sunset

Kauai

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In a testament to how well we achieved our goal of playing every day by ear with our primary focus being on relaxation, I rarely remembered to bring my camera with me. I took only a handful of pictures, and really only on a single day; the day I realized “oh shit, I haven’t taken one sunset photograph this whole trip. Can we please push our dinner reservation tonight so we don’t miss the sunset?” We pushed the reservation and caught a magnificent stunner. I only wish I could’ve better captured the “secret” beach we went to earlier in the week.

Deception Pass

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When we picked up our teardrop camper, we decided that it only made sense as a purchase if we committed to using it nearly year-’round. To that end, here we are, on Halloween weekend, enjoying crisp fall beauty at one of Washington’s best State Parks, Deception Pass.

Orcas Island 50k Weekend 2020

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I ran the Orcas Island 50k in 2018 as my first ultramarathon. It was a magical weekend and it went spectacularly well, but the weather wasn’t great. This time, although rain of biblical proportions fell in the days leading up to the race leading to the wettest conditions on record, sun and scattered clouds made for beautiful views as my wife and I enjoyed ourselves on the island, the ferries, and at Rosario Resort.

Kyoto

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Although Korea is a second home, or even a second country for me and my wife, Japan is one of our all-time favorite places to visit. We’ve rarely gone to a country more than once, and typically only because we happen to know someone there. We returned to Japan because the holistic experience is off-the-charts good; the food, people, beauty… Almost nothing compares.

Oregon Coast 50k/30k

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I fell in love with trail running last year, but a late-season injury sidelined me until early 2017. After dozens of 30+ mile weeks and 5 races, I traveled to Yachats, Oregon, with my wife, my friend Mac (who convinced me to sign up for this race), and his wife, so I could race in the longest, most brutal race yet of my short career: The Oregon Coast 30k (which ended up being nearly 20 miles and over 4,000 feet of climbing). It was a beautiful, inspiring event. From simply walking around Yachats, to dinner with the race director, to meeting ultrarunning legends, to watching Mac complete his second 50k in as many weeks, to running with amazing people in primeval woods along roaring coastline, this weekend was the best.

Lima, Peru

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Lima is a sprawling city showcasing Peru's poverty and wealth. Our friend, Juan Carlos, told us of Peru's historically massive economic divide and currently growing middle class - both were evident as we drove through the streets of Callao, explored near the city's old center, and toured wealthier areas such as Miraflores and Barranco.

Our time in Lima was really defined by the food we ate. Having sampled famed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio's work at Chicha in Cusco, we went to his La Mar cevicheria in Miraflores and had one of the best dining experiences any of us could remember. No fewer than three and as many as five waiters attended to us - everything from empanada and ceviche starters to whole grilled fish to dessert was out-of-this-world good. We spent at least three hours there.

Barranco, I think, was the visual gem for us. Vibrant buildings, parading groups from far-flung reaches of Peru; Barranco felt like the welcoming, energetic, Latin locale grey-skied northerners like us would crave.