#issyalps

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In what has become a yearly reflective solo photo at Tiger 1, this one this year seems the most relevant with the COVID-19 pandemic and the social and physical distancing and quarantine over the past two months. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get back to “normal”, even a new normal, as long as I get to start hanging out and going on mountain adventures again with some of my friends. . #Tiger1 #Issaquah #WA #TigerMountain #IssyAlps #PNW #UpperLeftUSA #CascadiaExplored #Pandemic #COVID_19 #UltrAspire #InspiredByAthletes #TT50 #Trailto50 (at West Tiger Mtn #1) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAgM2eVnVlC/?igshid=18i58q8zy19et

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Spring forward. . #TigerMountain #Issaquah #WA #IssyAlps #TMT #UpperLeftUSA #PNW #CascadiaExplored #PNWonderland #Trailto50 #TT50 (at Tiger Mountian Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ewFuBnchT/?igshid=go559xr2idg9

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Anything can happen. . . #PooPooPoint #TigerMountain #IssaquahAlps #IssyAlps #WA #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #PNW #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Poo Poo Point) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4nG5RVHn2t/?igshid=vg5r2xc3pz6s

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Lazy ✔️ Parasite ✔️ Trail runner ✔️ . @outsidemagazine . . #Squak #Issaquah #WA #IssyAlps #Lazy #Parasite #TrailRunner #TrailWork #Volunteer #GreenHat #WTA #ChybinskiTrail #OhNoNotAnotherRoot #Pulaski #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Squak Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzPaVJ_HdYT/?igshid=1ezs78vh78cc1

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Slow start Monday. . . #CougarMountain #IssyAlps #Issaquah #WA #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #PNW #Cascadia #Snail #Monday #Gastropod #GooglyEyes #Trailto50 #Trailto50 (at Cougar Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxZ2mEBHRe9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5ucvnu4jhhp2

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This training cycle for Massanutten 100 miler has not gone as planned. I haven’t felt like running since I started the training cycle in January and when I have run it has lacked specific purpose and passion. I’ve missed planned workouts more often than not and even entire weeks without running or even wanting to run. I’m unsure why I’m but I just haven’t been ‘feeling it’. . I have more questions for myself than answers: Have I lost my “why do I run”? Am I burned out? Am I tired of the long grind? Am I running just to qualify again for Western States 100 miler? Do I really just not like to run? Am I just pretending to be a runner? . I’m most successful when I am aiming for something, whether it’s a run that I’ve never done before in a place I’ve never been before or something that’s bigger or larger or longer or harder or a long term goal (i.e. trying to qualify for a certain race for the fifth year that I still have yet to get into, *sigh*). So I should be excited for this year and this training cycle because I’m signed up for all of that, Massanutten 100 miler (a new state I’ve never run in and Western States 100 qualifier), Beaverhead 100k (first time running a 100k race), and Fat Dog 120 miler (longest race, with the most vert and arguably the hardest race I’ll be running). But I’m not excited to be running right now. . So where am I now with running and the Massanutten 100 miler in 10 days? Well. Besides completely freaking out over being massively undertrained for this race, I guess I’m just sitting on a bench staring out into the future and searching for my running “why?” . Sidenote: I know there’s so much than just running and this is just a small sliver of my life. I’m still grateful just to be able to run and I’m sure I’ll find my path down the trail again. Life operates in circles. . #TigerMountain #Issaquah #WA #IssyAlps #Tiger #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #PNW #Cascadia #Bench #Pondering #Future #Why #Silhouette #Life #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Tiger Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNAZGrhty3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=okolfqs8jsfk

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Earn your views. . . #PooPooPoint #TigerMountain #Tiger #IssyAlps #Issaquah #WA #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #PNW #Paraglider #LakeWashington #OlympicMountains #SquakMountain #💩💩Point (at Poo Poo Point) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsaEXQBSDd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pj4hlkudy7cw

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Time for Spring. . . #TigerMountain #IssyAlps #WA #PNW #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #Tiger #Issaquah #Snow #PerfectShortsDay #T1 #K3 #TT50 #Trailto50 (at West Tiger 1 Summit) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu0QZHEBCyG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qrh2x9hhh37w

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#Sun . . #TigerMountain #IssyAlps #WA #PNW #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #Tiger #Issaquah #SunRays #Fingers #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Tiger Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt3cUsKBM_7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1frs54px9l92q

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A post shared by Jay c. Blackburn (@trailto50)

Taking off into Monday. . . #PooPooPoint #IssyAlps #Issaquah #WA #UpperLeftUSA #PNWonderland #CascadiaExplored #PNW #Paraglider #💩💩Point #TT50 #Trailto50 (at Poo Poo Point - Chirico Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvb2o2BBV-F/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1959m0kqkzdvt

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See the forest for the trees. . . #Forest #Trees #UpperLeftUSA #Issaquah #PNW #PNWonderland #WA #Up #CascadiaExplored #ColorsOfTheNorthWest #IssyAlps #TigerMountain #TT50 #TrailTo50

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The light will always prevail over darkness, but you can't just sit around and wait for it to come to you. . . #TigerMountain #Light #Good #Tiger1 #IssyAlps #UpperLeftUSA #PNW #WA #PNWonderland #Run #Issaquah

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I see you #MtRainier #PNW #UpperLeftUSA #PooPooPoint #TigerMt #IssyAlps

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#ItsSuchABeautifulDay #DonHertzfeldt #GrandRidge #IssyAlps #GoodCompany