From Seattle U.

Seattle University assistant cross country and track and field coach Uli Steidl has been selected to represent Germany at the 25th World Mountain Running Championship on Sunday, Sept. 6, at Valchiavenna.

Steidl, participating in this competition for the fifth time, will be among 152 competitors from 34 different countries running in this annual event. The senior men’s race will be three loops of the 4.34-kilometer course for a total distance of 13.02 kilometers, with a total altitude change of 825 meters during the race.

The eight-time Seattle Marathon winner is no stranger to international competitions, as he finished in 37th place at the IAAF World Marathon Championships in Osaka, Japan, in 2007. In 1991, Steidl won the junior men’s race at the World Mountain Running Championships, which led to his participation representing Germany in the U-20 races at both the World Cross Country Championships and the European Junior Championships.

Jeff and I teamed up to write a story about our favorite food stops after a day in the outdoors.

No fine dining here. Just fine burgers, fries, shakes and cherry pie a la mode (Twede's famous pie pictured to the right).

Check it out and see if your favorite was included. If not let us know about your favorite. We'd love to check it out.

(Picture by Drew Perine)

Backpacker Magazine just announced its Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid.

Seattle made the list - coming in at No. 6 - even though it's still easier to get to Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains from Tacoma.

We're not bitter.

Boulder, Colo., was No. 1 on the list. Hood River, Ore., is No. 13.

It’s a safe bet that the biggest winners at Saturday’s Sound to Narrows won’t finish first.

In fact, it’s quite conceivable that the first person to finish the 5-kilometer race could be in his car and driving home by the time the biggest winners get their first glimpse of the finish line.

But it’s also safe to say that the 40 participants in Pierce County’s Biggest Winner weight-loss challenge don’t really care. They’re already collecting their prize.

“We’ve learned how to make a lifestyle change,” said Claire Talbert, a 31-year-old Tacoma resident. “We’ve learned how to eat better and exercise regularly and we’re losing weight.”

The Sound to Narrows is the climax of the three-month challenge. The competitors weighed in for the 11th and final time Tuesday and the Biggest Winner will be announced at Vassault Park after Saturday’s races.

Read more about the Sound to Narrows and its Biggest Winner subplot this week in The News Tribune's Sports section.

As promised in this morning's News Tribune here is a 16-week training guide provided by Tacoma City Marathon organizer Paul Morrison.

16-week Marathon Training Guide

Here's a link to one of the most inspirational stories from today's Tacoma City Marathon.

- Team "Pray for Kay"

Sunday we are going to take a look at Movie's filmed in Washington's outdoors. While Washington's outdoor makes a glorious set for Hollywood flicks. We'll look at 12 places you can recreate where movies were filmed on Sunday.

Until then here are 15 other movies that are at least partially filmed in Washington.

From Rock 'n' Roll Seattle marathon organizers:

Here's a link to the course map.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle officially unveiled its race courses today for both the marathon and half marathon events, which are set to run from Tukwila to Seattle on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The courses were formally approved by the City of Seattle Special Events committee last week, and will take in some of the region’s best-known landmarks, charming neighborhoods and urban attractions.

“The Pacific Northwest has an incredibly dynamic running community and we are thrilled that Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will soon be one of the region’s premiere outdoor events,” said Megan Young, Event Manager. “This is a brand new, world class event that will attract participants from across the country. We wanted a route that highlights the many extraordinary Northwest vistas, which will make this race memorable for all participants.”

=> Read more!

All eight South Sound athletes who qualified for the Ironman World Championship, finished the grueling triathlon Saturday.

An Ironman triathlon is a 2.4-mile swim, 112 mile bike and a marathon run in succession.

Elizabeth Thiel, 30, of DuPont and Caroline White, 23, of Lakewood had the best performances of the locals. Thiel's time of 11 hours, 12 minutes, 36 seconds was best of the South Sound competitors. Thiel finished 24th in her age group.
White had the best finish of locals, taking 12th in her age group in 11:36:08.

Nancy Larson, 57, of Kent and Jennifer Block, 47, of Puyallup each finished 30th in their age groups.

Gary Tucci, 52, of Puyallup paid $55,100 in an online auction for a spot in the race, but proved he fit in as well as those who qualified. Tucci finished 76th of 99 competitors in his age group with a time of 13:11:07. Tucci raised much of the money he paid for his spot in the race. The money went to several charities including the American Cancer Society. Tucci's brother, Joey, died of cancer in 2000.

