Everything was Beautiful and everything hurts - By Katie

 Last month Thom and I had the privilege to volunteer for a local trail run event. The idea started about 6 weeks before the event. We found a run sponsored by Evergreen Trail Runs, and found some volunteer (meaning, free!) shifts to pre-run the half-marathon course 

The first thing we needed was childcare. Obviously we can't leave the kids alone, for Thom and I to run together, it always requires more adults willing to take them on for a bit. I confirmed with my Mom that she was available to come over the evening before, so the kids could sleep safely while we head up for an early morning run. 

We left at 4:40-ish in the morning, when it was still dark. That pale pre-dawn light beginning to brighten. We quickly laced up our shoes, put on our hydration packs and found some of the event organizers at the tent, still in sweats, likely only clamored out of tents/camping rigs just prior, still brewing their morning coffee. (Thom and I had already enjoyed a quickly brewed Nespresso pod when getting dressed before leaving home.) 

We met two other volunteer runners who were given the same task. We split up the clothespins adorned in bright colored and silver pom-pom mylar to clip along the course if we deemed it helpful for the actual race participants. Then the organizers said "Thanks, see you soon" and I guess that was the start of our run. 

Steve and Marla told us to take off if we wanted, however we thought it best to stick together. The start was slow, as we climbed a large portion of the overall elevation. We set the pace to ease into the morning, the sun was starting to hit the tops of the tree's. Once we hit Clara Lake, we could actually begin running. Trying to pace ourselves, we kept the pace to be able to carry a conversation. Chatting along learning that Marla and Steve are from Lakewood, just south of Puyallup. They were brother and sister who enjoy doing activities together. Leaving apparently at 1a to volunteer for this race in effort to gain a free entry into a future Evergreen Trail Race. 

Sun rising over the mountains. Glacier Mountain sits in the distance.

The sun came up as we chatted and ran over new trails Thom and I have never been on before. Knocking down spider webs, kicking aside branches/rocks for the coming event runners. We all finished in about 2 hours and 51 minutes. My watch did not track an entire 13.1 miles, and we returned back to the start after the event started. We had fun, we finished before the heat of the day. We had a great time. The great part was getting the trails to ourselves, no pressure to keep running. We allowed water and snack breaks, as well as took the opportunity to stop and snap some photos with the sunrise.

Thom captures the Wenatchee valley in the glow of the morning light.

Wenatchee Valley, looking down to the Columbia River.

Steve and Marla snapped a photo of us in a brief pause.

Thom took this in one of the trail sections as I took out all the spider webs for everyone.

It was a beautiful run in the morning, but we felt it in the piriformis, knees, and since my parents were around, we took a nap! And some ibuprofen.