Walked a 5k - Color Run 2012

To celebrate my sister's birthday, we participated in the Color Run. This is the first time the Color Run 5k has come to Portland. I was pretty freaked out about this walk. I was worried about the powder getting in my eyes, mouth, etc. The concept made me feel claustrophobic - which is unusual for me. I talked about sitting it out all the way to the start line. The main reason I finally took the plunge was, because I knew there would be great photo opportunities. 





The 5 of us drove to Mississippi and then took the MAX to the Portland International Raceway. They strongly encouraged this method, but unfortunately MAX ran on its usual Saturday schedule. The trains were packed (super squished!) both arriving and leaving. Much of this problem could have been alleviated if MAX had run on the weekday schedule. 





15,000 people participated in this race. It was amazing to see this many people dressed in white. The walk from the MAX stop to the start line was easily 1k. Many parking spots were further out than that. The peace of mind of not having to navigate around the sea of people was worth getting very friendly with others on MAX. 









So many tutus! I wish I had one. My sis is directly to the right in her pink tutu. I also saw many wedding dresses and all kinds of crazy outfits. The people watching was great fun.





Standing here, I told the group that I wasn't going to do the walk. I was really starting to panic. But I just hung in there. The adrenaline and fun of it all really helped me cross that starting line.





Blue was at the first kilometer mark. I didn't take pictures, because I just wanted to see what it was all about. I also worried about my iphone with all the color. The 2nd kilometer was pink. I tucked my iphone under my shirt as I passed through and that worked well. It was really nice that you could get lots of color if you wanted or stay to the other side if you prefered. I steered clear of most of the color folks, but I still got enough to make it fun.





The 3rd kilometer was orange and that was pretty intense. I also got sprayed on the face, but with sunglasses and the bandanna they provided, it was no big deal.





Yellow as the 4th kilometer. It was on the actual raceway and people were stopping to dance in the color.





It was almost hard to cross the finish line, because it was so packed with people. The party started immediately crossing the finish line. This race is very relaxed and it's not timed at all, so folks can go at their own pace. We stopped to take a lot of pictures.  





This is pretty much what everything looked like. Everyone was covered in color and happy as could be. The cheer was contagious.





I even saw a few people making snow angels on the ground.





There was a stage complete with dancers to get the crowd jumping. 





Every 10 minutes, they would count down to a Color Blast where everyone would toss their powder at the same time. I love this picture of Greg looking at me.





A few seconds after the big beautiful color blast, the air turned to this. There were times when you wouldn't be able to see a thing. But this passed very quickly.





Here is my hair and my sis is in the background. So many people were taking pictures and it was very common to be stopped and asked to take someones picture. After braving MAX home, we all went to lunch still in our color; we did hit the leaf blower station before leaving, so the excess powder was gone.





Here is our team after the race. This was such a fun experience and I'm so glad I participated. 

Walked 3.13 Miles - to Oaks Bottom

It's been two weeks since I've walked. Life was crazy insane the past two weeks. Really, really busy. The kind of busy where you just have to put your head down and make it through. Luckily, now things are starting to return to normal. It was nice to get out and walk. I opted for the predictable Oaks Bottom 5k. No need to plan a route or to worry about where to go. I put myself on autopilot and walked.

Fall leaves are already crisp and fun to walk in. It's been so dry this past couple of months that we have yet to deal with rainy leaf mush.





MAX construction is getting noisy. They are driving huge steel bars into the ground. The pounding is loud enough to hear inside the house and makes Trilly pretty freaked out. I'm just so happy that the site is so active. Progress!
























The tadpole pond is completely dry. I found myself thinking about the rainy weather ahead a lot on this walk. I miss rain so much. I'm ready for gray drizzle. 





This is where Oaks Bottom runs into the Spring Water Corridor. I pass under the train tracks, turn around, and head home.









I saw this sign at the beginning of my walk. Each tree at this house had "No Dogs" signs. A little boy (I'm guessing the author of these signs) was sitting on the front steps, so I didn't stop then to take a picture. I figured I'd try when I came home. Luckily, the little boy was gone and I got to take my pictures.





I didn't see this sign the first time around. I'm so glad I spied it. Someone is very adamant about not waiting dogs around. I took this picture and then headed on my way only to see a lady walking her dog. She asked me very tersely why I had taken a picture. I told her that I thought the signs were really funny. She didn't find any humor in this and went off about how nobody controls the sidewalk and she can walk her dog if she pleases. I quickly made my escape.

Walked 4.50 Miles - To Vera

Today I decided to head to the waterfront. Greg told me that he had seen a trebuchet at OMSI for this weekend's Mini Maker Faire. I wanted to see it for myself. It was nice to walk early this morning. With not a single cloud in the sky, it started getting hot fast. I always love walking on the Esplanade. I texted Greg right before I got to his work (he works extremely close to OMSI) and he popped down to chat for a couple of minutes. All in all, a very great walk.

This stove top is only a couple of blocks from my house. I find it so curious. The structure is a tree house. Does the stove heat that? I have no idea.

Sunflowers overhead are always fun. I had to reach up as high as I could on my tiptoes to take this.

