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It's been a little over a year since my last post.  Everything seems to have moved to video blogs, but I'm not ready to go that route.  I do this more to look back on my journey than to gain "viewers."

So I'm now at 44 States.  Since posting about having reached 40 States, I realized that I haven't provided States completed after St. Jude in Memphis.   That was in December 2021, State #33.  Marathons since then follow:

34 Mercedes Benz, Birmingham AL February 2022

35 Kentucky Derby, Louisville KY April 2022

36 Revel Rockies Denver CO June 2022

37 Holland Haven, Holland MI September 2022

38 Marshall, Huntington WV November 2022

39 Rehoboth, Rehoboth Beach DE December 2022

40 Jekyll Island, Jekyll Island GA January 2023

41 Mississippi Blues, Jackson MS February 2023

42 Casper, Casper WY June 2023

43 Wausau, Wausau WI August 2023

44 Hartford, Hartford CT October 2023

Next up, Boston.  Yes, I already have Massachusetts, but I hadn't qualified for Boston in 7 years.  So, I want to run it while I can.  After that, I plan to run in Montana in May.  I still hope to finish this year, 2024, but things will have to go perfectly, and we know about the best laid plans. 

Until Later !

Fifty States Update !

 

 

 

 I've run marathons in 40 states as of this posting.  I'm scheduled to run MS Blues next week for number 41.  Things are going well, I've qualified for Boston 2024 and look forward to getting back there next year.  I turn 70 in October,and hope to finish my 50 states journey before my 71st.

 Really just a placeholder, since my last post, I've run marathons in Lincoln NE, Fargo ND, Indianapolis IN, and Memphis TN.

Prairie Fire Marathon

 

Prairie Fire Marathon – Wichita KS

 

I decided to run my first marathon this year in Wichita. I had several planned before, but COVID had other ideas. I’d run the half there about 9 years ago, but hadn’t run a marathon in KS.
I drove to Wichita the day before (Saturday October 10).  It's only about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Oklahoma City and straight up I-35.  I went to packet pick up first because it was just after noon and only about 4 blocks from my hotel.  Pick up went quickly and I soon checked into my hotel.  I had taken a small cooler with food and drink so I settled into the hotel, watched the Sooners (OU) beat Texas in 4 overtimes.  Boomer Sooner.

I saw the forecast said that it would warm up and be windy. I didn’t have high expectations because no matter how much I train, it seems I do better after running several marathons.

Started and stuck to my plan of nice and easy, let the race determine my pace. I gradually picked up the pace and was running decently until I hit mile 15. I could feel my energy dropping until 20, then it was survival mode. More walking than running just doing my best not to have a medical issue. Good news, finished, rested, drove back to Oklahoma and 4 days later feel mostly recovered.
The only slightly downside was the hotel would not give me a late check out.  I felt since they were the featured hotel for the race, that shouldn't have been a problem.  I won't blame the race though, the desk clerk was a bit of a jerk.  I sensed that before he said a word.

The race was well run, plenty of water and friendly people. There were some volunteers on 4 wheelers checking on people and I’d just give them a thumbs up and they’d keep going. Some drivers were not happy with the road diversions and the best show of the day was a policewoman jumping on the hood of a convertible sports car telling him to stop. Thanks to all of them helping to keep us safe.

Songs in the Key of Life

 

 

On a run this morning I was thinking about music.  I occasionally post music I like and I never get the response I expect.  I think other people will respond or feel the way I do about the song.  But they don't and that's because they don't associate the images and memories to the song that I do.  I've also listened to other peoples music, and sometimes I don't think much of it.  For the same reason.
I know that title is from a Stevie Wonder album, but it's not one of my favorites.  I just like the title.  To me it explains why we like the music we do.  We associate it with, usually, pleasant memories.

Atlantic City Marathon

Sunday, October 20 I ran the Atlantic City Marathon. 
This is a small race, almost 900 in the half and just under 650 in the marathon.  Since they had the stats, I'll pass on that they had a few more women in the half and almost twice as many men in the marathon.  Being a small race, it also had a small expo.  The expo, start line and post game "festivities" are at Bally's Hotel and Casino.  This made everything convenient and you could park at the hotel so I didn't have far to go once I finished.
It was cool and partly cloudy at the start, but the forecast was 100% chance of rain in an hour or two.  They got that right.  The start was on time and it wasn't so crowed that you had to walk much after the gun, this even though both races start together.  Much of the race is on the boardwalk, and while it's not bad, it's not my favorite surface.  We started on the boardwalk, but run on the city streets quite a bit also.  Crowd support was so so, but enthusiastic.  The race has a few hills, but I wouldn't call it hilly.  The race finishes on the boardwalk also, and it was raining pretty good by then.  However, it was not slippery and I didn't have any issues.  I finished the race, but didn't hang around since I was heading home right after.  Lucky me got to spend the night at Love Field in Dallas last night since my flight was cancelled because of the severe weather they had.
This is not a bad race, but I am not impressed with Atlantic City.  I'd been there over 20 year ago, and remember not thinking much of it then either.

Bay of Fundy Marathon

The Bay of Fundy International Marathon is a marathon between Lubec, Maine, United States and Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada.
I traveled with a group of 4 other running friends.
This is a beautiful part of the country and Lubec is just across a bridge from New Brunswick Canada.
At least 24 hours before the race we had to clear both sides of the border otherwise we wouldn't be allowed into Canada without stopping. They check your bib off a list and put a sticker on it.
This is a very small race, less than 160 people participating in the marathon. Despite that it is well supported.
The race is also very hilly. We drove the course the day before and after seeing it, I decided I was going to be doing a lot of walking on the uphills.
We were bused out to the start which is at Quoddy Lighthouse and is the Eastern most part of the continental United States.
The day was partly cloudy but it heated up quickly. We ran 6 miles in Maine before entering Canada, then it's 10 miles out and back into the US for the finish which is another .2 miles in the city of Lubec. My strategy paid off and I finished in what I considered a decent time.
The finisher medals are hand made by a local artist.