SOUTH SOUND IRONMAN FINISHERS

Eight dignitaries ceremoniously shoveled a spade full of soil Tuesday morning at South Park signifying the beginning of construction of Tacoma’s newest multi-purpose trail.

About 40 people, a third of whom where Spandex clad cyclists, where on hand for the 30-minute celebration of the Water Ditch Trail which will link Lakewood and downtown Tacoma.

MILES: Construction has begun on phase 1, two sections of the trail covering about 2 miles. When the trail is complete it will be 6 ½ miles.

SURFACE: The trail will be a 14-foot wide asphalt path with rock shoulders. According to a statement from the City of Tacoma the trail will include Americans with Disabilities Act compliant ramps and crossings. Pedestrian activated traffic lights will be installed at some intersections.

LOCATION: The trail will eventually run from the Tacoma Dome area to about 80th Street and South Tacoma Way. Phase 1 will pave sections between 48th and 56th streets and 60th and 72nd streets.

HISTORY: The trail will follow the path of the 1896 Water Ditch Trail that crossed Tacoma. Several trail advocates including Dana Brown of the city’s engineering department, former Tacoma urban planner Scott Pierson and Bob Myrick of the Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club have been working on building the trail for 20 years. Pierson, who dedicated his 23-year career to building a network of bike paths and lanes around Tacoma, died in 2001.

THE VISION: Myrick says he’d like to see the trail eventually link to the year-old Scott Pierson Trail which runs along Highway 16 from the Allenmore Golf Course over the Narrows Bridge. The trail could also link to a future trail on the Prairie Line rail bed which runs across the University of Washington-Tacoma campus.

TIMEFRAME: While Phase 1 could be done in November if weather permits, it’s unclear when Phase 2 will start. “Don’t expect it to be done in six months,” Tacoma Councilwoman Connie Ladenberg said during Tuesday’s ceremony. “It depends on funding.”

COST: Phase 1 will cost $660,000 for construction and an additional $280,000 for engineering and design, Brown said. It was paid for without the benefit of grants. Phase 2 will cost an estimated $980,000 and the city is currently applying for a grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

If you’re looking for a meaningful meal this week circle Thursday night on your calendar.

Jennifer Block, champion of the 45-49 age group at the Coeur d’Alene Ironman, will be at Mama Stortini’s at 3207 East Main Street in Puyallup, to celebrate the birthday of Ty Quandt.

Ty is turning 12 and is battling Niemann-Pick Disease. Block is racing in honor of Ty at the Ironman World Championships on Oct. 11 in Hawaii. The event will double as sendoff for Block, a Puyallup resident.

Proceeds from those eating dinner at Mama Stortini’s Ristorante between 4 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday will go to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.

For more info on Ty visit race4ty.com.

We’ll feature Block and fellow Puyallup Ironman Gary Tucci in the Oct. 5 News Tribune.

The outer loop of Five Mile Drive at Point Defiance will remain closed on Sunday mornings, Metro Parks officials announced Friday afternoon.

The announcement comes at the end of a two-month pilot program that kept the drive closed to vehicles before 1 p.m. on Sunday. The road has long been closed to motor traffic before 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

The closures are designed to give walkers, joggers, cyclists, skaters and other users a time to have the road to themselves.

"More than 80 percent of park users have responded favorably to a survey being conducted in conjunction with this summer’s pilot program," according to a statement released Friday by the parks department.

The parks will continue to collect responses on its online survey until Sept. 15.

Click here to take the survey.

(The above photo was taken by News Tribune photographer Peter Haley.)

A new marathon will be staged starting at next year's Seafair, Seattle officials plan to announce later this morning.

In a statement released at 8:37 a.m. by the San Diego-based Competitor Group, the organization stated the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon will be "A new signature event of Seafair."

The organization will announce the event at 11 a.m. in Seattle with 1972 Olympic marathon champ Frank Shorter on hand for the festivities. Also attending the announcement will be King County executive Ron Sims, Seafair CEO Beth Knox

According to the statement the marathon will be held on the shores of Lake Washington and will feature live bands and cheeleaders at every mile along the course.

The original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon was held in San Diego in 1998. Seattle joins Phoenix, Nashville, San Antonio, Virginia Beach, San Jose and Philadelphia as Rock 'n' Roll marathon city.

The marathons attract between 13,000 and 37,000 participants each year according to the Competitor Group's prepared statement.

The 2009 Seafair has events scheduled between June 28 and Aug. 2.