This house used to be the Brooklyn Library in 1908. I love this bit of history.

It's weird to think that there is a dairy just a couple of blocks north of Powell on 6th. Dairigold has been farmer owned since 1918. Pretty darn cool. 

The bulldozers were working hard on this building. Parallel to the railroad tracks, this land will be part of the new MAX line. So exciting!

The new pedestrian bridge is progressing nicely. This reflector took me back to the days when I worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation. I had just finished high school and did a summer internship on a survey crew. I used to know how to work these types of things.

OMSI has a great new salmon art exhibit outside new the submarine. I had just visited Bonneville Dam, so it was interesting to read all of the plaques in the ground her.

I find this small boat very curious complete with a large pirate flag in the window and a bike on the deck. I wonder how long she will be anchored here.

I said hi to Vera and then turned around for home.

The water is so low now. I didn't know there used to be an old dock here before. The Willamette is low enough to expose the remains.

At long last, the trebuchet. Trebuchet is definitely in my top five favorite words; it's just so fun to say. I had spied it in the fenced off parking lot when walking to Vera. I figured I would walk along the street at OMSI to get a picture on the way home. When I returned, they had moved it to the esplanade. Folks were actively setting it up, so this was the closest I could get to it. Still very cool and not something you see everyday.

Walked about 3 miles - Ladd's Addition

Today I walked through Ladd's Addition and had a great walk. It was a cooler day and it was nice to finish my walk not completely drenched in sweat.  

 

 

Jalapenos!

 

 

 

 

 

It's been awhile since I've crossed the Gideon pedestrian bridge. The building directly next to the stairs is now completely boarded it. It will come down soon and I'm afraid that means the pedestrian bridge will also come down soon. I hope the City of Portland can figure out how to put a new pedestrian bridge in its place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this! I want my neighborhood to be protected by the Enchanted Forest System.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alleys are always interesting to walk down. This was a full sized human dummy of some sort. I can't imagine why it was made. The post-it says, "free advice". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I normally don't like street art on postage labels. I think it's an easy way out. But this one cracked me up, especially being on a postage label.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finished Atlas Shrugged and I'm feeling at a crossroads. I've listened to music the last couple of walks which is great, but I think I'm going to return to audio books. Music doesn't let my mind be quiet. I find I'm still thinking about work or making to do lists. When I'm listening to a story, it's almost like meditation. My mind can be quiet and that's a really great feeling. I thought of starting Atlas Shrugged over again, so I could return to the world of Dagny Taggart. Maybe in a couple of years, but now I'm on the hunt for a new book.

 

 

 

 

The pedestrian crossing at Powell has been fixed! I couldn't believe it when it only took a few seconds for the light to change both times I crossed here today. This change totally made my day.

 

Walked 4.77 Miles to Westmoreland Park

Fall is definitely on my mind. It's September and the school where I work starts soon. The season is changing and yesterday I heard the honking of Canadian Geese flying overhead; a sure sign that fall is on its way. I decided to head to Westmoreland Park to visit the geese.  

Crossing McLoughlin is never fun. It's a long wait until the light changes and it's just a freaking huge busy street. One the opposite side of McLoughlin, 5 little kids were on bikes with two adults. The walk sign came on and we all started to cross. A car turning left narrowly missed hitting this party. So scary. As I got to the other side, I saw this chalk writing "Don't Die". I've also experienced cars coming too close to me as I've crossed. I hope that folks will slow down and mind people in the crosswalk. 








I didn't realize the spider was there until after I took this picture. Sort of icky, sort of cool.

If you look to the right of this tower, you can see the moon. It looks super tiny here, but it looked amazing in real life. 





So as I'm walking and thinking about Fall being aright around the corner, I saw crocuses. Wait. What? How does that work? I was stunned. 





And I saw them in several other yards. I'm so confused.











There were many geese hanging out. Most were eating fast and furiously. There wouldn't even look up at me.





Instead, I focused on the ducks. There were so many sleeping all along the edge of the water. All the dots in the background of this picture are ducks. 








Today I walked in my Keens. I wear them all the time in my daily life, so I figured it was worth trying them on a walk. I had such a great walk. I had a bit of pain, nothing like I've been experiencing. I also walked much faster today. I had a great time. So I'm thinking it's time to figure out running shoes. I'm so very tempted (and nervous) to try a minimalist running shoe; I think it might work well for me.











There was a layer of feathers over most of the park. It was really quite amazing.



















My first lemon cucumber spotting!

 

Walked 3.08 Miles - Oaks Bottom

It was another hot day, so I headed to Oaks Bottom. It was my first day back to work after being on vacation for a week, so I wanted a simple route where I could go on autopilot. My brain was fried. I had lots of problems with my legs and there were times where it hurt pretty badly. Dealing with pain is just exhausting; every step takes twice the effort. But all in all, it was a good walk and I said "hi" to lots of friendly folks. One guy even saluted me. I think it had to do with the wonder woman shirt I was wearing.

This now defunct art studio is just south of Holgate. I've always liked the fanciful paint job.

It's so amazing to see how Oaks Bottom changes over the year. It's really dry now.