Magical Orcas Island!

Orcas Island, a geographic gem, located in the heart of the San Juan Islands North of Seattle in Puget Sound. This is one of those rare places in the world when it rains, it warms the soul and just feels right and actually feels like “great weather”! We have had a lot of “great weather” over this Thanksgiving. Our first Thanksgiving Holiday in America in 8 years and we are celebrating with our Orcas Island Gaylords, Randy, Marny, Colin, and Genna, Our Seattle Gaylords, Peter, Lauren, Weston, and Caitlin, along with Laura and Courtney. Kim, Laura, and Topher flew up in a Cessna 172 from Seattle to Eastsound and after a short 45minute flight with great scenic views we arrived onto the Island and the rhythm of Island life.

The weekend has been filled with fantastic memories, amazing Orcas Island home cooked family meals, Dessert parties, daily trail runs, hikes, and shared experiences of adventures around the world.

Randy led us through some amazing runs on the Island, Cascade Lake, Mountain Lake, Twin lakes, Mt. Constitution, Rosario, Mt. Pickett, and some of the oldest forests on the Island along with streams, waterfalls, and rivers. The colors in the park are out of this world, vivid greens, lush ferns, mossy trails, soft earth, big trees, and loads of single track trails, hills and hidden forest views. If you haven’t been to Orcas, find a way to come explore this wonderful Island. If you have been here, come visit again, it will warm your heart and sooth the soul.

Peter is flying us off the Island tomorrow on his “Beachcraft Bonanza” for a special “Gaylord Airlines” chartered flight. Should be a great way to cap off a perfect weekend!

Wishing all our family and friends around the world a warm start to the Holiday Season!

Pt Mugu 50km - Topher 3rd & Kim 1st in the 30km

We have been hitting the running trails hard since we have moved to Santa Monica. This weekend we drove 45 minutes north up the coast past Mailbu to the Pt Mugu State Park for a trail race. Topher ran the 50km race and I ran the 30km race. It was a beautiful course with some good ups and downs while we enjoyed amazing coastal and ocean views along the way.

After just winning the trail marathon on Catalina the weekend before Topher ran a good race to finish 3rd overall in 4:29. His run had about 5,500 feet of climbing so not a flat run at all.

My 30km race had about 3,400 feet of up and down. I was happy to run it in 2:52 to break the women's course record and finish 4th overall. Wow..I am becoming quite the runner. All I know is trying to keep up with Topher so i guess that helps.

We are off to Orcas Island for Thanksgiving with family and some final training on Mt Constitution before The North Face Endurance Challenge run in San Francisco. Topher will be running the 50 miler an i will do the 50km.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kim and Topher

Oh today is a little chilly here in Santa Monica....maybe in the 60's...i had to put on a fleece. I also heard there is rain in the forecast. We need it.

Catalina Epic! Topher Wins, Kim 5th woman!

An epic tour of Catalina Island with perfect sunshine and 100degree F temps, and 3600 ft of climbing proved a challenging combo. Competition was fierce at the head of the course with our friend Nicolas Mermoud, from Chamonix France, and Topher running from the front all day. A German runner living in Rodondo Beach was lurking all day just off the pace of the front duo and finished 3rd.

The event was hosted by our dear friend, Dean Karnazes and the event had a special screening of his movie running 50/50/50, the first time we had seen the movie and it provided massive inspiration for the race today for all!

Headed out to the beach to relax and soak in the nice Indian Summer and a nice Dinner tonight with the entire Karno Family.

Best from the California Gaylords!

Kim and Topher

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