Run Hard: Who Says You Can't Go Home

I was born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington which is situated about 250 miles to the SE of Seattle in Southeastern Washington just north of the Oregon border. Walla Walla had an established Indian (Nez Perce) trading post as early as1818 but really didn't become settled until the arrival of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman in 1836 and the establishment of the Whitman Mission. The Whitman's were later killed by the local Cayuse Indians due to their bringing disease to the tribe which resulted in an epidemic leading to Cayuse Indian deaths.

Eventually Fort Walla Walla was established by the U.S. Army in the 1850's and the settlement of Walla Walla really began in earnest eventually leading to it being the largest town in the Washington Territory before growth in Seattle overtook it (and even considered as the eventual Washington State Capital in the latter 1800's).

Today Walla Walla is largely known for it's outstanding wines with over 100 wineries alone in and around the town itself. As a kid growing up, Walla Walla was known by us "townies" as the home of the Washington State Penitentiary, Whitman College, Walla Walla Sweet Onions and miles upon miles of golden wheat fields among other crops. Many of us are descendants of Italians who migrated to the Walla Walla Valley in the 1890's who were enroute from California to a gold strike in northern Idaho when the gold strike dried up. Many of the Italians stayed and farmed and brought some of the traditions of onion farming and wine making from the old country which have since grown into the economic backbone for the region.

My mom's side of the family (Mele's, Frazari's, Locati's, Leonetti's) generally migrated from Calabria (southern Italy across from Sicily) in the 1890's and early 1900's. My great-great grandma and her parents arriving around 1904 to Walla Walla.

Setting aside all of the history of agriculture, Walla Walla is simply a fantastic place to train. I never miss a chance when I am in town to steal out on a 10-20 mile run out to the Blue Mountains and back just to soak up the fragrant air, smell of the wheat fields and general peacefulness of running far into the country side at 6:00 AM on a Sunday before anyone but the farmers are up and about.

It was here during the summer of 1984 as I prepared to enter active duty in the U.S. Army that I trained running 6-8 miles and cycling 25-30 miles 5-6 days a week. I simply loved training and getting out on the hot and clear mornings with temperatures already in the upper 70's and getting miles of training in. I still feel this love today when I am home 32 years later -- often running some of the very same routes I did as an 18 year old preparing for Army basic training in September of 1984.

Since then, I've only run a single half marathon in Walla Walla (2010 Walla Walla Half Marathon) and regret not getting back and running the Walla Walla Marathon which was raced circa 2008 - 2015 before being cancelled (not sure what happened with the race director or its postponement).

I'll be back in Walla Walla in a few weeks and plan to roll a nice easy 22 miler out to the Blue Mountains and back -- and I will soak up and relish every moment of growing up a small town boy and having the chance to get back to my roots as frequently as I do.

Who says you can't go home!

About 3 miles from downtown Walla Walla, Main Street is Cottonwood Road which 5 miles from the base of the Blue Mountains and a left hand turn onto Foster Road. It's about 1-1.5% hill climb all the way out.