Chuckanut 50k - Bellingham, WA: What a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest for a race! Sunshine, warmth, and smiles all around everywhere I turned from beautiful trails to gracious volunteers to seeing another familiar face and friend every few miles! . The flat never ending but fast (if you are fast) (note: I am not) 10k of Interurban trail at the beginning and end of the race was brutal for me who looks for every excuse to walk. But once off the Interurban and onto the buttery trails, the middle 30k is what makes this race special. With 5,000 feet of vert, the super technical and scenic Ridge Trail with vistas of Mt Baker, miles and miles of sweet molasses singletrack, the perfectly calm and serene Fragrance Lake, and the notorious and aptly named Chinscraper trail with 1,000’ in 1 mile, this is why you come to race the Chuckanut 50k. . As for me, I didn’t run fast and I didn’t set any PB’s, I honked hard at the end (I had to scarf down a packet of gummies less than a quarter mile from the finish line because I thought I was going to pass out), but I also didn’t cramp (that in itself makes it a great day!), I was so happy to see friends I know at every turn and i finished my second 50k race of the year and it was a solid effort to kick off week one of training block two of five. . I’m smile happy, my trail bank is filled and grateful to be able to run. . . #Chuckanut50k #LarrabeeStatePark #Bellingham #WA #FragranceLake #UpperLeftUSA #PNW #CascadiaExplored #PNWonderland #InterurbanTrail #LittleChinscraper #RidgeTrail #TwoDollarTrail #NorthLostLakeTrail #Bib214 #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Bellingham, Washington)