Running stories: It's good to be Queen!

For my running and hiking friends: 

Rave run - most memorable and beautiful run ever!  McCormick Forest Park... Green,  lush,  wet,  thick,  trees,  ferns,  moss,  mist and hills.  It's an outside loop trail with many smaller trails that cut from one side to the other into and out of a ravine with a stream. 

After 3 loops,  many side excursions,  too many uphills and 1 hour and 45 minutes,  I was done!  And wet,  muddy,  hungry,  and exhausted too.. Loved it.  

It's good to be Queen (and King) - While Blake was here we ran too,  including a run that started on a killer hill with 12-16% grades for .8 miles total, and included a bit of forest trail then more uphill,  run into town,  coffee shop stop,  more running back from town,  etc. 
The short version of the story... After two runs in two days,  I got fastest time for a woman on the killer hill segment according to Strava.  I'm queen of the hill!  Did I mention I'm the only woman on Strava who has done that segment?  No matter - that's just details.

He's a runner now.... Blake ran it 3 times (he may be competitive?) to become king of the hill. Every killer hill run he was ahead of me and pushing hard.  First time included the wrong piece of trail so didn't count for either of us.  Second time he smoked it!  but his Strava didn't record it all so it didn't count. (Grrrr!) I can't believe he did it again (I definitely did not) and it recorded this time!  He has fastest time ever and is King. Crazy fun! 

from my McCormick Forest long run

McCormick Forest is so beautiful and on the edge of Gig Harbor

My first coffee as Queen of the hill!

More from McCormick Forest.  This is the place my friend Kit took me for a "quick" hike when I first arrived.  It was pouring rain and after 4:00 pm but it was going to be quick.  We finally got home around 6:00 pm.  We got lost, it got dark, and the adventure was on!  I had confidence in him and he got us found eventually. We were soaked rats though. 

In Gig Harbor town…ready to go for King of the hill for the 3rd tine.

McCormick Forest run.  You can find many hikes/runs like this nearby.  Another huge forest is on a peninsula of Tacoma (20 minutes away) called Point Defiance Park.  I've been there and hope to run there before I leave next week.