Separated from the halfers early & worked our way south to Seward Park. GREEN. Biggest difference from Colorado, everything’s leafy, lush & GREEN here.
Crossed the mile-long expansion bridge to Mercer Island at mile 18; struggled with strong crosswinds [on the bridge] but reenergized to music blasting in the tunnel before mile 19 (& mile 22).
Paced sub-4 until the mile 23 bridge return to Seattle. Hills – bring ‘em on. I eat hills for breakfast.
Casper Marathon, I derailed/everything fell apart – mental, physical, top 10 worst. Today approaching Seattle’s Space Needle, I felt STRONG. Love this city. SUCCESS: state #32 marathon FINISH.
Next stop (WaMu Theatre), Jurassic World premier – my post-marathon movie treat in 3D.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon
June 13, 2015
Bib Name City, State Time
8057 K R Haga Louisville, CO 4:15:26
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- Mount Rainier greeting
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- marathon bib pick-up at Seahawk’s CenturyLink Field
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- downtown Seattle skyline
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- Seattle’s infamous fish-throwing marketplace
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- Haga family lookin’ fly as we tour the harbor — at Argosy Cruises
No Everest this year.
Plan B – Oregon’s Mt Hood & Crater Lake (& another marathon of course).
Due to the regular aftershocks in Nepal, there are high chances of landslides in the trekking trails and it will not be wise to trek to the Everest High Passes risking your safety. It will be great if you can postpone the trip to next year. The best seasons will be Spring and Autumn, and I hope you can plan for one of these seasons next year. Your trip deposit will be kept safe as the deposit for the trip in 2016, and as this is a very special case we will also charge you the same amount we have offered you this year for next year.
I’m truly sorry that you have to cancel the plans for this year.
Take care,
Sristi
Oregon’s Mt Hood
