A Beatiful State #26 in Spearfish SD!

A few weeks ago I crossed the finish line at the Leading Ladies Marathon in Spearfish, SD for State #26!  This was my first trip to SD, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the views were amazing!   Originally I was going to run a double in both ND and SD, but due to flight delays, I was only able to run in SD.

After living in Atlanta for over a year and a half, I've started to get used to hot and humid summers, and so when we took the 4:00am shuttle to the start and it was 40 or so degrees, I was a little bit chilly!  Thankfully they let us wait on the buses until we were ready to start, and I got to know some  fellow runners I had met at the airport the day before while we were waiting on the bus.  When I travel alone, it's always awesome to meet new running friends.  Soon we were lining up at the start line, and then we were off!  I learned pretty quickly that the day was going to be filled with some amazing views.

Now here I will say that I've learned a few things in 2016, since this seems to be a year of high altitude marathons for me, which is that my body does not adjust well or quickly to higher altitudes, and I had less than 24 hours from landing in SD to running this marathon.  The other thing I've learned is that I need to listen to my body and take it easier when I'm not feeling at my best.  And so although I got off to a fairly good start, I soon knew that it was going to be a slow and steady day, and that was okay with me.  I stopped worrying about PR's some time ago, and now focus on just enjoying the experience as much as possible because running a marathon is a pretty amazing experience, especially in many of the beautiful places I've had the opportunity to run in, and I'm lucky to be able to run for my cause.  So a slow and steady day it was.

As I was taking in the scenery,  I made note of many houses that I would like to live in.  Growing up in a log house has always seemed to be kind of a rare thing, but not in Spearfish SD!  Almost every house we ran by was a log house, and some were like mansions!  And all with incredible views of the mountains and brooks passing by.  Awesome.

The amazing views continued, and at about mile 11-12, we started on the '76 Trail, which was a short trail, but incredible!  Sadly my running watch battery died on that trail, and so I was without half of my technology (I still had my tunes) for the rest of the day. 

Around this time, the temperature felt like it went from 40s to 80s and sunny in about 10 minutes.  I had worn some extra layers that I knew I would have to wrap around my waist when it warmed up (I wasn't willing to part with them by tossing them to the side of the road), and as I came upon the half marathon mark, one of the race staff offered to take it to the end for me with some other runners' things when he saw me struggling to wrap everything around my waist.  I've never run in a race where this has been offered half way through, and I was so thankful for not having to carry it all with me for the rest of the way!  Things like this are what I love about smaller marathons :).  And indeed everything was waiting at the end when I finished.

Although I had been managing the altitude issues, I did start to feel a little worse with the heat as the miles increased.  But I just kept moving forward for my cause.  At one point around mile 21, I felt so dizzy and nauseaus that I had to lay down in the grass on the side of the road for a few minutes.  While I was lying there, I looked up into the sky and thought about all those that I run for, which helped me find the strength to get back on my feet.  Another runner checked in on me and went ahead to find someone to bring me water, and medical vehicle stopped me a few minutes after that because they had seen me laying down and wanted to be sure I was okay.  They gave me a bottle of water (it seemed like the most wonderful bottle of water in the world in that moment), and after sitting with them in the shade of the truck for a few minutes, I felt rejuvenated.  From then on I knew I would cross the finish line. 

I continued on slow and steady, and in the last mile I met a runner that I had met during my triple marathon weekend in June.  We had both missed the same turn in UT and ran together to the end, and then we ran together to the finish line again in SD.  Upon crossing the finish line, everyone received a rose, which was so nice.  It was a great ending to an awesome marathon.

Now some might wonder why I would make myself go through these altitude issues for 4 marathons in a row in 2016 (which was not on purpose :).  But my answer is simple.  I do it for my cause.  My goal is to run all 50 states, and that includes all different altitudes, temperatures, and terrain.  Even though this year has been a year of slow and steady marathons for me, I've made it to the end and have continued checking off states for my goal.  And even if I don't feel at my best, it doesn't take away from the awesomeness of the experience.  The places I have seen, the friends that I have made, and the feeling of accomplishment after I cross every finish are all incredible things.  And most importantly, my journey in running a marathon in all 50 states while raising important funds for Tedy's Team and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and for all those that have been affected by heart disease and stroke makes it all even more incredible.

With that said... I am looking forward to running my next marathon (State #27) at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, MN, which is at about the same altitude as Atlanta :).

And here is my finish line photo!

Marathon Highlights
Awesome RD, race staff, and volunteers
Gorgeous views of Spearfish Canyon
Very easy to get to packet pickup (right at the hotel) and start (shuttle from hotel)
Very cool race shirt and medal
Everyone gets a rose!
A great marathon all around

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:
 Lost Boy -Ruth B.
 
Also - thank you to the awesome medical staff that stopped to make sure I was okay, gave me water, and let me sit in the shade of their truck when I really needed it.

Finished 3 Marathons in 3 States in 3 Days!!

And I'm HALF WAY THROUGH THE 50 STATES for Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association!!

Just over a week ago, I made my way to Salt Lake City to meet running friends, and then we continued on our journey to Bear Lake for a triple marathon weekend for the Bear Lake Endurance Marathon Series... that's 78.6 miles in 3 days!!

In the weeks leading up to the trip, I was a little nervous having never completed a triple before.  I had some chronic spine issues that severely cut down on my training, but I was able to keep up enough training to prepare (I hoped).  I knew that once I arrived, even though my pace might be a little slower, that my cause and my heart and stroke heroes would take me to the end, and they most certainly did!

