All Trails Challenge

I don't snowboard in the summer. There, I said it. The time away gives me a chance to do some other things and reinvigorate my stoke for the shred. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.

Getting outside is what got me into snowboarding, though, not the other way around. Now that it's actually nice outside and not raining everyday, it's easier to get out there. One easy 'there' to get to is northwest Portland's Forest Park. With 5100 acres and 80 miles of trails it's easy to head out and get lost. It's even on the light rail line.

I spend enough time there anyway that it was a no-brainer to sign up for the Forest Park Conservancy's All Trails Challenge. The goal is to raise pledge money to benefit trail maintenance and invasive species management in the park. As the name suggests I've pledged to navigate all of the trails in Forest Park. That's over 80 miles, with only 11 accessible by bike. The goal date is October and I've completed just over 20 miles. None of that by bike. Right on pace.

If you feel like supporting my effort, donate here. If you're in Portland and want to start your own team or individual effort, check here. Failing both, you should put some shoes on (or go barefoot) and find some trails near you. Like Pennywise said, "The miracles that could be found, they're waiting down the unknown road."

Portland Bridge Pedal

Any city that sits on two rivers is going to have a couple bridges. Portland has 10 and that's just on the Willamette River. During the Portland Bridge Pedal, applicants to the 10-bridge ride get to cross all but two (yeah, we repeated a couple and left out Burnside and Broadway). Now this was no bike lane traffic jam, we actually took to the roadway with the traffic blocked off.

Looking up the Fremont Bridge on a light traffic morning

 

 

 

Congressman Earl Blumenauer delivers the opening address

Widest 'bike lane' ever on the St. Johns Bridge

The finish area: munch a free snack, hear the pep band play Thriller

The sun was still high in the sky when we finished, but after 40 miles and about 5 hours of biking, I was done. No amount of free chocolate milk, Clif Bars, sports drinks, ice cream bars or popsicles could revive me. A 3-hour nap on the other hand...

Bridges: Now With More Running and Biking

Warrior Dash training is moving right along. Today I ran for eight straight minutes, walked for five, then ran for eight more. My knees feel normal, too. No painkillers required. My ankles feel a little worse for wear, but nothing I can't sleep through. Overall things are going much better than I expected. The shoes broke in almost instantly and are now quite comfortable. I'm not wearing them to the beach instead of flip flops, but they feel good on a run.

Speaking of running here's a picture of one of the places where I train. When I'm in the mood for speed work, I head to this bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge:  51 stairs and 11 seconds to the top.

I know what you're thinking... it's because it's on Brooklyn Street. And because I have to go hard to make it through more than a couple intervals. Last time I did nine and almost fainted. Then I questioned my purpose the whole walk home. If only there was a mountain bike trail I could actually bike to. Thing is, by the time I drive to the nearest one, I'd already be done with a session at the bridge and back home. Sounds like an argument for me living closer to the mountains, I know. This running shit better have me riding harder come winter time.

Oh, here's a special little event I get to do this weekend, the Portland Bridge Pedal. Once a year, for one day only (just a couple hours really) Portland closes her bridges to motor vehicles and lets people bike across them. It's an organized event (unfortunately that means we have to pay) that draws thousands of bikers every year. This will be my first. A fun little 46 mile spin. See, training can be fun. It's still so strange to be writing about training. I feel like I'm talking about someone else...