Orcas Island 25k Trail Race

A Project Management Challenge

      

Mount Constitution

January 30, 2016

Timothy Lowry

Runner & Project Manager

timothy@SustEdge.net 

West Seattle, WA

Planning and Executing a Trail Race

Mountain trail running is a great way to keep sharp, reach new heights in project management, and prepare for the next project or startup opportunity. To each race there is

a beginning, middle and end with anticipated obstacles, risks and necessary assessments and adjustments along the way. Project management is 85% communications. On a mountain, this translates to constantly monitoring one’s mind, body, equipment, weather, trail conditions and fellow runners. 

The training is done. Watching the weather is important, though in a way, irrelevant. Whatever the race day conditions, the plan is in place; kickoff is imminent and the finish line is clear.

Trail Running Goals

1. Push myself, and run for the sake of running another day too.
2. Soak in the beauty of a wonderful day in a northwest maritime forest with majestic snow-covered peaks as a backdrop.
3. Maintain a positive mental attitude under pressure.
4. As as a guiding mantra, apply to other challenging life activities.

Breaking it into Manageable Tasks – How Did I Get Here?

I’ve been running for as long as I can remember. At the onset, I never thought I’d be running mountains. Like all challenging projects,
running mountains is  built upon a series of manageable tasks. Elements in my journey include:

1. Running laps in high school football
2. Upping the miles as a senior in college
3. Exploring rivers and dales at first professional job in County Somerset, UK
4. Normalizing distance on Seattle’s Burke Gilman Trail
5. Running for solace with two toddlers in West Seattle, Washington.

High school football taught me I like running better than hitting and being hit. At Union College, following a romantic breakup, I often found myself mentally centered and miles from home; buoyed by the prospect of a return run. In Somerset, I realized running is being one with the spectacularly beautiful countryside.

In my thirties, the Burke Gilman Trail allowed me to train with regularity and ease due to sheer convenience, trail length, and

connectivity to other parks and trails. Several years later, the original West Seattle Running Club provided solace, camaraderie and a regular training routine to jettison my new-dad sympathy weight beside the Puget Sound.

And now I find myself rushing towards a date with a small mountain with clear direction and focused intent. I am
always both cheered and a little disturbed that I go forth not alone, but rather surrounded by like-minded (similarly bizarre) souls.

Race Project Milestones

I.   Rest and Prepare

Often the hardest part. Balance! For a week. Eye on the game; but not too much. Sleep full. Eat well but moderately. Hydrate. Prioritize motion to minimize energy outputs. Fight the midweek urge to run long. Patience.

II.   Arrive at the Scene

My boys ask me if I’m going to “win the race”. I tell them I am getting to the start and crossing the finish. Sure I set improvement goals. But getting to the start on what statistically should be a blustery rainy northwest winter day is job one. I signed up for this on purpose.

III.  Run a Solid Race

Study the trail, the grades, the clearings. Anticipate the cooling head winds, most often

from the SW. Keep the energy up and the mind sharp. This run is technical – sometimes more like climbing and skiing than running. I get to use Agile techniques. Mind the low points – they are not real, but yet should be respected and released. Savor the runner’s high with gratitude when the trail feels soft under my feet. Half the run is downhill; sometimes nearly effortless, sometimes fraught with risks.

IV.  Recover, Be Kind, and Celebrate

After the race – drink pure water, eat clean protein then add carbs. Avoid the tired binge. Be kind to myself. And be kind to people around me. I will have just run a mountain and, while entitled to a little fatigue, I choose to not share “my inner grumpy” with other kind souls around me. Rather I celebrate the victory kindly, with all the energy I can muster.

V.   Align Efforts toward the Next Endeavor

Gently. Clearly. Focus on the next prize. Build reserves while setting direction forward. No time to rest on laurels. Maintain direction and build momentum for the next project and run. Apply what I’ve learned for other mental and physical activities.

Managing the Race Day Project

And so, I find myself focussing on Saturday morning, honing my project management focus up a mountain, on an island, in the Salish Sea, 75 miles north of Seattle, between Bellingham, WA and Victoria, BC.

The Orcas Island 25k (15.5 mile) trail race can be broken down into three climbs for a total of 4450 feet in elevation gain. The first 500 foot tall hill climb is a warm up. The beginning of the second climb is a very steep 1500 feet. The third climb is a very steep 1000 feet. From then on out, the last 5 miles are mostly downhill. It’s the downhills that will get you, often being more like skiing than running. Remaining elevation gain is found in short climbs and descents.

This is a challenging 6 hour project with strict deadlines:

1. 9:00 am – start of race
2. 11:00 am cutoff – be through the first water stop at 5.6 miles
3. 1:30 pm cutoff – reach the summit of Mt Constitution at 10.7 miles at 2399 ft
4. 3:00 pm – finish line closes and the food disappears

It is very helpful to remember that half of the race is a primarily a downhill stroll. Relax and take advantage of the opportunities to recharge. And be ready to quickly adjust to risky technical sections with roots, deep puddles and moving earth.

Integral to the plan is periodic recharging for the body and mind. Water stops every 5.5 miles helps with the body.  Recharging the mind
occurs while looking forward to, taking in, and remembering views and airs at the 2399-foot summit. It’s an excellent location for a three minute food and equipment break to absorb the panoramic views of the island archipelago and the splendor of the Olympic and Cascade Peaks in the distance.

Applying Lessons Learned and Project Momentum

Next Stop, to maintain focus and momentum, Hillbilly Half Marathon in the Capital Hills south of Olympia, Washington on March 12, 2016. Running mountains teaches me to apply what I’ve learned for other mental and physical activities including project management.

For more infornmation on the Orcas 25k race or to sign up to run next year, visit: http://www.rainshadowrunning.com/orcas-island-25k.html#course