The word “glorious” has always had a religious connotation for me, likely the result of many hours spent in Catholic church as a child. As an adult, the concept of “church” has a more liberal definition. (For example, posting a Facebook photo of my husband and I from our seats behind the Mariner’s dugout on Sunday and captioning it, Happy Easter – from our church to yours.) But “glorious” is still reserved for something bigger than myself and those around me.
And trail scenery.
My shadow, the only blemish on the dunes of West Beach, the race’s start/finish line.
The Deception Pass Marathon & Half was held in Deception Pass State Park, named for the straight separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island. The Pass gets more than 2 million visitors a year, despite its remote, northwest Washington location, nearly two hours from Seattle.
The view from Deception Pass Bridge, a pair of bridges connecting the various islands within the park. Racers crossed the bridge twice.
This is why.
Temperatures remained in the 50s for the entirety of the race, the only clue that we were in Washington, and not on a tropical island.
The race provided amazing views of just some of over 100,000 feet of saltwater and freshwater coastline from beside, and above the race course.
With 2900 feet of climb in the half marathon, racers earned their views.
Racers around the 8 mile mark, still enjoying the views.
Not simply a race, this was a near-religious experience.
Kayakers emerge from one of the narrow coves, visible just steps from the edge of the running trail.