Seasonally Defective
I checked the temperature on my phone when I finished my run: 90 degrees. Strange. It was 33 degrees when I started. At one point during the run up Council Crest, the highest point in Portland at 1,071 feet , I did catch myself daydreaming about Summer. But it was certainly not 90 degrees on [...]
Kara Goucher: Olympic effort
Kara Goucher, training in Portland After photographing an athlete, a musician, a chef or anyone doing anything, really, I simply want to see them succeed. I love running and admire what long distance runners go through. So I could barely contain my excitement when I told my wife I was going to go spend the [...]
A run to a view
July 14, 2012. Along the Pacific Crest Trail near Stabler, Washington. About 2,185 miles from Mexico. Sprinting through the dense trees, I couldn’t shake that feeling that something was chasing me. In that moment I remembered the time I was backpacking in Glacier National Park and while stepping over a little stream, noticed a bear’s [...]
On the Oregon Coast Trail
Neahkahnie Mountain, Oregon Neahkahnie Mountain, Oregon I daydream about running the length of the Oregon Coast Trail in one giant extravaganza. But I can’t imagine it will happen. I don’t think my body could withstand the mileage needed to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. But each time I’m out there, the [...]
The Hills of San Juan Island
June 18, 2012. Above South Beach, San Juan Island, Washington June 18, 2012. South Beach, San Juan Island, Washington I shut the door of the van, turned and started running up a gradual hill. For just a split second, I thought I was in the rolling hills of northern Nebraska. But then the smell of [...]
Positive and Negative: Ferns
May 14, 2012. Powell Butte May 15, 2012. Powell Butte I’ve been watching ferns unfurl their beauty for the past several weeks. In places where the English Ivy hasn’t invaded and suffocated the understory, the ferns are now thick. Yesterday, while running on Powell Butte, I was mesmerized by the fluctuation of the dark shapes [...]
Barred Owl
May 10, 2012. Tryon Creek State Park The owlets sat shoulder to shoulder high in a maple that swung softly in the breeze. A big lens was pointing at them or we never would have noticed. They swayed in and out of the image displayed on the camera screen of the photographer who was excited [...]
A mansion and a restroom
May 1, 2012. Pittock Mansion, along the Wildwood Trail May 1, 2012. Stone House, along the Wildwood Trail Portland’s Forest Park is more than 5,000 acres of just that: forest. There are few structures within the park. So when I came upon these two historic landmarks on this morning’s run on the Wildwood Trail, I [...]
Looking down. Looking up.
April 3, 2012. Wildwood Trail. Forest Park I won Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band’s record ‘Against the Wind’ when I was in grade school by telling a joke on the radio. It went something like this: How is walking on ice like playing music? If you don’t see sharp, you’ll be flat. Get [...]
Aching for a run
© Tim LaBarge 2001 My sister Elise called to tell me she’d just picked up her number and shirt for this weekend’s half-marathon in St. Louis. She told me she planned to run by herself and enjoy the scene. Last year, I did the marathon…she did the half. We were hanging out, stretching before the [...]
