Bellingham Bay Half Marathon

Regardless of location or distance, every race has a similar feeling of anticipation before the starting gun goes off. A few overly eager people loosen up their legs with a light jog along the street. The stragglers squirm in their lines at the portable toilets, debating whether they really need to go. Most people line up tightly in the corrals, doing their final stretches or chatting with those around them. I have been in each of these groups at one point in my life, but races are becoming so routine that I am usually just relaxing in the corrals and observing the sights around me.

One thing that was refreshingly unique about the Bellingham Bay pre-race was the amazing announcer. He picked people out of the crowd at random and made up stories about their credentials and goals for the race. If anything he said came to be true, I would have been in the presence of world record holders and other running celebrities! It's always nice to laugh in an otherwise tense environment. 

I had not really looked at the course map in advance of the race, but I was really surprised by the diverse terrain covered. It took runners through many twists and turns, including a few unpaved paths, and even a long deck that stood over the water. If it weren't for the many wonderful volunteers, we would have surely gotten lost (like the recent Bangalore marathon, where the leading runners went off-course and had to borrow money to take public transport back to the finish line)!

The most scenic part of the course

The weather ended up being a little cooler and mistier than the forecast predicted, but it was perfect for running in Washington State. I used to love the autumn for football season, but now, I love it for the crisp running weather (and football). 
 

Misty weather and Native American art

The crowd support was actually better than I anticipated for such a small city. In fact, I could barely find parking before the race in the downtown area but I appreciated the decent crowd support near the end. 

The finish line had a good party atmosphere, complete with live music and food trucks. The band was also quite good and a lot of people stuck around just to listen to their music. Another unique element of this race was the selection of candid pictures, already printed and displayed for anyone who wants to pay $10 on the spot for a nice souvenir. 

Live entertainment at the finish line

Candid photos for sale at the finish line

I am curious how many more purchases they get when the picture is already printed. In my experience, most people just screen shot the copyrighted photos and shamelessly post them all over social media with the watermark clearly visible across the picture. Kinda like this: 

Here I am crossing the finish line

Yes, I know my shirt is hideous.

I have purchased a few good pictures in the past, but my typical modus operandi is to just save the copyrighted version. I was, however, tempted to buy this one gem - taken of the man behind me who clearly was not camera-ready at this point in the race: 

One of my competitors

Running is a hobby that can become routine and dull very quickly. For me, racing is one way to keep me motivated because I get to discover new places and fulfill my competitive drive. I found the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon to be a very interesting course and with some entertainment that exceeded my expectations.

Bellingham Bay Half Marathon Medal

Four Corners

The month of September was busy from a travel perspective. 

I visited the four corners. No, not the point where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona intersect. (I was there in 2007 and it is boring...)

Four Corners (UT, CO, NM, AZ) - 2007

My scope is larger these days. I literally visited all four corners of the United States. After starting the month in Boston, I flew back to Chicago for a week in the office. From there, I spent a weekend in San Diego to see an old friend. The next week, I went back to Orlando for another work trip, followed by a long-weekend vacation in Seattle, before returning to Chicago once again. Eleven thousand domestic airline miles in one month. Crazy.   

September 2014 flights

Northeast Corner: Boston is home. It's also the most historic and dynamic corner of the country. Read all about my trip here.

Southwest Corner: San Diego is one of those cities that just makes me feel relaxed. Everyone seems so happy and they have a casual quirkiness that makes me smile. My luggage didn't arrive on my flight, but I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I just picked up my rental car and drove to nearby Balboa Park.  

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego because of the Spanish architecture, the beautiful gardens, and all the activity there is to see while you walk around. There are also several museums in the area, but I have never bothered to go inside any of them. I could spend an entire day there, just soaking up the sun and people-watching.

Beautiful Spanish architecture

Saint Francis Chapel

There are countless street artists and exhibitors stationed along the grass, offering everything from stress tests to artwork. A few tents were harmlessly religious, some were zany (like the free hula-hoop area), and others were purely amusing. I talked to one exhibitor, who said the permit process for in Balboa Park is a frustrating lottery system with only 25 slots available per month (10 musicians, 10 performers, and 5 show acts). I can't even imagine the lifestyle of a street performer. It's certainly not my calling.

