It is officially NYC marathon week! Over the past few weeks, I have been taking my recovery seriously and I’m almost certain that I will attempt the marathon on Sunday. It will not be the race that I was hoping for, but I think that I can complete it without further injuring myself. Next time I write, I will share more on how it all turns out.
This story is adapted from the Out & Back newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up here.
Halloween is also around the corner, which is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. If you're looking for something to get into, here are a few recommendations:
- Visit the Georgetown Morgue
- Check out Stalker Farms (during the day, this property is known as Stocker farms and offers lots of family friendly activities)
- Halloween at the Seattle Aquarium
- Woodland Zoo Pumpkin Bash
- Trick or Treat 5K in Seward Park
And finally, please remember to vote! You can deposit your ballot in an official drop box 24 hours a day all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3).
Behind the Scenes
This past weekend, I visited the Granite Curling Club to interview two guests for my upcoming season of Out and Back. If you’re like me, you’re glued to the screen during the winter Olympics to watch curling but don’t really understand what’s going on. Well, I had the opportunity to have a private learn-to-curl class at the Granite Curling Club with Chad Johnson and Jen Nguyen.
The club is special for many reasons, one of which is that one of the founders, Betty Kozai, was an Asian-American woman, which was rare at the time and continues to be. Betty’s family continues to be an integral part of the club. While curling remains a mostly white, male-dominated sport, the efforts of folks like Jen and Chad, along with the history of the club itself, have been meaningful ways to foster more inclusive communities. Granite Curling Club is also unique in that it has produced more national champions than any other club in the U.S.A.
Beyond falling in love with the sport (as I always seem to do every episode), I fell in love with the ethos of curling. There’s something called “The Spirit of Curling” that unites people worldwide as a sort of code of ethics.
From the World Curling Federation handbook:
“Curling is a game of skill and of traditions. A shot well executed is a delight to see and so, too, it is a fine thing to observe the time-honoured traditions of curling being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents. A true curler would prefer to lose rather than win unfairly.
A good curler never attempts to distract an opponent or otherwise prevent him from playing his best. No curler ever deliberately breaks a rule of the game or any of its traditions. But, if he should do so inadvertently and be aware of it, he is the first to divulge the breach.
While the main object of the game of curling is to determine the relative skill of the players, the spirit of the game demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honourable conduct.”
Both Jen and Chad shared that it is the spirit of curling that continues to bring them back to the sport – the people they play with are the best part of the game.
Get Outdoors
- Seattle Sauna Festival – Nov. 7 and 8. The Pacific Northwest’s first large-scale gathering dedicated to the art of sauna.
- Seattle Forest Week – Nov. 7th – 15th. Help create a healthier, happier, and greener Seattle by coming out to kick off planting season during Seattle Forest Week! From creating wildlife habitat to combating climate change and providing a place for residents to recreate, having a hand in Seattle Forest Week is one of the best ways to give back to your neighbors, parks, and your local forest. The events are family friendly and open to all ages.
- Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Hub Program - Ongoing. Free creative programs for teens age 12-19 at Community Centers and Teen Centers citywide. All supplies, equipment, and snacks are provided.
- Every Body Outside Retreat – Summer 2027. I'm hosting a retreat in Wyoming next summer! Join ME for a transformative 3-day art and movement retreat at the Teton Science Schools Kelly Campus, nestled on the eastern edge of Grand Teton National Park.
