5k

16 for 2016

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

So, it’s the start of the new year ~ what do you want to see and do this year?  Here are 16 (for 2016!) that you might want to consider:

  1. Visit Deception Pass and the Rosario Beach/Bowman Bay area
  2. Head East from Seattle to Suncadia Resort ~ taste, relax, play
  3. Snoqualmie Falls
  4. Stay at Fort Flagler State Park
  5. Wine tasting in Walla Walla ~ make a long weekend of it as there is much to taste
  6. Explore the Kalaloch area of the Washington Coast
  7. Vancouver, British Columbia
  8. Attend at least (6) six festivals or fairs (ex: Washington State Fair, Poverty Bay Wine Festival, Bumbershoot, Fremont Fair, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair, Issaquah Salmon Days, Ellensburg Rodeo, Bremerton Blackberry Festival, Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, Taste Washington… just to name a few).
  9. Take a hike and see Silver Falls at Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, OR.   It’s just short of 4 hours reach.
  10. Run/Walk a 5-K
  11. Haven’t been camping in awhile? Maybe this is the year.
  12. Take more pictures (and less selfies)
  13. Visit (and support) the beautiful area of the Methow Valley.  Winthrop, Twisp, Mazama and more… the activities and beauty abound.
  14. Go crabbing in the waters near Anacortes
  15. Leavenworth ~ take in Oktoberfest, Christmas Lighting Festival or visit anytime of the year
  16. Do it Local.  See: an Everett Silvertips hockey game.  Hear: local musicians. Smell: the fresh air of a nearby beach or park. Taste: a meal at a new restaurant or food truck.  Touch: shop at a neighborhood boutique.

Fiesta 5k Ole! and Taco Truck Challenge

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

Cinco De Mayo on May 5th brought food and fit together!  A great way to start May off, right?  This is the first year for the Fiesta 5k Ole and the second annual 107.7 The End Taco Truck Challenge. http://www.fiesta5kole.com/   Both took place at Volunteer Park in Seattle.  The run/walk started and ended at the park and wound through the historic neighborhoods nearby.  Watch your footing here as the pavement/roads are not the best, but it was nice first year for this event.  The event benefited the HopeHeart Institute http://www.hopeheart.org/.  A margarita garden opened right after the race and the taco trucks opened for business shortly thereafter.  The top three finishers (men’s and women’s categories) received awards and the best costumes also won a prize.  Costumes consisted of ponchos, moustaches, sombreros, an inflatable Corona bottle, lime/pepper fiesta beads, maracas, and someone carried a pinata too.  Live music started around 1:30 pm with the event ending at 9 pm.  Those participating in the event received a white Fiesta 5k Ole t-shirt. Snacks and water were available after the run.  Sponsors were on hand with samples and information.

The 107.7 The End Taco Truck Challenge had a good selection of vendors/mobile trucks to satisfy your taste buds.  These included El Camion (the Challenge favorite), Contigo Modern Mexican, Here and There, Taquiera La Fondita, Lumpia World, Skillet, Charlie’s Buns ‘n Stuff, Snout & Co., Athena’s, Fusion on the Run, Streetzeria, and more.  As the lines were quite long for El Camion, we enjoyed samplings from Lumpia, fish tacos from Here and There, and Tres Quesos Gordita along with Carnitas Rojas and Short Rib tacos at Contigo.  I overheard that the Cuban Sandwich at Snout & Co. was quite good.

Some walking/running events have already come and gone, including the MS Walk (www.walk4ms.org),  but others are right around the corner.  Check out http://www.runningintheusa.com/race/List.aspx?Rank=Month&Month=5&State=WA&Page=1 for a list of events in Washington State.  This site will allow you to sort by type of race, month, etc…