I was asked to take some photos of this years Cable Bridge Run for the Port of Pasco to use in some publicity pieces. The day was cold and quite overcast. I really wish instead of a gray sky as a background I could have had a nice blue sky with some clouds. I may have to learn how to ‘replace’ the sky with a shot from earlier this year. Also making it difficult was that not all the runners would be going by my location. The 1 mile runners never passed the Port of Pasco property since they finished more than a mile earlier. The 5k runners ran along Ainsworth in front of the Port property and the 10k runners ran along the river on the back side of the Port property. I went back and forth bewtween the front and back to try to get some shots that would highlight the Port of Pasco. You can check out all the photos by going to my SmugMug album: 2011 Cable Bridge Run

My last glasses were purchased at a local optician after I won a $200 gift certificate in a drawing. What amazed me was that after the $200 off, I was still out of pocket about the same amount I would have spent if I had just gone in to Costco.

So, after 2 years I decided to go back to Costco for an eye exam and some new glasses. My glasses have accumulated enough scratches that it is time. My optical prescription had not changed too much (always good) but when the doc toggled back and forth between my current prescription and the new one, I will be glad to have the new.

But now the hard part. Choices. Status Quo. Do I pick a pair of glasses based on what I am currently wearing? Or do I find something new? Something with more pizazz? Or just continue with something close to what I am wearing now and hope no one even notices the change.

So, Do I go with the top ones that are pretty close to what I have, or the second pair that are pretty close to the ones I have but a bit darker and wider on the sides, or pair three that are much wider and a bit more square.

Argh! Choices!

Nike Cross Nationals is the culmination of the 8 Nike Cross National Regional qualifying meets held around the country. The course makes 2 1/2 loops within the infield of the horse track at Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon. Obstacles on the course include the whoopty-doos, a series of 4 foot berms, the hay bales, and the ever present mud which, some years, can be ankle deep. Spectators have great access to view the race from the infield of the course or can avoid the weather from inside Portland Meadows’ enclosed 3,000-seat grandstand. Video cameras are staged along the course and one camera follows the runners around the complete course. The video can be watched on the jumbo screens both inside and outside as well as the live webcast on nikecrossnationals.com.

Based on the results of the Regional Qualifying meets, 22 seven-person clubs and an additional 45 individuals are invited to both the Boys and the Girls Championship Races and to a fantastic weekend. In addition, individual runners and teams who don’t qualify for the championship race can sign up to run the same course in the Open Race.

Photos:

• Gary’s Nike Cross National Photo Gallery
• NXN Open Race
• NXN Boy’s Championship Race
• NXN Girl’s Championship Race
• Odds & Ends
• SunfairRun’s Nike National Gallery (Coming Soon)
• NXN Open Race
• NXN Boy’s Championship Race
• NXN Girl’s Championship Race
• NXN Odds & Ends