Caricaturist at Balboa Park

After a couple hours at the park, I met my friend for a late lunch at the famous Anthony's Fish Grotto. The restaurant decor reminds me of Red Lobster (it's very dated), but the food was tasty and the views of the water were beautiful. The entire afternoon/evening felt like a blur but it was nice to get back to San Diego for the first time in far too long. 

Dogs with shades...only in San Diego!

Southeast Corner: I think Orlando is a perfect microcosm of America. It offers a diverse population, countless outlet malls that proliferate American lifestyle of consumerism, and everything is so spread out that a car is essentially required in order to travel anywhere. I don't particularly enjoy Orlando much and I would never live there, but it is always a fun place to visit. 

My hotel was a massive convention-style complex, so everything felt very impersonal. Even the view from my room was about as bland as I have ever had in the past couple years of living in hotels. 

View from my hotel in Orlando - convention city!

Living up to its American stereotype, the hotel even had a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Normally, I don't watch much TV - especially in the morning - but this amenity was too good to pass up. I loved listening to the day's financial headlines on CNBC while I took a shower. 

Watch TV while you brush your teeth!

Throughout the week, our restaurant choices were seemingly endless, as all the national restaurant chains are located along International Drive. I have a love/hate relationship with chains. The food is normally generic-tasting, yet the flavors are undeniably appealing. Plus, the consistent menu offerings allow people to enter the restaurant knowing exactly what they will order. 

As a global traveler, I can understand the appeal of comfort food but I also feel like the globalization of so many restaurants has contributed to the lack of local identity. One of my favorite aspects of the North End in Boston, for example, is that locally-owned restaurants that can only be found in one place. If you are craving a cannoli from Mike's pastry, you must go to Boston. Restaurants in other cities may offer something similar, but none will be able to match the sensory connection that I associate with this pastry shop in Boston.

Nothing against Orlando. All cities have fallen victim to national chains, but I feel like the problem is magnified in Orlando. I didn't eat a single thing on my trip that will inspire me to return. 

One memory I will associate uniquely with Orlando is the Minus 5 Ice Bar, which is completely covered in ice (including the seats) and even serves drinks in ice glasses. The experience is undeniably overpriced but it is certainly unique from any other bar I have visited. 

Minus 5 Ice Bar - Orlando

I always enjoy new experiences when I travel and I am glad that Minus 5 Ice Bar helped to add a unique memory from my week in Orlando.

Northwest Corner: The final stage of my trip across America involved a long weekend in Washington. The main reason I booked this part of the trip was to run in the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, which is located just south of the Canadian border. The city is historically known for coal and timber extraction but it is now a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. As such, I felt that Bellingham would be the perfect place to run my first race in the State of Washington. 

The city's location along the bay allowed for some really nice views of the water and the many locally-owned businesses throughout the downtown area offered a complete contrast to the generic atmosphere in Orlando.

Leaves are already starting to change colors in Bellingham.

Is the not the cutest coffee shop ever?

Bellingham Bay waterfront

I may have watched too much of the Twilight series, but I could not help comparing Bellingham to the small town of Forks where the movies are set. The weather was misty on the day of the race and the town has quite a few historic (for west-coast standards) buildings with a really eerie vibe. Even the newer apartments in the downtown area have a very industrial feel to them. 

Old Bellingham City Hall (now Whatcom Museum)

Beautiful mural on the side of this building

Another old building that looked cool to me

Bellingham thrived during the industrial era but, like many other cities in America, was forced to redefine itself when the economy shifted. I really enjoyed seeing how the old buildings have been rescued and modernized for a new generation. I could never live in such a small city, but it was an excellent place for a quick stop-over.

After the race, I drove down to Seattle for a bonus day in Emerald City. My hotel was in a prime location - near the shopping district and the famous Pike Place Market. As I approached the market, I noticed several couples walking hand-in-hand, while the girl carried a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This is something I rarely see these days (perhaps because of my highly transient lifestyle), but I credit the nearby flower market for keeping such a traditional romantic gesture alive. 

The famous (and over-photographed) Public Market sign

Flower market in Seattle's Public Market

Across from the public market is the original Starbucks store - a landmark that attracts enough people to line up down the street. I had already been there on my last trip to Seattle and it is basically just like any other Starbucks, so I had no desire to wait in line again. As a credit to the locally-owned restaurants, there is also a famous piroshky bakery just a few doors down that attracted an even larger crowd...including me.