After a 2.5 hour drive in our little (and I mean little) rental car up and up and up (to an elevation of ~6200 ft), we arrived in Bear Lake, which crosses over the border of Utah and Idaho.  We stopped at a lookout and were amazed by the incredible views of the lake we would be running around for the first two marathons.  It's difficult to tell from the pictures, but the lake had some of the brightest blues and aquas I've ever seen.



We arrived in Montpelier Idaho, picked up our packets, and were off to dinner.  Bright and early the next morning was the first marathon of the weekend in Idaho, which was a nice short walk from the hotel.  I was so excited to start off the weekend! 




This was one of the smallest marathons I've run, as you can see from the start photo, but awesome none-the-less.  Soon we were off, and soon I was experiencing what it feels like to run at 6200 feet with less than 24 hours to adjust from our 1000 ft elevation in Atlanta - yikes!  There was a feeling of not quite being able to get enough oxygen together with some dizziness and nausea that unfortunately lasted through the first two marathons.  So I slowed it down and just tried to take in the amazing views, and also to say hello to the many cows, sheep, horses, and even snakes (eek!) along the way!

I was really feeling the altitude issues together with heat and no shade from the sun, and struggled through mile 18.5, where I missed a turn on the course.  Thankfully there were people out watching for runners and I was redirected back onto the course (phew!), leading me to run almost an extra mile.  Because I was already not feeling well, this really got me down for a little while.  But then I struck up conversation with another runner who had made the same mistake, and this got me feeling a little better.  He eventually ran ahead to make his way to the finish, and I had to really dig down for those last miles.  As I thought about my stroke and heart heroes, and all they have been through or are going through, I found the strength and energy to make it to the end.  It wasn't my fastest marathon by far, but I finished for State #23 for Idaho!

Later that night, my IT band was letting me know that it was very unhappy with the day, and so I did the very feared ice bath (it was actually just extremely cold water, which was cold enough for me!).  Miraculously, the next morning, it had recovered and did not bother me again for the rest of the weekend, which was pretty amazing! 
 
Then it was onto DAY 2 in Utah for State #24!
The next day, we had a 50 minute drive to Utah for the second marathon of the weekend!  It was a cooler morning, and the temperature did not get as high, which I was very happy about.  This was the beautiful sunrise during the car ride out to the start...
 

 We were off and running bright and early!  I was still struggling with dizziness and nausea through the second marathon, but it was a little bit better than the first day.  There were more incredible views of Bear Lake and the mountains, and we continued to be cheered on by cows and horses (no snakes today).  This was one of the friendly cows that I met along the way :).


 Somewhere around mile 19 or so, there was some excitement, as some cows had gotten loose, and they were walking along the road, and then were herded back to their pasture.  About a mile after that, two horses had gotten loose and were running along the road before being guided back into their field.  I grew up around farms, but I really had never seen that volume of farms or cows and horses before.  They are truly beautiful animals, and as a a non-meat-eater, I tried to focus on their beauty, and not what the future likely had in store for them.  I continued on, and soon I was reaching mile 23, then 24, then 25, then... wait!  A super steep hill just before the finish!  But it just added to the challenge and soon I was up and down the hill, and across the finish line for State #24 in Utah!

 

And then onto Day 3 in Wyoming for State #25!
This was another short drive, and the smallest race I've ever run.  It was an out-and-back course, and the amazing views continued.  

 

Just as we were starting came one of my favorite moments of the marathons, when I looked over and all of the cows in the pasture started running next to me.  They were even mooing!  I've never seen anything like that, and it was pretty cool to see.  As I continued, I even caught a glimpse of a rainbow for just a few seconds.

 
All along, my chronic neck/spine pain had been strongly present, but on the third marathon, it was at it's worst.  Thankfully, I had adjusted to the altitude and so that was no longer causing problems.  But I really had to think about my cause and everyone I was running for to get through that pain.  I took extra walking breaks and just took it one step at a time - I had come this far and was determined to finish my 3rd marathon and 25th state!  

One thing about running is that it gives you lots and lots of time to think.  As I started to think about the fact that this was my 25th state, I became a little emotional.   I really could not believe that I was at the half way point of my 50 states goal.  I thought about all those I knew that had been affected by heart disease and stroke, some of which were only in the past year and even past months.   I also started to think a little about what it will be like when I finish the 50 states for Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association/American Heart Association, and for all those that I carry with me as I complete every marathon, and just the thought of it brought tears to my eyes as I ran.  This gave me incredible strength to continue through any pain I was feeling.  It also made me realize that my 50th state will bring tears of many emotions, because this cause is so close to my heart.

I continued on, and soon I was crossing the finish line of my 3rd marathon and 25th state!  I was pretty excited to have finished my third marathon and reached the half way point in the same marathon, and my finish line photo reflects this :).  And yes, it took some post-marathon stretching before I was able to do this happy jump for the camera.


 
 And that was the end of my triple marathon long weekend!  It was pretty incredible, and I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to do it, and persevered through the altitude issues and neck pain.  I even came home with an extra medal - a belt buckle - for completing all three marathons for the trifecta challenge.  I never would have made it to the end without all those who have supported me, and all those that I am running for, and so thank you to all of you and know that I carry my stroke and heart heroes with me through every mile of every marathon!

Next up for State #26 is still being figured out, but I will update my page soon!

Marathon Highlights
AMAZING VIEWS!
Excellent swag (medals are great, plus sweatshirt, socks, a hat, and extra medal for trifecta)
Very friendly and easy-going race
Amazing views (just for extra emphasis)