Ed Barerra from Freeland hasn’t let getting a little older slow him down. In Bellingham at the Veteran’s Cup soccer tournament July 13, his team, the Rebels, took second place in the over-40 and over-45 categories.

To get there, Barerra played eight games of 90 minutes each over five days.

The Veteran’s Cup was established in 1998, and it has been a success since. Last year, the United States Adult Soccer Association celebrated the 10th anniversary of the event.

The association’s mission is to provide high-level competition for both men and women above age 30.

More than 80 teams from around the country gathered to take part in a series of competitive soccer games.

“We played guys from Connecticut and Utah but lost to a team from Clearwater, Fla.,” Barerra recalled.

The final game went into overtime and the score ended up 4-3.

Barerra was decisive in two game-winning goals, though he said the wind direction made him look good.

“And I had only a single head injury so I’m feeling pretty good,” he added.

Ragnar Relay is headed to Langley

For the second year, the Ragnar Relay Series will sponsor the Northwest Passage relay race from Blaine to Langley.

The course was shortened so the two-day race ends at Langley Middle School throughout the day on Saturday, July 26.

“Starting in the seaside town of Blaine, our local South Whidbey team ‘Insanity Island’ will head south through farm country and along the coast, ultimately crossing over Deception Pass onto Whidbey Island,” said team coordinator Minda Myers.

Myers said the new finish line will drop hundreds of people into Langley, and the sponsors plan music and a beer garden at the Island County Fairgrounds.

The race is part of a relay series called Northwest Passage for novice and intermediate runners.

During this 24-hour relay race, each team member runs three legs, ranging between three and eight miles, escorted by two support vehicles.

The first vehicle will drop off the first runner, drive ahead a few miles, cheer the runner on, and provide them with water, snacks, and plenty of love.

That van will then drive ahead to the first exchange point to drop off the second runner, and pick up the first runner when that leg is complete.

They will repeat the leapfrog pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second support van and then all the way to the finish line.