First Starbucks store

I walked around the corner from the market to a nearby park and was surprised by all the homeless (or homeless looking) people just hanging around, laying on the grass, and essentially crowding out anyone who may actually want to enjoy the public space without feeling like have stumbled into a shelter. There were some great views of both the city and the water, but it was difficult to appreciate them with so many sketchy people around. 

Later in the evening, I went to Pioneer Square and found the homeless problem to be just as bad. Everyone was perfectly harmless so I was not afraid to walk around on my own. It's just a shame because I will forever associate Seattle with street people littering the public areas. 

Hard to appreciate the public art with all the street people hanging around

Another great neighborhood that is diminished by street people

Many people people associate hills with San Francisco,  but I would guess that Seattle has just as many. Walking through the neighborhoods in the downtown area, I got quite a nice calf workout. I would imagine that this is an even greater challenge during the snowy winter months!  The hills are something I will keep in mind if I ever decide to run a full marathon in Seattle.

One of many hills in Seattle

I didn't make it to some of the well-known tourist attractions in Seattle this time (such as the Space Needle), but I still managed to have a nice long weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I find this part of the country to be extremely beautiful with all the pine-covered mountains and Mount Rainier visible in the distance on particularly sunny days. The city of Seattle is not very cosmopolitan, but I think the non-pretentious element is a big part of its charm. 

-- -- -- -- -- --

All of my travel throughout the month of September helped to remind me that there are so many interesting places to visit in the United States. Americans share a common national bond, but the people (and the landscapes) are so diverse. It was fun for me to experience these differences in such a short period of time. Having said that, there is so much mobility in today's society that the differences start to merge together. 

Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, but people can purchase the same items in any Starbucks store across the country. The same idea holds true for any other national chain. While I was traveling across the United States in September, I made an effort to avoid the chains. I wanted to get the most unique experience in each city that I visited. Now, when I plan my future trips, I can get excited for Mike's Pastry in Boston, Anthony's Fish Grotto in San Diego, or Piroshky Piroshky in Seattle.  

View from one of my many flights across the United States in September

Run to the Rock Half Marathon - Plymouth, MA

The 20th annual Run to the Rock allowed me to race in soaking wet conditions...and it didn't even rain a single drop! Autumn in New England is known for having unpredictable weather, but I did not expect to find 87-degree weather in September.

Despite the near-record heat, the race was well-organized and showed a lot of community spirit. There were 3 different distances (5k, 10k, and half-marathon), plus a BBQ afterwards for both spectators and runners. I opted to run the half-marathon, which started in the Myles Standish State Forest and ended at the Plymouth Rock. These point-to-point races are always more fun for me because I can say I actually ran somewhere (as opposed to the more-common "loop" courses, where racers literally finish in the same place they started). 

 The half-marathon field was small (only around 500 people), but as everyone assembled in the starting corral, I could tell that they were mostly "real runners".  They chatted with each other about past marathon experiences, their favorite gear for training, and what to expect from this course.

The first six miles were solitary and peaceful, as we ran along the deserted road and barely saw anything besides trees. I was a little surprised by the large number of hills, although they do help to break up the monotony as I pep-talk myself up to the top of each one. 

Candid photo from the race

Once we got into the residential area, we were running alongside some traffic and only saw occasional spectators to cheer on the runners. To be honest, I don't remember much other than working hard to maintain my pace behind the guy in front of me. I knew I would never pass him, but he was a good anchor to keep up my personal effort. 

The last mile of the race felt like it would never end. In retrospect, my slow finish time did make me wonder if we had run longer than 13.1 miles. Maybe it was just my body slowing down to compensate for the heat. Either way, I was proud of my effort and my placement. 

It was great to see my parents cheering me along at the finish line. Once the race ended, I grabbed some food and we sat around - mostly to enjoy the atmosphere, but also to await the age group results. When they were finally posted, I was happy to see that I had finished 2nd in my age group. I picked up my trophy and we celebrated with an ice cream before heading home.

2nd place in the 30-39 age group!

Despite having grown up so close to this historic town, I only remember coming down to Plymouth once before. "America's Hometown" is a popular place for school trips to learn about how the Pilgrims lived when they first arrived here in 1620. A replica of the Mayflower still sits in the water near Plymouth Rock, and I was amazed that the Pilgrims could have made it across the Atlantic ocean in this top-heavy, wooden structure. 

