This morning, I was able to run through Discovery Park and scope out the mud and flood situation.
The river has subsided and most of the paved surfaces in Discovery Park are dry, even if still covered in drying mud and debris. However, much of the grassy area of the park is still under a fair amount of water and mud.
The trail is still flooded starting around the 0.5 mile mark. Be patient! I should be clear, soon.
They are probably already staging porta-potties in Hopkinton for the 2011 Boston Marathon.
Unlike most every other marathon in America, the Boston Marathon is held on a Monday that is not Labor Day. They run it on Patriot’s Day.
Patriot’s Day is a New England holiday celebrating the battles of Lexington and Concord. In Boston, this holiday is generally observed by running from the town of Hopkinton to Boston, or by screaming at people who are running from Hopkinton to Boston.
This year’s Boston Marathon includes one of the deepest women’s fields in event history and two American women with a legitimate shot at a podium finish: Kara Goucher, who was 3rd in 2009, returns this year, and Desiree Davila, of the Hansen-Brooks Distance Project makes her Boston debut.
For some reason, Desiree Davila toils away as a rather unknown runner, but her 2:26:20 at the Chicago Marathon makes her the fourth fastest women in American history.
Ellie Greenwood and Kami Semick battle it out at the AR 50. Photo courtesy of Jean Pommier. http://fartherfaster.blogspot.com/
The weather was perfect and there were some races this past weekend!
Just under 700 runners toed the line at the American River 50, this Saturday. There was mud and vomiting. There was triumph and tragedy. You know–the usual ultrarunning scene.
Dave Mackey, of Boulder, was the overall winner in 5:55. Ellie Greenwood, of Banff, Alberta, Canada, AKA the 2010 World 100 km champion, was the women’s winner in 6:25.
Kami Semick, of Bend, Oregon, was the second woman, and Jen Pfiefer, of Folsom, was the 3rd woman. Pfeifer is rumored to be mulling over the entry to the Western States 100 she was awarded.
Every once in a while you stumble on something so sublime that it seems to make the world a just a little bit better.
I have watched this video at least ten times, and each time I find it puts me in a good mood. I’m not certain why, but maybe it’s because this hits that sweet-spot of being ridiculous and beautiful all at the same time. It is comedy without cruelty.
The woman runner, Veronica Torr, is clearly a gifted athlete, and clearly a great sport.
Enjoy!
I’m guessing that a lot of people are going to come to town this weekend to run in the American River 50. It is, after all, one of the largest ultra races in the country.
I asked some locals where they’d recommend eating dinner before the big race and came up with a short list.
Maria G. says that if you like Italian, you should try Michelangelo‘s or Lucca (both midtown). If you like sushi, she recommends Mikuni (midtown) or Taro (Arden Fair Mall) . For Thai, she likes Thai Basil. “They are reliably good in their specialty,” she says. She also recommend making reservations for Michelangelo’s though. The night before CIM (the California International Marathon) it is usually packed with runners.
Allyson T. likes Miyagi Sushi (near Sac State) before big races. “Good proteins, not too much carbs and healthy fats,” she says. “And a little sake helps you sleep better!”
Andrew A. recommends the Loving Hut (Stockton Blvd, just south of downtown), saying “Great flavor, good combo of protein and carbs, not too heavy.” They are also one of few vegan restaurants in Sacramento. They are definitely the only restaurant in town with Supreme Master Television!
By now, I think we can all agree that exercise is key to good health and aging well. If you’re reading this website, I’ll assume that you’re a runner. As runners, we all face motivation that ebbs and flows. We have training days that are hard. Mornings that are cold and dark. Workouts where we’re the only one that shows up.
Some days our muscles are still sore from the prior day’s workout.
There are days we feel fat, hungry, cranky, lazy, and sleepy. Some days our shoes hurt our feet. Some days our feet just hurt. Some days everything hurts.
This coming July, Sacramento will be hosting the Masters World Athletics Championships (AKA Masters Track and Field World Championships).
If you had a chance to watch or run in last year’s Masters National Championships you know what a great event this should be.
While it may seem a bit early for me to be writing about a July event, registration closes on April 24. You can register online now, and event management says that more than 900 athletes had already registered as of March 23rd.
For track and field, a masters athlete is anyone over 35. There are events from the 100 meters to the marathon, plus the field events, and the venues will be centered around California State University Sacramento.
The trail is clear from the 3.o mile mark (behind Cal Expo) to Beals Point
The rivers (American and Sacramento) are both steadily dropping, but we are sad to report that Discovery Park is still under water.
The USGS is predicting the Sacramento River will drop below 19-feet at the I Street bridge by Sunday afternoon. This is the point that Discovery Park begins to drain out, but it can often take a few more days to clear out enough to be usable.
The County is generally pretty quick about cleaning the trail of debris when the water recedes, but it all still takes time. With luck, by next weekend (April 16th) it may be ready to go.
As of a day ago, it was reported that there was still water on the trail for about a mile from Discovery Park, and again 2.75 miles from Discovery (under US 160). There was also water reported on the trail on the South side of the river near Howe Avenue.