A replica of the Mayflower sits in Plymouth Harbor

One of the many reasons I love to race is because it gives me an excuse to visit places that I otherwise would not take the time to see. If anyone is considering a small race in a city with historic relevance, Run to the Rock is a great choice.

Boston

It’s fun to take a business trip to my home city. Especially when that city can be enjoyed with someone who has never been there before. My week in Boston helped to remind me that the place I grew up is somewhere I would like to live again... Someday.... But for now, I am content visiting for short periods at a time and departing before the excitement starts to fade. 

My hotel was located in the financial district, but I forget just how easy it is to navigate the compact city center. From the historic Quincy Market to the upscale shopping on Newbury Street, Boston is a true American jewel.

View from my hotel room in Boston

The first evening, I went to dinner with my colleague at one of the many amazing Italian restaurants in the North End. I haven’t been to this area in over a decade and I am thrilled that it is more easily accessible, now that the highway dividing it from the rest of the city has been moved underground. We could have chosen from countless restaurants, but we ended up at Vinoteca di Monica. The tables were crammed in a tiny space and the semi-open kitchen made the experience feel like we were eating in the home of our Italian grandmother. 

After dinner, we couldn’t go back to our hotel without stopping for  cannoli from Mike’s Pastry. My mouth was salivating as I debated which of the flavors I wanted to try. The amaretto was incredible and I had to restrain myself from returning the next night to try the other flavors.
 

Mike's Pastry sign lights up the night

On our last afternoon in Boston, we had some time to go on a tour of the city. The tour guide was full of great information that I hope to retain some of it so that people don’t think I am lying when I tell them I spent 22 years of my life in the Boston area. Some of my favorite facts about Boston: 

- Fenway is more than just the home of the Boston Red Sox. This part of the city was once only marshland, until land reclamation projects began in the 1820's.

Exterior of Fenway Park - the oldest stadium in major league baseball

- Just a few blocks away from Fenway Park is the oldest remaining Victory Garden in the United States. Victory Gardens emerged during World War II as a way to reduce pressure on the public food supply. Today, it is mostly filled with flowers, but it serves as a living reminder of both the contributions and the sacrifices that Americans made as part of the war effort. 

- Beacon Hill is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and its name came from an emergency beacon that once stood at the highest point in Boston. The narrow streets remain much of their historic character, including the most gas lamps of any city in the United States. Many of these lamps still burn for 24 hours per day - a tradition that began out of necessity, when the lamplighter union wages became prohibitively expensive for manually lighting and extinguishing the lamps each day. 

Beacon Hill is also home of the Massachusetts State House

- The Christian Science religion is headquartered in Boston, and the beautiful cathedral is certainly a focal point in the city. I'm still not sure how they can afford such prime real estate with only 100,000 members across the country, but it certainly adds to the overall beauty of the city. 

- Just a few blocks from the Christian Science headquarters is Trinity Church, which is honored as one of the "ten most significant buildings in the United States" by the American Institute of Architects. For me, this church is such a symbol of Boston and its reflection in the adjacent John Hancock tower adds to its appeal. 

Trinity Church reflects beautifully from the adjacent John Hancock Tower

- Harvard Bridge is 364.4 (and an ear) "smoots" long. This unit of measurement was developed in 1958 when an MIT student was laid down, end-over-end, to measure the length of the bridge. The markings are repainted each semester by the incoming class of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity). The unit of measurement was so widely accepted that bridge renovations in the 1980's actually incorporated scores in the pavement at every smoot (5'7''). 

While crossing the bridge, people are also treated to gorgeous views of the Boston skyline:

Boston skyline, as seen from the Harvard Bridge

Of all areas in the city, Downtown Crossing and the waterfront seem to be transforming the quickest. In Downtown Crossing, there are several new luxury condo buildings and a skyscraper in the early stages of construction. I remember this area to be a little seedy when I was first graduating college and I am glad to see that it has already improved substantially.

Modern touches in an otherwise historic building in Downtown Crossing

The waterfront – home to Boston’s new convention center – also feels like an entirely new city. There has been so much construction that it makes me wonder what existed there a decade ago. I can hardly imagine that such prime waterfront real estate remained undeveloped, but maybe it was more of an industrial area.

On Friday night, I attended the Boston College football game with my parents. In most parts of the country, attending a football game would be considered a popular local activity, but not in Boston. Here, college football is almost forgotten – even when BC enjoys a national ranking.

One of the reasons I chose to attend Boston College was the Division I athletics, which I feel brings such unity to the student body. This game was proof of that, as the student section was the most crowded and most lively area of the stadium. For little more than a price of a movie, everyone gets an impressive game-day experience, but the students bond in a way that simply cannot be replicated at schools without popular sports teams. The final score was a disappointment for my alma mater, but it was a lot of fun to relive all the great memories from my years as a student.

Boston College Football

Over the past week in Boston, I enjoyed seeing the city from the perspective of a visitor. Boston is so filled with history, yet it continues to transform with cutting-edge art and architecture. Learning so many interesting facts about Boston and hearing the glowing reviews from my colleague allowed me to gain a new appreciation of my home town.

I normally visit the Boston area purely to reconnect with family and friends. Occasionally, I will go into the city for dinner or drinks but most of my time is spent in the suburbs. My experience got me wondering: How many people fail to take advantage of the tourist activities in their home cities?  Sometimes, just a tour of the historic sites or slow walk with a camera in hand may be enough to renew their sense of pride in the place they live.

World's Best Museums

Today, CNN posted an article with the World's 20 Best Museums (as rated by TripAdvisor users) and I was anxious to see how many I had experienced.  I scrolled quickly through the list, but I was almost embarrassed to see that I had only been to six of the museums listed.  

Here's the list (with the museums I have visited in bold font): 

1. Art Institute of Chicago
2. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
3. State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
4. The Getty Center, Los Angeles
5. Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence (2013)
6. Musee d'Orsay, Paris
7. Metropolitan Muesum of Art, New York
8. The Acropolis Museum, Athens
9.  Prado Museum, Madrid (2010)
10. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem
11. National WWII Museum, New Orleans
12. The National Gallery, London (2002)
13. Vasa Museum, Stockholm (2001)
14. National Gallery of Art, Washington
15. British Museum, London
16. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (2012)
17. Instituto Ricardo Brennand, Reclife (Brazil)
18. Galleria Borghese, Rome
19. Musee du Louvre, Paris (2002)
20. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

My favorite from this list: Hagia Sophia (2012)

Why have I not been to more? I have already traveled to 17 of the 19 cities that contain these world-famous museums, so I can't really use the excuse that they are still on my bucket list. Even worse, the top-rated museum is in Chicago - a city I called home for 2 years - yet I never even bothered to step foot inside. 

Before I rushed to reserve a spot on the next available tour at the Art Institute of Chicago, I thought a little more about the natural bias in this article. The list is comprised of reviews from people who not only took the time to visit the museums, but also made the effort to review them on Tripadvisor. These are museum people!

"Museum People" admiring the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (2002)

Me?  I'm an activity person. I much prefer to discover local culture by signing up for a running race, walking around aimlessly without a map, and taking public transportation with the locals. Some museums can be interesting, but I always seem to quickly forget all the details about what I learned. I never look back at the pictures of ancient weapons or period clothing hanging on museum walls, but I always remember the feeling at the finish line of a race, while the local residents cheer me on. 

Travel is a personal adventure and it should never be about feeling obligated to see the biggest tourist attractions. Some people will get a thrill out of seeing a museum that was rated among the best in the world and I am sure they will enjoy the experience. After all, these museums were rated highly for a reason. However, I also applaud the travelers who boldly customize their vacations in a way that does not include the most talked-about sites. 

"Admiring" artwork at the Tate Modern in London (2001)

Do I regret having missed out on so many popular museums? Not at all. I had incredible trips to Athens, Amsterdam, Rome, and other cities on the list. I do find it humorous that I have toured the Heineken brewery, yet I never found the time to visit the museum dedicated to art and history. As a college student visiting Amsterdam, I was much more interested in the history of this iconic brand of beer than I was about the contributions from artists that lived centuries ago. 

Drumming at the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam (2002)

I love the role that TripAdvisor plays in social media. Contributors can vent their complaints (or share their praises), businesses can use the candid feedback to improve their service, and travelers can look at the reviews to better informed choices. The overall ratings are no more scientific than any one person's opinion, but it is still fun to read about the experiences of random strangers and the way they perceive certain things.
 
My guess is that most people clicked on this list with the same intent as me: to discover how many of the top-ranked museums they have visited. How many have you been to?